LEGAL/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump’s lawyers have urged him not to discuss details of the unfolding Russia investigation with anyone outside his legal team, warning of a conversational ‘bright line’ that could put aides and associates in legal jeopardy, according to current and former Trump aides.
But Trump often ignores that legal advice in the presence of senior aides — including his departing confidante and White House communications director, Hope Hicks… Hicks is not alone. Current and former Trump aides describe a president who often fails to observe boundaries about the Russia probe and who calls staffers into his office and raises the subject without warning… As one of his longest-serving and most trusted aides, Hicks may have been subjected to an unwelcome amount of legally relevant comments from the president.
Speaking freely about an ongoing investigation is a major mistake, say veteran defense attorneys with White House experience…
The problem is especially acute for Hicks and other aides subjected to Trump’s venting, given special counsel Robert Mueller’s known interest in whether Trump has sought to obstruct justice from within the White House.”
-Darren Samuelsohn and Eliana Johnson, “Trump ignored ‘bright line’ on discussing Russia with Hicks,” Politico, Mar. 1, 2018 07:43pm