White House lawyer leaving after talking to investigators

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that White House counsel Don McGahn will step down after the Senate confirmation vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Trump confirmed the news with a tweet, noting, “I have worked with Don for a long time and truly appreciate his service!” McGahn played a major role in the president’s nomination of conservative judges to the federal judiciary, including the selections of Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch.

The New York Times reported Aug. 18 that McGahn may have given special counsel Robert Mueller’s team information that could prove damaging to the president. Trump subsequently defended McGahn on Twitter, saying he allowed the interviews and McGahn was not a “John Dean type ‘RAT.’” Former White House attorney John Dean’s testimony about President Richard Nixon proved crucial to the Watergate investigation.