What You Need To Know About The Coming Showdown Between Trump And Mueller

The Russia imbroglio has brought Washington, D.C., to a crossroads that could have historic implications for President Trump and the nation.

Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller wants to interview Trump about what he knows and why he acted in the way he has. The president and his attorneys have all but ruled that out. The president denies any wrongdoing.

Which side will blink?

If Trump and the White House stick by their decision not to give Mueller an interview, the special counsel has a choice of his own: Will he accept the arguments made by Trump's attorneys that he already knows everything Trump could tell him and stand down?

Or would Mueller choose a path seldom traveled and issue a subpoena to try to compel Trump to sit for an interview?

Here's what you need to know about how we got here — and what may come next.

Trump has made a key admission

The president's attorneys now acknowledge about the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower at which his top campaign deputies hosted a delegation dispatched by the Russian government. ()