Transcripts For CNNW CNN Tonight With Don Lemon 20170215 : v

CNNW CNN Tonight With Don Lemon February 15, 2017

To taiwan put a signal to china. There is a carrot and stick approach to negotiating as you know. Caught all kinds of flack for that phone call to taiwan, yet the last week he said one china policy. Were getting into the weeds here but fascinating conversation. Thank you gentlemen. I appreciate it. All right. Top of the hour. Thanks for joining us. Breaking news high level advisers close to then president ial nominee donald trump were in constant communication during the campaign with operatives known by the Intelligence Community. According to multiple former and current officials. President elect trump and then president barack obama were briefed according to officials familiar with this matter. Du get to pamela brown and mark breften. What more can you tell us . High level advisers close to nominee donald trump were in constant communication with russian operatives known to u. S. Intelligence. According to several former and current officials. President elect trump and president barack obama were briefed on the issue. And as you recall during the big briefing according to u. S. Officials familiar with the matter. And both the frequency of the communications during the early summer and proximity to trump of those involved raised a red flag with u. S. Intelligence and Law Enforcement according to officials. Intercepted during routine intelligence collection targeting russian officials and other russian nationals known to u. S. Intelligence and among several advisers communicating were Paul Manafort and michael anyone according to the officials weve been speaking for. Manafort joined in march and out midaugust. Flynn stayed on and resigned as National Security advisor last night. We reached out to both. Manafort denied any communication with the russians, repeatedly tried to reach out to Michael Flynn as well. Officials emphasize that communications between the Campaign Staff and representatives of Foreign Governments are not unusual but these stood out due to the frequency and level of the trump advisers involved. Investigators not reached judgment on the intent of the conversations. But adding to concern were intercepted communications between russian officials before and after the election discussing their belief they had special access to trump. Of course could have been inflating the access they thought they had to trump. But fact there were other intercepted communications between top advisers in the Trump Campaign and russian on the u. S. Radar during the summer during the campaign all added to concern. And within the context that during this time don, the u. S. Intelligence was beginning to believe in growing confidence that the russians were trying to tilt the election to Donald Trumps favor. And just to be clear president elect then donald trump knew about the contacts. He was briefed. Thats right. We are told that essentially the fbi, Intelligence Community had the information about the intercepted communications between highlevel trump people involved in the campaign and russian officials and ultimately fbi director james comey and others felt it was important to be transparent. Did a big briefing on the russian hack, coming out to say we believe the russians try to swayed election away from Hillary Clinton and in favor of donald trump. All the evidence they had of the communications. Told in january shortly before donald trump became president he was briefed on all these details as well as president barack obama at the time. And where is the investigation now . Still ongoing . Lots of details to figure out . Still ongoing. Even when donald trump was briefed about it, still in the early stages. Still trying to piece together the why, motive, intent. Why these communications were so constant, so frequent. The content of the communications, what it all means. Trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. This of course, as you know don, comes at time when Michael Flynn was caught essentially discussing sanctions with the Russian Ambassador and denied it and doj went to the white house and said in fact he did talk about sanctions and wasnt until nearly three weeks later the white house took action after the Washington Post broke the story about the doj warning. Asked about contacts between the Trump Campaign and russia. Listen to this. Back in january the president said that nobody in his campaign had been in touch with the russians. Now today, can you still say definitively that nobody on the Trump Campaign, not even general flynn had any contact with russians before the election . My understanding what general flynn has now expressed was during the transition period we were clear during the transition period did speak to the ambassador. Talking about during the campaign. Nothing concluded to me that anything changed in that time period. Meeting with israeli Prime Minister tomorrow but story about russia will continue. With sean spicer, perhaps give benefit of the doubt that perhaps he knew nothing about the investigation being ongoing. Only have go back to see that donald trump knew about the discussions between the ambassador of russia and mike flynn and took two weeks for his own Vice President to learn. Give spicer the benefit of the doubt on that. But talked about this last hour when first broke the story and detail started coming out. We didnt have names but now we have names. Its important that these two gentlemen were close to donald trump. Doesnt mean have discussion with donald trump nor are we saying that. We have no idea what the context is, but these arent