Republicans close to the Trump administration told Politico on Monday that the White House counsel's office is woefully understaffed, and once Democrats take control of the House, the few people working there will have a difficult time dealing with subpoenas for documents.
There are about 25 lawyers now working in the office, down from a high of 35 and well below the 40 needed to deal with investigation requests, Politico reports. Democrats are expected to launch investigations into everything from President Trump's business dealings to his tax returns, and a former White House official said they "don't think anyone who is paying attention" believes the office is "prepared for a Democratic takeover."
Since former White House Counsel Don McGahn left in October, the office hasn't had a permanent leader, and Annie Donaldson, the deputy counsel, is expected to leave within a few weeks, Republicans with knowledge of the matter told Politico. McGahn's replacement, former Justice Department official Pat Cipollone, is still undergoing a background check.
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