Trump's New Lawyer in Russia Probe Is a Familiar Face

Rudy Giuliani is joining President Trump's legal team with an eye on ending special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. "I’m doing it because I hope we can negotiate an end to this for the good of the country and because I have high regard for the president and for Bob Mueller," the former New York mayor tells the Washington Post, adding that he will soon take a leave of absence from his law firm. He will work on the team of legal advisers alongside Trump's current attorneys, Jay Sekulow and Ty Cobb, and fellow new members Jane Serene Raskin and Marty Raskin, both former federal prosecutors. "Rudy is great," Trump said in a statement. "He has been my friend for a long time and wants to get this matter quickly resolved for the good of the country." The news came out as multiple other Russia- and Trump-related developments were reported:

• Trump not a target? Multiple sources tell Bloomberg that last week, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told Trump he's not a target of the Mueller probe or the probe into Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen. After that meeting, Trump reportedly told close advisers that it's not the right time to remove either Rosenstein or Mueller from their positions, since he's not a target and he doesn't want to draw out the investigations. But a US official tells Bloomberg though Trump isn't a current target of Mueller's investigation, the special counsel hasn't ruled out making him one in the future.
• James Comey's latest interview: The former FBI director sat down with Jake Tapper on CNN Thursday. Among other things, he said he believes it's "unlikely but possible" that Russia has "derogatory information" on the president. Tapper pushed back, asking if Comey had any evidence Trump had been compromised by the Russians; Comey said no. Mediaite notes Comey has "changed his tune" a bit since telling George Stephanopoulos he thought it was possible Russia had compromising info; during that interview, he specifically referenced the Steele dossier.
• Possible charges for Andrew McCabe: The former FBI deputy director, who was infamously fired days before retiring for allegedly lying under oath about the FBI's investigation of the Clinton Foundation, could soon be facing criminal charges. Sources tell the Washington Post the Justice Department inspector general referred its finding that McCabe misled investigators to the US attorney's office in Washington. Comey told Tapper he could potentially be a witness for the prosecution if charges are filed.

(More Rudy Giuliani stories.)