>> THANKS TO YOU AT HOME FOR JOINING US THI THIS HOUR.
RUN FOR OFFICE. RUN FOR SOMETHING.
PUBLIC SERVICE HAS GOTTEN A BAD RAP IN MY GENERATION AND I THINK
SUBSEQUENT GENERATIONS. I'M OLD.
PUBLIC SERVICE HAS GOTTEN A BAD RAP.
BUT FORGET THAT. JUST RUN FOR OFFICE.
WE ARE A SMALL "D" DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY.
OUR GOVERNMENT IS OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE.
WHY NOT YOU? WHY SOMEBODY ELSE?
WHY NOT YOU? BUT IF YOU WERE NEVER PERSUADED
BY THAT ARGUMENT BEFORE, IF YOU NEVER FELT MOEFLTD TO SERVE YOUR
FELLOW CITIZENS, IF YOU NEVER FELT THAT IMPULSE TO SHAPE THE
FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY AND YOUR COMMUNITY, EVEN IF NONE OF THAT
STUFF MOVED YOU IN THE PAST, TODAY, WE ALL GOT ONE BIG FAT
NEW, VERY PER SWAISSIVE REASON WHY WE SHOULD RUN FOR OFFICE.
YOU SHOULD RUN FOR OFFICE IF YOU'RE NOSEY, BECAUSE IT'S THE
ONLY WAY TO SATISFY AN ACUTE SENSE OF NOSEYNESS.
ONLY PEOPLE WHO ONCE RAN FOR OFFICE AND WANT A SEAT IN THE
UNITED STATES SENATE AND GOT THEMSELVES ONTO THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE, ONLY THOSE PEOPLE GOT TO HEAR THE REALLY JUICY STUFF
TODAY. >> WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
RUSSIAN BANK V.E.B.? >> NOTHING THAT I CAN TALK ABOUT
IN AN OPEN SETTING. >> WAS THE FBI ABLE TO CONFIRM
ANY CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENT?
>> MR. CHAIRMAN I DON'T THINK THAT'S A QUESTION I CAN ANSWER
IN AN OPEN SETTING. >> IS THE NOT TRUE MR. FLYNN WAS
AND IS A CENTRAL FIGURE IN THIS INVESTIGATION IN THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND THE RUSSIANS?
>> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT IN AN OPEN SETTING, SIR.
>> WHEN YOU READ THE DOSSIER, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION GIVEN IT
WAS 100% DIRECTED AT THE PRESIDENT-ELECT?
>> NOT A QUESTION I CAN NANCE OPEN SETTING, MR. CHAIRMAN.
>> DOES THAT MEAN THE DOSSIER IS NOT BEING REVIEWED OR
INVESTIGATING OR FOLD UP ON IN ANY WAY?
>> OBVIOUSLY CAN'T COMMENT EITHER WAY.
I CAN'T TALK IN AN OPEN SETTING ACT THE INVESTIGATION.
>> DID YOU HAVE AT THE TIME THAT STORY WAS PUBLISHED ANY
INDICATION OF ANY CONTACT BETWEEN TRUMP PEOPLE AND
RUSSIANS RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
OR ASSOCIATES OF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT?
>> I CAN'T ANSWER SITTING HERE. >> DID YOU EVER COME CLOSE TO
CLOSING THE INVESTIGATION ON MR. FLYNN?
>> I DON'T THINK I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN OPEN SETTING
EITHER. >> ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY MEETINGS
BETWEEN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS
DURING THE CAMPAIGN THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THOSE
OFFICIALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE? >> THAT'S NOT -- EVEN IF I
REMEMBER CLEARLY, THAT'S NOT A QUESTION I CAN ANSWER IN AN OPEN
SETTING. >> DO YOU BELIEVE TRUMP COLLUDED
WITH RUSSIA? >> IT'S A QUESTION I DON'T THINK
I SHOULD ANSWER IN AN OPEN SETTING.
