Trump Says He’s Personally Answered Mueller’s Questions, Not Lawyers

Some interesting news from the White House on two fronts.  At a photo op this morning in the Oval Office, Donald Trump insisted has personally answered the written questions submitted by the special counsel’s office, not his lawyers. From Axios:

• “My lawyers aren’t working on [Mueller’s questions]. I’m working on that. I write the answers. My lawyers don’t write answers, I write answers. … I answered them very easily … I’m sure they’re tripped up because they like to catch people.”
• “The questions were very routinely answered, by me. … I haven’t submitted them yet, I just finished them.”

These statements are at odds with the facts known to reporters.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reports that Trump is questioning aides and advisers about Vice President Mike Pence’s “loyalty.”  And, more importantly, should he remain on the Trump ticket in 2020?

“[S]ome Trump advisers, primarily outside the White House, have suggested to him that while Mr. Pence remains loyal, he may have used up his utility. These advisers argue that Mr. Trump has forged his own relationship with evangelical voters, and that what he might benefit from more is a running mate who could help him with women voters, who disapprove of him in large numbers.”

…”Some of Mr. Trump’s outside advisers have mentioned Nikki R. Haley, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, a post she plans to leave at the end of the year, and former governor of South Carolina, as a potential running mate. Ms. Haley is close with Mr. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Mr. Trump gave her an unusually warm send-off in the Oval Office when she announced she was leaving the United Nations job in September.”