Ex-federal prosecutor: Trump team is 'playing politics' with accusations Mueller obtained emails 'illegally'

Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti explained the political gamesmanship behind Trump-allied attorney Kory Langhofer's contention that special counsel Bob Mueller illegally obtained tens of thousands of emails from President Donald Trump's White House transition team.

Mariotti said that the accusations -- like the rest of the right-wing attacks on Mueller -- are just Trump supporters "playing politics" and attempting to ink the waters around the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election -- the topic Trump and his boosters most want to avoid.

In a series of tweets, Mariotti said that the way Trump's defenders are flailing is "a bad sign for them."