The president’s strategy is being directed by Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel, and senior Justice Department officials. Like Attorney General William P. Barr, Mr. Cipollone has strong views about executive power. He has asked some confidants why they should not just reveal everything in the 448-page Mueller report, the vast majority of which has already been made public. But in private, Mr. Trump has continued to poll-test advisers about whether the Justice Department should instead seek to block Mr. Mueller from appearing. Legal scholars disagree about the administration’s chances of prevailing in court on its privilege claim and subpoena fights, but the White House sees little downside in waging the battle.

Source: New York Times May 10, 2019 00:11 UTC