United States President Donald Trump has named Will Scharf, a former lawyer who worked on his presidential immunity case and oversaw approval of the controversial White House ballroom project, as his next White House counsel. Scharf, who will replace David Warrington on September 1, will take up one of the administration's most significant legal roles just months before the November midterm elections. As a federal prosecutor and Trump's long-standing legal ally, Scharf has represented the president in several legal cases, including the federal election interference case brought by former Special Counsel Jack Smith. Scharf joins the White House after serving as White House staff secretary, managing documents reaching the president and regularly appearing alongside him during executive-order signings. His ties to Trump extend back to the president's first term, where he worked on the confirmation of federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Scharf has also been involved in one of the Trump administration's most contentious projects, serving as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, which approved Trump's $400 million White House ballroom project, planned on the site of the demolished East Wing. The project has sparked a legal debate over presidential authority, with a federal appeals court recently halting aboveground construction due to the need for explicit congressional approval. Scharf will advise the presidency on legal and constitutional issues, review legislation and executive actions, and help coordinate the administration's response to lawsuits and congressional investigations. His appointment continues a trend of Trump elevating lawyers who have previously represented him, with Todd Blanche being confirmed as attorney general and D John Sauer appointed solicitor general. With Democrats promising to investigate Trump if they gain control of Congress in November's midterm elections, Scharf's appointment comes at a particularly sensitive time.