White House lawyers have begun researching impeachment procedures to try and prepare for a “distant possibility” that President Donald Trump will be removed from office, according to CNN.
Though White House officials say the president has the backing of Republicans in Congress, lawyers in the counsel’s office have consulted impeachment experts in the past week and have begun putting together information on how impeachments proceedings work.
The White House did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
According to CNN, one outside lawyer close to the office of White House counsel Don McGahn, said it seemed unlikely, insisting it wouldn’t be something McGahn would authorize.
But the network claims the legal discussions are part of a broader internal effort to strengthen the president’s defense since the Justice Department appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
On Thursday, the day after Mueller’s appointment, Politico reported that Trump met with his legal team to discuss the escalating Russia probe.
The news quickly spread through social media Friday evening.
“Are they researching ‘for,’ or ‘against’?” asked Keith Olbermann, host of GQ’s “The Resisitance With Keith Olbermann.”
Mother Jones’ Washington Bureau Chief David Corn joked: “Heard at the White House: ‘Is there a Schoolhouse Rock on impeachment? Maybe he’ll watch that.’”
Another person had this query: “Wow! This leads me to a very important follow up question: Should I serve red or white wine at my impeachment party?”
While another user suggested White House lawyers “should start with ‘Impeachment for Dummies.’”
See more tweets below:
https://twitter.com/SchrodingersKT/status/865706725072019456
Heard at the White House: "Is there a Schoolhouse Rock on impeachment? Maybe he'll watch that."
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) May 19, 2017
Are they researching "For," or "against"? https://t.co/MXnaJq8sqY
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) May 19, 2017
What is the French word for "impeachment"? It's been coming up a lot in conversation these days…
Destituer?
démis?— David Aronson (@MushamukaD) May 19, 2017
Wow! This leads me to a very important follow up question:
Should I serve red or white wine at my impeachment party? ??? https://t.co/lGV9TGXm2Y— Lisa Nicole ???️??? (@Lisanicole08) May 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/fretlessfever/status/865695793709232129
https://twitter.com/sheetmaskoff/status/865695792388087809
So THIS is happening. Guess what Obama’s lawyers probably never had to research. https://t.co/Uuaqk8fYKH
— ya girl (@goldengateblond) May 19, 2017