A Washington Post article on Wednesday reported that special counsel Robert Mueller had included President Donald Trump in the obstruction of justice investigation. There was no mention at all of the vice president being included, but Mike Pence, nevertheless, got himself a private lawyer for the Russian investigation.
The New York Daily News reported that Pence hired an outside legal counsel. The former governor of Indiana hired a Richmond-based lawyer, Richard Cullen who is the chairman of the McGuireWoods law firm. Cullen used to be the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Promoting the president’s agenda
Jarrod Agen, the spokesman of the vice president, confirmed that Pence retained the services of Cullen to assist the VP in responding to inquiries by the special counsel. The Washington Post report said that Mueller would interview three people to search for proof of possible financial crimes among the associates of Trump. Pence was not on the list, but he repeated the incorrect claims publicly of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn on the latter’s contact with Russian officials.
Agen said that Pence hired a lawyer as part of his focus on his duties as vice president and to promote the president’s agenda. He added the VP is looking forward to a swift conclusion of the Russian investigation.
Pence follows Trump’s example
No taxpayer money would be used by Pence to pay for Cullen’s service, The Washington Post reported. Pence interviewed several candidates and took several weeks before he decided to retain Cullen. The VP hired his own legal counsel after Trump retained Marc Kasowitz as his private lawyer.
With the expansion of Mueller’s investigation, some White House staff are scrambling to hire their own personal lawyers as a protective measure.
They are preparing in case they receive a subpoena from the special counsel. Kasowitz, however, reportedly told the giddy employees they do not need to retain their own lawyers. Pence’s hiring of Cullen, though, may lead other West Wing aides to look for attorneys also.
No links to Russia
Pence was the head of the White House transition team of Trump after the election.
He reiterated the president’s stand that there was no collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russian officials. The VP cited the assurance from James Comey, the former FBI director, that Trump was not being investigated when he talked to reporters on Capitol Hill in May, CNN reported.
All that changed when Trump fired Comey which led Mueller to include the president in obstruction of justice investigation.