>> I WANT TO KNOW. [ LAUGHS ]
ONLY ONE WAY TO FIND OUT. WHAT WE SAW TODAY WAS THE OPEN
SESSION, OBVIOUSLY. THE PUBLIC HEARING WHICH WE WERE
ALL ALLOWED TO WATCH. BUT AFTER THE PUBLIC SESSION
ENDED UP AT 2:00 P.M. TODAY, THAT SAME SMALL GROUP OF
SENATORS, THEY GOT TO QUESTION THE FIRED FBI DIRECTOR AGAIN,
EXCEPT IN THE AFTERNOON SERKS WE WEREN'T THERE.
IT WAS THE CLOSED SESSION, CLASSIFIED, AND PRESUMABLY HE
WAS ABLE TO GIVE THEM ANSWERS TO ALL THOSE QUESTIONS HE SAID HE
COULDN'T ANSWER IN THE OPEN SESSION WE GOT TO SEE ON TV.
EVEN IN THAT UNCLASSIFIED TESTIMONY THAT WEE ALL SAW THAT
WE DID LEARN A TON, I THINK THE MOST SURPRISING SUBSTANTIVE
THING WE LEARNED -- WE LEARNED A LOT OF GOSSIP THINGS, BUT THE
SUBSTANTIVE THING WE LEARNED TODAY WHICH I DEFINITELY DIDN'T
SEE COMING, AND IT HAS NOW TURNED INTO A STORY THAT IS
CONTINUING TO DEVELOP INTO THIS TEERNGS BIG SURPRISING
SUBSTANTIVE REVEAL TODAY WAS ABOUT THE CURRENT ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, JEFF SESSIONS, ATTORNEY GENERAL
SESSIONS APPEARS TO BE IN THE CROSS HAIRS IN A WAY WE DIDN'T
PREVIOUSLY UNDERSTAND. YESTERDAY WE GOT AN ADVANCED
COPY OF DIRECTOR COMEY'S OPENING STATEMENT FOR HIS TESTIMONY TO
LISTEN TO WE GOT THAT IN WRITING.
AND PART OF THAT STATEMENT EXPLAINED JAMES COMEY'S
ALLEGATIONS ALLEGATION THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD JAMES COMEY
IN A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING IN THE OVAL OFFICE THAT THE FBI SHOULD
LET GO ITS ONGOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRUMP
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER MIKE FLYNN.
THE INVESTIGATION INTO MIKE FLYNN AND HIS CONTACTS WITH THE
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. IN HIS WRITTEN TESTIMONY THAT WE
GOT YESTERDAY IN ADVANCE, COMEY SAID AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD
HIM TO LAY OFF THE FLYNN INVESTIGATION, DIRECTOR COMEY
LEFT THAT MEETING AND IMMEDIATELY WROTE A MEMO ABOUT
WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THAT MEETING.
HE ALSO TOLD HIS SENIOR STAFF AT THE FBI EXACTLY WHAT HAD
HAPPENED AT THAT MEETING AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT TOLD HIM TO
DO. BUT HE DID NOT TELL THE HEAD OF
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. HE DID NOT TELL HIS SUPERIOR OR
ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS. AND THIS IS HOW HE EXPLAINED WHY
HE DIDN'T TELL JEFF SESSIONS. THIS IS WHAT HE PUT IN HIS
WRITTEN STATEMENT. QUOTE, WE CONCLUDED, IT MADE
LITTLE SENSE TO REPORT IT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS
WHO WOULD LIKELY RECUSE HIMSELF FROM INVESTIGATIONS.
HE DID SO TWO WEEKS LATER. WE GOT THAT IN WRITING FROM
JAMES COMEY YESTERDAY. AT THE TIME THAT STATEMENT CAME
OUT YESTERDAY, WE WERE ALL WONDERING, HOW DID THE FBI KNOW
TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS
WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RECUSE HIMSELF ON THE RUSSIA
INVESTIGATION? THERE'S AN ANSWER TO THAT.
