John Dowd, lead lawyer on United States President Donald Trump’s team handling the Russia investigation, resigned on Thursday. “I love the president and wish him well,” Dowd told CNN.
Dowd did not elaborate on his reasons for resigning. There is no clarity yet on who will take over as Trump’s lead attorney.
The lawyer called the Justice Department on March 17, seeking to end the inquiry into the alleged ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 election campaign, The New York Times reported. Dowd later claimed he had spoken only in his personal capacity, not on Trump’s behalf.
“John Dowd is a friend and has been a valuable member of our legal team,” Jay Sekulow, the president’s counsel, said on Thursday. “We will continue our ongoing representation of the president and our cooperation with the Office of Special Counsel.”
On Wednesday, Trump attacked Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating Russia’s alleged meddling in the US elections. Quoting Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz, he said there was no need for a special counsel as there was no cause to believe a crime had been committed.
The president’s attorneys are negotiating with Mueller’s team about a potential interview with Trump, CNN reported. In January, the president had claimed he was looking forward to being questioned.
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