>>> IT WAS GOING TO BE SQUEAKY,
>>> IT WAS GOING TO BE SQUEAKY, SQUEAKY, SQUEAKY CLEAN.
SQUEAKY, SQUEAKY CLEAN. THAT’S WHAT THE HEAD OF THE
THAT’S WHAT THE HEAD OF THE DONALD TRUMP INAUGURAL COMMITTEE
DONALD TRUMP INAUGURAL COMMITTEE TOLD THE PRESS A YEAR AGO.
TOLD THE PRESS A YEAR AGO. A FULL AND CLEAN EXTERNAL AUDIT
A FULL AND CLEAN EXTERNAL AUDIT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AND COMPLETED
HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AND COMPLETED OF THE INAUGURAL COMMITTEE’S
OF THE INAUGURAL COMMITTEE’S FINANCES.
FINANCES. REALLY?
REALLY? IS THAT SO?
IS THAT SO? AND THEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AND THEN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ASKED TO SEE THAT SQUEAKY CLEAN
ASKED TO SEE THAT SQUEAKY CLEAN AUDIT.
AUDIT. QUOTE, THE TRUMP INAUGURAL
QUOTE, THE TRUMP INAUGURAL COMMITTEE WOULD NOT SHARE A COPY
COMMITTEE WOULD NOT SHARE A COPY OF THE AUDIT WITH AP OR EVEN SAY
OF THE AUDIT WITH AP OR EVEN SAY WHO PERFORMED IT.
WHO PERFORMED IT. JUST TRUST US.
JUST TRUST US. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NOTHING GOING
THERE IS OBVIOUSLY NOTHING GOING ON THAT’S FUNKY WITH OUR
ON THAT’S FUNKY WITH OUR FINANCES.
FINANCES. WE CAN PROVE IT.
WE CAN PROVE IT. WE DID A WHOLE AUDIT.
WE DID A WHOLE AUDIT. IT WAS A SUPER CLEAN AUDIT.
IT WAS A SUPER CLEAN AUDIT. WE CAME OUT PERFECT.
WE CAME OUT PERFECT. BUT IT’S ALSO SECRET, AND YOU
BUT IT’S ALSO SECRET, AND YOU HAVE TO TRUST US THAT IT
HAVE TO TRUST US THAT IT HAPPENED AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO
HAPPENED AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHO DID IT.
TELL YOU WHO DID IT. SEE?
SEE? ARE WE GOOD?
ARE WE GOOD? ARE WE SQUARE?
ARE WE SQUARE? THAT WAS JUNE OF 2017.
THAT WAS JUNE OF 2017. SINCE THEN, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SINCE THEN, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HAS TRIED TO GET THEIR HANDS ON
HAS TRIED TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THAT MYSTERY AUDIT OF TRUMP’S
THAT MYSTERY AUDIT OF TRUMP’S INAUGURAL FINANCES.
INAUGURAL FINANCES. WE ON THIS SHOW HAVE TRIED
WE ON THIS SHOW HAVE TRIED REPEATEDLY IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF
REPEATEDLY IN A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRACK IT DOWN
DIFFERENT WAYS TO TRACK IT DOWN TOO, BUT NO DICE.
TOO, BUT NO DICE. AND YOU KNOW, PART OF THE REASON
AND YOU KNOW, PART OF THE REASON WE WERE SO INTERESTED IS BECAUSE
WE WERE SO INTERESTED IS BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE VERY,
IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE VERY, VERY, VERY BEGINNING THAT THERE
VERY, VERY BEGINNING THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING FUNKY ABOUT THE
WAS SOMETHING FUNKY ABOUT THE TRUMP INAUGURATION AND THE MONEY
TRUMP INAUGURATION AND THE MONEY THAT WAS RAISED FOR IT AND SPENT
THAT WAS RAISED FOR IT AND SPENT ON IT.
ON IT. AND THIS PICTURE I KNOW CAUSES A
AND THIS PICTURE I KNOW CAUSES A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF ANGINA.
LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF ANGINA. THIS PICTURE MAKES THE PRESIDENT
THIS PICTURE MAKES THE PRESIDENT CRAZY.
