Top Judiciary Dem: White House counsel must be removed immediately

The ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee said Thursday that White House Counsel Don McGahn should be removed immediately if a report in The New York Times revealing his attempt to stop Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsTuberville incorrectly says Gore was president-elect in 2000 Next attorney general must embrace marijuana law reforms Tuberville unseats Jones in Alabama Senate race MORE's recusal is true.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) called on McGahn to step down over the story, which Nadler called "completely unacceptable" conduct.

“Mr. McGahn’s reported conduct is completely unacceptable. The role of the Attorney General is to uphold the law — including the rules prohibiting Department of Justice officials from participating in cases in which they have a conflict of interest," Nadler said in a statement late Thursday.

"Either Mr. McGahn knows this, and decided to interfere with the Russia investigation anyway, or he doesn’t," Nadler added. "Neither case is acceptable and he should be removed from his post immediately."

Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation last year, passing the duties of overseeing the investigation to Deputy Attorney General Rod RosensteinRod RosensteinTrump turns his ire toward Cabinet members Ex-deputy attorney general says Justice Dept. 'will ignore' Trump's threats against political rivals The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump's erratic tweets upend stimulus talks; COVID-19 spreads in White House MORE. Trump, according to the story, was infuriated, as he believed his top law enforcement official would protect him.

"Where's my Roy Cohn?" Trump reportedly asked his top advisers. "Roy Cohn" refers to Trump's former lawyer and fixer by the same name who once served under Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.).

Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James ComeyJames Brien ComeyMcCabe defends investigation of Trump before Senate committee: We had 'many reasons' The Memo: Trump retains narrow path to victory Analysis: Where the swing states stand in Trump-Biden battle MORE through Rosenstein would eventually lead to the Justice Department's appointment of special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE to take over the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

“Mr. McGahn’s actions under Mr. Trump’s orders in either case would appear to be yet another incident pointing to an overall effort to obstruct and undermine the Department of Justice. It is not the duty of the White House Counsel to be the President's Roy Cohn, as Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpManufacturers association calls on GSA to begin transition process Biden vote tally getting close to 80 million Brent Budowsky wins The Hill's 2020 election prediction contest MORE would have it, but to protect and defend the Constitution — which Mr. McGahn seems to be failing to do," Nadler said.

McGahn's work to convince Sessions also earned him criticism from former Office of Government Ethics chief Walter ShaubWalter Michael ShaubEthics experts ask Senate to investigate Graham's probe of mail-in voting Interior 'propaganda' video and tweets may violate ethics laws, experts say Louisiana House candidate fundraises off opponent's tweet about wife's 'premonition' dream MORE, who tweeted his disapproval of McGahn Thursday evening.

"This story infuriates me. I am outraged by McGahn undermining the rule of law in the country I love. While McGahn was demanding Sessions' (sic) break the law, I was on the other line with DOJ demanding Sessions recuse. What I think of your attack on America, McGahn, isn’t fit to print," Shaub tweeted.