(CNN) The White House requested that former White House counsel Don McGahn publicly state that President Donald Trump didn't obstruct justice, but McGahn declined, an administration official told CNN on Friday.

The timing of the White House's request -- which was made to McGahn's attorney William Burck through top White House lawyer Emmet Flood, according to the official -- is unclear.

The official and a separate source familiar with the matter said that McGahn previously told special counsel Robert Mueller's investigators he didn't believe Trump obstructed justice.

The episode speaks to the White House's efforts to portray the President as absolved by the redacted Mueller report since its release last month. The Wall Street Journal first reported the White House's appeal to McGahn.

A source familiar with Flood's call to Burck conveying the request said Trump was upset by McGahn's refusal to state publicly that the President did not obstruct justice.

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