The New York Times reports:

In an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, the deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, denied that Mr. Trump had played any role in the search or that he had been briefed on the inquiry.

“I don’t believe he was involved,” he said. “This is a criminal grand jury investigation, and I can’t comment on it.”

Pressed on Ms. Gabbard’s involvement, Mr. Blanche said he did not know the reasons for her presence, but he nonetheless appeared to suggest that it was not unusual.

“I don’t know why the director was there,” Mr. Blanche said. “She is not part of the grand jury investigation, but she is for sure a key part of our efforts at election integrity and making sure we have free and fair elections. She’s an expert in that space and it’s a big part of what she and her team look at every day.”

The American official said that Mr. Trump had ordered Ms. Gabbard to go to Georgia to assist with the F.BI.’s investigation. Other officials have said that the White House had given Ms. Gabbard far-ranging authority to hunt for voter fraud in multiple states.

Democrats in Congress have said her appearance at the search raised troubling questions, including whether it was appropriate for an intelligence official to participate in what is primarily a domestic issue.

By speaking directly with the investigators, the president may have provided significant ammunition to any future defense should the investigation yield criminal charges.

His conversation with the agents would probably become part of an effort to have the case dismissed as a vindictive prosecution. Alternatively, if such a case went to trial, defense lawyers would presumably try to elicit testimony from the F.B.I. agents who spoke to the president in the early stages of the investigation, or possibly from Mr. Trump himself. [Continue reading…]