Ex-FBI deputy intel chief details how former Trump lawyer John Dowd could be 'exposed criminally'

Former FBI Assistant Director for Counterintelligence Frank Figliuzzi explained on MSNBC's Deadline: White House that special counsel Robert Mueller may be investigating former Donald Trump lawyer John Dowd for obstruction of justice.

Dowd, who quit last week, reportedly raised the possibility of pardoning former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

"Does it suggest any legal exposure for Mr. Dowd?" anchor Nicolle Wallace asked. "Could he be someone who is now of interest to the special counsel? Would they be interested in knowing if he was dangling these potential pardons in front of known witnesses ... Does Mr. Dowd have anything to worry about legally?"

"Yeah, this gets very complicated, as you know, when you're talking about executive privilege, attorney/client privilege, all of this comes into play," Figliuzzi reminded. "But I can tell you from knowing how Mueller operates and how his team sets out on a mission is they won't be stymied by those concerns."

"They'll do it right, but they may indeed look at criminal exposure for Dowd, if they have supporting evidence that this was all about the intent to obstruct, and not merely, hey, you've asked us about a pardon, here's how a pardon would work," he explained.

"But understand they've got sources and methods that we don't -- we aren't privy to right now," Figliuzzi continued. "My guess is those sources and methods are telling them this probably was about obstruction and if that's true, if that's true, we could see Dowd exposed criminally."

Watch: