A look at breaking news, politics and reports from around the world. Reporter this Time Sessions surprisingly jabbed back saying in a statement while im Attorney General the actions of the department of justice will not be improperly influenced by Political Considerations. This is a little bit of a celebration meeting. Reporter earlier in the day the president tried to turn away from the russia probe to celebrate his record until he could hear the questions about the criminal records about his former advisers. President didnt say whether he would pardon his now convicted former Campaign ChairmanPaul Manafort. Mr. Trump focussed his fury on his former attorney Michael Cohen. The president tried to say cohens crimes werent actually crimes. He pled to two counts that arent a crime. I watched a number of shows. Sometimes you get pretty good information by watching shows. Those counts arent a crime. They werent Campaign Finance. Reporter here is the
i think everybody would be very poor. Reporter as his outside attorney Rudy Giuliani talked about rebellion. You would only impeach him for political reasons and the American People would revolt against that. Reporter as for Sessions Officials tell us the Attorney General was here at the white house for a meeting on Prison Reform and the job status did not come up at the meeting. For now Jeff Sessions still has a job. A bit of a flip for Jeff Sessions in that he punched back today. Thank you very much. Lets get more on the Attorney GeneralJeff Sessions decision to hit back publically as lawmakers are weighing in on what may happen if the president were to Fire Sessions. At least one republican senator Lindsey Graham signaled he would be open to a change. After the election i think there will be some serious discussions about a new Attorney General. We are joined by cnn
names. This one really got to the heart of the management of the Justice Department. The president also said what kind of man is this . This is, of course, one of his strongest supporters. This is possibly one of the most consequential Attorney Generals that we have had in a long time. He helped push through some of the president s big agenda items. That is the great irony that they are in such a bad place. And sessions directly responded to the president. The president said he hadnt taken control of the Justice Department. The Attorney General said i took control of the department of justice the day i was sworn in. So there you have it right there. What would happen if the president were to Fire Sessions . How would it impact the russia probe . If he got rid of sessions this would be the most direct way for the president to put someone in charge who would be able to oversee the Mueller Investigation. Perhaps that is what is on his mind. Of course, that would bring all kinds of political problems
which is why i think a lot of people have advised him to not do this. At least dont do this before the mid terms. Politically it would be a very bad thing for even republicans. His legal team has been telling him that. It would also raise questions about obstruction. This is something that has been brought up and questions that Robert Mueller has asked of the president s legal team whether his criticism of sessions is part of this picture of the president trying to obstruct this ongoing investigation. If the president were to Fire Sessions or if sessions were to resign. Rod rosenstein would be acting Attorney General until a new Attorney General is sworn in. The president is not a fan of Rod Rosenstein. Phil, what are you hearing from lawmakers . Reporter what for months have been a united front that sessions should not go, the president should not consider firing him it saw its first
cracks today. Lindsey graham said at least not in the near term Dont Fire Him but perhaps after the election because the relationship is too badly damaged. Take a listen. The president is entitled to an Attorney General he has faith in, somebody qualified for the job. I think there will become a time sooner rather than later that it will be time to have a new face and a fresh voice at the department of justice. Clearly Attorney General session doesnt have the to take you behind the scenes, what senator graham is saying is what aides have acknowledged, the relationship is in a bad place. That place could be detrimental to the u. S. Justice department and all of the agencies that the Attorney General oversees. The fact that senator Lindsey Graham was willing to acknowledge that publically, that was a note worthy shift. Interesting. Are other republicans following senator grahams thinking on
is the political repercussions would shut down the United States senate, the possibility of resignations at the Justice Department. Democrats would clearly seize on this a couple of months before an election. Just concerns on the policy side of things. What this would mean, republicans support a lot of what Jeff Sessions has done at the Justice Department. Republicans make it clear they dont think they can get another Attorney General confirmed anytime soon. This would bubble up to the surface at a time where they would like the president to make less news particularly when it comes to the Justice Department and any connection to Robert Muellers special counsel. Joining us now democratic congressman ted deutsche. Thanks for joining us. Thank you, wolf. What would it signal to you if the president tried to replace Jeff Sessions . Well, lets be clear about what the president is doing today. This isnt about Jeff Sessions policies. Jeff sessions has carried out everyone of the president s horrific antiimmigrant policies that the president has asked him to carry out. This is about one thing. This is the week where it has been confirmed for anyone who is looking that what we see in this administration and every orbit of the president s life is the worst Culture Of Corruption that we have seen. That is true whether its the president s campaign or his campaign manager, whether it is the administration, whether National Security adviser is awaiting sentencing, whether it is his friends in congress where we have seen his two biggest and earliest supporters who are facing charges. And this decision, this statement that we heard from his personal lawyer that made out the case that the president is
an unindicted coconspirator. He wants to get rid of the Attorney General, he is talking about getting rid of the Attorney General thinking it might somehow stop the Mueller Investigation and stop everyone from focussing on this Culture Of Corruption. It is too late for that. We are going forward. We are going to get to the truth. The republicans that i serve with, republicans like the ones you just quoted should stop standing as a firewall between defending the president and getting to the truth and should start defending the constitution like their constituents expect them to. In response to the president , the Attorney General today said that he wont let the Justice Department be in his words improperly influenced by Political Considerations. Do you take that to mean he will protect the Russia Investigation . Well, i think that Attorney General has to protect the Russia Investigation except that you remember he recused himself because of his meeting during
