White House counsel Don McGahn last summer recused his office from handling special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe because many of his staff attorneys had been "significant participants" in events Mueller is investigating, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey and National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, former White House attorney Ty Cobb said Wednesday during a panel discussion at George Mason.
"The White House made a decision to recuse his entire office," Cobb said, according to Politico.
The recusal, Cobb said, opened the door for his hiring.
Cobb retired at the end of May and was replaced by Emmet Flood, a veteran defense attorney who has deep experience guiding American presidents, vice presidents, and governors through past scandals.