Axios

Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy recently said he "would not be the right person" to replace James Comey as FBI director — perhaps because he's reportedly expected to take Jason Chaffetz's House Oversight Committee chairman position, per Politico.

Why now: Chaffetz is leaving Congress in June and will not seek re-election, as he's reportedly going to assume an on-air role at Fox News. In his absence, the committee will need a new chairman for the high-profile position, and various members of the House Steering Committee panel (which decides the chairmanship) told Politico Gowdy could "easily" win this position.

Why it matters: Gowdy led the investigation into the Benghazi attacks, and if selected as chairman, he would lead the investigation into whether Trump encouraged James Comey to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn's possible collusion with Russia.

President Trump held a joint press conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Thursday, and faced a series of questions on the White House's ties to Russia:

• Was the appointment of a special prosecutor the right move, or part of a witch hunt? "I respect the move but the entire thing has been a witch hunt and there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign, but I can only speak for myself, the Russians- zero. I think it divides the country."
• Did you do anything to impede the investigation into Michael Flynn? "No, no next question."
• Do you think you've done anything criminal? "I think it's totally ridiculous, everybody says so."
• On firing Comey: "Director Comey was very unpopular with most people... I also got a very, very strong recommendation form the Deputy Attorney General... when I made that decision I thought it would be a very bipartisan decision."
• Border wall effectiveness: "Walls work, just ask Israel.... and we have no choice."

House Republican leadership is agitated after the Washington Post published a transcript from a secret recording of one of the inner-sanctum conversations in the office of Speaker Paul Ryan.

The transcript shows House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy joking with his colleagues that then-candidate Trump and California Republican Dana Rohrabacher were both on the payroll of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The unknown is frustrating," said one senior GOP aide, referring to the possibility that this wasn't the only private leadership conversation that was secretly recorded.

President Trump's lead candidate for FBI Director is former Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Axios can confirm.

This follows a pair of potential Comey replacements — Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Trey Gowdy — backing away from the process earlier this week. White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Wednesday that the president had interviewed Lieberman, 75, for the role.

One point of concern: Lieberman is a senior counsel at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres and Friedman, a law firm which has done business with Trump, according to Newsweek. That fact was pointed out by multiple critics, including Guy Cecil, the chairman of Priorities USA:

Ahead of President Trump's first foreign trip tomorrow, here's how newspapers from the four countries he's visiting are covering the Trump news:

Israel

Jerusalem Post: Analysis: Six reasons Trump's visit appears to be jinxed

Haaretz: The Israeli right's love affair with Trump goes from ecstasy to agony

President Trump, who reportedly didn't learn that his Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein had appointed a special counsel to the Russia probe until right before the news hit, broke his silence on Twitter Thursday morning:

"With all of the illegal acts that took place in the Clinton campaign & Obama Administration, there was never a special councel appointed! This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!"

In the new issue of TIME, Massimo Calabresi breaks down Russia's social media war on America:

• "Russia created a fake Facebook account to spread stories on hot-button political issues like refugee resettlement to targeted reporters they believed were susceptible to influence."
• "Moscow's agents bought ads on Facebook to target specific populations with propaganda."
• Senior intelligence official on how Russian agents apply new social media operations on key members of Congress and aides: "The Russians started using it on the Hill with staffers to see who is more susceptible."
• Senior intelligence official on how Russia used algorithmic techniques to target social-media accounts of particular reporters and "influencers" during the election: "It's not necessarily the journal or the newspaper or the TV show. It's the specific reporter that they find who might be a little bit slanted towards believing things, and they'll hit him" with a flood of fake news stories.

The surprise appointment of straight-arrow former FBI Director Robert Mueller as Special Counsel ("to oversee the previously-confirmed FBI investigation of Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters") lets the White House and Hill try to get traction on other topics.

But Yahoo's Michael Isikoff, steeped in federal law enforcement, told Greta Van Susteren on MSNBC that the selection was the "worst possible choice for the White House ... dangerous." Mueller is by-the-book, focused on making cases, viewed as impervious to outside influence.

The political network helmed by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch is about to embark on a multimillion-dollar campaign for comprehensive tax reform.

• What to expect: Digital ads, grassroots organizing and likely a TV advertising campaign to rally the American public behind the need for a radical overhaul of the tax code.
• The two groups leading the charge: the Kochs' grassroots army, Americans For Prosperity, and their political outfit Freedom Partners.
• Where it fits with Trump: The Kochs, who did not support Trump's run for president, are now trying to help him, at least as far as tax reform is concerned. Koch network spokesman James Davis tells me the campaign will echo the tax reform principles that Trump released recently with his one page plan.

The two key threads to follow in the seemingly endless stream of breaking news that emerged Wednesday night:

1. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller special prosecutor in the FBI's Russia probe. President Trump, who was given no advance warning, released a brief statement insisting there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia.
2. Hours later the NY Times reported that the Trump transition team was aware of a federal investigation into Michael Flynn over undeclared lobbying for Turkey before he became national security adviser, and McClatchy reported that Flynn had delayed a Pentagon plan that was opposed by Turkey.

Introducing the special prosecutor...

