More than a dozen current and former Trump administration officials who cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller are reportedly worried about being exposed as sources of damaging information once his full report is made public this week.
NBC News reported several White House officials, through their lawyers, have reached out to the Justice Department to learn whether their names will be redacted from Mr. Mueller’s report on Russian collusion and obstruction of justice, which is expected to be released Thursday.
However, the department has refused to give officials any details, according to the report. They fear reprisals if President Trump or his allies discover they provided damaging information, NBC reported.
One person close to the White House described the hysteria as “breakdown-level anxiety” among those who cooperated with the probe, according to the network.
“They got asked questions and told the truth and now they’re worried the wrath will follow,” a former White House official told the network.
Some officials told NBC they are concerned that even with redactions, there will be enough information for the president to determine who supplied the information.
“Even if names are redacted or names aren’t in the report to begin with, it could be situations people were asked about and they answered truthfully that at least for some people — specifically the president — would be identifiable because the situation applies to just one person,” the former official told the network. “Nobody has any idea what this is going to look like on Thursday.”
Adding to the concerns is that Attorney General William P. Barr has been candid about what the report may contain. He said he wants to make public as much of the report as he can, but that “every page” contains confidential information.
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