Did not make a determination as to whether the president did admit a crime. Saying his hands were tied. Due to the department of justice regulations. Under long Standing Department policy, a present president cannot be charged with a federal crime. While he is in office. That is unconstitutional. Charging the president with a crime was therefore not an option we could consider. That comment directly contradicts what attorney general said under oath earlier this month. They claim the guidelines werent a factor in the decision. The pressure for impeachment is now ramping up. After mueller seemed to push the issue of obstruction to congress. The constitution requires a process other than the criminal Justice System. To formally accuse a sitting president of wrong doing. Mueller made it clear, he has no interest in speaking with congress. He says his 448 page report is his testimony. As for trumps favorite line claiming the Russian Investigation was a witch hunt and hoax. Mueller laid out
Draft trade agreement is riddled with reversals by china. So why is the president appearing to be striking an optimistic tone . Blake burman is keeping track of these developments and the president s responses. Blake . We havent even gotten to the discussions. Were hearing now that the discussions between the u. S. And china might take place a few hours tomorrow meaning its all but certain that the tariff levels on 200 billion worth of goods will be increasing from 10 to 25 12 01 a. M. On friday. That notice hit the register and china responded by reminding that they too can raise tariff levels. That is the backdrop going into these discussions that will begin tomorrow among the u. S. Trade representative, robert lighthizer, Steve Mnuchin and the chinese vice premier. Lighthizer and mnuchin have gone on report saying that china has retreated on previous commitments. Im told, neil, by one source that that includes china taking out of the deal commitments that dealt with changing laws in
Mueller and of course to testify. Yesterday he was a noshow on capitol hill. Reporter youre right about that. Great to see you. Democrats, House Democrats anyway, many of them have moved beyond wanting barr to testify and dont see him as an honest broker in any of this and think he is running interference for President Trump and what they want more than ever perhaps is what theyve been demanding for months is full unredacted Mueller Report and the everyday. Heres the truth, democrats dont really have a good range of options when it comes to this because this fragile system of checks and balances really only works when both sides are acting in good faith and right now neither side sees the other as doing that so we heard from jerry nadler yesterday. He says that hell continue to negotiate with the doj over the next few days and if by monday or tlabhereabouts he doesnt th the attorney general is acting in good faith hell move to hold barr in contempt and then up to a u. S. Attorney who w
Close the camps. Now. Close the camps. Now. Close the camps. Now. This was the scene in new york city today. Close the camps. Close the camps. Again, close the camps. Close the camps. These protests around the country today, these are not something that had a ton of lead time or a ton of National Press attention. These were a fairly spontaneous thing. But there were close the camps protests that sprung up all over the country today, red states and blue states alike. On friday last week, you might remember the head of the Homeland Security department in the Trump Administration told congress that unfortunately his department, Homeland Security, was dealing with a new national sensation, thats the word he used, a sensation that had been unfairly created by what he called unsubstantiated allegations. Unsubstantiated allegations of terrible conditions and crowding at facilities locking up immigrants run by his department. He said the claims about those facilities and the conditions in whic
Nbc News White House correspondent jeff bennett. Lets start with congressional leaders demanding answers from the Trump Administration on its plans regarding iran amid escalating tensions. Lawmakers from both parties are calling for Administration Officials to brief them on the white houses claims of rising threats in the region. And its decision to pull nonessential staff from iraq yesterday. Senate Foreign Relations committee is charged with writing the laws that towards the use of military force. And of the oversight of the state department and the safety of those who work there. And yet the Trump Administration has not provided any information to this committee on the intelligence behind their decisions or what they plan to do in iraq or iran. Mr. Chairman, i hope youll join me in asking the inauguration to immediately provide this committee with a briefing on the decision to order the departure of embassy staff, intelligence on what iran may be planning to do and any plans to go t