Monumental vote in the house would ordinarily be our lead story, but not the case today. Good morning. Welcome to early start. Im dave briggs. Im christine roman, it is friday, november 17, 5 00 a. M. In the east. Dealing with Sexual Harassment turmoil. A parade of democrats joining calls for a full ethics investigation of al faranken. The minnesota senator has admitted to kissing and groping a woman without her consent in 2006 when he was still a comedian and talk show host. News anchor lee yan tweeden says in 2006, franken wrote a skit where he kissed her. Tweeden spoke out last night in the first tv interview. He just mashes his mouth to my lips, and, you know, like wet, and he puts his tongue in my mouth and my reaction, it was just sort of a you know, i pushed his chest away with my hands and im like if you ever do that to me again i was so angry. I was in disbelief, really. And i just sort of my hand to this day, i talk about it and my hand clenches into a first because i think m
Kristen, how many times is this now that the president says that he hopes that Hillary Clinton runs again in three years . I dont have enough fingers, right . 2016 just wont go away, but neither will these russia investigations as well, either the special counsel probe or congressional investigations on capitol hill and today were learning that the Top Republican and democrat on the Senate Judiciary are accusing President Trumps soninlaw and Jared Cushner of not being fully forthcoming with some documents in regards to their investigation. Senators Chuck Grassley and Dianne Feinstein said that he failed to turn over documents about two things wiki leaks and a back door dinner invite. Senators say that cushner received an email and then forwarded it to other campaign officials. And that could be problematic because it could be different from what he testified to that Committee Just a few months ago. Cushners attorney pushing back, saying that his client has been fully responsive to all
Trouble the bill will face, especially in the senate which is why last night that the hour when the Senate Finance committee was voting on the tax bill President Trump dramatically changed the subject to something he was sure the news media would prefer to talk about. The president is so desperate to turn voter attention away from whats actually in the tax bill that he changed the subject to his own history of Sexual Assault. He knew thats what he was doing when he sent out two tweets at this hour last night attacking senator al franken. He knew everyone would point out the hypocrisy of trump attacking franken and not saying a word about roy moore and, of course, the hypocrisy of donald trump of all people attacking anyone about sexual matters after trump himself was caught on tape confessing and bragging about Sexual Assault. Donald trump knew exactly what his tweets last night were going to do to the coverage of the tax bill. And we will get to the news about al franken and roy moore
Again. And two people claiming to be agencys leader. Mick mulvaney telling people at the Consumer Financial protection board he is in charge. Small problem. The deputy of that consumer watchdog saying the same thing and she has file add lawsuit. Get to it all, Office Politics and congressional politics. First, the republicans race against the clock, no small thing hanging in the balance, the nations tax code and national debt. Suzanne male vveaux, all eyes o the senate. Reporter people are scrambling to get something done and were talking days if not weeks, 12 officials days for them to be on the clock here and working. So, yes. Within the hour or so youve got the president meeting with Senate Republicans from the finance committee. Five members including orrin hatch, leader of that Committee Really trying to push forward some of the priorities here. They are desperate. They are looking at the clock here. Theyve got to get something done substantively, legislatively. Thats the priority
Joining me now Nbc National Security reporter. Former counsel to the House Judiciary Committee and karen greenberg. Ken, start us utout here. What else around this story can you fill in for us . Good afternoon, richard. Well this is coming into context as you said of the disclosure by the senate Judiciary Committee that will was a russian backdoor overture. Thats the term they use. That went to Jared Kushner and that he didnt disclose it to them. Now we know because Jared Kushner attorney released a statement dont meet with this guy, lets pass on the meeting with alexander torsion deputy head of the russian bank but also ties to organized crime. So Jared Kushner says dont take the meeting but whsomehow ends at the dinner, may 2016, middle of the campaign. Now torsion had previously said he dined with donald trump junior. Lawyer tells them today they in fact didnt share a table. They were at the same dinner, separate tables, met, lawyer told me they talked about guns, not about politics