Trump could soon be interviewed as part of Russia probe: reports

The White House on Monday refused to say whether President Donald Trump would sit down with investigator Robert Mueller to answer questions about possible collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 presidential race.

US President Donald J. Trump returns to the White House in Washington, D.C., 07 January 2018. Source: AAP

US President Donald Trump's lawyers are talking to the Federal Bureau of Investigation about a possible interview as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, reports claim.

"The White House does not comment on communications with the Office of the Special Counsel out of respect for the Office of the Special Counsel and its process," a statement from Trump lawyer Ty Cobb read.

NBC said lawyers for Trump had met with representatives of Mueller's office in late December to discuss the logistics of any such interview.

They included the location and length of such an interview as well as legal standards and options for its format, including written responses instead of a formal sit-down, according to the American news network.

Mueller has been appointed by the Justice Department to investigate claims of Russian meddling in the November 2016 election and possible collusion with Trump's campaign.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller departs the Capitol after closed door meeting in Washington. Source: AAP

US intelligence agencies have concluded Russia interfered in the election to try to help Trump win. Russia has denied any meddling, and Trump has said there was no collusion.

Democratic US Senator Richard Blumenthal said in TV interviews on Monday that he expected Mueller would try to talk to the president in person.

"He will interview the president face-to-face is my prediction," Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee that is conducting its own Russia investigation, told MSNBC.

Mueller's probe so far has led to two Trump associates, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign aide George Papadopoulos, pleading guilty to lying to FBI agents.

Two others, Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his associate Richard Gates, were indicted on money laundering charges but have pleaded not guilty.

Trump lawyer Ty Cobb said the White House would not comment on communications with the Office of the Special Counsel but was continuing to cooperate fully.

The spokesman for the special counsel's office, Peter Carr, declined to comment.