They have. An explosive memo shakes the white house. Now, with allegations that the president urged him to essentially drop the investigation of Michael Flynn, enough is enough. Well, if thats true and confirmed, i think youre getting very close to the Legal Definition of obstruction of justice. If it bears out, i think you will see congress likely go down the road of impeachment. S it reaching the point where its of watergate size and scale and the shoe continues to drop. I think it would be helpful to have less drama emanating from the white e. Hous i think its Getting Better as time goes on. You do . It doesnt feel like that in the past two days. Thats scary as hell right there. Deadly weather pounding statesm fromexico up to the canadian border. This thing developed. Crews with Police Protection worked through the night in new orleans to remove another the protest turned vie lentd outside t idoutsee th residence of the turkish president. Watch your s ihoesn that vest inty. Graduates got a surprise. I started feeding my love of reading every morning. I donte wak up perky and prepared every morning at 7 00 a. M. Not natalie they dont show that part on television. On cbs this morning. The news once again is focused on President Trump. He personally asked them to end his investigation into the National Security adviser. Michael flynn told comey repeatedly to let it go, okay . He even got help. Let it go, let it go so announcer this mornings eye opener is presented by toyota. Lets go places. Welcome to cbs this morning. The white house has yet another crisis this morning officials are denying what may be the most serious allegation against President Trump since he took office. Fired fbi director james comey said the president tried to get him to end the investigation of former National Security adviser Michael Flynn. James comey wrote a memo about an Oval Office Meeting with the president. This was the day after general flynn was forced to resign. Jeff pegues is outside fbi headquarters in washington. Jeff, good morning. Good morning. These comey memos are the latest bombshell in this still unfolding story. The former fbi director was known for taking detailed notes of these meetings, but this meeting and these additional questions about whether the president was trying to interfere in the Russian Investigation and why. Former fbi director james comeys memo details the february 14th meeting when he was alone in the oval office with President Trump. Comey says he was asked to drop the bureaus investigation into former National Security adviser Michael Flynn. I hope you can see your way clear into letting this go, into letting flynn go, the president allegedly said. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go. Comey agreed flynn is a good guy. A day earlier flynn had resigned as National Security adviser after it was revealed he misled the Vice President about his contact with Russian Ambassador sergey kislyak. Those contacts are now part of the fbis counterintelligence investigation. The white house said the president has never asked mr. This was not the only private encounter between the two men. According to sources close to the director, the president asked comey if he would pledge his loyalty. Comey declined, instead telling the president he would always be honest. The president also denied that announce. Hes a showboat, a grand stander. After comey was fired last week, they told cbs news they have never seen this level of interference from the white house. When i decided to do it, i said to myself, you know, this russia thing with russia and trump is a made up story. President trump also denied his administration applied pressure to the fbi. Did anyone from the white house put pressure on him . No, not that i know of. Sources say it was not unusual for him to keep details te later be called into question. Its actually something the fbi all right, jeff. Thank you very much. Some democrats say if President Trump did ask james comey to end the fbi investigation of Michael Flynn, that is obstruction of justice. Nancy cordes is on capitol hill where lawmakers of both parties now want mr. Comey to testify. Nancy, good morning. Good morning. This development does seem to be a turning point for some republicans whose instinct until now has been to stand by the president or minimize his mistakes. The difference is that frankly many of those republicans are more apt to believe jim comeys words than they are to believe the president s. Speaking with Bob Schieffer at a dinner last night, arizona leader john mccain made a comparison to nixon for the first time. I think its reaching the point where its of watergate as he spoke, republican Jason Chaffetz was firing off a letter to the fbi, giving the agency a week to turn over all memoranda, notes, summaries, and recordings referring to any conversation between comey and the president. Lindsey graham also spoke. Florida republican carlos said that needs to change. Increasingly republicans believe we have to change what were doing. Idahos jim risch was one of the few republicans to think it was going better. I think its going better. Its was argued that the comey encounter was the clearest sign yet of obstruction of justice. There is mount iing information. House Speaker Paul Ryan says he wants all the facts and that he think is appropriate for the House Oversight committee to do wait needs to do to get its hands on this james comey memo. Well be watching. Thank you so much. Obstruction of justice was the main charge against bill clinton when he was impeached in 1998. President nixon also in 1974. Jan crawford is also a lawyer. Explain for us what criteria needs to be met