DIRECTOR COMEY SOLVED THAT MYSTERY AND EXPLAINED THAT TODAY
AND HIS EXPLANATION, FRANKLY, MADE PERFECT SENSE.
>> WE WERE CONVINCED, IN FACT I THINK WE HEARD THE CAREER PEOPLE
RECOMMENDING THAT HE RECUSE HIMSELF, THAT HE WAS NOT GOING
TO BE IN CONTACT WITH RUSSIA RELATED MATTERS MUCH LONGER AND
THAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE CASE. >> THAT DOES MAKE SENSE.
THE FBI DIRECTOR IS SAYING THE PRESIDENT TOLD ME TO STOP THE
FBI INVESTIGATION INTO MIKE FLYNN CONCERNING FLYNN'S
CONTACTS WITH RUSSIA. COMEY TOLD MULTIPLE OTHER PEOPLE
ABOUT THAT DIRECTIVE FROM THE PRESIDENT, TOLD MULTIPLE OTHER
PEOPLE AT THE FBI. BUT HE AND HIS TOP TEAM AT THE
FBI DELIBERATELY DECIDED THEY WEREN'T GOING TO ALERT THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAUSE ALL OF THIS PEOPLE AT THE FBI KNEW THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM
RUSSIA RELATED MATTERS AND SOON. HE EXPLAINS THE REASON HE KNEW
HE WAS GFGTS TO RECUSE HIMSELF IS BECAUSE A PROCESS WAS ALREADY
UNDERWAY AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO DECIDE ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO RECUSE HIMSELF AND THE
CAREER PEOPLE AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT KNEW HE WAS GOING TO
HAVE TO RECUSE HIMSELF. THAT WAS KNOWN AT THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT. THE FBI PEOPLE HAD HEARD ABOUT
THAT. SO THAT MAKES SENSE.
IN SHORT ORDER, JEFF SESSIONS ISN'T ALLOWED TO KNOW ANYTHING
RELATED TO ANY INVESTIGATIONS SO DON'T TELL HIM ABOUT THE FLYNN
INVESTIGATION NOW IF HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO PRETEND TO FORGET
ABOUT IT TWO WEEKS DOWN THE LINE.
ALL MADE CLEAR BY TODAY'S TESTIMONY.
ALL MAKES SENSE, ALL IS WELL. EXCEPT FOR THE REASON YOU SHOULD
RUN FOR OFFICE. IN CASE YOU'RE NOSEY SO YOU CAN
GET INTO THAT FREAKING CLOSED SESSION.
BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO ALWAYS RECUSAL STUFF WHICH WAS PUT TO
BED AND EXPLAINED IN TOTALLY NORMAL TERMS TODAY, APPARENTLY
THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO KNOW ABOUT
YET WITH REGARD TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND RUSSIA.
>> IN YOUR STATEMENT YOU SAID THAT YOU AND THE FBI LEADERSHIP
TEAM DECIDED NOT TO DISCUSS THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS WITH
ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD NOT RECUSED
HIMSELF. WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OWN INTERACTIONS WITH THE RUSSIANS OR HIS BEHAVIOR
WITH REGARD TO THE INVESTIGATION THAT WOULD HAVE LED THE ENTIRE
LEADERSHIP OF THE FBI TO MAKE THIS DECISION?
