Trump gives vote of confidence to legal team

President Trump on Thursday defended the White House team heading up his defense in the ongoing investigation into Russian election meddling.

Trump declared he has confidence in the White House lawyer handling the Russia probe, who has come under fire from outside allies who want him to take a more combative approach to dealing with special counsel Robert Mueller.

In a tweet, Trump said he agrees with attorney Ty Cobb’s “historically cooperative, disciplined approach” toward the Mueller investigation.

{mosads}

“I have full confidence in Ty Cobb, my Special Counsel, and have been fully advised throughout each phase of this process,” Trump wrote.

I have agreed with the historically cooperative, disciplined approach that we have engaged in with Robert Mueller (Unlike the Clintons!). I have full confidence in Ty Cobb, my Special Counsel, and have been fully advised throughout each phase of this process.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2018

The president’s comments come after ousted White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon went public with his plan to counter the Mueller investigation, which includes firing Cobb “immediately,” according to The Washington Post.

Bannon claimed Trump was not “fully briefed by his lawyers on the implications” of cooperating with Mueller.

The tweet fueled the sense of chaos and uncertainty surrounding Trump’s thinking about Mueller’s investigation. 

The president was irate Monday after the FBI raided the office, home and hotel room of his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, in part over a referral from Mueller’s team. 

Trump bashed the raid as an “attack on our country” and opened the possibility of firing Mueller, something that Cobb and others have cautioned him against. 

He has reportedly discussed firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the special counsel probe and is said to have approved the Cohen raid. 

Meanwhile, Trump’s personal legal team is also undergoing a shake-up after his chief personal lawyer, John Dowd, left the team last month.

That has left Cobb and outside attorney Jay Sekulow to handle Trump’s legal response to the Russia probe. 

The president has reportedly heard outside advice from legal figures, including Alan Dershowitz, and has had an array of allies go on television to rail against Mueller. 

Updated at 1:25 p.m.