Ty Cobb is out, Emmet Flood is in.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

On MSNBC. Another shake-up in Trump's legal team.

I'm really surprised that a lawyer with Flood's reputation would agree to work for Trump.

[Leghorn21]

1. NYT reports:

Trump to Add Clinton Impeachment Lawyer Emmet Flood to Replace Ty Cobb

WASHINGTON — President Trump plans to hire Emmet T. Flood, the veteran Washington lawyer who represented Bill Clinton during his impeachment, to replace Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer who has taken the lead in dealing with the special counsel investigation, who is retiring, according to two people briefed on the matter.

In a phone interview, Mr. Cobb said he informed the president weeks ago that he wanted to retire. He said he planned to stay at the White House, likely through the end of the month, to help Mr. Flood transition into the new job.

“It has been an honor to serve the country in this capacity at the White House,” he said. “I wish everybody well moving forward.”

Mr. Flood is expected to take a more adversarial approach to the investigation than Mr. Cobb, who had pushed Mr. Trump to strike a cooperative tone. Mr. Flood initially spoke with the White House last summer about working for the president, but the talks ultimately fell apart because Mr. Flood did not want to deal with Mr. Trump’s longtime New York lawyer, Marc E. Kasowitz, who was overseeing the president’s dealings with the special counsel at the time.

More:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/us/politics/emmet-flood-ty-cobb-white-house-lawyer-special-counsel.html#click=https://t.co/57yWiC6mpK

[CincyDem]

2. Seems like a "real" lawyer. Defended Clinton in the impeachment proceedings.

If his thing is big government actions like this, he probably doesn't lose sleep about the ideology of his client. It'll be more interesting to see him approach to not having control of his client (although that will likely be far less of an issue in the political process of impeachment vs. any judicial process).

[OldHippieChick]

3. I wonder what the Vegas odds are that

a "real" lawyer will last longer than 6 months.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Flood seems to have a strong stomach.

He represented Dick Cheney in the civil suit arising from the Valerie Plame matter.

[OldHippieChick]

15. I'm not denying he's had other unsavory clients. Most

clients are smart enough to take his advice and that will keep him aboard. But Cheeto likes to hire the "best" people and then ignore what they have to say believing he has all the answers. I'm saying that will not go over well w/ Flood.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. Yes, at least his previous clients were smart enough to shut up

and let their lawyer do his job. Even W, who is no rocket scientist, had that much sense.

[manor321]

4. Another one for Rachel's wall! n/t

[H2O Man]

6. Recommended.

This centers entirely upon the possibility (likelihood) that Mr. Mueller will request Trump's presence before the grand jury. Mr. Flood is being brought in to try to fight that, if and when it happens. Mr. Cobb had no more ability to do that, than he has to enter the NBA and lead his team to a championship.

[hlthe2b]

7. I'll miss his mustache... Bolton's, on the other hand is as cheesy and disgusting as the wearer...

[procon]

8. Any bets on how many days he'll last before he "retires" too? nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Flood is a "real" lawyer with a lot of experience

and legal bona fides. He will expect his client to pay attention to and follow his advice, which is likely to be of better quality than that given by at least some of Trump's previous lawyers. He probably thinks his experience, including defending a president who was being impeached, will cause Trump to take him seriously and do what he advises, like Clinton and even Bush and Cheney did. My bet is that he will end up in the same situation as everyone else who works for Trump - not just lawyers but cabinet secretaries and WH staff - which is frustrated, ineffective, embarrassed and diminished. I'll be really surprised if he lasts more than a few months.

[tblue37]

12. "He will expect his client to pay. . . ." nt

[uponit7771]

17. +1

[sunonmars]

10. This one will be gone in a week when he sees the paperwork and goes "screw this"

[hlthe2b]

11. NOTE: Flood would be coming in as WHITE HOUSE counsel assistance to McGahn according to some?

not Trump's personal attorney..?

So, IF SO, NO attorney client privilege. He would represent (as did Cobb) the institution of the Presidency. That might make him a real hard-ass when it comes to fighting impeachment or a Grand Jury subpoena, but he's doing so in defense of the Presidency and not Trump personally. So, that ought to be kept in mind, I think.

On edit, I am seeing conflicting accounts as to what would be Flood's role, so I guess we shall se...

[tblue37]

13. McGahn is WH counsel, no?

[hlthe2b]

14. Yes, McGahn is but I'd seen lawyers posting that Cobb's was a position within McGahn's office

But now I'm seeing conflicting descriptions, so I guess we shall see...

[nolabear]

16. Oh yeah, he's draining the hell out of that swamp.

Clinton’s lawyer, eh? Next he’ll be calling up Bill at two am trying to commiserate. I hope Hillary listens in and drinks his salty tears.