CRAZY. IT BECAME PART OF THE FIRST
IT BECAME PART OF THE FIRST RIDICULOUS SCANDAL OF THIS NEW
RIDICULOUS SCANDAL OF THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION ON ITS FIRST HALF
ADMINISTRATION ON ITS FIRST HALF DAY WHEN THE PRESIDENT TOLD
DAY WHEN THE PRESIDENT TOLD GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THEY NEEDED
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THEY NEEDED TO LIE ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE
TO LIE ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE CROWD AT HIS INAUGURATION
CROWD AT HIS INAUGURATION COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF THE
COMPARED TO THE SIZE OF THE CROWD AT THE OBAMA INAUGURATION
CROWD AT THE OBAMA INAUGURATION FROM 2009.
FROM 2009. BUT THAT PICTURE AND THAT TRUTH
BUT THAT PICTURE AND THAT TRUTH ABOUT THE INAUGURATION FOR MR.
ABOUT THE INAUGURATION FOR MR. TRUMP, THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE
TRUMP, THAT IS ALSO PART OF THE VERY CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT
VERY CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE
SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE MONEY PART OF THE TRUMP
MONEY PART OF THE TRUMP INAUGURAL, BECAUSE OBAMA’S
INAUGURAL, BECAUSE OBAMA’S INAUGURATION IN 2009 REALLY WAS
INAUGURATION IN 2009 REALLY WAS WAY BIGGER.
WAY BIGGER. AND I DON’T MEAN THAT IN ANNED A
AND I DON’T MEAN THAT IN ANNED A HOMINEN WAY.
HOMINEN WAY. IT WAS JUST A BIG THING.
IT WAS JUST A BIG THING. IT WAS A PREVIOUS -- IT HIT A
IT WAS A PREVIOUS -- IT HIT A PREVIOUSLY UNIMAGINABLE
PREVIOUSLY UNIMAGINABLE FUNDRAISING AND SPENDING RECORD.
FUNDRAISING AND SPENDING RECORD. WHEN OBAMA WAS INAUGURATED FOR
WHEN OBAMA WAS INAUGURATED FOR THE FIRST TIME, THAT WAS THE
THE FIRST TIME, THAT WAS THE LARGEST PRESIDENTIAL
LARGEST PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION IN HISTORY FOR
INAUGURATION IN HISTORY FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
OBVIOUS REASONS. THE EVENT WAS JUST HUGE.
THE EVENT WAS JUST HUGE. THE COST WAS HUGE, $43 MILLION
THE COST WAS HUGE, $43 MILLION THEY RAISED AND SPENT FOR THAT
THEY RAISED AND SPENT FOR THAT INAUGURATION.
INAUGURATION. THAT WAS A RECORD BY A MILE.
THAT WAS A RECORD BY A MILE. NOW IN CONTRAST, THE TRUMP
NOW IN CONTRAST, THE TRUMP INAUGURATION, I DO NOT SAY THIS
INAUGURATION, I DO NOT SAY THIS TO BE MEAN, BUT THE TRUMP
TO BE MEAN, BUT THE TRUMP INAUGURATION WAS A COMPARATIVELY
INAUGURATION WAS A COMPARATIVELY SMALL AFFAIR, AND THERE
SMALL AFFAIR, AND THERE COMPARATIVELY WASN’T THAT MUCH
COMPARATIVELY WASN’T THAT MUCH TO IT.
TO IT. >> IT WAS BATON TWIRLERS AND
>> IT WAS BATON TWIRLERS AND TRACTORS.
TRACTORS. IT WAS NOT LIKE 2009.
IT WAS NOT LIKE 2009. BUT SOMEHOW, SOMEHOW THE TRUMP
BUT SOMEHOW, SOMEHOW THE TRUMP INAUGURATION ENDED UP MORE THAN
INAUGURATION ENDED UP MORE THAN DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS RAISED AND SPENT AS
THAT WAS RAISED AND SPENT AS COMPARED TO THE GIGANTIC OBAMA
COMPARED TO THE GIGANTIC OBAMA INAUGURATION EIGHT YEARS
INAUGURATION EIGHT YEARS EARLIER.
