Trump lawyer calls NYT report a 'nothing burger' amid talk of obstruction
Legal scholars say a New York Times story shows Trump is in deeper trouble with special counsel Robert Mueller.
By DARREN SAMUELSOHN 01/05/2018 05:56 PM EST
President Donald Trump’s associates on Friday brushed off a New York Times article detailing Trump’s attempted interventions into the Justice Department’s Russia probe as overblown, and rejected claims that it shows Trump tried to obstruct justice.
“Another NYT nothing burger,” Trump’s personal attorney, John Dowd, wrote in an email. But legal scholars say the report, which dominated cable television since it appeared online Thursday night, reveals insights into Trump’s motives and intent — critical elements to any potential finding of obstruction of justice by special counsel Robert Mueller, who is probing Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
“Trump’s motive will matter,” said Barbara McQuade, a former U.S. attorney from eastern Michigan.
McQuade cited the Times’ descriptions of Trump’s efforts to persuade Attorney General Jeff Sessions not to recuse himself from the Russia investigation early last year as potentially key evidence supporting a conspiracy to obstruct justice.
“If Trump wanted to keep Sessions in charge of the Russia investigation so that he could protect Trump, then trying to prevent him from complying with the DOJ recusal rules could provide a strong case for obstruction,” she said.
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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/05/trump-russia-probe-lawyer-nyt-report-327077?lo=ap_b1
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