One of the windows of the capitol. She was also accused of using a bull horn to direct rioters. This all comes as were days away from the start of trumps second Impeachment Trial. One person we wont be seeing or hearing from, however, is donald trump himself. His defense team confirming trump wont testify. A new reaction this morning from congressman ruben gallegos. Well, this is more a typical trump move. This is not about defending his presidency, its not about defending his actions, its about, again, dividing america. Its a very cynical move because he believes and he understands the Republican Senate is not going to hold him accountable. Theres a lot of new information to run through with the trio of nbc reporters and we will begin with nbcs mike memoli, joining us from wilmington, delaware, where President Biden is spending his weekend. Mike, welcome to you. In the past few minutes were learning more from the white house on the former president and intel briefings. What do you know . Thats right, alex. As we welcome you from the wilmington white house, as our friends kendis gibson, put it this morning. But we have seen the Biden Administration marking a break with the past administration on policy, Executive Order after execute order, undoing the policies and in some states reinstating obama policies. One thing weve seen as well is a conspicuous effort to sidestep some thorny selections involved by his predecessor as well. Number one is impeachment. We will be talking about that shortly. But another has been a question members of congress raised about whether or not President Trump should have access to intelligence as is the case for all former president s when they request it. We saw the white house this week saying it would be under review by the intelligence community. But as you played there at the top, President Biden was asked directly about this and he weighed in rather forcefully saying he didnt think there was any value in it. We just got a statement in the last few minutes from the White House Press secretary and i want to read it to you, she said, the president was expressing his concern about the former president receiving access to Sensitive Information but he also has a deep trust in his own Intelligence Team to make a determination how to provide intelligence information if at any point the former president requests a briefing. Some important things there to unpack in that statement. Number one shes saying President Biden, despite what he said yesterday, has not made this decision to block access to the former president to that intelligence. Shes also making it clear something that i think is important for all of us to understand, why President Biden, now in office, Services Access to the daily president ial briefing, full intelligence, most Classified Intelligence our intel agencies have to offer, former president s dont have that same sort of daily access as well. They can request it, especially if theyre traveling overseas. That is typically when they are offered that kind of intelligence. So an important thing there for the Press Secretary to try to sort of make clear. As you mentioned, President Biden also focused on advancing his American Rescue plan, that 1. 9 trillion initiative. We heard in that interview yesterday as well, some of the areas he might be willing to buzz, especially where it relates to some democratic objections. Joe manchin, the senator from west virginia, expressed concern about the minimum wage. Take a listen to what the president told Norah Odonnell on cbs about that very issue yesterday. Im going to act and im going toing at fast. Id like to be id like to be doing it with the support of republicans. I have met with republicans, really fine people who want to get something done but theyre not willing to go as far as i think we have to go. If i have to choose between getting help now to americans who are hurting so badly and getting bogged down in a lengthy negotiation or compromising on a bill thats up to the crisis, thats an easy choice. Im going to help the American People who are hurting now. So just to clarify my own comments there, of course, in an interview later in the day with Norah Odonnell, the president did say he, of course, still continues to support the 15 minimum wage but he did indicate thats one of those things that may have to get dropped from the package in order for it to get passed threw the congress. Yeah, a couple of things there and im wondering if maybe there can be an accommodation for the former president if he were to travel, those in charge of his security would obviously be made aware. Nobody wants to see anything in terms of a Security Breach if he were to be put into a difficult situation traveling. The rest of it, well see how that all plays out. Lastly, i love wilmington white house. Good call, kendis gibson, duly named. There it is. Lets go from there to nbcs monica alba, whos in west palm beach, florida, for us. So theres word today on trumps impeachment defense. What might we see from his attorney . Were getting a little bit more insight into how theyre approaching materials they may want to present next week, alex. Were learning from this david shown and bruce castor, the only two currently named to the president s defense team. They will be physically laying out the case when the trial begins on tuesday. They have said most of the arguments will center on the question of constitutionality of whether you can actually vote to convict a person who is no longer a sitting president , somebody