EARLIER. WHICH IS NUTS.
WHICH IS NUTS. AND HONESTLY, THE BOTTOM LINE
AND HONESTLY, THE BOTTOM LINE FOR US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING
FOR US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING JUST FELT LIKE, WELL, IT MAY BE
JUST FELT LIKE, WELL, IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
A GOOD IDEA TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THAT MONEY,
HAPPENED TO ALL THAT MONEY, BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T SPEND IT ON
BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T SPEND IT ON THE TRACTOR BLEACHERS.
THE TRACTOR BLEACHERS. THE TRUMP INAUGURAL COMMITTEE
THE TRUMP INAUGURAL COMMITTEE DID START SAYING THEY DID GREAT
DID START SAYING THEY DID GREAT IN THEIR AUDIT, BUT NOBODY HAS
IN THEIR AUDIT, BUT NOBODY HAS EVER SEEN THE SUPPOSED AUDIT.
EVER SEEN THE SUPPOSED AUDIT. WHEN WE LOOK LOOKING FOR THE
WHEN WE LOOK LOOKING FOR THE AUDIT, ALONG THE WAY WE DID
AUDIT, ALONG THE WAY WE DID MANAGE TO FIND THE TREASURER OF
MANAGE TO FIND THE TREASURER OF THE TRUMP INAUGURAL COMMITTEE.
THE TRUMP INAUGURAL COMMITTEE. HIS NAME IS DOUG EMERMAN.
HIS NAME IS DOUG EMERMAN. AND WE FIGURED, YOU KNOW THERE
AND WE FIGURED, YOU KNOW THERE WAS SOME HIGHER PROFILE PEOPLE
WAS SOME HIGHER PROFILE PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE INAUGURATION.
INAUGURATION. THE HEAD OF THE INAUGURAL
THE HEAD OF THE INAUGURAL COMMITTEE WAS TOM BARRACK,ICK.
COMMITTEE WAS TOM BARRACK,ICK. THE DEPUTY CHAIR WAS RICK GATES
THE DEPUTY CHAIR WAS RICK GATES WHO IS NOW A FELON, CURRENTLY
WHO IS NOW A FELON, CURRENTLY AWAITING SENTENCING.
AWAITING SENTENCING. BUT WE FIGURED THE TREASURER,
BUT WE FIGURED THE TREASURER, LOWER PROFILE GUY THAT HE WOULD
LOWER PROFILE GUY THAT HE WOULD KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE
KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE MONEY THEY RAISED AND SPENT.
MONEY THEY RAISED AND SPENT. WE TRIED TO GET AHOLD OF HIM AND
WE TRIED TO GET AHOLD OF HIM AND ASK HIM QUESTIONS.
ASK HIM QUESTIONS. WE NEVER, EVER, EVER HEARD BACK.
WE NEVER, EVER, EVER HEARD BACK. AND THEN WE FIGURE OUT HE
AND THEN WE FIGURE OUT HE HIMSELF WAS A WEIRD CHOICE TO BE
HIMSELF WAS A WEIRD CHOICE TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF AN INAUGURAL
THE PRESIDENT OF AN INAUGURAL COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE OTHER
COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE OTHER THING HE EVER HAS BEEN NAMED IN
THING HE EVER HAS BEEN NAMED IN HIS LIFE WAS AN UNDIETED
HIS LIFE WAS AN UNDIETED CONSPIRATOR IN A CRIMINAL CASE
CONSPIRATOR IN A CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST 17 OTHER FORMER TAX
AGAINST 17 OTHER FORMER TAX PROFESSIONALS.
PROFESSIONALS. WE NEVER FOUND THE AUDIT.
WE NEVER FOUND THE AUDIT. TO THIS DAY THAT FULL AND TOTAL
TO THIS DAY THAT FULL AND TOTAL ACCOUNTING REMAINS A MYSTERY.
ACCOUNTING REMAINS A MYSTERY. NOW, HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO A
NOW, HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO A SCOOP IN "THE WALL STREET
SCOOP IN "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," THERE IS A NEW AND
JOURNAL," THERE IS A NEW AND DIFFERENT KIND OF ACCOUNTING
DIFFERENT KIND OF ACCOUNTING GOING ON.
