Did President Donald Trump expose himself to obstruction of justice charges in the unfolding scandal involving former FBI Director James Comey?

If anyone has an opinion on that burning question, it's the country's pool of former federal prosecutors. Many of them are loudly making their opinions known—out of political conviction, or to gain publicity, or both. But some ex-prosecutors at big corporate defense firms are keeping mum, concerned that the consequences of speaking out could harm or alienate their clients. “If you have a client who will need to make arguments to [the] Justice Department, you don't want to make an enemy of the Justice Department,” explained one quieted former prosecutor, who asked not to be named in this story.

Another anonymous ex-prosecutor said his own unwillingness to speak publicly had nothing to do with potential reprisals under the Trump administration. He wouldn't have wanted clients to see him discussing a White House scandal during the Clinton or Obama years either, the attorney said.