Ross the country. Mary races is loyalty to President Trump trumping conservative principles in the Republican Party . Good afternoon. Welcome to the lead. Im jake tapper. Were going to start with breaking news. Is the president s fixer about to flip . Now we dont know the answer. We dont know that to be the case. But there are clearly signs of distress from Michael Cohen. The president s lawyer who was behind the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels and who knows what else. Cnn has learned that cohen has split from his legal team acourciliar with his actions. Whether that is him leaving the legal team or them leaving him is unclear. The source tells cnn that cohen has yet to meet with prosecutors to talk about a potential deal and he wants a legal team one with experience with the u. S. Attorneys office with the Southern District of new york. The office leading the criminal investigation of cohen including when the fbi raided his home, hotel room and office back in april. Now as cohen
To the president , heres how he described the raid on cohens office that put in motion what is largely thought to represent the single gravest legal threat to the president. Frankly a real disgrace. Its an tack on our country in a true sense. Its an attack on what we all stand for. In a statement just in the last hour, cohen promised his candor saying, quote he knows the truth. I know the truth. Others know the truth. And here is the truth, the people of the United States of america, people of the world dont believe what hes saying. The man doesnt tell the truth and its sad that i should take responsibility for his dirty deeds. Wow. Joining us from the Washington Post National Reporter Carol Leonnig and former u. S. Attorney and Deputy Assistant general harry litman. With us at the table jonathan lanier, White House Reporter for associated press, nick cant sory, the New York Times political recorder and the Washington Post columnist and associated editor eugene robinson. Let me start w
U.S.-Russian relations are at their lowest point since the Cold War, and many trends in Russian foreign policy are justifiably disturbing. U.S. officials should develop a comprehensive strategythat serves America's objectives, keeping in mind the significantinternal vulnerabilities of the Russian state. Russia, given itslack of strategic allies, can ill afford to "lose" the West.