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> . . . I’d plead the fifth and make the courts fight it out....

There is a trap in this, too. If someone pleads the fifth, then they can be given immunity on the specifics of the topic on which they decline to testify (e.g. Russian 'collusion') - and then be compelled to testify. However, on a fishing expedition like Mueller is on, it's never the first topic that matters to him. He wants Trump to testify - with a limited and specific immunity - in the hopes that in the course of the testimony he will make a mistake on something he says. Then a new charge of perjury will be filed. Or obstruction of justice. Or some other 'process crime.' This is a particular risk for Trump because he tends to wander on his comments a lot.

Proof of this - if any is needed - is in the questions that were leaked. They were all 'how did you feel about this?' and 'what were you thinking when . . .?' questions that are intended to provide out-of-context quotes to imply obstruction of justice.

More than all of that, there is an important precedent that the president is not answerable to his own minions. If this were a prosecutor with a Congressional mandate (not a DOJ mandate), then he might have to answer, but not from his own subordinates. Congress can impeach and (if convicted) remove the president. His own administration cannot. So he needs to refuse to respond to the subpoena and force the Supreme Court to decide (if they would - and it's wrong but they just might) that the president is not the head of the executive branch.

Out of all this my favored outcome is for Rosenstein to be fired (not Mueller). It's Rosenstein's job to keep Mueller on track, and he's not doing it. The charter from Rosenstein is a direct violation of DOJ policy because there is no specific crime for the special counsel to pursue. It's all a fishing expedition looking for process crimes. Trump needs to absolutely refuse to play that game until and unless the Supreme Court decides otherwise (and maybe even then). I would refuse even if the Supreme Court said I had to testify, with the comment, "If you think I've done wrong, then recommend that Congress impeach and convict me."

Wouldn’t that only hold true if he agrees to the ‘immunity deal’ that they offer?

I can’t say for sure, but under the 5th Amendment, how can you be compelled to testify against yourself? I can understand getting immunity to testify against someone else, but why would he, or anyone else, agree to that?

They’ll give him immunity then ask him all the questions they were going to try and trap him with. So, they don’t prosecute him, but then give all the info to the Dem’s who will then initiate impeachment proceedings.

I think he has a few choices...

Wait for a subpoena and let it play out in the courts. At which time, Mueller and Rosenstein will have to testify to the crime that he committed, evidence they think he has to prove a crime that doesn’t exist and has never existed, and then somehow convince a court that he has no 5th Amendment rights

Hammer Mueller on Twitter, asking why, clinton, he did commit numerous crimes, gets to testify behind closed doors, not under oath, was allowed to destroy evidence, not comply with subpoenas

Or, agree to testify and have four different answers to every and any question they might ask.... I can’t recall ... I don’t remember .... I have no idea what you’re talking about .... At this point, what difference does it make.

He can answer them any way he wants. They don’t get to force him to answer they way they want him to.

Or...Tell them all to F*ck themselves and have them send someone to come get him. A nice standoff between the Secret Service and US Marshal’s would be interesting to watch.

in the hopes that in the course of the testimony he will make a mistake on something he says. Then a new charge of perjury will be filed. Or obstruction of justice. Or some other 'process crime.' This is a particular risk for Trump because he tends to wander on his comments a lot.

Any witness worth an ounce of dirt knows how to answer questions properly so as not to ever put themselves into that jeopardy. I believe Trump is smart enough to be schooled by his attorneys to be such a witness. I also believe Trump is a loose cannon, so as long as he has his attorney present during questioning, he should have adequate protection from gotcha questions, and being long-winded with answers.