washington u.s. vice president mike pence hire lawyer know defend government officials high-profile investigations help probe whether tie election campaign u.s. president donald trump russia office say thursday u.s. intelligence agencies conclude moscow interfere last year presidential campaign try tilt vote trump favor trump hire lawyer last month probe special counsel congressional committees lash thursday report investigation possible obstruction justice dismiss phony idea campaign collude russian effort sway 2016 election moscow deny meddle campaign pence hire richard cullen chairman law firm mcguirewoods help respond inquiries special counsel robert mueller spokesman say cullen former federal prosecutor long tie former fbi director jam comey trump fire may 9. represent former fifa president sepp blatter corruption probe world soccer govern body u.s. prosecutors accuse blatter wrongdoing cullen support trump rival jeb bush race republican presidential nomination also represent tom delay texas republican former majority leader u.s. house representatives investigation corrupt washington lobbyist jack abramoff delay charge pence look hire counsel several weeks make decision early week interview several candidates office say vice president focus entirely duties promote president agenda look forward swift conclusion matter pence spokesman jarrod agen say statement pence seldom address russia issue overshadow trump efforts overhaul healthcare system cut tax boost job priorities pence work intensively republican lawmakers washington post first report cullen hire story break trump write pair angry tweet suggest hillary clinton democratic opponent election investigation instead early thursday trump call probe witch hunt twitter make phony collusion russians story find zero proof go obstruction justice phony story nice trump write mueller investigate whether anyone trump campaign associate businesses may illegal deal russian officials others tie kremlin say one u.s. official familiar rough outline probe speak condition anonymity include finance business deal jar kushner marry trump daughter ivanka senior adviser white house washington post report thursday cite unnamed officials familiar matter mueller also look second line inquiry whether potential offenses commit trump others attempt cover obstruct investigation source say examination possible obstruction justice charge unavoidable give testimony comey although issue may become main focus probe source say comey tell senate panel last week believe trump fire undermine fbi russia probe also tell senate intelligence committee june testimony believe trump direct drop relate agency investigation president former national security adviser michael flynn white house officials include pence initially give differ reason comey dismissal include lose confidence fbi pence say twitter may 10 trump make right decision right time remove comey head fbi praise show strong decisive leadership restore trust confidence american people fbi trump late contradict staff say may 11 russia issue mind fire comey examine possibility obstruction charge allow investigators interview key administration figure include attorney general jeff sessions deputy attorney general rod rosenstein possibly trump say source familiar mueller investigation sit president unlikely face criminal prosecution obstruction justice could form basis impeachment step would face steep hurdle would require approval u.s. house representatives control trump fellow republicans pence hire lawyer russia probe