unnamed advisers or hanger onners as i had mentioned could be last hour. This is getting very serious. Will be interesting to see what the department of justice does and also what congress does now. We know the United States senate will investigate. United states house as of today said wont investigate. Will be incredible amount of pressure on House Republicans to investigate this matter. Big picture. What does this mean for the Trump White House . What does this mean globally . Bizarro world were living in. Every day about this hour news breaks putting the white house in turmoil. When you have turmoil on the outside, all it can mean it turmoil on the inside. Talking to republicans on capitol hill today and theyre growing tired of this. So far been able to stomach it and going along but if youve noticed dont see republicans rushing to the defense of this administration athe this moment. Thats because they feel like theyre under fire and having to answer questions for administration thats not giving them any information. Interesting point. Mark and pamela stick around. Bring in Lieutenant General Mark Hertling and Major General marx and wesley clark. Former nato commander. Thank you so much. Thanks for your service. Thanks for coming on. We dont know for sure if Trump Associates coordinating with russian operatives but new details keep coming out. Could this become major controversy for this Trump Administration . I think it is already. As mark said just a moment ago, when all of this is swirling around on the outside, you can be sure that inside the white house not much else is getting done as people are trying to get facts together and figure out what is going on. Been a mystery to me. Never understood why President Trump didnt release tax returns, divest himself of businesses. All along theres been suspicion that for years hes gone after russian money and all deepened by revelations of the contacts. Dont know what is in the contacts. Maybe somebody does but not released yet. Its incumbent on the white house to clear this up as rapidly as possible. May lead to investigation but shouldnt be pried out like tooth extraction. This is something the white house needs to put together and come clean with, President Trump needs to address the country on it in some way or someone in his administration in authoritative way and get this cleared up and lets move on. Theres important business to be done for america. They keep saying they want to move on. Thats the way to do it. How is all this turmoil viewed inside the military . Its increasingly troubling don. Not only talking about what some are perceiving strategic advantage more so than ever before on russia in strategic fronts. Trying to insert in afghanistan and involved in syria, and almost to stalemate. Not crimea but in the Eastern Region of crimea. And what has happened since President Trump was elected is reinforcing units going into that area and really having great deal of effect on the Ukrainian Forces there. Not counting some of the things going on in europe across the board with threats to callin agrad and across the baltics and interference with european elections. All of these that russians are trying to take advantage of truthfully. In addition commanders in the field. You mentioned tony thomas in the earlier show. Hes trying to hold special Operations Command together and just wants direction for things hes doing. Two general officers in europe are continuing to train Ukrainian Forces. All of this is happening while its turmoil in washington. Lets talk about this general marx. What the red flag was here, both the volume of the communications and proximity to mr. Trump. What does that mean . How much contact would there need to be to raise a red flag . Don, i think the real issue here is what i would call a reasonable mans standard. Theres been a great deal of discussion about the logan act which would not be invoked in this case simply because if you interpret that in literal sense, every communication with foreign power whether in u. S. Government or a priori assuming a position in government would be suspect. Challenge we have is that the nature of our relationship with russia has never been more chenkd because of their adventurism as described by mark in ukraine, crimea. Elsewhere russia is clearly advantaged when there is turmoil abroad. We Pay Attention to what is happening on their borders, allows them some comfort and freedom of action within their own borders. We need to be able to Pay Attention to this closely. General clark nailed it. This president needs to come forward, say look folks, this is where we are, this is my choice for new National Security adviser, and this is my relationship with that National Security adviser. You hear everybody discussing what the model is for that relationship. It depends on what the president wants to achieve and how he wants to employ and influence power internationally. Its unique and personal relationship. And that nsa needs to be either a policy guy huge mistake. Steve bannon assuming increased role there which is i think a mistake but thats a decision the president has made or needs to be intergrater, what you look for with nsa to take policy input from the s. E. C. Dev and dhf, homeland security, integrate that and present policy polkts to the president. Thats where we need to go to get away from this white water. There was turmoil of Trump Associates happening at the same time as Hillary Clinton emails. Why not take action on that . Why didnt we hear about that . Im baffled. I dont know. Other than the fact that internal investigation and normally doesnt comment on ongoing investigates. But