In yet another stunning shakeup, John Dowd—Donald Trump’s lead outside lawyer for special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation—announced his resignation from the legal team, a mere 11 days after the president insisted he’s “VERY happy” with his attorneys.
On March 11, Trump tried to push back on a “false story” in the New York Times that indicated the president was “frustrated with his team’s legal strategy” and considering new options.
“The Failing New York Times purposely wrote a false story stating that I am unhappy with my legal team on the Russia case and am going to add another lawyer to help out,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Wrong. I am VERY happy with my lawyers, John Dowd, Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow.”
The Failing New York Times purposely wrote a false story stating that I am unhappy with my legal team on the Russia case and am going to add another lawyer to help out. Wrong. I am VERY happy with my lawyers, John Dowd, Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow. They are doing a great job and…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2018
…have shown conclusively that there was no Collusion with Russia..just excuse for losing. The only Collusion was that done by the DNC, the Democrats and Crooked Hillary. The writer of the story, Maggie Haberman, a Hillary flunky, knows nothing about me and is not given access.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2018
The news of Dowd’s departure came just two days after the president hired Washington lawyer Joseph diGenova, who has pushed a conspiracy that the FBI and Justice Department are trying to frame Trump.
The president’s denial of the Times report, coupled with Trump’s new legal hire and Dowd’s resignation, was not lost on reporters—including Fox News’ Bret Baier—who took to Twitter to point out the president’s claim of “fake news” doesn’t hold up.
Just keeping track – exactly 11 days after this tweet —John Dowd is out and Joe DiGenova has been added to the legal team with more additions expected to come. https://t.co/3SOXAcOsMq
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) March 22, 2018
We have and we continue to. I am simply pointing out that something stated by the President to be “FAKE news” 11 days ago – is no longer. Whether Dowd resigned or was fired – another lawyer WAS added and more are expected. https://t.co/2tLn4MOdou
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) March 22, 2018
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