WASHINGTON — White House counsel Don McGahn, who cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, will be leaving his job in the fall, Trump said Wednesday.

White House Counsel Don McGahn will be leaving his position in the fall, shortly after the confirmation (hopefully) of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. I have worked with Don for a long time and truly appreciate his service! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2018

The move was widely expected. But the president's announcement came less than two weeks after The New York Times reported that McGahn had spent 30 hours talking with Mueller's team and "provided the investigators examining whether Mr. Trump obstructed justice a clear view of the president’s most intimate moments with his lawyer."

Trump responded to that story by tweeting that he had allowed McGahn to cooperate.

The Failing New York Times wrote a story that made it seem like the White House Councel had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite - & the two Fake reporters knew this. This is why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People. So bad for America! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018

.

McGahn, a former member of the Federal Election Commission, is one of Trump's longest-serving aides, having joined Trump's 2016 presidential campaign as counsel. He was not aware that the president would be tweeting about his future but was not upset by it, according to an administration official.

Axios reported Wednesday that Emmet Flood, a veteran Washington lawyer who has been handling Russia probe issues for the White House, would succeed McGahn.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders praised Flood but said "there's not a plan locked in place" right now.

"People like him," Sanders said. "He's super well-respected around the building."

Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and has worked closely with McGahn to confirm a raft of federal judges, said Wednesday that he was disappointed by the announcement.