Mueller led the FBI from 2001-2013, under presidents from both parties, and is one of the most widely-respected figures in U.S. law enforcement. He will report directly to Rosenstein, as Attorney General Sessions has recused himself from the Russia probe. The tick tock on the announcement, via Bloomberg's Jennifer Jacobs:

• Rosenstein signed the order without consulting the White House, subsequently informing WH Counsel Don McGahn.
• Senior staff assembled in the Oval Office. Trump seemed "calm."
• 25 minutes later, at 6pm, the Justice Dept made a public announcement.

Rosenstein's revenge...

Last week, Rod Rosenstein was the toast of the White House. Tonight, he went against President Trump's wishes and took the Russia probe to a new level.

The initial party line on James Comey's firing was that Trump had accepted the recommendation of his deputy attorney general, a "universally respected" and apolitical figure. Rosenstein was reportedly infuriated that Trump's decision had been pinned on him.

Whether it was his intention or not, Rosenstein has exacted revenge over how the Comey firing played out. Read the full article.

The powers of a special counsel...

• Read Axios' Shannon Vavra on what a special counsel is, and how it differs from what happened during Watergate.
• Neal Katyal, former DOJ official: "Here's the deal on Trump firing Mueller: He can. We wrote the special counsel regs knowing that any Pres has constl power to do so, but we made it hard by regulation."
• Nancy Pelosi and the Dems want an independent commission outside of DOJ's control.

The Flynn timeline, based on NYT report…

• Nov 18: Trump offers Flynn NSA post
• Jan 4: Flynn discloses he is under federal investigation
• Jan 20: Trump takes office, Flynn becomes NSA
• Jan 26: Sally Yates warns McGahn Flynn could be subject to Russian blackmail
• Feb 13: Flynn dismissed as NSA

The delayed attack...

Ten days before President Trump took office, Michael Flynn helped delay a Pentagon plan to attempt to retake the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, per McClatchy. The plan was opposed by Turkey, which had previously paid Flynn for lobbying work.

How it reportedly happened: Then-national security advisor Susan Rice approached Flynn about having Trump sign off on the plan, which utilized Syrian Kurdish forces and was to be executed under Trump's administration. Flynn told her to hold off, without consulting anyone else on the transition team and without any explanation. Read the full article from Axios' Stef Kight.

Back to that Trump, Russia meeting...

Per the Wall St Journal:

"The classified information that President Donald Trump shared with Russian officials last week came from an Israeli source described by multiple U.S. officials as the most valuable source of information on external plotting by Islamic State."

The mood in the West Wing…

Per the Washington Post's Ashley Parker and Abby Phillip:

"Some White House staffers have turned to impeachment gallows humor. Other mid-level aides have started reaching out to consultants, shopping their resumes. And at least one senior staffer has begun privately talking to friends about what a post-White House job would look like, according to two people close the staffer."

And on Capitol Hill…

Per Axios' Jonathan Swan:

"In the House Republicans' conference meeting on Capitol Hill this morning, the mood among members was subdued and somewhat anxious. One source described members as 'shellshocked.'"

Per Politico's Burgess Everett and Josh Dawsey:

"The Trump White House has done essentially no damage control.... No talking points have been distributed, and few reassurances have been given to Republicans…. 'I've not heard that from them. I've heard nothing. I should, shouldn't I? I'm not sure that there's that level of organization,' Sen. Thune said. 'For most people this is kind of: Formulate and express your own point of view if you want to.'"

Just to recap...

• Mon, 5pm: Washington Post reports that Trump disclosed classified intel to Russia
• Tues, 1:30pm: NY Times reports that the intel came from Israel
• Tues, 5:15pm: NY Times reports on Comey memo stating Trump asked him to end Flynn probe
• Weds, 6pm: DOJ announces special prosecutor
• Weds, 9:15pm: NY Times reports that Trump transition knew of Flynn investigation.
• Thurs: A nice, quiet evening.... a reporter can dream, right?

Ten days before President Trump took office, Michael Flynn helped delay a Pentagon plan to attempt to retake the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, McClatchy reported Wednesday night. The plan was opposed by Turkey, which had previously paid Flynn for lobbying work.

• How it reportedly happened: Then-national security advisor Susan Rice approached Flynn about having Trump sign off on the plan, which was to utilize Syrian Kurdish forces and be executed under Trump's administration. Flynn told her to hold off, without consulting anyone else on the transition team and without any explanation
• Flynn was already under federal investigation for his undeclared lobbying on behalf of Turkey. The NYT reported Wednesday that Trump's team was aware of that investigation.
• Why it matters: Per McClatchy, some in Congress have privately accused Flynn of treason. This could also complicate matters further for Trump, who reportedly asked James Comey to back off the Flynn investigation.

The DOJ appointed a special counsel Wednesday evening in the Trump-Russia probe. A look at how that role was created, and how it differs from what happened during Watergate:

Last week, Rod Rosenstein was the toast of the White House. Tonight, he went against President Trump's wishes and took the Russia probe to a new level.

• The initial party line on James Comey's firing: Trump had accepted the recommendation of his deputy attorney general, a "universally respected" and apolitical figure. Rosenstein, a longtime Department of Justice official, was reportedly infuriated that Trump's decision had been pinned on him.
• Eight days after Comey's ouster: Rosenstein took the dramatic step of naming former FBI director Robert Mueller special counsel in the Russia probe, tasked with investigating ties between Trump campaign associates and the Kremlin.
• Trump was reportedly not informed until after Rosenstein signed the order, less than an hour before the public announcement. Some media organizations received the news around the same time.