was considered by his own lawyers to be too dumb to testify to Mueller without perjuring himself?

According to Bob Woodward’s book, Fear: Trump in the White House, Trump’s lawyers tried to convince Mueller that he couldn’t testify because he is “a pathological liar.” An excerpt reads,

Dowd then explained to Mueller and Quarles why he was trying to keep the president from testifying: “I’m not going to sit there and let him look like an idiot. And you publish that transcript, because everything leaks in Washington, and the guys overseas are going to say, ‘I told you he was an idiot. I told you he was a goddamn dumbbell. What are we dealing with this idiot for?'”

Dowd also dissuaded Trump from testifying:

Don’t testify. It’s either that or an orange jumpsuit…You are not a good witness. Mr. President, I’m afraid I just can’t help you.

The Washington Post – Bob Woodward’s new book reveals a ‘nervous breakdown’ of Trump’s presidency
The Hill – Lawyer told Trump he’s going to jail if he testifies to Mueller: Woodward book
Vanity Fair – EX-TRUMP LAWYER TOLD MUELLER THAT TRUMP IS TOO DUMB TO TESTIFY
The Atlantic – Here Are the Most Extraordinary Quotes From Bob Woodward’s Book

was called a racist, a con-man, and a cheat by his personal attorney?

Michael Cohen had been a long-time lawyer, fixer, and friend of the Trump family.

Cohen covered up an affair Trump had with porn star Stormy Daniels, paying her $130,000 just ahead of the 2016 election. For his role, Cohen was later charged with campaign finance violations and counts of tax evasion.

Cohen also named Trump a co-conspirator in his campaign finance violations.

Politico – Cohen testimony on Trump: ‘He is a racist. He is a conman. He is a cheat.’
Business Insider – How Michael Cohen, Trump’s ‘image protector,’ landed in the president’s inner circle

said it was “too inconvenient” to use a secure phone?

There have been multiple reports on how Trump communicates via unsecured lines, especially among his inner circle, because using secure methods is too great an inconvenience. Intelligence analysts believe Russia or other foreign powers could use these conversations against both America’s foreign policy and Trump individually, and have detected signs of such spying.

Particular concern has been raised about the Kremlin listening in on conversations between Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani regarding communications to the Ukrainian President over military aid for defense from Russia. White House officials have stated that Trump makes such calls regularly.

Politico – ‘Too inconvenient’: Trump goes rogue on phone security
The New York Times – When Trump Phones Friends, the Chinese and the Russians Listen and Learn
The Washington Post – Signs of sophisticated cellphone spying found near White House, U.S. officials say
Independent – Trump ‘routinely’ made sensitive calls on lines open to Russian surveillance, White House officials say
The Washington Post – Phone logs in impeachment report renew concern about security of Trump communications

said the Mueller report exonerated him when it explicitly said otherwise?

Trump has since made the claim multiple times on Twitter, during interviews, and at rallies.

The Mueller Report specifically said that Trump was not exonerated from the claimed crimes.

Robert Mueller has since explicitly denied that his report exonerated the President of obstructing the Special Council investigation. This was reiterated in front of Congress.

NBC News – Mueller says his report does not exonerate President Trump
Forbes – Trump Puts Exoneration In All Caps — Almost As If He Were Exonerated

tweeted that his attorney general should stop the Mueller investigation?

Trump’s attorney general, Jeff Sessions, had recused himself from the investigation into Russian election interference, which developed into the Special Council after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. Trump’s tweet that “Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now” was immediately called an example of attempting to obstruct the Special Council’s investigation.

New York Times – Trump Tells Sessions to ‘Stop This Rigged Witch Hunt Right Now’

said that he has the “absolute right” to pardon himself of any and all crimes?

The remarks were in reference to any potential charges stemming from the Special Council investigating Russian interference in US elections. While asserting his right to pardon himself, he denied any wrongdoing.

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution explicitly states that the President “shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.”