>> OUR JUDGMENT AS I RECALL WAS THAT HE WAS VERY CLOSE TO AND
VEBL GOING TO RECUSE HIMSELF FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
WE ALSO WERE AWARE OF ENACTS I CAN'T DISCUSS IN AN OPEN SETTING
THAT WOULD MAKE HIS CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT IN A RUSSIA RELATED
INVESTIGATION PROBLEMATIC. >> SO IN ADDITION TO THE HE'S
GOING TO HAVE TO RECUSE HIMSELF WHICH IS NORMAL AND CAN BE
DISCUSSED ON TV. IN ADDITION TO THAT THERE'S
SOMETHING CLASSIFIED CONCERNING THE CURRENT ATTORNEY GENERAL
WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI AND THE WHOLE TOP TEAM AT THE
FBI KNEW ABOUT IN FEBRUARY WELL BEFORE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS
EVER RECUSED FROM THESE MATTERS. SOMETHING ABOUT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL AND RUSSIA -- LET'S PLAY THAT BIT AGAIN.
THE WORD HE USED WAS PROBLEMATIC.
PLAY THAT PART AGAIN. >> WE WERE ALSO AWARE OF FACTS
THAT I CAN'T DISCUSS IN AN OPEN SETTING THAT WOULD MAKE HIS
CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT IN A RUSSIA RELATED INVESTIGATION
PROBLEMATIC. >> LIKE I SAID, RUN FOR OFFICE.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU FIND OUT ON A DAY L LIKE TODAY WHATEVER
IS THAT CAN'T BE DISCUSSED IN AN OPEN SECHLGT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT
ON THIS MATTER CONCERNING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS THAT THESE
SENATORS WENT INTO A CLOSED SESSION, A CLASSIFIED SESSION
WITH DIRECTOR COMEY WHERE THEY GOT TO ASK HIM AGAIN ALL THESE
QUESTIONS THAT HE COULDN'T NANCE AN OPEN SETTING.
AFTER THEY HAD THAT CLASSIFIED CLOSED DOOR SESSION, SENATOR JOE
MANSION OF WEST VIRGINIA CAME OUT AND TALKED TO REPORTERS FROM
NBC NEWS AND TOLD THEM ESSENTIALLY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
NEEDS TO EXPLAIN, AT LEAST ONE OF HIS OWN MEETINGS WITH THE
RUSSIANS. >> JEFF COULD ADD A LOT OF LIGHT
TO IT IF YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY HE RECUSED HIMSELF, OR HIS
MEETINGS HE HAD OR WHAT WAS SAID AND THIS AND THAT OR WHAT WE
DON'T KNOW OR YOU KNOW WE'VE PRETTY MUCH GOD GOTTEN PRETTY
GOOD RECORDS OF EVERYTHING. >> THERE'S ONE MEETING THAT HE
WON'T. THERE'S ONE MEETING THAT WE
DON'T. PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT
IT. WHAT'S THAT?
SO NOW WE ARE IN AN UNEXPECTED PLACE.
THE FBI, THE FIRED FBI DIRECTOR SAYS HE AND THE ENTIRE TOP
LEADERSHIP AT THE FBI WERE AWARE OF SOMETHING CLASSIFIED ABOUT
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE DISCUSSED OPENLY
BUT MADE IT PROBLEMATIC FOR EVEN OTHER TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS IN FEBRUARY TO TALK WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT RELATED TO RUSSIA.
AND THAT'S SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE ISSUE ISSUES FROM REAC
HIMSELF FROM THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATIONS A COUPLE WEEKS
LATER. I DID NOT SEE THIS COMING.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
PRESUMABLY, ADDITIONAL LIGHT WILL BE SHED ON IT AT SOME
POINT. BUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL HERE? THAT JUST CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.
WE MAY FIND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT THAT SOON, AT LEAST HE MAY FACE
QUESTIONS ABOUT IT SOON. THIS THAT I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU
HERE, THIS WAS NOT A VERY HIGH PROFILE THING BEFORE TODAY, BUT
NOW WITH THE REVELATIONS TODAY, IT'S NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN A BIG
RED LETTER ITEM ON THE CALENDAR THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF
SESSIONS IS EXPECTED TO GIVE TESTIMONY IN THE SENATE ON
TUESDAY. PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED, IT'S AN
UNRELATED TOPIC, TUESDAY MORNING 10:00 A.M.
YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO CALL IN SICK TO WORK THAT DAY ACCORDING
TO ME. I SHOULD NOTE THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL HAS A HISTORY OF GETTING SHY.
HE WAS DUE TO TESTIFY TO THE HOUSE AND TO THE SENATE A WEEK
BEFORE LAST AGAIN ON PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED MATTERS UNRELATED TO
THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION HE CANCELED BOTH OF THOSE
APPEARANCES AT THE LAST MINUTE. SOMETHING CAME UP.
SO WE'LL SEE IF HE KEEPS HIS DATE FOR NEXT WEEK.
RIGHT NOW HE'S SCHEDULED TO SPEAK TO A SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE
TUESDAY MORNING, 10:00 A.M. SO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF
SESSIONS I THINK WAS THE BIG
REVELATION TODAY. AND THEN WE HAVE WHAT I THINK IS
LIKELY TO CAUSE THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF THE MOST SERIOUS LEGAL
TROUBLE. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THE RUSSIA
INVESTIGATION PLAYED A ROLE? >> IN WHY I WAS FIRED?
YES. I WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF THE
RUSSIA INVESTIGATION, SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY I WAS CONDUCTING
IT, THE PRESIDENT FELT CREATED PRESSURE ON HIM THAT HE WANTED
TO REVEAL. I WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF SOMETHING
OF THE WAY I WAS CONDUCTING THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION WAS PUTTING
PRESSURE ON HIM AND IN SOME WAY IRRITATING HIM AND HE FIRED ME
BECAUSE OF THAT. I WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF THE
RUSSIA INVESTIGATION. I WAS FIRED IN SOME WAY TO
CHANGE OR THE ENDEAVOR WAS TO CHANGE THE WAY THE INVESTIGATION
WAS BEING CONDUCTED. IS THAT A "YES" A VERY BIG DEAL.
>> YES, THAT IS A VERY BIG DEAL. THE FBI DIRECTOR BEING FIRED BY
THE PRESIDENT TO TRY TO CHANGE OR STOP AN FBI INVESTIGATION
INTO THE PREHE PRESIDENT'S CAMP AND HIS TOP STAFFERS, THAT IS A
BIG FREAKING DEAL. EVEN IF THERE'S NO RUSSIA FACTOR
HERE, EVEN IF THIS INVESTIGATION WAS INTO CRIMINAL CHEATING AT
TIDDLYWINKS, THE PRESIDENT FIRING THE FBI DIRECTOR TO TRY
TO CHANGE OR STOP AN FBI INVESTIGATION INTO THE
PRESIDENT, HIS CAMPAIGN, OR HIS TOP STAFFERS, OR ANYTHING, THE
PRESIDENT TRY TO AFFECT AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.
REGARDLESS OF THE BIG CONTEXT. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE
PRESIDENT'S FUTURE THAT MOST OBSERVERS BELIEVE THAT POTENTIAL
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE SPECIAL
COUNSEL NOW. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THIS WILL RISE
TO OBJECT STUKS OF JUSTICE? >> I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S BOB MUELLER'S JOB TO FIGURE OUT.
>> SPECIAL COUNSEL BOB MULLER IS INVESTIGATING NOT JUST RUSSIA,
NOT JUST THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT TRUMP COLLUDED IN THE
ATTACK. ACCORDING TO JAMES COMEY'S
TESTIMONY TODAY, HE IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER THERE WAS
A CRIMINAL EFFORT AFTER THE RUSSIAN ATTACK TO OBSTRUCT
JUSTICE AS THE RUSSIA AFFAIR STARTED TO COME UNDER
INVESTIGATION, HE'S INVESTIGATING WHETHER THERE WAS
AN EFFORT BY THE PRESIDENT OR OTHER PEOPLE IN THE
ADMINISTRATION TO OBSTRUCT JUSTICE HAS THOSE MATTERS WERE
BEING INVESTIGATED. AND HERE IS THE GIGANTIC THAT
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES NOW HAS WITH THAT.
