Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, tweeted directly at President Trump on Wednesday, saying about the announcement that White House counsel Don McGahn is leaving in the fall: “[you] can’t let that happen.”
“@realDonaldTrump I hope it’s not true McGahn is leaving WhiteHouse Counsel,” Grassley tweeted. “U can’t let that happen.”
@realDonaldTrump I hope it’s not true McGahn is leaving WhiteHouse Counsel. U can’t let that happen
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) August 29, 2018
A spokesperson for Grassley said that the announcement came as a surprise, and noted that McGahn worked well with the Senate Judiciary Committee. “From Sen. Grassley’s perspective, there’s not been any White House Counsel who has worked so well and so efficiently with the chairman’s office and the Senate Judiciary Committee on judges,” the spokesperson said, per the Washington Post.
Axios reported Wednesday morning that McGahn intended to leave the White House in the fall following Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, or following the 2018 midterm elections.
Grassley’s committee will be hosting Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings starting next week.
Trump then confirmed hours later that McGahn would be leaving his White House post in the fall via a tweet.
“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,” Trump said.
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
Axios reported that McGahn hopes that Emmet Flood will succeed him. Flood, who first started working for the White House in May to help with the federal Russia probe, previously worked in the Clinton administration and in the George W. Bush administration.
McGahn’s departure also comes following reports that McGahn and Trump were at odds over issuing a pardon to Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort. Manafort pleaded guilty last week to eight counts of bank and tax fraud, and Trump has discussed granting him a pardon, despite opposition from McGahn.
