U.S. Department of Justice
Attorney Work Product // May Contain Material Protected Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e)
and that he would do so precipitously, without vetting the decision through Administration officials.[1] Ruddy asked Priebus if Ruddy could talk publicly about the discussion they had about the Special Counsel, and Priebus said he could.[2] Priebus told Ruddy he hoped another blow up like the one that followed the termination of Comey did not happen.[3] Later that day, Ruddy stated in a televised interview that the President was "considering perhaps terminating the Special Counsel" based on purported conflicts of interest.[4] Ruddy later told another news outlet that "Trump is definitely considering" terminating the Special Counsel and "it's not something that's being dismissed.[5] Ruddy's comments led to extensive coverage in the media that the President was considering firing the Special Counsel.[6]
White House officials were unhappy with that press coverage and Ruddy heard from friends that the President was upset with him.[7] On June 13, 2017, Sanders asked the President for guidance on how to respond to press inquiries about the possible firing of the Special Counsel.[8] The President dictated an answer, which Sanders delivered, saying that "[w]hile the president has every right to" fire the Special Counsel, "he has no intention to do so."[9]
Also on June 13, 2017, the President's personal counsel contacted the Special Counsel's Office and raised concerns about possible conflicts.[10] The President's counsel cited Mueller's previous partnership in his law firm, his interview for the FBI Director position, and an asserted personal relationship he had with Comey.[11] That same day, Rosenstein had testified publicly before Congress and said he saw no evidence of good cause to terminate the Special Counsel, including for conflicts of interest.[12] Two days later, on June 15, 2017, the Special Counsel's
- ↑ Ruddy 6/6/18 302, at 5-6.
- ↑ Ruddy 6/6/18 302, at 6.
- ↑ Ruddy 6/6/18 302, at 6.
- ↑ Trump Confidant Christopher Ruddy says Mueller has "real conflicts" as special counsel, PBS (June 12, 2017); Michael D. Shear & Maggie Haberman, Friend Says Trump Is Considering Firing Mueller as Special Counsel, New York Times (June 12, 2017).
- ↑ Katherine Faulders & Veronica Stracqualursi, Trump friend Chris Ruddy says Spicer's 'bizarre' statement doesn't deny claim Trump seeking Mueller firing, ABC (June 13, 2017).
- ↑ See, e.g., Michael D. Shear & Maggie Haberman, Friend Says Trump Is Considering Firing Mueller as Special Counsel, New York Times (June 12, 2017).
- ↑ Ruddy 6/6/18 302, at 6-7.
- ↑ Sanders 7/3/18 302, at 6-7.
- ↑ Glenn Thrush et al., Trump Stews, Staff Steps In, and Mueller Is Safe for Now, New York Times (June 13, 2017); see Sanders 7/3/18 302, at 6 (Sanders spoke with the President directly before speaking to the press on Air Force One and the answer she gave is the answer the President told her to give).
- ↑ Special Counsel's Office Attorney 6/13/17 Notes. 558 Special Counsel's Office Attorney 6/13/17 Notes.
- ↑ Special Counsel's Office Attorney 6/13/17 Notes. 558 Special Counsel's Office Attorney 6/13/17 Notes.
- ↑ Hearing on Fiscal 2018 Justice Department Budget before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, 115th Cong. (June 13, 2017) (CQ Cong. Transcripts, at 14) (testimony by Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General).
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