new york white house hire ty cobb veteran washington lawyer experience prosecutor defense attorney assist russia-related investigations source familiar matter say friday cobb long-time partner law firm hogan lovells washington represent people government 1990s clinton administration cobb respond request comment spokesman law firm decline comment announcement time white house spokeswoman say federal special counsel several congressional panel investigate allegations u.s. intelligence agencies russia meddle 2016 u.s. presidential election potential connections russian officials campaign then-candidate donald trump moscow deny interference president deny collusion intelligence agencies say early year russia seek help trump win election hack private email democratic party officials spread false information cobb expect intermediary white house congress well outside attorneys trump meet cobb role last month reuters exclusively report july 3. bloomberg news write hire early friday cobb role separate trump outside legal team lead new york lawyer marc kasowitz constitutional lawyer evangelical radio talk show host jay sekulow washington lawyer john dowd michael bowe partner kasowitz firm team cobb sport handlebar mustache distant relative famous early 20th century baseball player name washington lawyer robert bennett also hogan lovells represent president bill clinton sexual harassment case file paula jones say cobb know handle crisis politics law intersect give recent developments really need need listen say bennett 1990s cobb 66 represent former democratic national committee fundraiser john huang former white house aide david watkins probe clinton white house travel office 2006 cobb also represent former cia official mary mccarthy fire accuse provide classify information reporters charge bring mccarthy cobb graduate harvard university earn law degree georgetown 1980s federal prosecutor baltimore lead regional drug organize crime task force lawyer ty cobb join white house handle russia probe