WASHINGTON — One of many latest members of President Trump’s protection workforce, Robert W. Ray, has had pointed phrases concerning the highest wo
WASHINGTON — One of many latest members of President Trump’s protection workforce, Robert W. Ray, has had pointed phrases concerning the highest workplace within the nation: “No individual is above the regulation, even the president of the US.”
However that was practically 20 years in the past when he succeeded Ken Starr because the impartial counsel investigating President Invoice Clinton. Mr. Starr can also be a late addition to the president’s legal team for the Senate trial, which begins Tuesday.
On the time of those remarks in April 2000, Mr. Ray confronted criticism for drawing out the Clinton investigation when many believed he ought to have been wrapping it up.
Mr. Ray was a federal prosecutor within the Southern District of New York when he was referred to as to exchange Mr. Starr and had plans to indict Mr. Clinton when he left workplace for a similar crimes thought-about throughout Mr. Clinton’s impeachment. On his approach out of the Oval Workplace, Mr. Clinton and Mr. Ray struck a deal that might forestall Mr. Clinton from being prosecuted in connection to his affair with Monica Lewinsky, an unpaid White Home intern in return for surrendering his regulation license and paying a $25,000 nice.
After leaving the federal authorities, Mr. Ray went into non-public apply and at present works on the New York-based agency Zeichner Ellman & Krause.
In 2006, Mr. Ray turned himself into the police in response to a low-level charge that he was stalking a former girlfriend. A regulation enforcement official stated the case was sealed, suggesting it was more than likely dismissed. Mr. Ray declined to remark.
In representing Mr. Trump, Mr. Ray can be working with a aim of a fast Senate trial — the White Home has steered it will final two weeks and “vindicate” the president of accusations that he pressured a international ally to personally profit him.
Mr. Trump is charged with two articles of impeachment — one for abuse of workplace and the opposite for obstruction of Congress by stopping witnesses from testifying in defiance of subpoenas.
In November, Mr. Ray stated there was not sufficient proof to convict Mr. Trump of a criminal offense, calling the Democratic-led Home’s authorized idea “flawed.” And he praised Mr. Trump’s determination to not ship witnesses to the impeachment hearings throughout a December interview on Fox Information.
“The president actually doesn’t have to assist within the impeachment effort,” Mr. Ray told Fox News. “He’s made a judgment now, and I feel that’s most likely the correct judgment.”
William Okay. Rashbaum contributed reporting from New York. Kitty Bennett contributed analysis.