Vice President Pence hires private attorney amid Russian Federation collusion probes

After interviewing a series of candidates, Pence reportedly hired former USA attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Richard Cullen, now the chairman and a senior litigation partner at the firm McGuireWoods, which, incidentally, is where former F.B.I. director James Comey-recently fired by Trump and a now a key figure in any potential obstruction of justice charge-was once briefly a partner.

Trump and the White House have long maintained that there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians and more recently denied that the president in any way tried to obstruct justice.

Pence has hired Richard Cullen, the chairman of McGuireWoods in Richmond and a former United States attorney with extensive experience handling government investigations, according to a spokesman for Pence.

Julie O'Sullivan, a law professor at Georgetown University who worked on the Whitewater case, said it is not unusual for individuals in Pence's position to hire lawyers under such circumstances.

Mr. Pence, who had little relationship with the president before joining the campaign ticket just before last July's Republican convention, is most likely a peripheral figure in the government's inquiry into Russia's interference in the election and potential collusion with members of the Trump campaign.

According to the report, Mueller is also investigating the businesses and finances of Trump's senior-level adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The obstruction of justice investigation into Trump began days after Comey was sacked on May 9, according to people familiar with the matter, the Washington Post said. But Trump later said he was going to fire Comey regardless of the recommendation. Using his leadership PAC, any donor is allowed to bankroll Pence's legal defense, including President Donald Trump.

Cullen, who has experience dating back to Watergate and Iran-Contra investigations, referred questions to Pence's office. He chose Cullen earlier this week, after interviewing several candidates. On Monday, a Trump friend said the president was considering dismissing Mueller although the White House said later he had no plans to do so.

The new allegations against Trump centre on his own admission that he fired Comey because of the Russian Federation investigation, and suggestions he asked several top intelligence officials for their help altering the direction of the inquiry.

A spokesman for Marc Kasowitz, Trump's personal attorney, admonished the Federal Bureau of Investigation for appearing to have leaked classified information.

A spokesman for Mueller's team declined to comment on Wednesday.