Trump aides seek personal lawyers ahead of possible Democratic probes, WSJ reports
In short
Senior members of the Trump administration are lining up personal lawyers before the November midterms, the Wall Street Journal reported, as they fear large congressional investigations if Democrats win the House or Senate. Judd Stone, co-founder of the law firm Stonehilton, said inquiries began in June and are becoming more frequent. The White House publicly denies concern about losing the midterms.
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Senior members of the Trump administration are seeking personal lawyers ahead of the November US midterm elections, the Wall Street Journal reported, according to Korean outlets. The concern is that if Democrats win a majority in either the House or the Senate, they could open large congressional investigations of the administration. The WSJ said people from cabinet level to mid-level staff are contacting law firms for legal advice. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Judd Stone, co-founder of the law firm Stonehilton, which has close ties to Republicans, said inquiries began intermittently in June and have become more frequent since. Some senior officials are considering whether they need a separate lawyer who represents only their own interests, even if the Justice Department handles the administration's legal response. Because one firm can hardly represent several officials at once because of conflicts of interest, the WSJ said, there is also a race to secure preferred lawyers first. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Korea Economic Daily and Chosun Ilbo said clients are also turning to Torridon Law (토리던 로) in Washington, where William Barr, the former attorney general, is among the lawyers. Companies are preparing too. Steve Roberts, a partner at Lex Politica (렉스폴리티카), which mainly serves conservative clients, said inquiries come from senior officials and also from major companies and start-ups. "If you have supported this administration, you know you could be a target," he said. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Possible subjects of investigation include allegations that pardons were granted in return for money or political favours, the Kennedy Center renovation, and a report that a Russian oligarch paid for Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding events. Companies that did business with the Trump family or the administration could also be drawn in. Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee have already sent letters to Jared Kushner, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Kennedy Center officials and pardon recipients. Legal circles see the letters as groundwork for subpoenas, and some expect formal investigations as early as February. Chosun Ilbo noted that being named as a possible subject does not mean wrongdoing has been established. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The White House is also preparing, according to current and former officials cited in the reports. Senior officials in the Communications Office and the Counsel's Office have discussed responses to investigations and subpoenas since spring. Trump moved Will Scharf, his former personal lawyer, to the post of White House counsel and named Katie Bailey, who has experience with House and Senate oversight committees, to a congressional affairs role. Publicly, the White House denies worry about losing. Spokesperson Lauren Bis (로런 비스) said the media is obsessed with spreading claims based on fake polls that Republicans will lose majorities, and that the Democrats' only agenda is a ten-year witch hunt against Trump. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Korea Economic Daily added that legal costs are an open question. A legal-expense fund was created in Trump's first term for people caught up in Russia-related probes, and former officials said they do not know whether one has been set up now. It quoted Mick Mulvaney, Trump's first-term chief of staff, as saying most aides lack experience with investigations and may underestimate the time and cost. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The reports say a Democratic majority in either chamber could open broad investigations of the administration, and that officials are preparing individually as well as through the White House. Companies that backed or dealt with the administration are also seeking legal advice, according to the outlets.
Key facts
- The Wall Street Journal reported that cabinet-level officials and aides in the Trump administration are seeking personal lawyers ahead of the November midterm elections. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Judd Stone, co-founder of the law firm Stonehilton (스톤힐턴), said inquiries began intermittently in June and have become more frequent. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Officials are weighing whether they need separate lawyers who represent only their own interests even if the Justice Department handles the administration's defence. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Because one firm can hardly represent several officials at once because of conflicts of interest, officials are competing to secure preferred lawyers first. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Democratic members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee have sent letters to Jared Kushner, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Kennedy Center officials and pardon recipients. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Lawyers quoted in the coverage expect formal investigations could begin as early as February next year if Democrats win a majority. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The WSJ reported that administration figures from cabinet level to mid-level staff are contacting law firms for legal advice before the midterms because Democrats could launch large congressional investigations if they take either chamber. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Stone of Stonehilton said inquiries began intermittently in June and have grown more frequent. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Possible subjects of investigation include allegations of pardons granted in return for money or political favours, the Kennedy Center renovation, and a report that a Russian oligarch paid for Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding events. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Democratic lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee have already sent letters to Kushner, Hegseth, Kennedy Center officials and pardon recipients. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- White House Communications Office and Counsel's Office officials have discussed responses to congressional investigations and subpoenas since this spring, according to current and former officials cited by the outlets. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the allegations named as possible investigation subjects have any basis. Chosun Ilbo said that their being cited as possible subjects does not mean wrongdoing has been established.
- Who will pay officials' personal legal costs. Korea Economic Daily said a legal-expense fund was created in the first term for people caught up in Russia-related probes, and former officials said they do not know whether a similar fund exists now.
- The date of the WSJ report. Yonhap, CBS NoCut News and Korea Economic Daily say it was published on the 19th US time, while Chosun Ilbo says the 18th.
- Whether Democrats will win a majority in either chamber. The outlets describe the investigations as contingent on the November election result, and the White House disputes the polls suggesting Republicans may lose.