>> DID YOU AT ANY TIME URGE FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY
IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM?
>> NO. >> THAT WAS THE PRESIDENT LAST
MONTH, NO, NO, I DID NOT NOT URGE COMEY TO CLOSE DOWN THE
INVESTIGATION. DIRECTOR COMEY HAS NOW TESTIFIED
UNDER OATH THAT THE PRESIDENT DID URGE HIM TO CLOSE DOWN THE
FLYNN INVESTIGATION. HE ALSO TESTIFIED UNDER OATH
THAT WHEN THE PRESIDENT DENIED THAT, HE WAS LYING.
>> IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE ON MAY 18th, THE PRESIDENT WAS
ASKED WHETHER HE URGED YOU TO SHUT DOWN THE INVESTIGATION INTO
MICHAEL FLYNN. THE PRESIDENT RESPONDED
NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK CITY NEXT QUESTION.
IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? >> I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS.
>> THANK YOU. >> HERE'S WHAT THIS FIGHT IS
BOILING DOWN TO, THIS MAY BE WHAT THE PRESIDENCY ENDS UP
BOILING DOWN TO. DID THE PRESIDENT TELL THE FBI
DIRECTOR, JAMES COMEY, TO KILL THE MIKE FLYNN INVESTIGATION OR
DID HE NOT DO THAT? DID HE TRY TO KILL THE FLYNN
INVESTIGATION OR DIDN'T HE? THAT'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO
EVEN IF THE RUSSIA THINGS NEVER HAPPENED.
THE PRESIDENT HAS A NEW PRIVATE SECTOR LAWYER NOW.
AS SOON AS JAMES COMEY'S TESTIMONY WAS OVER TODAY, THAT
LAWYER WENT INTO A PRESS AVAILABILITY AND DENIED THIS
CLAIM, DENIED THAT THE PRESIDENT EVER TRIED TO SHUT DOWN THE
FLYNN INVESTIGATION. HE DENIED IT ON THE PRESIDENT'S
BEHALF AGAIN IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS.
THEY ARE DECLARING ESSENTIALLY THAT THIS IS THE HILL THEY WANT
TO DIE ON. >> THE PRESIDENT NEVER IN FORM
OR SUBSTANCE DIRECTED OR SUGGESTED THAT MR. COMEY STOP
INVESTIGATING ANYONE, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT NEVER SUGGESTED
THAT MR. COMEY, QUOTE, LET FLYNN GO.
>> PRESIDENT IN FORM OR SUBSTANCE DID NOT DIRECT OR
SUGGEST, EVERYONE TOLD THE FBI DIRECTOR TO LET THE FLYNN
INVESTIGATION GO. THIS IS IT.
THIS IS THE NUT. IF THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT
EVERYBODY ON EARTH IS GOING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THIS -- THIS IS
WHAT IT'S BOILING DOWN TO. ON THE ONE HAND, THERE'S THE
PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT NOW AND THE
PRESIDENT'S LAWYER ON BEHALF OF THE PRESIDENT SAYING I NEVER DID
THAT. I NEVER TOLD THE FBI TO SHUT
DOWN THE FLYNN INVESTIGATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S THE
FIRED FBI DIRECTOR WHO SAYS THE PRESIDENT DID DO THAT.
THERE'S THE MEMO THE DIRECTOR WROTE.
AND THERE'S THE PEOPLE AT THE FBI WHO THE FBI DIRECTOR TOLD
CONTEMPT RAINOUSLY RISER THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE PRESIDENT
HAPPENED. A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO THE FIRED
FBI DIRECTOR DESCRIBED TODAY AT LENGTH.
