Just a week after John Dowd quit Donald Trump's legal team comes a report from the New York Times that he may have dangled the prospect of a Trump pardon in front of two of the most crucial witnesses in the Russia probe. Dowd reportedly approached the lawyers of both Michael Flynn, Trump's short-lived national security adviser, and Paul Manafort, Trump's one-time campaign chief. The Times writes:
The discussions came as the special counsel was building cases against both men, and they raise questions about whether the lawyer, John Dowd, was offering pardons to influence their decisions about whether to plead guilty and cooperate in the investigation.
The talks suggest that Mr. Trump’s lawyers were concerned about what Mr. Flynn and Mr. Manafort might reveal were they to cut a deal with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, in exchange for leniency. Mr. Mueller’s team could investigate the prospect that Mr. Dowd made pardon offers to thwart the inquiry, although legal experts are divided about whether such offers might constitute obstruction of justice. [...]
Mr. Dowd has said privately that he did not know why Mr. Flynn had accepted a plea, according to one of the people. He said he had told [Flynn's lawyer Robert] Kelner that the president had long believed that the case against Mr. Flynn was flimsy and was prepared to pardon him, the person said.
In both instances, Dowd's pardon discussions came prior to their indictments. In Flynn's case, Dowd floated the idea just after he had joined Trump's legal team last summer, around the time a grand jury was hearing the case against Flynn. Flynn ultimately became a cooperating witness in November and pleaded guilty in December.
Dowd also approached the lawyer representing Manafort before he was indicted in October and pleaded not guilty. Manafort claims he neither wants nor needs a pardon.
Whatever Dowd's legal exposure might be for such actions, he seems a teensy bit touchy about it.
He denied on Wednesday that he discussed pardons with lawyers for the president’s former advisers.
“There were no discussions. Period,” Mr. Dowd said. “As far as I know, no discussions.” [...]
In July, amid reports that Mr. Trump was considering granting pardons to his associates under investigation, Mr. Dowd told BuzzFeed that “there is nothing going on on pardons, research — nothing.”
Both of Trump's remaining attorneys in the Russia probe, Jay Sekulow and Ty Cobb, issued blanket denials of any discussions regarding pardons. However, Trump has reportedly shown a keen interest in his pardon powers.
During interviews with Mr. Mueller’s investigators in recent months, current and former administration officials have recounted conversations they had with the president about potential pardons for former aides under investigation by the special counsel, according to two people briefed on the interviews.
In one meeting with lawyers from the White House Counsel’s Office last year, Mr. Trump asked about the extent of his pardon power, according to a person briefed on the conversation. The lawyers explained that the president’s powers were broad, the person said.
Does that sound like a man with nothing to hide?