Mueller’s office disputes accuracy of report claiming President Trump instructed Cohen to lie to congress

The accuracy of a news report that said Donald Trump’s lawyer told Robert Mueller that the president directed him to lie to Congress has been disputed by the special counsel’s office.

BuzzFeed, citing two unidentified law enforcement officials, reported that Mr Trump directed Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate project.

The report also said that Cohen told Mr Mueller that Mr Trump personally instructed him to lie about the timing of the project.

The statement by Mr Mueller’s office on Friday night did not cite any specific errors.

However the special counsel’s spokesman, Peter Carr, said: “BuzzFeed’s description of specific statements to the special counsel’s office, and characterisation of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony are not accurate.”