President Trump confirmed reports Wednesday that White House counsel Don McGahn will be leaving his position in the fall, once Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh makes it through the confirmation process.
“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 tweeted.
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
Sources told Axios in a report published Wednesday morning that McGahn planned to leave the White House in the fall after either Kavanaugh is confirmed or after the 2018 midterm elections in November.
The person who fills in for McGahn will likely have to take on a large request for documents and testimony. That possibility is all the more likely if the Democrats win the majority in the House.
McGahn reportedly hopes his position will be given to Emmet Flood.
Trump appointed McGahn in November 2016, calling him a “brilliant legal mind” and a man with “excellent character and a deep understanding of constitutional law.” McGahn previously served as the general counsel to the Trump 2016 presidential campaign and was a widely respected campaign finance attorney at Jones Day.
The outgoing Trump counsel also held positions as the chairman of the Federal Election Commission and counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
McGahn received a great deal of media coverage earlier this month when reports surfaced that he has been cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign. McGahn reportedly provided Mueller’s team a total of 30 hours of testimony and met with his team for at least three separate interviews.
The president responded to reports, claiming he “allowed” McGahn to cooperate with Mueller’s team. McGahn’s attorneys reassured Trump’s legal team that McGahndid not “incriminate” the president during his interviews.