if the president s actions qualify obstruction of justice. Look. It doesnt sound good and certainliets a stupid thing for a id director. The question is intent. Whether he intended to block the fbis efforts. We dont know the answer to that. Remember last week they testified that there was no influence. Thats why thigh want to hear from comey, see all the memos and possibly tapes and some are called for a special prosecutor to get that evidence. So, jan, if we feenlt that. Is impeachment now on the table . Well, gayle, thats why i think its going to be a political one than a legal one. Its an open question whether a president can be prosecuted or indicted at all. If evidence can show he could be prosecuted, yes, that would be be enough to reach the standard for impeachment. Rehn, the of course, obstruction of justice is what happened. Thats why im saying this is a political issue. It seems unlikely President Trump could be impeached based on what we know now. Gayle . Thank you. Backtoback bombshells am lot has happened in the last 24 hours. Thank you so much. Cbs news has learned that the classified intelligence information came from israel. They said in a statement israel has full confident our television sharing with the united states. They say it may have hurt american intelligence gatherings. But the white house said these leaks are coordinated efforts to hurt President Trump. Major garrett is at the white house. Good morning. Good morning. Whatever has been done house is still defending the president even if that defense is cadontricted at times by the president himself. Mr. President , did you share classified information with the russians. Reporter he placed all questionable actions with russian officials in the context of fighting terrorism. We had a very, very successful meeting with the foreign minister of russia. Our fight is against isis. Reporter National Security adviser h. R. Mcmaster again defending the president made the case that he was out of the loop on key details. The president wasnt even ware of where this information came from. He wasnt a briefed on the source. Reporter mcmaster did not e deny it. Those releasing information to press reporter the white house contends the leaks are deliberately timed to damage the president. It was said there are people within our own unelected democracy who want to sap taj President Trump. Mitch mcconnell laid the blame at the white house. I think we could do with a lit less drama at the white house. History is watching. What are the republicans afraid of . Are they afraid of the truth . What very they protecting President Trump. This latest koers about intelligence sharing. Sometimes it including scrutinizing. That including soninlawjared kushner. The president is has created such a legal and political firestorm. Thank you. Senator, good morning. Good morning, charlie. Good to be with you today. What is it that concerns you most about what we elevened in last 24 to 48 hours and does it get close to obstruction of justice. If they get close, yes, it is close. Let me lay it out. The president is talking to the fbi and essentially asking whether he can continue in his job, the president asking hem hes lowle. He not only droops the investigation but he publicly reveals it to congress, asks for more resources for figure and then president am hesitation say hes fired because of the russian interference. There are two facts of the dispute. Did President Trump ask comey to drop the investigation . The second thing, its a little bit disputed about whether director comey had, in fact, asked for more resources before he was fired. Let me ask you. Actor director Andrew Mccabe was asked and he said quite clearly theres been no effort to em pead our investigation to date. How to you square that with firing the fbi director. If thats not an effort to impeach or undermine the investigation, what is, especially if he him to drop the investigation and director comey refused to. Are we surprised were just hearing about the memo . Should we have been told about it earlier . Not earlier. If the president said that to director comey, it was special you have to have an intent to obstruction but you have to take an action to on strokts. Asking the question is very borderline. Its not clear whether there would be the then actual act of on strugz but the combination of asking him to drop the investigation and then firing him and citing the Russian Investigation as the reason, that really completes the allegations. And what we need now is to hear president at to who happy happened. We have to note we reached out out to 20 republicans. Weal requested someone from the white house join us at any point during our 2 hor hour broadcast. All decleaned. A fight broke out yesterday during a demonstration outside the turkish ambassadors residencele look at this. This is in washington. Nine people were hurt. Some were covering in blood. It came hours after erdogan met with President Trump at the white house. Some say erdogans detail was involved. Again, this was in washington. Police arrested two people. A string of deadly storms tore through the center of the country. Tornadoes texas to wisconsin. At least two were killed and two dozen were hurt. David beg nauld is in chetek, wisconsin. Thats one of the hardest hit. David, good morning. Reporter good morning. This spans nearly 50 miles. Its as if somebody took this off. Look at that house back there. Its believed a few shingles were displaced, the tornado hopscotching. This shows the power of what is to be a it took people and cared them, leg injuries, arm injuries. Its nothing ive seen in my 24year Law Enforcement career. Reporter downed lined and