[Baldwin:] We're back. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Special counsel Robert Mueller is offering the president a compromise in the Russia investigation. Mueller suggesting that he would cut the number of obstruction-related questions for the president. But the catch here, he wants the president to answer those questions in person. The president's lawyers had offered written answers to obstruction questions. The Trump legal team wanted the sit-down interview limited to things that had happened before he took office mainly related to the collusion piece of Mueller's probe. This is happening just one day after the president said his attorney general should end the Russia investigation. So back with me, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. And so, Mr. Attorney General, I mean, the president's tweet from yesterday, right, so the White House says, whoa, whoa, that was an opinion, that wasn't an order to the A.G., that Trump wrote the word should and not must. Do you think it crossed the line?
[Gonzales:] I'm not sure that it did, given the past statements by the present. I mean, everyone knows that's the president's opinion and that he would like to he would to see this ended. And everyone knows the president has ways to end this investigation if he wanted to. One of the things I worry about, quite honestly, by the constant whining is it makes the president look weak, the fact that he keeps saying this investigation should be over, Rod Rosenstein should end it, that Attorney General Sessions should do something. The president is head of the executive branch, and these individuals all work within the executive branch, as does the special counsel. And to continue to complain about it, to me, it just makes the president look weak. And I think it's very, very unfortunate. I think it's I think, as a general matter, it's unfortunate for the president be speaking about his attorney general in this way, to be speaking about ending an investigation. I think he needs to allow the investigation to move forward. And as soon and if he does that, and Bob Mueller will end investigation, and it'll be it'll be over, and we will all know exactly what happened in connection with the 2016 presidential election.
[Baldwin:] OK. So the president complaining and whining, and we know he wants this thing to end. But you were once the A.G. I mean, put yourself in Jeff Sessions' shoes. You read the president's tweets. What do you do? Do you ignore the president?
[Gonzales:] This not the first time the president has made this kind of complaint against the attorney general either directly or indirectly. I'm assuming, the first time it happened, Jeff Sessions had a private conversation with the president. They reached some kind of understanding. And now Jeff Sessions, I he's probably immune to it. As far as he's concerned, he's carrying out the president's agenda. And I think most critics of the and supporters of President Trump believe this is probably one of the most effective Cabinet members in carrying out President Trump's agenda. And so long as he's doing that, I think Jeff Sessions is quite comfortable serving as the attorney general and taking these barbs.
[Baldwin:] We have had some reporting this week that the president is worried that the Democrats could actually take back the House, depending on which way the midterms go. And we also know that, in the end, the president's fate will be determined not by Robert Mueller, but by members of Congress. So, with that in mind, here is the president's attorney Rudy Giuliani.
[Rudy Giuliani , Former Mayor Of New York:] I have to say this. And I say this in my role not as a lawyer, but as a concerned citizen and Republican. But this election is going to be about impeachment or no impeachment.
[Baldwin:] But it just he's right. I mean, is he correct that anything Mueller finds will ultimately be up to Congress, sort of jurors in Congress?
[Gonzales:] Well, I think there is a very serious question as to whether or not a president could even be prosecuted. I mean, that's certainly the position of the Department of Justice, as far as that I understand. And there are limits in terms of even what how far you can go in getting testimony from the president, which is why you see Robert Mueller negotiating to try to get some kind of interview with the president, even if it's even if it's limited.. So, at the end of the day, I think what you're likely to say here is Robert Mueller coming up with findings, and even though he can't may not be able to prosecute the president and believes the president engaged in wrongdoing, those findings will be provided to Congress. And then it'll be up to Congress to decide whether or not these crimes reach the level of impeachment.
[Baldwin:] Giuliani also said that Trump would be walking into a perjury trap. Speaking of this potential interview with Mueller, he would be walking into a perjury trap if he agrees to do this interview in person. And I'm curious just what would that suggest to you, hearing that? Would that suggests that his client would have something to hide or that he's doing his job and has his client's back?
[Gonzales:] Well, it could mean that the president has something to hide. It could also mean the president is undisciplined and says things off the cuff.
[Baldwin:] You think?
[Gonzales:] And oftentimes without thinking much thinking much about it. And so he's worried about that, because, obviously, Bob Mueller and his team have interviewed a lot of people in connection with Russia meddling. And so President Trump may say something off the cuff. But, again, there is a serious question as to whether or not the president could even be indicted for perjury, but not but he could, of course, be subject to impeachment if, in fact, Robert Mueller finds possible perjury and refers his findings to the Congress.
[Baldwin:] Last question. Despite what we're hearing from Trump's attorneys, he says essentially bring it on, he wants to do this interview with the Mueller team. What do you think that is? Is that hubris? Is that naivete? Is that a smokescreen?
[Gonzales:] I don't know Donald Trump.
[Baldwin:] OK.
[Gonzales:] It's possible for me to answer that question. He is so different from the president that I served. I just it's I'm not in a position to answer that question. Who knows.
[Baldwin:] Who knows is right. Alberto Gonzales, former U.S. attorney general, thank you so much. Pleasure to have you on.
[Gonzales:] Thanks for having me.
[Baldwin:] Coming up next: Paul Manafort's landscaper on the stand today, testifying about nearly half-a-million dollars in payments he got from an offshore bank account, details on those sorts of revelations from this federal courthouse today. Also ahead, President Trump compares Manafort to Al Capone. We will talk to a writer who argues that there are quite a few similarities between the former mob boss and Trump himself.