White House attorneys have begun researching issues related to impeachment procedures, sources have told CNN. This comes after a rash of negative reports against President Donald Trump on Friday afternoon.
Those reports include a New York Times story about the President telling Russian officials that his firing of FBI Director James Comey eased pressure that he was facing because of Russia; a Washington Post article reporting that a senior White House official is being investigated by the Justice Department; and a report by McClatchy that the federal investigation of connections between Russia and the Trump campaign is now looking into a possible cover-up.
Members of Congress were already talking about possible impeachment when a Times report about a memo written by Comey said that the President asked him to stop investigating former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. The request to cease an investigation raised eyebrows, as well as concerns that Trump could be guilty of obstruction of justice. Now that the President has reportedly admitted that removing Comey from office — and as a result, the Russia investigation — there could be a stronger case to show the necessary intent for obstruction.
According to CNN, the lawyers researching impeachment do not believe that impeachment is an immediate concern, and an attorney close to the office of White House counsel Don McGahn reportedly said that such research doesn’t sound like something McGahn would go along with.
