Interviewed by Sean Hannity of FOX News, Mr. Mueller insisted his session with Ms. Daniels was “entirely business, as part of the investigation.”
Nevertheless, Mr. Hannity pursued the question of why Mr. Mueller had gone about his visit in this way, disguised as a younger man resembling George Clooney.
Mr. Mueller as Mr. Clooney apparently knew exactly which watering hole in New York Ms. Daniels likes to frequent.
He took up a position next to her at the bar of the notorious “Lippit Lippit Good Cabaret” in Manhattan.
Amidst music from club bands and chattering patrons, and following several hours of “subtle interrogation,” Mr. Mueller proceeded toward more intimacy with Ms. Daniels in a nearby hotel.
Mr. Mueller explained that this maneuver was needed in order to have a quieter conversation, moving all the while toward details of Ms. Daniels’ relationship with Mr. Trump.
Once in the hotel room an unexpected development occurred.
Ms. Daniels insisted on continuing the conversation under the sheets and covers of the hotel’s king-sized bed.
Mr. Mueller stated he had not expected his “undercover work” to extend in this way toward “unparalleled intimacy” with Ms. Daniels.
He was particularly interested in anything Mr. Trump might have revealed to Ms. Daniels about his connections with Russia and Vladimir Putin.
There was also whether Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Mr. Cohen, had revealed anything in his negotiations with Ms. Daniels, as to an interest in Russia.
Was it possible some of the $130,000 hush money paid to Ms. Daniels had come from Mr. Putin himself, in sympathy with Mr. Trump’s love entanglements?
However, all he learned was that Ms. Daniels herself is interested in meeting Mr. Putin “as a personal ambition of many years. I like his judo photos.”
At another point, when Ms. Daniels attempted to “whip him” with what looked like a copy of The New York Times, Mr. Mueller removed himself to the bathroom.
Mr. Hannity remained unruffled throughout the interview while refusing to identify his source for this startling development with Mr. Mueller.
Hannity then asked whether Mr. Mueller was able to get his hands on anything of significance that could apply to criminal charges and possible impeachment.
Mr. Mueller replied that his hands were entirely innocent throughout his “grueling ordeal” with Ms. Daniels.
“Undercover, and even under the covers with Ms. Daniels,” Mr. Mueller maintained, “I was strictly target-oriented on getting the facts.”
