Supreme Court Nomination as republicans get more combative in their defense and more dismissive of his accusers. Tonight Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans are again refusing to delay a thursday hearing with kavanaugh and Christine Blasey ford. Theyve now hired an outside counsel to ask questions, something ford specifically opposed. This as the president is attacking the credibility of the second foaccuser, deborah ramir, suggesting she is part of a con game by democrats. Lisa murkowski, a potential swing vote, urging them to take the accusers seriously. He will be confirmed possibly this weekend. I will get reaction from democratic senator merkley. Our correspondents and analysts are standing by. First to our White House Correspondent jim acosta. He is in new york covering the president. Jim, the president s u. N. Speech was overshadowed today once again by the kavanaugh controversy. Reporter thats right, wolf. Overshadowed by events back home, and the president today offered his
Be covered up as dual filings and investigations into the president s personal lawyer Michael Cohen suggest even greater efforts from russian nationals to forge ties with the pre white house trump. Of course, the president continued with his twitter tirades against the investigation this morning taking shots at mueller and his team. The question is, as we approach the new year, how close are we to hearing the final conclusions of the russia probe . We have a great panel. And we are welcoming attorney and now nbc legal Analyst Daniel goldman, former deputy secretary of labor under obama and lawyer by training chris liu, republican strategist sir Michael Singleton and cofounder and editorinchief of the beat d. C. Tiffany cross. First two breaking news from the testimony of former fbi head james comey, lets go to nbcs mike mamoli. Mike. Yesterday i was on the hill and former director comey spent seven hours. Some of the initial headlines now weve gotten a 235page transcript just in the la
Michael cohen deserves for an array of guilty pleas. As we speak, former fbi director james comey, of course, fired by this president , is beginning testimony behind closed doors before two house committees this morning. While back at the white house, the up and down relationship between the president and chief of staff john kelly is said to be down, way down, and kelly will soon be out of that job. Cnns abby phillip joins us now. Before we get to go to who is going, tell us about the two new hires the president announced. The president announced two major positions in his administration. Ones that have been open for some weeks now. The u. N. Ambassador, the u. S. Ambassador to the United Nations will be Heather Nauert who is currently the state Department Spokeswoman. Heather nauert is a former fox news journalist who has been at the state department for over a year now. And she has been rising precipitously and now has been named to that position which is currently a cabinet level po
Investigation of the facts, by the president did not commit obstruction of justice, we woul so state. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him. The attorney general william barr reached a decision saying there was no corrupt intent and therefore no obstruction by the president. The president s critics vigorously disagree and that is the battle ahead. Just a few moments ago the president tweeted after watchin coverage of the report ahma i had the right to end the whole witch hunt if i wanted, i could have fired everyone including mueller if i wanted. I chose not to. I had the right to use executiv privilege, i didnt. We have Team Coverage night. On the white house marathon wit the president s reaction to that report. We begin at the Justice Department tonight with details and substance inside this longawaited document. Good evening, catherine. Good evening for the special counsel investigation found evidence of
He now signals hell leave office, meaning the entire Justice Department, but note the catch. Hell do it once muellers work is done. And this new attorney general from trump would be confirmed. Now after all the speculation about mueller, this is a clue at least rosenstein thinks the russia probe could be over soon. Meanwhile, democrats sounding a wider alarm. Its deeply concerning, particularly when we have an acting attorney general who is so hostile toward the Mueller Investigation. And an incoming attorney general who has maede it clear he doesnt believe a president can obstruct justice, even when he fires an fbi director to make the russia problem go away. So the combination of those changes ought to be deeply concerning to anyone who cares deeply about the rule of law. That is the reaction. Meanwhile, new details emerging about Paul Manafort leaking data developed by a private polling firm that worked for the Trump Campaign which was then given to ukrainian oligarchs. Malcolm nanc