who is now a private citizen. But were now also getting a few more details about what kind of video theyre revowing. Bruce castor talked a little bit last night on fox news how they may use footage and interviews from last summers social unrest following the death of george floyd in terms of how you saw people get together and protest. Theyre going to try to argue on behalf of the former president , that was well in their First Amendment rights and when donald trump spoke at the stopped the steal rally and urged supporters to, quote, fight like hell and head to the u. S. Capitol, of course, then they breached the ground and engaged in that deadly riot. But heres a little bit more from bruce castor on their thinking overall just days before the trial. Theres an awful lot of tape of cities burning and courthouses being attacked and federal agents being assaulted by rioters in the street cheered on by democrats throughout the country, and many of them in washington using really the most inflammatory rhetoric thats possible to use when you have the president of the United States give a speech and says you should peacefully make your thinking known to the people in congress, hes All Of A Sudden a villain. Alex, thats what we do know. What we dont know so far is how long this trial is expected to last. Donald trumps first Impeachment Trial in the senate was about three weeks. This one, according to david schoen and bruce castor, may only run one week but we dont have any timing or schedule yet from lawmakers on capitol hill. We also dont know if they will ask witnesses to come forward and testify. The president said he will not be doing so and he will not be submitting a written letter either. That was under consideration from the original team of attorneys who actually parted ways with donald trump since theyp cot come to terms on a legal strategy ens the former president wanted them to ensue baseless claims of election fraud. So far we have not seen those kinds of things with the new team but we will keep an eye on that. Thats very interesting, monica. Thank you very much. We will see you again. And joining me now House Democrat head of the house, judiciary and Homeland Security committees and guest on our show we always welcome. Thank you for joining me again. We will get to the impeachment in a moment. But i would like to start with the statement theres no need for donald trump to receive Intelligence Briefings. Do you agree with that . Is it you would like to perhaps not see him receive Intelligence Briefings but heard me suggest possibly, of course, get the information where it could affect the safety and security of his life, if he were to be traveling somebody not safe. Can you do both . Alex, its great to be back with you. Let me just say this, i think President Biden was being very kind when he said theres no need for the former president to get Intelligence Briefings. Look, we watched this president in action for four years. We saw him stand on the stage with Vladimir Putin in helsinki and basically do everything but ask the russian dictator for his autograph. Weve seen him on a phone call with the russian dictator and refuse to ask him about bounty cans being put on the head of american solders. Weve seen our former president snuggle up with kim jongun of north korea. I believe this former president and i believe it with all of my heart, that he would use intelligence as a Bargaining Chip or sell it to the highest bidder. I prefer to join in on the words of my Intelligence Committee chairman, there is no need theres no circumstance where the former president should receive any intelligence, not now, or quite frankly, in the future. Now certainly, alex, to your point, if the former president was traveling for some reason and, you know, american intelligence had information that could cause him or could increase his safety while traveling to another place, certainly, there would be a way to share that information. But even that information would have to be very clearly and narrowly defined. We dont trust our former president and neither do many of our allies around the world. Yeah, thats been made clear. In terms of the interpretation of this though, does the intel question combined with impeachment, does it feel maybe while more into certainly your expressions and into the minds of many, does it feel punitive towards the former president , and if so, are you at all concerned about appearance could further splinter the country . Alex, you know, having served as a former Law Enforcement officer for 27 years, we have to take action that the Situation Requires us to take. You know, it would be nice if we could have just sat back on some things and considered possibly political ramifications or how things would appear or be perceived. We dont have that luxury. You mentioned earlier, one month ago today, the violent mob broke into the u. S. Capitol and threatened lives, Assaults Police officers, killed one. Two others have committed suicide since then. Dozens of others received great bodily harm. Desecrated the most iconic building of democracy in the world, and thats at the hands of donald trump incitement of a riot. It has nothing to do we have to field questions every day, right, the president of the United States will have to donald trump was impeached and hopefully will be convicted because of the role he played in inciting a riot on january 6th. The question has come up, should he receive Intelligence Briefing . The answer is based on this Intelligence Committee