Trump’s Top Aides Clash Over Impeachment as House Probe Expands
- Chief of staff Mulvaney, White House lawyer Cipollone at odds
- Animosity threatens to complicate Trump’s impeachment defense
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Two of Donald Trump’s most senior aides, Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, are clashing over who should direct the president’s response to the House impeachment inquiry, according to people familiar with the matter.
Cipollone sees impeachment as his domain because he views it as a legal matter and has privately complained to colleagues that Mulvaney is trying to wrest control, the people said. Mulvaney believes he’s in charge because impeachment is political and expects Cipollone to report to his office, they said.