Robert Mueller reveals to Donald Trump's attorneys that he is the subject of an investigation, but not yet the target.

So I'm the subject, but not the target? So then I win right?

Courtesy of WaPo: 

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III informed President Trump’s attorneys last month that he is continuing to investigate the president but does not consider him a criminal target at this point, according to three people familiar with the discussions. 

In private negotiations in early March about a possible presidential interview, Mueller described Trump as a subject of his investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election. Prosecutors view someone as a subject when that person has engaged in conduct that is under investigation but there is not sufficient evidence to bring charges. 

The special counsel also told Trump’s lawyers that he is preparing a report about the president’s actions while in office and potential obstruction of justice, according to two people with knowledge of the conversations. 

Mueller reiterated the need to interview Trump — both to understand whether he had any corrupt intent to thwart the Russia investigation and to complete this portion of his probe, the people said.

Apparently Trump himself took this as good news, because he is a fucking moron, while his attorneys are freaking out as seems appropriate.

I heard Steve Schmidt this morning suggest that the difference between being the subject of the investigation, rather than the target, is relatively the same difference that exists between being engaged to be married, and being married.

Former CIA counter intelligence agent Phil Mudd summed it up thusly: 

"If someone walked in my room—in particular, FBI investigators—I‘ve been questioned as a witness, not a subject. If someone walked in my office and said I was a subject of a multi-year criminal investigation led by a former FBI director, Robert Mueller, I’d wet my pants.”

Yeah, what he said. 

Others are also suggesting the Mueller team is choosing its words carefully in order to convince Trump to sit down for an interview, knowing full well that if Trump realizes he is the target he will flip his shit. 

As it is this report that Mueller is putting together will be out sometime around June or July. 

By the way, this is only one part of the Mueller investigation, he is still pursuing the Russia collusion part as well.  Not to mention all the other parts that he is keeping on the down low.