Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb stated flatly in an interview discussion that special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe isn’t a witch hunt.
Cobb made the statement – which rebuts a central claim of President Donald Trump’s – during an interview conducted by Gloria Borger, contributor to CNN, which Trump brands “fake news.”
“I don’t think it’s a witch hunt,” said Cobb, when asked point blank.
That’s a term Trump has used regularly (over 70 time son Twitter) to describe the Mueller investigation:
A total WITCH HUNT with massive conflicts of interest!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2018
Cobb also had praise both for Mueller and his team of investigators, praising both his Vietnam service (he won a bronze star) and his deliberate focus.
“Bob Mueller is an American hero in my view. He carried – while he was injured, carried one of his fellow soldiers out of harm’s way in Vietnam,” said Cobb. “He’s a very deliberate person. He’s got some very serious lawyers who are working for him.”
Trump at various times has labeled Mueller’s team “13 Angry Democrats” and other iterations.
Cobb resigned amid clashes between Trump and Mueller’s team, amid complaints that his strategy had been too accommodating. He also expressed his gratitude to Trump.
“I’ve done what I came to do in terms of managing the White House response to the special counsel requests,” Cobb said. “I’m extremely grateful to the President and Chief of staff John Kelly for the opportunity to serve my country.”
At one point, Borger asked: “Will he find obstruction, or collusion?” Cobb only answered about collusion.
“I think on that it’d be unfair to make a prediction, but there’s been no evidence of collusion throughout this and I think that’ll be the case,” he said.