White House Lacks Lawyers to Deal with Democrats

Politico: “The White House counsel’s office is down to a skeletal staff, potentially leaving them unprepared to deal with a flood of subpoenas for documents and witnesses when Democrats take control of the House. The office has been without a permanent leader since ex-White House senior attorney Don McGahn left the administration in mid-October.”

“His replacement, Pat Cipollone, is caught up in an extended background check that’s prevented him from starting.”

“Amid the leadership tumult, the counsel’s office has shrunk to about 25 lawyers… That’s lower than its recent high point of roughly 35 attorneys and well short of the 40 people that some expect it will need to deal with a reinvigorated Democratic party eager to investigate the president’s tax returns and business dealings in foreign countries, reopen probes into Russian election meddling and explore the behavior of a bevy of Cabinet officials.”