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UPDATE: But the whole discussion over a Trump interview with Mueller has been a shell game as Marcy Wheeler argues

To be sure it’s problematic for him to be Trump’s lawyer in the first place as Giuliani himself is a quite possible witness for Mueller-as well as the investigation into leakers regarding the email probe during 2016 that Comey revealed he opened up-he says he doesn’t know what the conclusions of the investigation into pro Trump agents leaking about the email probe might be or even if it the probe still ongoing.

But it’s clear that Giuliani-as does Roger Stone and Erik Prince-knows a lot about who those ‘rogue agents’ at the NYFBI and NYPD were.

Now Giuliani is trying to reopen the idea of a Trump interview with Mueller:

“Rudolph W. Giuliani, President Trump’s new personal lawyer dealing with the ongoing probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, met with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III on Tuesday to reopen negotiations for a presidential interview, ­according to three people familiar with the talks.”

Trump had for some time been doing his bluster about how he welcomed an interview with Mueller. But much of his team has warned him against this-after all, Trump is a pathological liar, who likely would perjure himself with Mueller in about 30 seconds. Then the came the search of Michael Cohen’s offices and the opening of a New York Southern District probe into Cohen-and seizure of thousands of documents including communications between Trump and Cohen-and Herr Trump has changed his tune.

However, Giuliani’s premise seems to be that this is the only way to end the probe; and that perhaps, the quicker Trump does the interview the quicker the probe will end. The notion that Mueller investigation is near it’s conclusion is probably wishful thinking on Rudy’s part but I digress:

“Giuliani, who joined Trump’s legal team last week, conveyed the ongoing resistance of Trump and his advisers to an interview with federal investigators, but did not rule out the possibility, the people said, adding that Giuliani pressed Mueller for clarity on when the probe is expected to end.”

So he’s hoping that if Trump does the interview sooner the probe will end sooner-again, probably wishful thinking.

In response, Mueller reiterated that he would like a chance to ask Trump questions about steps he took during the transition and early months of his administration, the people said. The special counsel emphasized, as he did in conversations in March with Trump’s team, that an interview is essential for investigators to understand Trump’s intent in making key decisions as they seek to wrap up the portion of the probe focused on potential obstruction of justice.

The people familiar with the meeting requested anonymity to describe the encounter because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

“The face-to-face discussions ­illustrated how Giuliani is functioning as Trump’s chief liaison and lead negotiator with the special counsel. The meeting renewed talks that had largely faltered since the resignation last month of John Dowd, a veteran lawyer who was serving as Trump’s lead outside attorney on the investigation.”

“I’m doing it because I hope we can negotiate an end to this for the good of the country and because I have high regard for the president and for Bob Mueller,” Giuliani said in an interview with The Washington Post last week.

However, for now Trump remains ‘totally opposed’ to an interview with Mueller.

In March, Mueller informed Trump’s attorneys that he was continuing to investigate the president but did not consider him a criminal target at that point, The Post previously reported.”

A rather thin reed for Trump to hang his hat on-the old ‘Not a target just a subject of this investigation…’

Mueller’s investigators said at the time they were considering writing reports on their findings in stages — with the first report focused on possible obstruction, according to two people briefed on the discussions. The special counsel said he needed to interview Trump to understand whether he had any corrupt intent to thwart the Russia investigation when he took certain steps, including firing FBI Director James B. Comey.

FN: In retrospect according to both John Dowd’s account-and Mueller’s own timeline in the report-it seems that the question of a live interview for Trump was dropped as a serious matter by March 2018-after Dowd intimidated Mueller on the idea of a subpoena.