Report: White House counsel Don McGahn plans to leave Trump administration in the fall

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President Donald Trump insists that his White House counsel isn’t a “RAT” like the Watergate-era White House attorney who turned on Richard Nixon, and he is blasting the ongoing Russia investigation as “McCarthyism.” (Aug. 20)
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WASHINGTON – White House counsel Don McGahn, who had extraordinary access to President Donald Trump during some of his most controversial dealings and decisions, plans to leave his post this fall, according to Axios. 

Axios reported Wednesday that McGahn’s departure is set to happen after the Senate confirms Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court or after the November midterms.

The White House told USA TODAY that it had no announcements about McGahn’s employment.

McGahn’s lawyer did not immediately return a request for comment.

Per Axios, McGahn wants his successor to be Emmet Flood. Flood represented former President Bill Clinton during his impeachment and was hired by the Trump White House to deal with the Russia investigation. Flood also worked for former President George W. Bush.

The news of McGahn’s departure comes less than two weeks after his cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller was publicized. McGahn sat down with Mueller’s team for interviews that spanned about 30 hours in total, a person familiar with McGahn’s contact with the special counsel’s office told USA TODAY. 

Trump railed against the news media after the scope of McGahn’s interviews with federal prosecutors was published. Trump said he wanted McGahn to cooperate with Mueller’s team in hopes that the transparency would quicken the pace of the investigation, which has dogged his presidency since it began.

More: Trump confirms that White House counsel interviewed with Mueller

More: White House lawyer Don McGahn: 5 things to know about his cooperation with Russia probe

More: President Trump: Special counsel Robert Mueller is just ‘looking for trouble’

The New York Times reported McGahn took Mueller’s team through Trump’s comments and actions in some of the most controversial topics that have surrounded the White House. 

McGahn reportedly told investigators what he knew about the president’s role in the firing of former FBI director James Comey. He also discussed Trump’s repeated criticism of Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from the Russia probe.

Additionally, McGahn talked about his role with the Russia investigation before the president hired outside counsel to deal with the matter, the Times reported.

McGahn reportedly felt the president’s willingness for him to cooperate with Mueller could be a trick. He feared the president and his team of lawyers might be setting him up to take the blame for any possible criminal charges that arise. 

This was the partially the case during Richard Nixon’s presidency. Former White House Counsel John Dean ended up cooperating with investigators, becoming a star witness after fearing Nixon was setting him up to be a scapegoat in the Watergate scandal. 

McGahn reportedly threatened to quit when Trump proposed firing Mueller last year. He and others convinced the president that firing Mueller would be a bad idea and eventually Trump pledged to work with the special counsel’s office. Officials also told USA TODAY at the time that Trump was well aware of the political fallout from a dismissal of the special counsel.

McGahn and other Trump administration officials also had unsuccessfully sought to persuade Attorney General Jeff Sessions to remain in control of the investigation into Russia’s election interference, even as the attorney general faced mounting pressure to recuse himself, two officials familiar with the matter told USA TODAY in January.  

Contributing: Kevin Johnson

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