Vice-President Pence hires lawyer to deal with Trump-Russia inquiry
Vice-President Pence hires lawyer to deal with Trump-Russia inquiry: An outside lawyer has been hired by Vice-President Mike Pence in order to handle his response to inquiries into possible ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russia.
The lawyer Richard Cullen is known for representing high profile clients.
US media had earlier reported that Donald Trump is being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller for possible obstruction of justice.
An FBI inquiry into Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election is being lead by Mr Mueller.
According to the reports of US media senior intelligence officials will be interviewed on whether or not Mr Trump had tried to end an inquiry into his sacked National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, and about the firing of FBI chief James Comey.
Conversely President Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia, he has described the move as the latest action in a “phony story.”
In a tweet the US President had said “You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history – led by some very bad and conflicted people!”
Mr Pence’s office announced the decision to hire Mr Cullen on Thursday. It said the vice-president had earlier interviewed several candidates.
Spokesmen for Mr Pence said “The vice president is focused entirely on his duties and promoting the president’s agenda and looks forward to a swift conclusion of this matter“.
Mr Cullen is the chairman of McGuireWoods LLP law firm.
Mr Cullen has already represented high profile clients such as former US congressman Tom DeLay and Elin Nordegren, ex-wife of golfer Tiger Woods.
The high profile lawyer was also involved into the Iran-Contra and the Watergate investigations.
Last month, President Trump hired his own lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, to handle Russia-related investigations by the FBI and US congressional committees.
According to the latest media reports the obstruction of justice investigation began just days after Mr Trump had fired Mr Comey on 9th of May.
Mr Comey, who had been leading one of several Russia inquiries, testified to Congress last week that the president had pressured him to drop the inquiry into Mr Flynn.
Mr Flynn stepped down in February after failing to reveal the extent of his contacts with Sergei Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to Washington.
Mr Comey testified under oath that President Trump had told him during a private meeting: “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”
The White House has said the president “has never asked Mr Comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving General Flynn.”
Mr Comey said he was “sure” Mr Mueller was looking at whether President Trump had obstructed justice.
However Mr Comey also testified that to his knowledge the president had not tried to stop the Russia investigation.
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