Page 10 - Cannot Obstruct News Today

Were not real enthused about the two-week deal. we think any spending bill that lands three weeks before christmas isnt in favor of the taxpayers. >> republicans in the house have taken the next step toward americaing their tax bill with the senates version. criticism by some in the party over a deal to fund the government threatened to derail the process. joining us live, peter alexander. president trump reportedly getting involved yet in keeping things on track here. what happened exactly? >> ...

This is the presidents personal attorney who is involved he says in sending these tweets out and in the explanations after the fact. what do these explanations mean to you? whats your take? >> sure. well a couple things. first of all, it tells you that the presidents legal team is concerned the president obstructed justice. there is no reason for the presidents legal team to go out and claim that the president cannot obstruct justice unless theyre concerned that he may have liability for that. t...

National security adviser who is facing prison time in this case. this is the presidents lawyer responds to criticism that the president may have admitted to a crime on twitter. the attorney reportedly said the president cannot obstruct justice because hes in charge of justice. details on that in just a moment. the president this morning saying the russia investigation ruined michael flynns life. heres what he told john roberts. >> i will say this: hillary clinton lied many times to the fbi. not...

That alleged request, which the president disputes, that raises serious questions of potential obstruction of justice. though this morning the presidents lawyer john dowd claimed such a thing was by definition impossible. in a new interview with axios, quote, the president cannot obstruct justice because he is the chief law enforcement officer under the constitutions article ii powers and has every right to express his view of any case, unquote. according to dowd, the president is above this law...

>> reporter: a controversial argument, ali. let me try to break it down. effectively aing under article 2 of the cons stushgs the president cant obstruct justice because hes the chief operating officer. the president cannot obstruct justice because hes the chief law enforcement officer under the constitutions article 2 and has every right to express his view of any case. that last part significant, effectively saying whether talking to james comey or whoever right, he has the authority and the a...

Ought to take it up as well. i think the more important, more essential point is what this pattern is. if you go back to january when the president completely discounted the unanimous assessment of the intelligence committee that russia had interfered in our elections, he called it a hoax, and over the weekend, he claimed the reputation of the fbi was in tatters, this is a man, frankly, does not have much regard for the rule of law. thats whats at work here. >> let me ask you about the rule of l...

Who wonders whether he actually knew this or was making it it up. and two, you have to believe that he told comey to stand down. so there are two things, the president is contesting the 4 9 latter. and the former, we dont know enough about to know if its true or not true. if its true and if the president asked comey to stand down, thats legally problematic for him. >> also legally, the presidents lawyer john dowd is making this argument to axios michael saying the president cannot obstruct justi...

Obstruction of justice. if you were watching. show earlier you heard we had a discussion. the presidents lawyer is out there saying that the president cannot as a matter of law commit obstruction of justice. do you agree with that argument? >> i think argument is because he asked comey to not go after michael flynn a guy who served our country, a general, who served in our armed services that somehow thats obstruction, i dont see how thats obstruction of justice. thats a weak claim were hearing ...

Advisor -- >> well, i feel badly for general flynn. hes led a very strong life and i feel badly. i will say this. hillary clinton lied many times to the fbi and nothing happened to her. flynn lied and they destroyed his life. i think its a shame. >> reporter: mr. trumps legal team is offering a preview of a potential defense in the event the special counsels office makes its way to the oval office. the president cannot obstruct justice because hes the chief law enforcement officer. the president...

So im considering letting him go first but i cant because i have to go to nick first. nick, we got to start with the presidents lawyer, john dodd telling nbc, quote, the president cannot obstruct justice because hes the chief law enforcement officer under the constitutions article 2 and has every right to express his view. >> thats false. it all comes down to what was his intent in talking to comey in telling him to stop the flynn investigation. i mean, theres no question, john mitchell, who was...