John Doe, the Watergate-era special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal, is one of the most famous figures in Washington’s political world.
Now, the former prosecutor is being touted as the future leader of the Republican Party.
The man he’s replacing, as chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, is Rep. Trey Gowdy, who announced this week he’s running for the GOP nomination for president.
But in a letter to The Washington Examiner, Gowdy suggested that the timing of his candidacy is a good time to reexamine the political career of the former special prosecutor.
The timing of Gowdy’s candidacy to replace former special counsel Robert Mueller is also not a coincidence.
Mueller is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary panel on Monday, Sept. 18.
And Gowdy said he plans to address the topic at length on Tuesday, Sept 10.
But, as with many in the legal and media worlds, the story of Gowty’s career began in earnest in August, when Gowdy announced he would be running for a seat on the House Judiciary Committee.
Gowdy told the Examiner that his announcement was based on “unforeseen circumstances.”
But the former Watergate prosecutor and his former boss, Rep. Rod Rosenstein, were close.
In a letter last month to Gowdy and Rosenstein, Gowd wrote that he is “honored to be one of your colleagues” in the House.
Gowdy said his former bosses were also “very supportive” of him.
“We have always been close, and I’m honored to be a part of your committee,” Gowdy wrote.
“I know you and I will continue to work together to ensure the American people are treated fairly, as I am so well aware of the difficulties that this is likely to present.”
In addition, I look forward to working with you to ensure that this committee remains fully independent and accountable to the American public.
“Gowd also said in the letter that Rosenstein was a longtime friend of his and a “close friend” who he would have “great difficulty” losing to a Democrat.
The Hill is working on a story on Gowdy.
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In October, GowDoe was hired by President Donald Trump’s administration to lead the House Ethics Committee, which probes possible wrongdoing in the Trump administration and the 2016 presidential campaign.
In March, Gowda resigned after The Washington Times reported that he had discussed the Mueller probe with Trump, then-FBI Director James Comey, and Trump Jr. in a meeting.
Gowda said at the time that he “didn’t have a recollection” of the meeting and “did not recall anything that would give me pause or alarm.””
The conversation focused on the possibility of the president, the vice president and other Trump advisers being under investigation for their role in the Russia investigation,” Gowda wrote in his resignation letter.
Gawd has denied any wrongdoing.
Since Trump took office, Gowden has been one of his closest allies, appearing regularly on Fox News and appearing on Hannity and other Fox shows.
And, in a speech last week, Gowdel said he would work to ensure no Trump appointee would “be treated unfairly by the federal government or the American legal system.””
When the American community is threatened, our leaders will defend our nation and stand up to the enemies of freedom,” Gowd said.”
I believe that every single one of us has the responsibility to speak out when we see injustice in our government, and that we must stand up for the rule of law, for our constitutional rights, and for our citizens.
“That means that every day we will do our part to defend the integrity of our system of government, to stand up against threats to our constitutional values, and to defend our people.
That means being willing to stand against the president’s abuse of power, to defend against his abuse of the power of the presidency, to hold the Trump Administration accountable to our laws and our Constitution, and most importantly to protect our country and our democracy.”
Read the full letter from Gowdy to The Examiner here.
