President Donald Trump wanted to be "personally protected by the attorney general" in the Russia probe, The New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman told CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" on Thursday night.
Haberman expanded on the Times' blockbuster story that Trump ordered his top White House lawyer, Donald McGahn, to stop Attorney General Jeff Sessions from recusing himself in the Russia probe — and special counsel Robert Mueller might have significant evidence to charge Trump with obstruction of justice.
Cooper asked if McGahn, who unsuccessfully lobbied Sessions to remain in charge of the Russia inquiry, was acting on the behalf of orders from Trump.
"Correct," Haberman responded. "The president wanted to be personally protected by the attorney general with regard to the Russia probe. This is about — this is the clearest, most substantial reporting we have seen about what the president demanded and what he wanted of the attorney general with regard to this probe."
Haberman also noted another revelation in the story was an aide to Sessions went to Capitol Hill four days before FBI Director James Comey was fired to dig up dirt on Comey.
"Do we know on whose behest that he did that?" Cooper asked.
"We don't," Haberman responded. "But it was somebody working for Jeff Sessions. It's not clear whether Sessions directly knew or didn't directly know — but it came from the Department of Justice."
The remarks were posted by Mediaite.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.