2nd LD Writethru: Trump intended to fire Russia inquiry's special counsel but backed down -- report

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump had intended to fire Robert Mueller, special counsel for Russia investigation, last June but backed down, local media reported Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Trump's order did not go through because White House Counsel Don McGahn threatened to quit if the president insisted on doing it, according to a report from the New York Times.

The report said Trump expressed concern over three possible conflicts of interests, including Mueller's onetime membership at the Trump National Golf Club, his connection with a law firm that represented Trump's son-in-law and the interview Mueller had with the president for the job as head of the FBI.

"We decline to comment out of respect for the Office of the Special Counsel and its process," White House lawyer Ty Cobb said in a statement to the CNN.

Mueller is investigating allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

The special counsel's team is also reportedly looking into any attempts by Trump to obstruct the investigation.

Trump said late last year that he was not considering firing the special counsel, but speculation over the possibility has gone high as investigators appeared to have got closer to Trump's inner circle.

On Wednesday, Trump told reporters that he looks forward to speaking with Mueller as part of the ongoing Russia probe.

"I'm looking forward to it," Trump said at the White House."I would do it under oath."

The president also said that he expected his interview with Mueller to happen in two or three weeks, and that whether he would show up was subject to his lawyers' advice. "But I'd love to do it," he said. Enditem