Trump’s revamped legal team could get more aggressive

WASHINGTON – When President Trump is anxious, angry or ready to make a change, the targets of his ire rarely need to look any further than the president’s busy Twitter account.

This week, Trump’s legal team took the place of his Cabinet in the president’s line of fire.

Trump has made no secret of his impatience with the pace of the inquiry into Russia’s suspected interference in the 2016 election, taking to Twitter to call for an end to the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. This weekend’s tweet flurry was followed by a shake-up of the president’s legal team.

The addition of former federal prosecutor Joseph diGenova and Thursday’s resignation of attorney John Dowd came as lawyers were in the midst of negotiations with Mueller over terms of a possible interview with Trump.

Thursday, the president reaffirmed his willingness to meet with Mueller: “Sure, I would like to.”

Trump’s long-stated desire for a confrontation with prosecutors may provide the clearest explanation for the departure of Dowd, who sought to shield the president by seeking conditions for such a meeting.

Trump and Dowd had argued about legal strategy, said two people familiar with the relationship who were not authorized to comment publicly. Dowd wanted to stress cautious cooperation with Mueller; Trump preferred a more aggressive approach.

DiGenova has rebuked the Mueller investigation, and his appointment may signal that more aggressive push. DiGenova cast the Russia inquiry as “an attempt to frame an incoming president with a false Russia conspiracy.”