Pompeo confirms he was interviewed by Mueller

Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoGOP senator: US should continue military exercises with South Korea if North Korea talks break down GOP senator: Actions toward North Korea will speak louder than words Graham: 'China's hands' all over North Korea rebuke of US negotiators MORE, President TrumpDonald John TrumpMichelle Wolf in July Fourth salute: 'God bless abortions and God bless America' Graham: Trump's Supreme Court picks 'all winners' Man arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Trump supporters, GOP lawmaker MORE's nominee for secretary of State, confirmed on Thursday that he has been interviewed by special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE.

Pompeo, currently the director of the CIA, made the remarks during questioning in his confirmation hearing. He declined to answer any questions about his testimony to Mueller — or reported conversations with Trump — citing the ongoing nature of the investigation and the need for a president to speak candidly to his senior leaders.

"I spoke with special counsel Mueller, who interviewed me — requested an interview. I cooperated," he said in response to questioning from Sen. Bob MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezCNN anchors break into laughter over comedian's alleged prank call to Trump Comedian claims he tricked Trump while impersonating Dem senator Schumer: Obama 'very amenable' to helping Senate Dems in midterms MORE (D-N.J.).

"I'm not going to speak to" the subject of the conversation, he said, but cautioned that lawmakers should draw no "negative inferences or positive inferences" from his circumspection.

"I have cooperated with multiple investigations, while the investigation continues, I think that's the appropriate way to approach it."

That answer did not satisfy Menendez, who said that he did not believe Mueller would have told Pompeo that he "couldn't" speak to lawmakers about the interview, calling his silence troubling.

The admission arose as Menendez pressed Pompeo on a conversation the CIA chief reportedly had with the president, during which Trump allegedly asked him and Director of National Intelligence Dan CoatsDaniel (Dan) Ray CoatsNSA deletes scores of call records over ‘technical irregularities’ GOP senator places hold on Trump counterintelligence nominee Civil liberties groups press Trump administration on NSA call record collection MORE if they could intervene in the federal investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, which was being led by then-FBI Director James ComeyJames Brien ComeyTrump lawyers tore into Comey as dishonest, 'Machiavellian' in confidential memo: report Memos detail FBI’s ‘Hurry the F up pressure’ to probe Trump campaign Memos detail FBI’s ‘Hurry the F up pressure’ to probe Trump campaign MORE.

The conversation took place in March, according to The Washington Post.

Pompeo declined to answer questions about the conversation, but said that the article's "suggestion that he asked me to do anything improper is false."

"I'm not going to talk about private conversations I've had with the president," Pompeo said. "It's appropriate for a president to have an opportunity to talk with his senior leaders."

Further, he added, "I don't recall what he asked me, but he has never asked me to do anything I consider remotely improper."