Trump's legal team on Russia inquiry remains in flux; lawyers announced last week won't join White House

Fredreka Schouten | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Trump: 'Many lawyers' want to represent him President Donald Trump is firing back at many in the mainstream media who say he is having trouble finding new representation.

WASHINGTON – President Trump's legal team remains in flux, and two new lawyers will not represent him in the Russia investigation.

Former prosecutor Joseph diGenova and his wife, Victoria Toensing, will not join the legal team, Trump's lawyer Jay Sekulow said in a statement Sunday, citing "conflicts." He said the conflicts would not prevent them from assisting Trump "on other legal matters."

Toensing represented Mark Corallo, a former spokesman for Trump's legal team, who spoke with investigators working with Robert Mueller. Mueller leads the investigation into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 president election.

Trump's legal team was shaken up last week by the departure of attorney John Dowd, who stressed cooperation with Mueller.

DiGenova has rebuked the Russia investigation in frequent television appearances.

Corallo said Thursday that he had formally waived any conflict involving Toensing’s work for Trump. An official close to Trump's team said the president's lawyers couldn't get past the potential problems posed by the firm's work on behalf of Corallo and Sam Clovis, a Trump campaign aide who also spoke with Mueller's team.

Sunday, Trump alluded to those conflicts and pushed back against reports that top Washington lawyers rejected chances to represent him, saying he was "very happy" with his lawyers.

"Many lawyers and top law firms want to represent me in the Russia case," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Don't believe the Fake News narrative that it is hard to find a lawyer who wants to take this on. Fame & fortune will NEVER be turned down by a lawyer, though some are conflicted."

In a second tweet, Trump said he is "very happy with my existing legal team." A new law firm, he said, would "take months to get up to speed."

Many lawyers and top law firms want to represent me in the Russia case...don’t believe the Fake News narrative that it is hard to find a lawyer who wants to take this on. Fame & fortune will NEVER be turned down by a lawyer, though some are conflicted. Problem is that a new...... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2018

....lawyer or law firm will take months to get up to speed (if for no other reason than they can bill more), which is unfair to our great country - and I am very happy with my existing team. Besides, there was NO COLLUSION with Russia, except by Crooked Hillary and the Dems! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2018

The Washington Post reported that former solicitor general Theodore Olson turned down the chance to represent Trump.

Contributing: Kevin Johnson

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