The Russia investigation just added a serious legal heavyweight.
Deputy Solicitor General Michael Dreeben will be joining the team investigating the allegations of Russian influence swirling around President Trump and his associates. The addition signals that investigators could be seeking advice on the complex issues around criminal charges, according to The National Law Journal.
The addition was announced hours after former FBI director James Comey testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller asked Dreeben to join the investigation on a part-time basis, The National Law Journal reported Friday. The Solicitor General has argued more than 100 cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. His expertise could be needed in advising the investigation on criminal charges, such as obstruction of justice.
“Michael Dreeben is to criminal law what Robert Mueller is to investigations,” former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal said Thursday night, according to The National Law Journal.
Legal experts say Dreeben, who’s worked for the Department of Justice for 30 years, is highly regarded and viewed as a stalwart non-partisan. His appointment to the case could help investigators avoid legal pitfalls and plan for appeals.
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