the campaign with the russian ambassador. Thats why he had to recuse himself. Rod rosenstein has made clear this investigation must continue. What we have learned again, wolf, what was reconfirmed for us this week in the convictions of Paul Manafort and guilty plea of the president s personal lawyer is that this is no witch hunt. This is a serious effort to get at the truth of what happened in the last election. And now the implications for the violation of law by the president need to be pursued, as well. As you know, the president has been implicated by his former attorney in a felony. If democrats were to win back the house following the Mid Term Elections in november do you think you have enough information right now to begin Impeachment Proceedings . I dont know why this needs to wait until after the election for the house to take action. The president because of what we learned this week, the president is an unindicted coconspirator confirmed tin the interview a dy after the assertion is made. The republican majority ought to start the process of gathering information, bringing in Michael Cohen, speaking to the prosecutors in his case, bringing in the president s chief Financial Officer from his business who apparently knows a great deal about this. We ought to be pursuing the truth right now. This is not a partisan issue. Its a question of whether or not the Judiciary Committee on which i serve is going to do its job. That is what we ought to be doing. It doesnt need to wait until after the election. Do you think you have enough support right now with the republican majority and a bunch of democrats nervous about talking about impeachment, do you have enough support to start that kind of Impeachment Process right now . Its not a question of starting an Impeachment Process. Its a question of starting a process of getting the truth about what happened here, gathering the facts. That is the job that the Judiciary Committee is supposed to do. A year ago i asked my colleagues where do you think this is going and why arent you interested in getting to the truth. Here we are a year later. So much more information has come out that is so damning. This is about defending the constitution. I dont know that there is a single republican on the committee or in congress who is willing to stand up for the truth anymore. Its frightening and it is sad, but the American People expect members of congress to stand with them and defend the constitution, not just to defend the president. I think there is plenty of work that needs to be done and it should start tomorrow. It shouldnt start after the election. Thank you for joining us. Thanks, wolf. Up next, did another trump
friend flip . New reports say the Top Executive at the National EnquirersParent Company got immunity from federal prosecutors and gave prosecutors serious information about Michael CohensHush Money Payments for Stormy Daniels and karen mcdougal. And what should we make of the claim that flipping almost ought to be outlawed. Oday. School. Grade. Done. Done. Hit the Snooze Button and get low prices on School Supplies all summer long. Like these for only 2 or less at office depot officemax. Like these for only 2 or less when it comes to strong bones, are you on the right path . We have postmenopausal osteoporosis and a high risk for fracture, so with our doctors we chose prolia® to help make our bones stronger. Only prolia® helps strengthen bones by stopping cells that damage them with 1 shot every 6 months. Do not take prolia® if you have low blood calcium, are pregnant, are allergic to it, or take xgeva®. Serious allergic reactions, like low blood pressure; trouble breathing; throat tightness; face, lip or tongue swelling, rash, itching or hives have happened. Tell your doctor about dental problems, as severe Jaw Bone Problems may happen or new or unusual pain in your hip, groin, or thigh, as unusual Thigh Bone Fractures have occurred. Speak to your doctor before stopping prolia®, as spine and other Bone Fractures have occurred. Prolia® can cause serious side effects, like low blood calcium; serious infections, which could need hospitalization; skin problems; and severe bone, joint, or muscle pain. If your bones arent getting stronger isnt it time for a new direction . Why wait . Ask your doctor about prolia. Your society was dearled by a woman, who governed thousands. Commanded armies. Yielded to no one. When i found you in my dna, i learned where my strength comes from. My name is courtney mckinney, and this is my ancestrydna story. Now with 2 times more geographic detail
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money payments. What is the latest . Reporter this is yet another trump friend causing potentially Serious Problems for the president. David pecker is emerging as an important player in all of this. While the president and his allies have been hard at work trying to discredit Michael Cohen it is clear that Pecker Backs Cohen up on allegations including that trump knew about payments to the women while they were being negotiated. Tablo tabloid hancho david pecker granted immunity to provide information in the federal investigation of Michael Cohen. Pecker who heads America Media in inc. Corroborating details. Michael cohen pled guilty to eight felony charges. Reporter trumps former personal lawyer and long time fixing pleaded guilty to
breaking Campaign Finance laws admitting he worked with pecker on the 150,000 deal with Karen Mcdugal for the rights to her story of an alleged 2006 affair with trump. Do you think he was in love with you . He was. Reporter and he paid 130,000 in hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged 2006 the president denies both affairs. According to cohens Plea Agreement beginning around august 2015 pecker offered to help deal with negative stories about trump by helping identify such stories so they could be bought and killed. Pecker has a long history of squashing unflattering stories about the real estate mogul according to a Senior Editor who said pecker racked up a favor bank. Trump has praised pecker as
brilliant tweeting he should leave time magazine. Deals trump claimed to know nothing about. His campaign and administration repeatedly denied any knowledge of the deals despite trump being caught on a secret recording discussing the mcdugal deal and pecker who they refer to as our friend david. I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend, david, so that i have come up and i have spoken to allen about how to set the whole thing up with funding. Reporter all this as cohens friends say he began feeling increasingly isolated and concerned about the impact on himself and his family after the april fbi raid. Cohen long pledged total