Dear Mr. Trump,

I hear that Robert Mueller needs to talk to you as part of his investigation. As you know, he is a Republican of the highest moral character, well-respected by the people who know him and have worked with him. I hear also that you “look forward” to speaking with him under oath. So, should you in fact talk to him? Under oath, even?

I think, sadly, the answer is no. You should be afraid because of your past deeds and your propensity to lie. You are who you are. You’re not going to evade responsibility for what you’ve done and the things you’ve said by trying to outsmart someone, notwithstanding the “stable genius” that you claim yourself to be. He’s got the goods on you, for sure. Every prosecutor waits until the trap is set before stalking the main prey. That tempting piece of cheese you see inside – the idea that you’re going to get off clean – is an illusion, a piece of bait.

My best advice to you is to claim the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. It would be a historic moment for the presidency, and would mesh nicely with your love of making history. You promised to uphold the U.S. Constitution, and how better might you do that than by standing firm on the Fifth Amendment?

Political consequences? Don’t worry about them. Your base will love it; they’ll see it as a thumb in the eye of the special prosecutor. You didn’t worry about political consequences when you promised to release your tax returns and then did not. So what if the fake-news media thinks you’re hiding something? Better to keep that stuff hidden. Better not to incriminate yourself by opening your mouth, Sir.

Very truly yours,

Bruce J. Berger