Transcripts For CNNW Erin Burnett OutFront 20180418 23:00:00

CNNW Erin Burnett OutFront April 18, 2018 23:00:00

This coming as President Trump does appear to be going ut alone. Essentially acting as his own lead attorney. This was according to sources who say the president feels misled and no longer wants anyone else in charge. It is a decision with massive implications, given the fact President Trumps personal lawyer and ficker of a dozen years is under investigation and his documents have been seized by federal prosecutors. That means the president , who does not have a law degree, is trying essentially take over his own defense and today he went on offense on twitter about the russia investigation, tweeting slippery james comey, the worst fbi director in history, was not fired because of the phony russia veinvestigation. Where by the way, there was no collusion except by the dems. Of course, theres a huge problem with the tweet like that. And that is this. The president himself said last year on National Television that comey was fired because of russia. Regardless of recommendation, i was going to fire comey. Know iing there was no good tim to do it. And in fact, when i decided to just do it, i said to myself, i said, you know, this russia thing with trump and russia is made up story. An excuse by the democrats for having lost an election that they should have won. President trump also lashing out today against Stormy Daniels and her sketch of a man she claims threatened her in a las vegas parking lot. He wrote a tesketch years later and a nonexistent man. A total con jobplay Injob Playis Media for fools. Daniels attorney coming on cnn with wolf blitzer to say this. Likely going to be amending our complaint. Looking at doing that now, to add a Defamation Claim directly against the president. And lets go to jeff now. Who is at that Press Conference where the president said there was no collusion at least five times in West Palm Beach when he appear ed with the japanese prie minister. Erin, it certainly seemed like President Trump was responding to questions about this investigation from a year ago. Never mind the fact that there have been guilty pleas, never mind the fact this has developed so much hes still using the word hoax going back to what he has called it from the beginning. But he did shed some new light on questions that have been lingering. He seemed to down Play Suggestions that he would fire Rod Rosenstein, the Deputy Attorney general. In fact, the Acting Attorney General in this matter and fire on bob mueller. He said this has been discussed for four or five months. Didnt rule it out spientirely. He said we want the Sbes Investigation to be over with, put behind us so we can get back to business. The question of course, how does that ever happen when he doesnt acknowledge the full extent of the investigation . Of course this has changed so much in the last week and a half or so because of Michael Cohen, the person whos closest to him of really any other advisers now is in legal trouble. So the president trying to say no collusion at all. He cited that house intelligence committee. You know, the findings of that. We should remember that was the republican finding of the committee that said you know, there was nothing to see there. The democrats disagreed with that. The senate still investigating and the Bob Mueller Ve Investigation very much alive here. So the president in a bit of a denial saying its still a hoax as we know. Acting essential ly as his own lawyer and going his own way here. But one other thing, the very end o the News Conference as he was walking away, asked about russia sanctions. He said well do sanctions as soon as they desieve it. That would be in the eye of the beholder. Onef the reasons he changed his mipd. Thats something that will get many talking. Thank you very much. Were going to talk more about that in a moment. I want to go to the former assistant u. S. Attorney for the Southern District of new york. Harry. Thats where the Michael Cohen case is right now. Wendy murphy is the former prosecutor and david gergen served as adviser to four president s. Harry, look, as you heard jeff reporting, the president essentially acting as his own lawyer and in a sense, you hear that now when hes saying going off with his list of things and going back to a year ago before there were guilty pleas and all sorts of p inindictments. But hes tweeting one thing that clearly contradicts what he said before. This is what happens when someone who isnt a lawyer essentially takes on their own defense. Thats absolutely right. And this is not a good idea. Hes saying one thing. Theres Videotape Showing something the opposite. Hes continuing to call the investigation a hoax. When many people have gone into court, under oath, admitting theyve committed serious crimes. Even if it doesnt lead back to him to say the investigation is a hoax at this point doesnt really make any sense. Gamble. But i suppose it is possible. And if at the end of the day, he faces no charges, he gets in no trouble and none of the documents connect him to the daniels payment and theres nothing