Cnn newsroom starts right now. Good day to you, its 3 00 a. M. On the u. S. East coast. We start with the city of charlottesville, virginia on high alert after a terrifying attack over the weekend. This after a car drove into a crowd of people. 19 people were killed and 32yearold heatherheyer seen here was killed. Mike pence strongly condemned the violence. We have no tolerance from hate or violence from White Nationalist, neonazi or the kkk. These dangerous Fringe Groups have no place in American Public life and in the american debate. And we condemn them in the strongest possible terms. 19 people were injured in this case. 19 people injured, one person killed. This was the woman who was basically in front of this car when it rammed into a crowd of people. President trump however is facing outrage over his refusal to label the people at the rally extremist. In his statement saturday he blamed many sides for the violence. The people of charlottesville are outraged. One day later the or
This horrific scene. Then the car backing up. The car rammed into a gathering of counter protestors killing one person and injuring 19 oss. Police say it was no accident and now the feds are on the case. Here is attorney general Jeff Sessions. It does meet the definition of domestic terrorism in our statute. Well charge and advance the investigation toward the most serious charges that can be brought because this is an an evil attack that cannot be accepted in america. Were learning new details about the victim. A 32yearold woman taking place. A witness describes that disturbing scene. All i saw were people flying away and then i saw a car. I saw a windshield smashed, a bumper torn, i saw it peel away. I looked to my left and i saw heather lying on the ground. Allison barber live in charlottesville. When does this suspect head before the judge . He is expected to head before a judge for a bond hearing this morning. That could happen this hour or next. He is facing charges locally secon
The house. Finally a krcnn exclusive. Im speaking with the mother of charlottesville mother of the deceased. First what could be a pivotal meeting. Sources telling cnn the two teams could sit down as early as this coming week. The president s lawyers are said to be hoping for signs that the investigation is close to wrapping up. Were told theyre staying positive over the fact that out of all the documents mueller has requested so far, few have had to do with the president directly. Another high level white house official doesnt appear to think the probe will be over so soon. Washington post reports that Jared Kushner has looked to hire a pr team. You recall he has been a focus of the probe. Amid all of this the president is raising the specter he may still pardon Michael Flynn. I dont want to talk about pardons of Michael Flynn yet. See what happens. Lets see. With me now to discuss all of these threads and more, is republican congressman Francis Rooney of florida. We are hearing this
Adding to the uncertainty. Two senators dealing with health issues. Now, remember, Senate Republicans have a razor thin majority, cant afford to lose more than two votes. Vice president pence post poened his planned trip to the middle east in case he needs to cast a tie breaking vote. But President Trump remains optimistic promising americans the greatest tax cut in u. S. History. Listen. I think we will get there. It will be in a very short period of time. It will be the greatest Christmas Present in a allot of people have ever received. For the latest on the tax debate. Lets bring in Cnns Phil Mattingly on capitol hill. Reporter for Republican Leaders, today is the day they said they will release the full tax overhaul plan, the final bill they plan on voting on. Heres one problem. They dont necessarily have the votes and late in thursday night they were still working on hammering out the details of that bill. One of the big moments that occ occurr occurred, senator marco rubio saying
To lying to the fbi about his contacts with russias ambassador. And flynn has been cooperating with mueller for a year, which means that mueller now knows everything flynn knows. And on friday were going to learn a whole lot more about Paul Manaforts lies when mueller lays it all out in his sentencing memo. We dont know yet exactly what manafort lied about, but were going to find out in just a few days. So theres lots to discuss. Lets bring in first james clapper. Hes a former director of national intelligence. Good evening to you, sir. Thank you for joining us. Thanks, don. Director clapper, we seem to be at a critical point in the russia investigation with flynn, cohen, manafort. Its all coming together. Do you feel that Something Big is coming . Well, as i always do when we have this kind of discussion, i always like to remind myself and anyone else that whatever we think is going to be revealed that special counsel mueller and his team still are ahead of us. They know more than we