Time – President Trump Says He Can Pardon Himself. Most Voters Disagree
The Washington Post – Trump says he has ‘absolute right’ to pardon himself of federal crimes but denies any wrongdoing
Interactive Constitution – Article II, Executive Branch

sued to prevent his taxes from being obtained?

Trump said repeatedly before and after the election that his tax returns would eventually be released, but couldn’t because they were under perpetual audit. Being under audit does not deny one the ability to share them.

After the House subpoenaed his financial records from the IRS, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin defied the subpoena.

Trump filed suits against the US House Ways and Means Committee and the state of New York to prevent his taxes from being obtained. His legal team’s contention was that a sitting president enjoys “absolute immunity from criminal process of any kind.”

After being stuck in appeals, the Supreme Court decided to review both legal cases, Trump v. Mazars US, LLP and Trump v. Deutsche Bank AG. A decision is still pending.

The Wall Street Journal – Trump Sues House Panel, New York Officials to Protect State Tax Returns
The New York Times – Trump Taxes: President Ordered to Turn Over Returns to Manhattan D.A.
The Hill – Judge puts new hold on Democrats’ lawsuit seeking Trump tax returns
The New York Times – Supreme Court to Rule on Release of Trump’s Financial Records
Wikipedia – Tax returns of Donald Trump

said that he fired FBI Director James Comey because of the Russian investigation?

Trump admitted he fired Comey because of the “Russia thing” in an interview with Lester Holt:

“And, in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said: ‘You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story, it’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should’ve won.’”

This contradicted the original White House memo that stated Comey was fired because of his handling of the Hillary email investigation. He again backtracked the comments later after claiming that the interview had been “fudged,” though no evidence was offered.

NBC News – Watch Lester Holt’s Extended Interview With President Trump
The Guardian – Donald Trump admits ‘this Russia thing’ part of reasoning for firing Comey
Reuters – Trump seeks to backtrack on 2017 comments on Comey firing

told Russian officials that firing “nut job” FBI Director James Comey would ease pressure from the Russia investigation?

Trump told Russian officials visiting the Oval Office that “I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job…I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.” He also said he was unconcerned with Russian election interference and shared classified intelligence with the Russian officials gathered by Israel, despite Russia’s ally Iran being Israel’s longtime enemy.

The New York Times – Trump Told Russians That Firing ‘Nut Job’ Comey Eased Pressure From Investigation
Vanity Fair – Exclusive: What Trump really told Kislyak after Comey was canned
The Washington Post – Trump told Russian officials in 2017 he wasn’t concerned about Moscow’s interference in U.S. election

called into Fox & Friends and went on a half hour rant?

During the freewheeling interview, he railed against Iran and the nuclear deal, distanced himself from the “crazy” Stormy Daniels story and his personal attorney Michael Cohen, and slammed Obama’s handling of North Korea while praising his own. He also spoke about his friendship with Kanye West and boasted about the employment rate of blacks under his administration, noting, “Republicans really did the thing. Lincoln was a Republican.”

The cast looked visibly uncomfortable throughout the last few minutes, during which Trump complained about “how dishonest the news is,” Brian Kilmeade suggested, “I’m not your doctor, Mr. President, but I would recommend you watch less of them.” Trump replied, “well I don’t watch them at all…I watched leakin’ lying Comey last night.” He had sacked James Comey, Director of the FBI, for investigating Russia election interference. He went on to attack the “witch hunt” from the Mueller investigation, and said “I would give myself an A+, no one has done what I’ve been able to do, and I did it despite the fact that I have a phony cloud over my head that doesn’t exist.” Kilmeade finally ended the interview by cutting into a rant about the Justice Department and “crooked” FBI by saying, “we talked to you all day, but it looks like you have a million things to do, but I hope you can join us again.”

Trump has called in several times to Fox & Friends as President, including one that lasted 52 minutes.

The New Yorker – Trump’s stormy morning on “Fox & Friends”
Vanity Fait – Fox & Ffriends hurriedly shuts down interview as Trump rants about Mueller
Politifact – Fact-checking Donald Trump’s interview on Fox & Friends

More assuredly to come soon

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