there with with regard to him and russia, then he not only comes across as arrogant, but kind of smart and you know, strategic. The problem is most of what he says if you just think about from a defense per spspective, m a criminal defense perspective, even from a civil lawyers defense perspective, theres no advantage to saying things like this is about to collapse on its own and its all about to wrap up soon. I mean, cohen just had his office searched. That does not look like an investigation thats about to end soon. So in a sense, he sets him up, sets himself up for looking like he doesnt have a clue for Whats Going On. Hes not approaching this as a chess game, which you want to do in a case thats a lot of politics. Hes playing it much more like a politician than a Defense Attorney and i think thats dangerous. Again, his behavior, people like trey cao Di Gowdy Have called this out. If theres not to hide, why act as if there is. About the raid op your personal attorney thats nothing thats a problem b that could be unveil nd that raid. David, the president of course is coming out as all this is happening, he said Something Else tonight at the Press Conference, which is backing off a little bit off firing Rod Rosenstein and bob mueller, which of course he himself said the other day at a meeting with his cabinet, well have to see. Well have to see about bob mueller. Heres what he had to say. As far as the two gentlemen you told me about, theyve been saying im going to get rid of them for the last three months. Four months. Five months. And theyre still here. So we want to get the investigation over with. Done with. Put it behind us. And we have to get back to business. David, that is backing off big time. Saying that a man who serves as his own lawyer has a fool for a client. Donald trump could well Pay Attention to that. Its an old proverb. But you do need in the capacity to tiptoe through dangerous mine fields when youre being criminally investigated. I do think this president is making a leap to think he is superman. Doesnt need anybody elses help. He does need help. He needs legal protection. I thought overall in the Press Conference that what he was doing was trying to keep his options open. He leaned away from where hes been. On the on going back into the Trans Pacific you know, pa partnership. On one issue after another, i think he was trying not to be definitive because it can go either way. I think that is also something he needs the think about because as in the sanctions case, you know, hes undercut his own representative at the u. N. Nikki haley. By saying you know, she had it all wrong. Which we are going to have a lot more on that. Theres been big developments on that. But this is all coming in, when you talk about the criminal investigation into Michael Cohen, the president s personal attorney and fixer, the new York Attorney general did something today that could change the game. Hes asking New York State to basically change the law in New York State. So if someone is quicked and pardoned by the president of the United States, they can still be tried in new york. And therefore, still go to prison if they are convicted in new york. That could change the game for Michael Cohen because if hes think iing oh, ill just stick d be loyal to the president because i know hell pardon me, maybe you say, wait, maybe not. Right. Theres something behind door number two at this point. And it could be an investigation. Either by the new York Attorney general or potential lly by a District Attorney in new york, the manhattan District Attorney or someone else. New york has this law which gives defendants more rights than the u. S. Constitution entitles them to and the attorney general is asking the State Legislature to amend this law so that if someone is charged and tried or pleads guilty in federal court, they can also be prosecutor eprosecu time. So the president cannot save you from prison essentially if youre convicted. Right. Obviously could be very significant when talkin about this and the developments and whether cohen ever does turn on his boss. Thank you very much. Next, breaking new, President Trump changing his mind on imposing sanctions on russia. Just moments ago though, insisting that no one has been tougher on moscow. Plus, the man who the white house aides reportedly say is the unofficial Chief Of Staff. What is hannity . An Opinion Journalist . Advocacy . Im a talk show host. And a Chief Of Staff . And calm under pressure. We have part of the aircraft missing. Were going to need to slow down a bit. Just imagine what was going on when she had that call. Who is the hero pilot who saved more than 100 lives . Is it possible to save someones life. From thousands of miles away . Yes. Thanks to the dedicated technicians at the american red cross. Who worked with vmware. To develop technologies to help redirect the flow of blood to the areas and people needing it most. Helping them recover. And refilling everyone with lifeaffirming hope. Magic cant make Digital Transformation happen. But we can. 