Yet despite Trump’s countless colorful controversies, Starr doesn’t expect Mueller to write a tome-like report detailing every presidential misdeed. If only for one simple fact: Mueller’s marching orders are very different, and more constrained, than Starr’s were 20 years ago, Starr told VICE News.

“What I do know is that the regulations under which [Mueller] was appointed do not contemplate a fulsome kind of report,” Starr said. “What is contemplated is actually somewhat minimal.”

In a wide-ranging interview with VICE News, Starr discussed his expectations for Mueller’s endgame and parallels with his own four-year probe of Clinton. He also addressed persistent questions of obstruction of justice, and Trump’s recent appointment of Matt Whitaker as acting attorney general.



Asked if he sees reason to be concerned about Trump’s approach toward Mueller, Starr replied: “Oh, yes.”

Ultimately, he sees the fate of the Mueller report resting largely in the hands of two men, widely seen as close Trump allies: acting attorney general Matt Whitaker, and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

“HELL TO PAY”

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker speaks to state and local law enforcement on efforts to combat violent crime and the opioid crisis in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., November 14, 2018. REUTERS/Scott Morgan

This month Trump named Whitaker, a loyalist with dubious credentials, acting attorney general, stoking fears that the move was a first step toward clipping Mueller’s wings.

“Trump was looking for someone who’d do what he wanted them to do: kill the whole Mueller investigation,” said Nick Akerman, former assistant special Watergate prosecutor. “There’s no other explanation for it.”