John Dowd, a lawyer representing President Donald Trump in Special Counsel Robert Mueller‘s investigation into the 2016 election, resigned on Thursday, according to reports.
Dowd told the Washington Post: “I love the president and wish him well.”
The departure of Dowd, who signed on to help the president last year, comes just 11 days after Trump blasted the media for reporting on tensions among Trump’s legal team.
On March 11, the president said the New York Times “purposely wrote a false story that I am unhappy with my legal team on the Russia case,” later adding that he was “VERY happy” with his lawyers, specifically naming Dowd, Ty Cobb, and Jay Sekulow.
The Failing New York Times purposely wrote a false story stating that I am unhappy with my legal team on the Russia case and am going to add another lawyer to help out. Wrong. I am VERY happy with my lawyers, John Dowd, Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow. They are doing a great job and…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2018
However, circumstances may have changed after Trump called out the story.
Over the weekend, Dowd made news when he said the Russia investigation should “end,” and told the Daily Beast he was speaking for the president.
Dowd walked that back when later speaking with the Post, telling the newspaper he was only speaking for himself.
The Post reports that Dowd leaving the legal team was a mutual decision.
Trump’s dissatisfaction with his legal team has come as he’s begun to ramp up attacks on Mueller’s investigation. The president has reportedly told confidants that he fears that Mueller’s probe is “going to choke the life out of” his presidency.
Earlier this week, the Times reported that Trump considered dismissing Cobb and that Dowd had thought about leaving his position because the president was not listening to his advice.
The president also hired Joseph E. diGenova, a lawyer and frequent guest on Fox News, who has trumpeted the “deep state” conspiracy theory in the past.
