Marc Kasowitz has represented Trump in legal matters for decades and is considered to have the president’s trust. | AP Photo Trump set to tap longtime lawyer Kasowitz to lead legal fight

President Donald Trump plans to select Marc Kasowitz — his longtime, New York-based lawyer — to lead his outside legal team as an investigation of Russian election interference heats up, an administration official said.

Kasowitz has represented Trump in legal matters for decades and is considered to have the president’s trust. He has a well-established rapport with Trump and has spoken to him regularly since Trump was sworn into office.


In selecting Kasowitz, Trump once again is turning to a person with extensive experience working with him — rather than a seasoned, Washington-based operator — to deal with a high-profile challenge.

While Kasowitz is expected to take the lead on Trump’s outside legal team, the administration source said it is not yet clear how large an operation that will be. Administration officials are still not certain of the scope of the work but expect intense action over the summer, as the probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller heats up.

Internally, Kasowitz is viewed as someone the president will listen to more than other lawyers because of his long experience with the president. But administration officials expect Kasowitz to be part of a larger legal operation.

Kasowitz has represented an array of high-profile clients, including former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly. One potential conflict could emerge, if Trump chooses to name former Sen. Joe Lieberman as his FBI director — Lieberman is a partner in the same New York law firm, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres LLP.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, was a Kasowitz partner until his confirmation in March.

Kasowitz and his firm have represented Trump in a number of high-profile legal cases, including the class action lawsuit against Trump University. Kasowitz also represented Trump in his unsuccessful attempt last fall, during the height of the presidential campaign, to get The New York Times to retract a story about two women who accused Trump of touching them inappropriately several years before.

Michael Cohen, who is still representing Trump on personal matters, declined comment Tuesday on the Kasowitz news.

Kasowitz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Darren Samuelsohn and Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.

