Aug 31, 2018

Former Nixon White House counsel to testify in Kavanaugh hearing

Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

John Dean, White House counsel for former President Richard Nixon, is testifying as a democratic witness in Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing next week, reports the Associated Press.

Why it matters: Kavanaugh has previously opined that sitting presidents should be exempt in investigations that could come with criminal implications, which means he could assume the same for President Trump in the Russia investigation, a matter Democrats trying to block his confirmation have asserted thus far. Dean notably cooperated with federal investigators and ultimately helped bring down Nixon presidency.

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