a massive field of debris has littered the neighborhood many called home. One person has died in trailer ler r park. Theres are people we work with, go to school with. Reporter at least 100 structures were damaged in elk city. The elk city maier. It looked like some of the houses just exploded. Some looked like they had been torn apart by high winds. Reporter the winds tossed cars and trucks like match box cars. A 53yearold man was after his cause was thrown 7,300 feet pinning him between his vehicle and home. Man called 911 and said im going my shelter and never made it off his property. You live in the midwest, stay tuned. Ahead, were going to talk to Bob Schieffer about his conversations with gop senators, how they say white house is announcer this National Weather report sponsored by toyota. Lets go places. An ohio Police Officer says a small amount of fentanyl on his sweatshirt caused him to overdose after a drug bust. Ahead, his story and how he survived and the deas warning to First Responders. Youre watching cbs this morning. Announcer this portion of cbs this morning sponsored by fastsigns. More than fast, more than signs. Improve our workflow. Attract new customers. Thats when fastsigns recommended fleet graphics. Yeah now business is rolling in. Get started at fastsigns. Com. Yeah now business is rolling in. Atblue diamond almonds wein our almondmilk. Iagrown and were proud of that. But the whole careandnurturing part . That idea. We borrowed from the experts. Blue diamond almond breeze. The best almonds make the best almondmilk. If you have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, isnt it time to let the real you shine through . Introducing otezla, apremilast. Otezla is not an injection or a cream. Its a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. Some people who took otezla saw 75 clearer skin after 4 months. And otezlas prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. Dont take otezla if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Otezla may increase the risk of depression. Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, or if these feelings develop. Some people taking otezla reported weight loss. Your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. Side effects may include diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, and if youre pregnant or planning to be. Ask your dermatologist about otezla today. Otezla. Show more of you. Say no to this because of my bladder . Thanks to tena. Only new tena intimates has Proskin Technology designed to quickly wick away moisture. To help maintain your skins natural balance. It goes beyond triple protection from leaks, odor and moisture. So you can feel fresh and free to get as close as you want. Only tena, lets you be you. We are told the pyramids werewhat was that . Ombs. But the truth is. Theyre prisons. Theres writing on the mummys coffin. A warning of plagues. Unlike anything weve ever seen. You have no idea, mr. Morton. What you have unleashed. Rated pg13. Experience it in imax. I was in the military for 18 years. Rian, but, i smoked and i got heart disease. Its hard to serve your country when youre to weak to put on your uniform. announcer you can quit. For free help, call 1800quitnow. One dark chocolate rises mastering above the restinement lindt excellence created by our master chocolatiers pure, rich, darkly intense. Made like no other crafted elegantly thin to reveal complex layers of Flavor Experience excellence with all your senses and discover chocolate beyond compare try lindt excellence with a touch of sea salt. Whattwo servings of veggies . V8 or a powdered drink . Ready, go. Done you gotta shake it i shake it glad i had a v8. The original way to fuel your day. Chelsea moneying is being released today. Ahead, whats ahead for the former army when you look into space . No. That cloud kind of looks like sean spicer. Thats Stephen Colbert and brad pitt, the two of them together. Welcome back to cbs this morning. President trump threatened to kill the journalist for publishing classified information. It was in comeys memo in t meeting with the president. Its not clear how comey responded and thats why members of Congress Want that memo. In the same memo james comey said President Trump asked him to shut down the investigation into his former National Security adviser Michael Flynn. The white house denies that. The memo was first reported by the new york time and then confirmed by cbs news. Comey noted of the investigation, quote, hope you can let this go. Bob schieffer spoke last night with him. The conversation took place at the International Freedoms dinner. Bob schieffer asked him about the scandal and the shoe continues to drop. What would you advise President Trump toab same thing that you and others advised Richard Nixon, which you didnt to, and others that have been involved many something of this nature. Its not going to be all over until every aspect of it is authorly examined and the American People make a judgment. The longer you make a delay, the longer its going to last. Bob schieffer joins us from washington. Bob, good morning to you. Good morning. You know, there seems to be a lot of dropping shoes these days. What was your reaction when you heard john mccain use word water dwait and impeachment. John mccain is called the straight shooter. This not the first time i got a straight answer from him. I interviewed his father in 1956 before i even knew him. John mccain is deeply worried about this. I think he believes donald trump and it is up to donald trump to get himself out of it. He meant that and repeated it. He has to get all the facts out on the table. He has to find some way to