The Daily How Trump’s Protector Became Mueller’s Best Witness
Apr 22, 2019
Michael S. Schmidt, a New York Times reporter who has extensively covered the Mueller investigation, dives deep into the intriguing story of Donald McGahn II. Once Trump’s protector, McGahn became a pivotal witness against him, cited 157 times in the Mueller report. Schmidt discusses McGahn's inner turmoil between loyalty to the President and his legal responsibilities, his documentation efforts for self-preservation, and the fallout from his testimony that left Trump feeling betrayed. Tune in for a captivating look at loyalty, ethics, and the high stakes of political counsel.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
McGahn's Near Resignation
- Trump directed McGahn to fire Mueller, claiming conflicts of interest.
- McGahn, perturbed, prepared to resign but ultimately stayed after speaking with Priebus and Bannon.
McGahn's Cooperation
- McGahn initially advised against cooperating with Mueller, foreseeing potential damage.
- Ironically, Trump's cooperation strategy granted Mueller access to McGahn, whose testimony became crucial.
Trump's Pressure on McGahn
- After the Times reported on Trump's firing attempt, he urged McGahn to deny the story.
- Trump called McGahn a "lying bastard" and wanted a falsified record denying the firing order.