Last summer, White House counsel Don McGahn recused his whole office from special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe because many of the lawyers in his office had been “significant participants” in incidents that were at the center of Mueller’s investigation, former White House attorney Ty Cobb said Wednesday.
At a panel discussion at George Mason University, which Politico covered, Cobb said the White House made the decision because McGahn’s lawyers were heavily involved in the ousting of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and FBI Director James Comey. McGahn’s recusal was part of the rationale for hiring Cobb to join the legal team, where his role was to deliver the official White House response to the Russia probe.
While McGahn and at least two of his aides have reportedly been interviewed by Mueller, it has not yet been reported that the entire White House legal team had been recused from Mueller’s probe.
Still, isn’t it clear: There’s no need for recusal if nothing bad was done.
It’s not a witch hunt, nothingburger, if there are multiple indictments and five guilty pleas. And apparently more to follow.
Why is anyone lawyering up, if there is no wrong-doing?
Also known CYA and washing your hands of the mess…
Trump: I only hire the very very best.
Well, sometimes you recuse yourself to avoid even the appearance, or the potential, of compromise.
What McGahn did (recusing his office, at which point Cobb was hired) was sensible.
Good! All who were recused should be deposed under oath. Obviously, they likely have knowledge of Russian interference.