>> WHO ARE THOSE SENIOR LEADERS AT THE FBI YOU SHARED THESE
CONVERSATIONS WITH? >> AS I SAID, DEPUTY DIRECTOR,
MY CHIEF OF STAFF, GENERAL COUNSEL, DEPUTY DIRECTORS, CHIEF
COUNSEL, AND THEN MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE NUMBER THREE
PERSON AT THE FBI WHO'S THE ASSOCIATE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND
QUITE OFTEN THE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY BRANCH.
>> SO JUST TO SUMMARIZE HERE, THERE'S THE PRESIDENT SAYING I
NEVER TOLD THE FBI DIRECTOR TO STOP THE FLYNN INVESTIGATION.
SO THAT'S THE PRESIDENT. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S JAMES
COMEY SAYING, YEAH, THE PRESIDENT DID THAT.
AND, BY THE WAY, I WROTE IT DOWN AT THE TIME AND, BY THE WAY, I
TOLD AT THE TIME THE FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR, THE CHIEF OF STAFF,
THE GENERAL COUNSEL, THE ASSOCIATE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND
PROBABLY THE HEAD OF THE NOBODY ELSE BRANCH AT THE FBI.
SO IT'S THEIR WORD AND THE WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION OF THE FBI
DIRECTOR ON ONE SIDE, AND ALSO MAYBE THEY'VE GOT TAPE.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE THERE WERE ANY TAPES OR RECORDINGS OF YOUR
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT?
>> IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME UNTIL THE PRESIDENT'S TWEET.
I'M NOT BEING FACETIOUS. >> BOTH OF YOU ARE IN THE SAME
FINDINGS. YOU BOTH HOPE THERE ARE TAPES
AND RECORDINGS? >> ALL I CAN DO IS HOPE THE
PRESIDENT SURELY KNOWS WHETHER HE TAPED ME.
IF HE DID, MY FEELINGS AREN'T HURT.
RELEASE ALL THE TAPES. I'M GOOD WITH IT.
I'VE SEEN THE TWEET ABOUT TAPES. LORDY, I HOPE THERE ARE TAPES.
>> EVEN IF THE WHOLE RUSSIA THING NEVER HAPPENED, THE RUSSIA
THING HAPPENED. THERE WAS A RUSSIAN ATTACK ON
OUR ELECTION. THERE'S A QUESTION WHETHER THEY
CONCLUDED OR HELPED. SET ALL THAT ASIDE.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S COMING DOWN TO AS OF TODAY WITH
THE SPECIAL COUNSEL LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE WAS
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. THIS IS WHAT IT'S COME DOWN TO.
THE PRESIDENT TRYING TO STOP AN ONGOING FBI CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION IS A TEXT BOOK OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
THE EVIDENCE FOR WHETHER OR NOT HE DID THAT JUST ON THE TERMS OF
THE FLYNN INVESTIGATION, JUST IN TERMS OF MICHAEL FLYNN BEING
INVESTIGATED, THAT'S HOW IT BALANCES OUT AS OF TODAY.
ON THE ONE SIDE, THE PRESIDENT DENIES IT.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, JAMES COMEY SAYS HE DID IT AND HIS MEMO SAYS
HE DID IT AND HE HAS WITNESSES OF THE ENTIRE SENIOR STRUCTURE
OF THE FBI SAYING THEY WILL CORROBORATE THAT I SAID HE DID
IT THE NIGHT THAT I SAID HE DID IT.
AND MAYBE ALSO IT HAPPENED ON TAPE.
THAT'S THE BALANCE OF THE EVIDENCE.
PRESIDENT'S DENIAL VERSUS ALL OF THAT.
AND THAT IS WHY IT'S A PROBLEM FOR THE PRESIDENT THAT AS OF
TODAY HIS LEGAL DEFENSE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE AWESOME.
WE HAVE MORE ON THAT AHEAD. PLUS, WE'VE GOT
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTER WHOSE STORY WAS ATTACKED BY
JAMES COMEY AND MY MULTIPLE REPUBLICAN SENATORS AT TODAY'S
HEARING. THE "TIM
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