more information coming out and leaks coming because those inside the administration are fearful that the truth will not get out, will be suppressed within the administration because thats the tendency weve seen so far. Why not released, i think part of ongoing investigation. Should it have been . I think seeing potential for clear and present zank by a Foreign Government . Same question to you. I think were going to have to ask the fbi director that. I would say this, don, three different possible explanations for all of this and president has to take us through this. One is this was innocent talk. Talks about the British Government and Israeli Government and people get informed of what the issues are before the election. Thats one. Second is that maybe President Trump and mike flynn concocted this idea you could do a reset with russia, would be like nixon and china, completely flip things around, have a great relationship and be historic and think of the advantages, byllah blah, blah. Third is darker with the 35 page paper, with the idea of some kind of pressure put on donald trump, through his finances or previous relationships, for some reason hes being pulled in certain direction which is distracting him from what would normally be the president s focus on National Security and taking guidance and information from the intelligence communities that are loyal to the United States of america. I think you go from the benign to the almost silly and amateurish into something thats much darker. And i think as this starts to unravel, i think the American People have a right to know what is going on. Generals, thank you. We appreciate your service. Thank you so much. Coming back, more on breaking news. High level advisers close to then president ial nominee donald trump were in frequent communication during the campaign with russians known to u. S. Intelligence. Of tiny bubbl, it has long been called the champagne of beers. If youve got the time welcome to the high life. Weve got the beer miller beer on a perfect car, then smash it into a tree. Your Insurance Company raises your rates. Maybe you shouldve done more research on them. For drivers with accident forgiveness, Liberty Mutual wont raise your rates due to your first accident. And if you do have an accident, our claims centers are available to assist you 24 7. Call for a free quote today. Liberty stands with you™. Liberty mutual insurance. Youre gonna love birds eye steamwait for it. Bles. In about five minutes you get delicious, premium veggies, steamed to perfection. Now ahhhhhhhhhhh. Mmmm heavenly, right . Birds eye steamfresh. So veggie good. Breaking news, high level advisers close to then president ial nominee donald trump were in frequent communication during the campaign with russians known by u. S. Intelligence. According to multiple current and former intelligence and Law Enforcement officials. President elect trump and president obama were then briefed on the details. Here to discuss, historians. And brinkley and jon meacham. Its historian trifecta. Nice to have you all. Mr. Meeacham, what is going on . More comfort in the past. Making more sense. 1790s, a period in the country with one part allied with france and one with britain. Conspiracy feeling in the country but looking at now a serious set of questions about what did the nominee and now the president know and when did he know it. As my fellow tennessean howard baker put it in 1973. Douglas . Reminds me of the watergate period of Richard Nixon. He didnt have a bad first 100 days in 1969 but the idea of the amount of problems in the white house, leaking, this strange donald trump foot soldiers looking at general flynn now, people are going to but i dont believe the Justice Department will pursue that. Did flynn lie to the fbi and where does this all lead to . Tells you how maybe the whole country was remiss in not somehow getting donald trump to release his tax returns. Always called it unprecedented that he didnt and all left scratching our heads and getting grirm and grimmer by the day, things unraveling in the Trump White House. Let me ask you what i wrote on my iphone. Coincidence or not . Russia hacks dnc, harmful to Hillary Clinton. Trump says they didnt. Consistently defends putin. Campaign manager resigns. Flynn resigns after doj warns white house. Proof that trump camp talking to russia all along, russia celebrates when trump wins. Lot of coincidences. And add the fact that the trump camp tried to change the republican position on ukraine for some reason, and putin responds to u. S. Sanctions by doing nothing. Despite russian tradition of throwing american diplomats out when we throw theirs out. What is logical explanation . Again it could be nothing. We dont know right . Here is the reason why this all smells badly. Its that people who understand the challenges for a president knew that the worst thing that donald trump could do in the election was to put himself in a box and to close off his options. And time and again he was given an opportunity of opening his ongss by saying that maybe putin was doing something wrong in crimea. Saying perhaps its right, perhaps its true, u. S. Intelligence community is right about the role of the russians in hacking. But each time he said no. Said he didnt believe u. S. Intelligence, said the rest was fake news. Time and again when he should have opened possibilities he did. Which led people who arent necessarily compeerorial, to say why is he having this romance with putin. At the same time have people around him clearly engaged in contacts with the russian, why do that when peo

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