Interference : The Inside Story of Trump, Russia, and the Mueller Investigation

Interference uncovers the explosive revelations of the Mueller investigation, detailing the behind-the-scenes efforts to expose Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election to favor Donald Trump and the ways Trump interfered in the ongoing investigation, as recounted by Robert Mueller’s closest colleagues, and including an introduction by Mueller himself. The team also shares new and important insights about the role of a special counsel and a criminal investigation in holding a president accountable.

Interference is the “essential” (Kirkus Reviews) true history of the most important and consequential decisions, obstacles, and quandaries Mueller and his team faced when investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. For the first time, Mueller’s only deputy, his most senior counselor who served on the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, and the lead prosecutor looking into obstruction of justice and Russian interference, have come together to tell a highly relevant and readable account of their investigation into election interference and the connections between various Russians and members of the 2016 Trump campaign. Mueller himself wrote the book’s preface.

Interference highlights the many actions Russia took as it favored candidate Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, offering a powerful reminder of how committed Russia was to influence the election outcome. Ultimately, the special counsel brought indictments against thirty-four individuals and entities, including Trump’s campaign chairman; his deputy campaign chairman; a campaign advisor; his first national security advisor; a longtime Trump associate; and over two-dozen Russian nationals. Every case that was able to proceed to a conclusion resulted in a guilty verdict or plea.

Interference explains the motivations and actions of Russia (which has not stopped exploiting American weaknesses), the importance and limitations of a special counsel, and the urgent need for people to make principled decisions even when being pushed from all directions not to do so. Much can be learned from the experiences faced by Mueller’s team as they broke ground on some of the most complicated challenges facing our country—then and now. Their findings are essential to an understanding of America’s current struggle to preserve the rule of law and strike the balance between presidential immunity and presidential accountability. The narrative carries special relevance following the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision granting broad immunity to a president, a decision that sharply limits the conduct for which a president can be prosecuted—or even investigated.

Aaron Zebley was Robert Mueller’s deputy and was by his side for every major decision. Prior to working in the special counsel’s office, Zebley served in multiple roles at the US Department of Justice and the FBI, including FBI chief of staff, senior counselor in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, assistant US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and as an FBI team leader and case agent in the 9/11 investigation. Zebley is in private practice in Washington, DC.

James Quarles was Mueller’s senior counselor. A seasoned trial lawyer who has practiced for more than fifty years, Quarles primarily focuses on representing high-technology companies. Prior to his long career in private practice, Quarles served as an assistant special prosecutor on the Watergate Special Prosecution Force from 1973 to 1975.

Andrew Goldstein was one of Mueller’s lead prosecutors investigating obstruction of justice and Russian interference. Prior to working in the special counsel’s office, Goldstein served as chief of the public corruption unit at the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted numerous high-profile cases. Goldstein is a former staff writer at Time, and currently chairs the white-collar defense and investigations practice at Cooley LLP.