Trump Administration Officials Hire Lawyers Ahead of Midterms
Officials in the Donald Trump administration are securing private legal counsel to prepare for potential Democratic-led congressional investigations following the upcoming midterm elections.
Officials within the administration of Donald Trump are hiring private legal counsel to prepare for potential congressional investigations should Democrats win control of the House or Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. Senior officials, cabinet secretaries, and midlevel staffers are seeking representation to manage legal, financial, and reputational risks, as conflict-of-interest rules limit the number of clients a single firm can represent.
House Democrats have already sent letters to administration-linked figures, including Jared Kushner, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Donald Trump Jr. Lawyers interpret these letters as precursors to subpoenas. Potential probes may target the financing of Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding, the Kennedy Center renovation, and alleged pay-to-play pardons.
To manage these risks, the White House appointed Will Scharf as White House counsel and Katie Bailey as director of the Office of Legislative Affairs to coordinate with Capitol Hill. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis dismissed the concerns, characterizing the efforts as a "decadelong witch hunt" and criticizing media narratives regarding potential Republican losses in the elections.
