Fredericksen Discusses Trump’s Potential Obstruction Charges for Reasoning Behind Russia Meeting During Presidential Campaign

Partner Scott Fredericksen was interviewed for a CBS Evening News story, “Wolff Book: Trump Spokesman Quit Over Response to Trump Tower Meeting,” discussing whether the Trump administration’s initial false reason for a meeting with the Russian government during the 2016 presidential campaign constituted obstruction of justice.

The statement, he said, could have been a “misleading press statement for political purposes only,” which is not illegal. Evidence of “corrupt intent” is required to prove it an obstruction, Fredericksen said.

Fredericksen also discussed how Robert Mueller, the Special Counsel leading the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign, will likely handle bringing a case about this against the president. “The saying is you don’t take on the king unless you know you’re right, and you can win. So when I say Special Counsel Mueller will approach this carefully, he will.”