Another day, another leak from the White House. This time around, a lawyer for the Trump administration was overheard spilling some juicy details about the ongoing Russia investigation while indulging in an equally juicy steak. At least this leak was an accident and not driven by malicious intent, I guess?
Ty Cobb, a lawyer on the Trump administration's legal team and an apparent Monopoly Man aficionado (look at that mustache!), was venting about his issues with White House counsel Donald McGahn while dining at a popular D.C. steakhouse.
Unfortunately for Cobb (fortunately for us), a nearby lunchtime guest at the steakhouse just so happened to be a New York Times reporter. And you can bet the paper wrote up what its reporter overheard. Funny how things work out like that.
According to The Times, Cobb mentioned that McGahn kept "a couple documents locked in a safe" and would not allow Trump's lawyers to see them. He also blamed an unnamed colleague for "some of these earlier leaks" and mentioned that this colleague "tried to push Jared [Kushner] out."
Continuing the trend of bad luck and loose lips at the White House, even Cobb's private scolding over his accidental leak was leaked to the press. Oh, the irony.
Apparently, when The New York Times reached out to the White House regarding what the publication's reporter overheard, Cobb was severely reprimanded by McGahn. Even John F. Kelly, White House chief of staff, ripped into Cobb for his blunder. News of both these private conversations ended up getting back to The Times.
Cobb tried to make amends over the weekend by praising McGahn, but the comments seemed to come a little too late.
“He has been very helpful to me, and whenever we have differences of opinion, we have been able to work them out professionally and reach consensus,” Cobb said of McGahn. “We have different roles. He has a much fuller plate. But we’re both devoted to this White House and getting as much done on behalf of the presidency as possible.”
Whatever you say, Cobb. Just maybe avoid trash talking your high-profile boss in a very busy steakhouse the next time you feel the need to vent. Or not. We're always ready for more juicy White House gossip!