Sorry, that idea is a loser.

Donald Trump’s advisers believe that Special Counsel Robert Mueller will soon want to have a talk with Donald Trump.

Lawyers for Trump have been discussing with FBI investigators a possible interview by the special counsel with the president as part of the inquiry into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election.

But Trump’s attorney’s have an alternate proposal. Rather than talk to Trump, they would like to offer Mueller a written statement instead. It seems improbable that any form of written response could substitute for a face to face interrogation. Especially not the type of response that NBC News indicates the Trump team is proposing.

In addition to the possibility of suggesting the president submit written responses in place of an interview, a second person familiar with the president’s legal strategy said another possibility being contemplated was an affidavit signed by the president affirming he was innocent of any wrongdoing and denying any collusion.

Trump’s legal crew is seriously proposing that Trump send Mueller a signed statement saying that he’s “innocent of any wrongdoing” and that would be the end of that. Because that’s apparently how Trump believes the justice system works—whatever he says, goes. Let’s hope he’s wrong about that.

For a special counsel to request a direct interview with the president isn’t unusual. But a response of “here, take this note instead” is more than unusual, it’s intolerable.