Trump Confirms: White House Counsel Don McGahn Stepping Down this Fall
Axios co-founder and Executive Editor Mike Allen is reporting this morning that multiple sources close to White House counsel Don McGahn are claiming that the White House counsel will step down this Fall, either after Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court or after the midterms.
McGahn recently sat down with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, reportedly spending up to 30 hours with investigators looking at possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian election interference efforts.
Allen’s assessment of McGahn stepping down:
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That potentially puts a successor in charge of fielding a blizzard of requests or subpoenas for documents and testimony if Democrats win control of the House in the midterms.
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And if the White House winds up fighting special counsel Robert Mueller, an epic constitutional fight could lie ahead.
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We’re told that Trump has not settled on a successor.
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But McGahn has told a confidant he would like his successor to be Emmet Flood, a Clinton administration alumnus who joined the White House in May to deal with the Russia probe.
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Flood also served for two years during George W. Bush’s second term as his top lawyer handling congressional investigators.
Allen explained Flood’s thinking: “The reason he can represent both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump is because he thinks these investigators come and basically put a target on their backs, trying to overturn every aspect of their lives searching for a crime.”
President Trump’s critics have often claimed that the commander-in-chief has confused White House counsel McGahn — whose mission is to work for the Executive branch — as his personal lawyer which has reportedly strained their relationship.
“Go deeper” and read the full Axios report here.
UPDATE: In a tweet, President Trump confirms McGahn’s departure:
White House Counsel Don McGahn will be leaving his position in the fall, shortly after the confirmation (hopefully) of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. I have worked with Don for a long time and truly appreciate his service!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2018
