The Week that Was: All of Lawfare in One Post

On Sunday, Benjamin Wittes and Quinta Jurecic discussed the statements made by President Trump's personal lawyer Marc Kasowitz following former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony last week before the Senate Intelligence Committee; they noted Kasowitz’s factual inconsistency and how he might harm Trump’s potential defense down the line. Bob Bauer examined what Comey’s testimony and Kasowitz’s influence might mean for the deteriorating boundary between private interests and the rule of law. Paul Rosenzweig pointed out that Kasowitz may have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by reportedly informing White House aides that they did not yet need to hire personal lawyers. And Andrew Kent provided an in-depth overview of the legal ethics questions that could plague Kasowitz moving forward.

There was also plenty of breaking news this week in connection with the Russia investigation. On Monday, the New York Times reported that according to a “longtime friend of President Trump,” Trump was contemplating firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller. In response, Jack Goldsmith walked through the complex hypothetical chain of events that could occur if Trump follows through on removing Mueller. On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that Mueller is investigating Trump for possible obstruction of justice. Trump issued two tweets calling the obstruction of justice question “phony” and a “witch hunt.”

On Friday, Trump seemed to confirm he was under investigation in yet another tweet:

I am being investigated for firing the FBI Director by the man who told me to fire the FBI Director! Witch Hunt

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 16, 2017