Trump’s lead lawyer in Russia probe resigns

Departure comes as president seeks to beef up legal team.

John Dowd, a personal attorney to President Donald Trump, resigned his position Thursday amid a shake-up in the president’s legal team as Trump has sought more firepower to deal with the special coun- sel’s Russia investigation.

The resignation came Thursday, according to three people familiar with the decision.

In an email to The Wash- ington Post, Dowd wrote, “I love the President and wish him well.”

Dowd’s departure was a largely mutual decision made after the president lost confidence in his abil- ity to handle special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation and Dowd became frus- trated with Trump’s recent effortsto bring on new attorneys, they said.

Recently, Dowd clashed with the president, including an incident in which he disagreed vehemently with Trump over a legal strategy, according to the people.

Jay Sekulow, a Trump lawyer and spokesman for the legal team, told The Post, “John has been a va l uable part of the team and a friend and we will continue to cooperate fully with the special counsel.”