The Tension of Loyalty and Duty in a Political Crisis

The most interesting figure in the Mueller report may be the man who was hired to protect President Trump, but turned out to be the most damaging witness against him. We look at the role of Donald F. McGahn II, the former White House counsel. Guest: Michael S. Schmidt, who has been covering the special counsel investigation for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Background reading:

• Mr. McGahn’s interviews — including an account of being asked by President Trump to remove the special counsel — were cited in the Mueller report 157 times, more than any other witness.
• Mr. McGahn is one of many Trump aides who took notes of their interactions with the president. In some cases, it was to help them do their jobs, but in others it was for self-preservation.

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