Emmet Flood steps in as White House counsel following McGahn departure

Attorney Emmet Flood took over Thursday morning as White House counsel, replacing Don McGahn until his full-time successor joins the administration.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that Flood will serve as counsel to the president until Pat Cipollone takes over the job. Once Cipollone arrives, Flood will return to his role of special counsel to the president.

Sanders did not provide a timeline for when Cipollone might start.

The announcement came the morning after McGahn departed as White House counsel following nearly two years on the job.

President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump renews attacks against Tester over VA nominee on eve of Montana rally Trump submits 2017 federal income tax returns Corker: Trump administration ‘clamped down’ on Saudi intel, canceled briefing MORE confirmed Tuesday that he chose Cipollone, a commercial litigator, as the next White House counsel.

Cipollone is likely to be at the forefront of legal battles between the White House and Congress if Democrats retake control of the House in the November midterm elections. Party leaders have said they intend to investigate Trump’s taxes as well as other matters.

McGahn’s exit was expected, as Trump announced in August that he would leave at the conclusion of Supreme Court Justice Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughProtesters confront Cruz at airport over Kavanaugh vote Trump renews attacks against Tester over VA nominee on eve of Montana rally Corker: Trump administration ‘clamped down’ on Saudi intel, canceled briefing MORE‘s confirmation process.

McGahn was at the forefront of shepherding Trump’s two Supreme Court picks — Kavanaugh and Justice Neil Gorsuch — through the confirmation process.

He made headlines in August for reports that he sat for more than 30 hours with special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russia probe MORE to discuss the firing of former FBI Director James ComeyJames Brien ComeyMcGahn departs as White House counsel Comey donates maximum amount to Democratic challenger in Virginia House race FBI investigated media leak of McCabe comment about Flynn and Trump MORE and Trump’s criticism of Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsMcGahn departs as White House counsel The Hill’s 12:30 Report — Trump requests Turkey’s evidence on missing journalist | Takeaways from Texas Senate debate | Key Mueller findings could be ready after midterms The Hill’s Morning Report — Presented by the Coalition for Affordable Prescription Drugs — GOP faces ‘green wave’ in final stretch to the midterms MORE.

Less than two weeks after reports of McGahn’s cooperation surfaced, Trump announced in a tweet that the White House counsel would leave his post following Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

Flood, who joined the White House in May, has served as a member of the president’s legal team in the Russia investigation. Prior to arriving in the Trump administration, he helped represent then-President Bill ClintonWilliam (Bill) Jefferson ClintonPresident Trump’s job approval rating continues to hold steady in latest Hill.TV poll Cybersecurity for national defense: How many ‘wake-up calls’ does it take? Who’s in control alters our opinion of how things are MORE in his impeachment proceedings and served in the White House counsel’s office for former President George W. Bush.