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Monday 26 March 2018

Two lawyers are not joining

Trump’s legal team after all

By KEN THOMAS
CHAD DAY
Associated Press
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump will
not be adding two new lawyers to the legal team de-
fending him in the special counsel's Russia investigation
after all, one of the president's attorneys said Sunday.
Trump attorney Jay Sekulow said in a statement that
Washington lawyers Joseph diGenova and Victoria
Toensing have conflicts that won't allow them to rep-
resent the president regarding special counsel Robert
Mueller's investigation. Sekulow had announced diG-
enova's appointment last week.
Sunday's announcement came just hours after Trump
used Twitter to push back against reports that he's hav-
ing difficulty adding to his legal team, saying he was
"very happy" with his current attorneys.
"Many lawyers and top law firms want to represent me
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin arrives to testify on veterans programs before the Senate in the Russia case," he wrote, adding: "Fame & fortune
Committee on Veterans Affairs at Capitol Hill, Wednesday, March 21, 2018, in Washington. will NEVER be turned down by a lawyer, though some
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) are conflicted."
AP sources: Neither the president nor Sekulow specified the conflict
regarding diGenova and Toensing, who are married to
Trump to oust Shulkin as VA secretary each other and law partners, but their firm has repre-
sented other clients in the special counsel's investiga-
tion, including former Trump campaign adviser Sam
Clovis.
By HOPE YEN sensitive personnel matter. Speculation over Shulkin’s Sekulow said Trump was "disappointed" that diGeno-
KEN THOMAS Trump, who spent the fate has ramped up in re- va and Toensing won't be defending him in the spe-
Associated Press weekend at his Mar-a-Lago cent weeks following a cial counsel investigation, but "those conflicts do not
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — estate, told associates that blistering report by VA’s prevent them from assisting the President in other legal
President Donald Trump is he would keep two other internal watchdog in Feb- matters."
planning to oust embattled administration officials who ruary that found he had "The President looks forward to working with them," he
Veterans Affairs Secretary had been under fire: White improperly accepted added.
David Shulkin amid an ex- House chief of staff John F. Wimbledon tickets and his On Sunday, diGenova and Toensing released a joint
traordinary rebellion at the Kelly and Housing Secre- staff had doctored emails statement, saying, "We thank the president for his con-
agency and damaging tary Ben Carson. to justify his wife traveling fidence in us, and we look forward to working with him
government investigations "He did say that he's ex- to Europe with him at tax- on other matters." DiGenova, who provided the state-
into his alleged spending pecting to make one or payer expense. Earlier this ment to The Associated Press, declined to answer addi-
abuses, three administra- two major changes," said month, two people familiar tional questions about the nature of his and Toensing's
tion officials told The Asso- Newsmax CEO Chris Rud- with the White House dis- representation of the president.
ciated Press on Sunday. dy, a Trump confidant who cussions told the AP that DiGenova had been expected to usher in a new strat-
Two officials said an an- spoke with the president Trump increasingly viewed egy for the president after Trump’s lead attorney, John
nouncement on Shulkin over the weekend, on Shulkin as a distraction as Dowd, resigned last week.
could happen this week, ABC's "This Week." the White House floated Dowd had touted the cooperation of the White House
subject to Trump's final de- "Now, other White House the names of possible can- and Trump campaign with Mueller. DiGenova, a for-
cision as the White House sources, not the president, didates to replace him, in- mer U.S. attorney, has been a fierce defender of Trump
hones in on possible re- tell me that Veterans Affairs cluding conservative “Fox on television and accused the FBI of trying to “frame”
placements to head the Secretary David Shulkin is & Friends” contributor Pete the president for nonexistent crimes. Dowd was the
Department of Veterans likely to depart the Cabinet Hegseth. primary negotiator and legal strategist who had been
Affairs. One of the officials very soon," Ruddy said. The department provides putting together the president’s legal defense in the
rated Shulkin's chances of The White House did not medical care and other Russia probe led by Mueller. The legal team shake-up
being pushed out in the immediately comment. benefits to 9 million military also comes as Trump’s attorneys have been negotiat-
next day or two at "50-50." Shulkin did not respond veterans in more than 1,700 ing with Mueller over the scope and terms of an inter-
The three officials demand- to a request for comment health facilities around the view with the president.q
ed anonymity to discuss a Sunday. U.S.q