members opinion, no. The two really have nothing to do with each other. Were going to proceed with the trial, Impeachment Trial next week and you will see my colleagues under the leadership of jamie raskin, present a very clear and overwhelming case. Yeah, when i think about it just at the bare minimum with the present having tweeted several weeks back in december, looking ahead to january 6th, and he said, will be wild. Ask people to show up. And then also, of course, in person saying people had to fight like hell. That may have been all, that may have been the only two dog whistles that those two went on to attack the capitol needed to have, but as a former Impeachment Manager, which you had in the last years impeachment, what is your big advice to jamie raskin and the rest of them . And alex, before i go there, let me go back to something you just said. Let ugs not forget that several of the violators, Law Violators who showed up on january 6th, said they were following President Trumps orders. So for the Impeachment Trial, you know, i have spoken to several of the new managers. I told them how proud i am of them and that they were chosen for the special talent and skills and abilities and delivery the ability to communicate, and for their own personal stories. I know theyre going to do an exceptional job. What i have told them is just to remember that the stakes are so high and what youre fighting for, they are the true patriots and our democracy is everything. It is the foundation on which we build multiple american dreams. And thats what they are defending. Because the insurrection, the attack on the capitol on the 6th was all about destroying our democracy, denying our democracy, overturning a free and fair election. And so i told them to just understand that how important the stakes are but theyre the right ones to present our case and include some personal stories when you can about why this matters. Why it really matters so much. And the president of the United States, i know the former president has chosen not to testify. That does not surprise me. Im sure his Defense Attorneys would not want him to come in with alternative facts or ask us not to believe our lying eyes while listening to his words and watching the footage, which would just complicate their case. The Impeachment Managers are going to be on their agame. And well see what happens. But im very, very excited to see them present the case on behalf of the American People next week. Its going to be something to watch, thats for sure. Let me ask you about what we heard from trumps Impeachment Lawyers who told nbc news hes not going to testify at trial. Hes not going to submit a written statement. The house lead Impeachment Manager wanted trump to testify. How important would his testimony have been . Well, i remember in the last hearing, and i said i have never seen as we remembered the former president obstructed witnesses. He obstructed witnesses. He submitted written statements that war incomplete or full of falsehoods. You know what, i said last trial that i have never seen someone work so hard to cover up information, evidence or testimony that would prove their innocence. Ill tell you what, if the president can separate him and his responsibility for the shameful, tragic, horribly events that occurred on january 6th, i would think he would wouldnt to come before the u. S. Senate and give his side of the story. He does not want to do that, and his Defense Attorneys definitely do not want him to do that. Yeah, some of your democratic colleagues, while speaking on the house floor, described their experiences, their feelings during the capitol attack, their fear. Lets take a listen to some of that. The events of january 6th are still burning in the memories of all of us. We know what it feels like thinking it is a real possibility that we would not see our families and loved ones again. The trauma from just being here, existing as a muslim, is so hard but imagine my team, which i lovingly just adore, they are a diverse i have lgbtq staff. I have a beautiful muslim that wears her hajid proudly in the halls. I have black women who are so proud to be here so serve their country and i worry every day for their lives because of this rhetoric. And i just remember taking a second thinking, if they touch these doors, if they hit these doors the way they hit that door, if they hit these doors and come anywhere near my staff, and im just going to be real honest about it, my Thought Process was, we bang until the end. Rashida tlaib, wow. Im fighting back tears listening to that. A month later, how does this attack still resonate for you . What are the questions that you still need to have answered . Let me say this, alex, i was in the gallery that day. And as a former Law Enforcement officer whose dealt with a lot of violence and tragedies, theres not a day that has gone by that i dont think about what happened, not just what happened that day but what could have happened. Sometimes what could have happened can really be the most stressful. Theres not a day that has gone by, including weekends, that i dont discuss this, what happened on january 6th, with my colleagues. Can you imagine being a member of congress who receives threats every day like tlaibia does, receives threats every day, and then you have this violent mob break into the capitol, basically trying to track down and hunt the speaker, talking about hanging the Vice President of the United States, where do you think she thought she was on their li