Page 45 - Avoidance News Today

Avoidance, do you have a sense there is a single impeachment defense strategy coming out of this white house or not? one of the things thats most striking -- we have a little more on this later in the hour as republicans are voicing their concern with more panic and more leaks is that you have mulvaney trying to say maybe there was a quid pro quo and its cool, and then saying no, i didnt say that. you have pence basically saying i dont care how evasive i look, evasive looks better than admitting...

21-17. didnt even carry all the democrats. so i think theyre not particularly worried about their stonewalling strategy. >> very important context there to be sure. everyone stick around. were going to pick this up after the break. we also have reaction tonight, sharp reaction from former vice president joe biden. later, some inning clings of reaction from the gop, but also a fair amount of avoidance. that and more as our "360" coverage continues.

The committee would like to know more about. and of course they are sending subpoenas. i must say, john, im not very hopeful thats going to change any of the dynamics of this. nixon totally stonewalled all of the subpoena requests. yes, it was added as an article of impeachment. he didnt care. in fact, that was the weakest article that was voted against him by the committee, 21-17. didnt even carry all the democrats. so i think theyre not particularly worried about their stonewalling strategy. >...

Particularly interested in answers. we want to hear what they have to say and be sure that we are thorough, that we take our time to put together the kind of a document that the american people will understand and hopefully will have confidence in once its developed. i dont care what they call it, inquiry, investigation, proceedings. lets just be thorough and be careful that we bring the american people along with us whatever we may do. >> i know your former colleague has a question for you. >> ...

And this could be a very rocky year for republicans. >> theres a sense when the president, in your own party, feels like hes in trouble, that you have two choices when this happened with bill clinton, you can get behind him and rally or you can get the heck out of washington, d.c. and avoid him. this feel like trump avoidance is beginning to kick in. >> will hurd is one of the more decedent members of congress and certainly for the republicans. mia love lost in that last election. the republican...

Than mere avoidance of criminality, shouldnt we? >> absolutely. >> the need to act in an ethical manner is not just a moral one, but when people act unethically, it also exposes them to compromise, particularly in dealing with foreign powers. that true? >> true. >> the long-running issue the president refuses to submit to an interview was addressed along with the presidents insufficient written answers. >> and in fact you did go with written questions after about nine months, sir. and the presid...

Intelligence. that correct? >> thats true. >> in your investigation, did you think that this was a single attempt by the russians to get involved in our election, or did you find evidence that suggests theyll try to do this again? >> it wasnt a single attempt. theyre doing it as we sit here, and they expect to do it during the next campaign. >> from your testimony today, i gather this you believe that knowingly acceptling foreign assistance during a presidential campaign is an unethical thing to...

A presidential candidate or any candidate shouldnt be whether something is criminal, it should be held to a higher standard, you would agree? >> i will not get into that, because it goes to the standards to be applied by other institutions besides ours. >> im just referring to ethical standards. we should hold our elected officials to a standard higher than mere avoidance of criminality, correct? >> absolutely. >> you have served this country for decades, youve taken an oath to defend the consti...

Assistance during a presidential campaign is an unethical thing to do. >> and a crime. >> and a crime. >> a crime given the circumstances, yes. >> to the degree it undermines our democracies and institutions, we can agree its also unpatriotic. >> true. >> and wrong. >> true. >> we should hold our elected officials to the standard higher of mere avoidance of criminality, shouldnt we? >> absolutely. >> the need to act in an ethical manner is not just a moral one but when people act unethically it ...

A presidential candidate or any candidate for that matter shouldnt be merely whether something is criminal, should be held to a higher standard. youd agree? >> i will not get into that because it goes to the standards to be applied by other institutions besides ours. >> im just referring to ethical standards. we should hold our elected officials to a standard higher than mere avoidance of criminalality, shouldnt we? >> absolutely. >> you have served this country for decades. you have taken an oa...