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Call your doctor about fever, stiff muscles, or confusion, which may mean a lifethreatening reaction, or uncontrollable muscle movements, which may be permanent. Side effects may not appear for several weeks. High cholesterol and weight gain; high blood sugar, which can lead to coma or death; decreased white blood cells, which can be fatal; dizziness upon standing; falls; seizures; impaired judgment; heat sensitivity; and trouble swallowing may occur. Youre more than just your bipolar i. Ask your doctor about vraylar. Breaking news. President trump insisting tonight that no one has been tougher on moscow than he. There has been Nobody Tougher on russia than president donald trump. There has been Nobody Tougher than me. With the media, no matter what i did, its never tough enough because thats their narrative, but russia will tell you, theres been Nobody Toughe than donald trump. Okay, the thing is is that which happened moments ago, came after this. A Senior Administration official telling cnn that the administration called the Russian Embassy directly to say there will be no new sanctions against russia. And its a huge about face for President Trump because it was done. The United States was going to sanction Russian Companies linked to syrias chemical weapons program. It was completely decided. And nikki haley announced it on television. We dont know when the president changed his mind, but no one told her before she said this on National Television. Youll see that russian sanctions will be coming down. Secretary mnuchin will be announcing those on monday if he hasnt already. Okay. That was a done deal. I think pretty safe the to say. No one told her that it wasnt. The president has changed his mind then kcalled the russia nso tell them. This has set off u a scuffle with larry kudlow saying haley must have been confused and haley saying with all due respect, i dont get confused. I always laugh when people start a sentence that way. It means the opposite. She felt disrespected by the white house slam. Outfront now, former u. S. Ambassador to nato, nick burns, samantha and former republican congressman and chair, mike rogers. Congressman, let me start with the news that we have here. Someone on the Trump Administration is told after haley announces the sanctions. Clearly, that was a done deal. And call it is russians to say do not worry, nikki haley is wrong. It seems Increde Bable that such a phone call would happen. It does to me. This has been the gripe from the National Security folks for months about the lack of an int interagency process inside the white house. So i have ever confidence that nikki haley was talking to probably people in both the National Security counsel and the treasury. And they said hey, were going to do this. Were going to go after Russian Companies that have something to do with chemical production in syria. Thats why she was so confident on sunday, but without that process, changed their mind and called the Russian Embassy. Its not just bad. Its a little danger, these mixed signals on something as important as this can get you in trouble in a hurry. And pam bass dorr, its pretty stunning. Someone from the Trump Administration picks up the phone, calls the russians and says dont worry about ambassador, forget her. Dont worry. Theres nothing womcoming. This is the problem with the undisciplined nature of donald trump. You cant hang your own people out to try. He needs to pild her build up ny and miami pompeo and the others in the administration. Hes not doipg it. When the going gets tough, the president points the finger at someone who works for him. I think shes been one of the stars of this administration. Shes a very precise, exacting person and if she thought a decision had been made, she wouldnt have made this announcement if she hadnt thought a decision was medicine and the president just cant change decisions on a whim. He says hes the strongest president against russia. I think a case can be made hes been the weakest since the well before the second world war. Hes never really acknowledged the cyber attack on our election by russia. He never formed a National Commission to help our 50 states. It took him eight months to implement the sanctions the senate voted 982. This is a weak president when it comes to russia. And this is something which is very interesting. Not only did Ambassador Haley go out and do this, having clearly spoken to maybe even secretary mnuchin, when it comes to russia, nikki haley has taken a strong stand and been firm. She has done so completely and opposite to the president of the United States more than once. Heres some examples. With cannot trust russia. We should never trust russia. We want to be able to get alopg with russia. Its a good thing. Not a bad thing. Everybody knows that Russia Meddled in our elections. It could be russia, but also china. Could be lots of other people. It could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pou pounds, okay. Not on the same page. No. And nikki haley has not been a Wilting Flower on russia. Much like mike pompeo. Its interesting. Both pompeo and hal

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