A report on CNN claimed that the White House counsel’s office had consulted experts in impeachment during the past week including collecting information on how such proceedings would work. However, this has been denied by the White House officials who say the President has the backing of Republican allies in Congress and that impeachment is not in the cards, CNN also reported. 

Broader effort to bolster legal defense

CNN claimed the legal discussions are part of a broader internal effort to bolster the president's legal defense, which has become more complicated with the Justice Department's appointment of a special counsel to pursue the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.