GOING ON. THIS IS THE HEADLINE TONIGHT IN
THIS IS THE HEADLINE TONIGHT IN THE JOURNAL.
THE JOURNAL. QUOTE, TRUMP INAUGURATION
QUOTE, TRUMP INAUGURATION SPENDING UNDER CRIMINAL
SPENDING UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BY FEDERAL
INVESTIGATION BY FEDERAL PROSECUTORS.
PROSECUTORS. JOINING US NOW IS REBECCA
JOINING US NOW IS REBECCA O’BRIEN.
O’BRIEN. SHE IS REPORTER FOR "THE WALL
SHE IS REPORTER FOR "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," ONE OF THE
STREET JOURNAL," ONE OF THE REPORTERS BEHIND THIS SCOOP
REPORTERS BEHIND THIS SCOOP TONIGHT.
TONIGHT. MS. O’BRIEN, IT’S GREAT TO HAVE
MS. O’BRIEN, IT’S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
YOU HERE. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING GREAT WORK.
WORK. HAD A LOT OF SCOOPS LATELY.
HAD A LOT OF SCOOPS LATELY. CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SO WE’VE BEEN INTERESTED IN
>> SO WE’VE BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS INAUGURAL FUNDING STORY FOR
THIS INAUGURAL FUNDING STORY FOR A LONG TIME ON THIS SHOW FOR
A LONG TIME ON THIS SHOW FOR SOME OF THE REASONS THAT I
SOME OF THE REASONS THAT I EXPLAINED THERE.
EXPLAINED THERE. AND THERE HAS BEEN PREVIOUS
AND THERE HAS BEEN PREVIOUS REPORTING, SIX MONTHS OR SO AGO,
REPORTING, SIX MONTHS OR SO AGO, ABOUT FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS
ABOUT FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY
LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY THAT FOREIGN MONEY MIGHT HAVE
THAT FOREIGN MONEY MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN INTO TRUMP’S INAUGURAL
GOTTEN INTO TRUMP’S INAUGURAL FUNDS.
FUNDS. THAT CAME UP, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
THAT CAME UP, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE INDICTMENT OF SAM PATTON,
THE INDICTMENT OF SAM PATTON, ONE OF THE LOWER PROFILE
ONE OF THE LOWER PROFILE INDICTMENTS IN WHICH HE WAS
INDICTMENTS IN WHICH HE WAS ACCUSED OF SETTING UP AMERICAN
ACCUSED OF SETTING UP AMERICAN STRAW PURCHASERS SO THAT A
STRAW PURCHASERS SO THAT A FOREIGNER COULD ACTUALLY SPEND A
FOREIGNER COULD ACTUALLY SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY AND GO TO THE
BUNCH OF MONEY AND GO TO THE TRUMP INAUGURATION.
TRUMP INAUGURATION. BUT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING
BUT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TALKING HERE IS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION
HERE IS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION NOT INTO THE MONEY COMING INTO
NOT INTO THE MONEY COMING INTO THE INAUGURATION NECESSARILY,
THE INAUGURATION NECESSARILY, BUT THE SPENDING.
BUT THE SPENDING. >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. I THINK WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT IS
I THINK WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT IS BEYOND THE ROLE OF POTENTIAL
BEYOND THE ROLE OF POTENTIAL FOREIGN INFLUENCE OR FOREIGN
FOREIGN INFLUENCE OR FOREIGN MONEY COMING INTO THE INAUGURAL.
MONEY COMING INTO THE INAUGURAL. IT’S LOOKING -- THIS
IT’S LOOKING -- THIS INVESTIGATION, WHICH TO BE CLEAR
INVESTIGATION, WHICH TO BE CLEAR IS IN ITS VERY EARLY STAGES AS
IS IN ITS VERY EARLY STAGES AS WE UNDERSTAND IT IS LOOKING AT
WE UNDERSTAND IT IS LOOKING AT MONEY IN, BUT ALSO MONEY OUT.
MONEY IN, BUT ALSO MONEY OUT. AND THE MONEY IN ISN’T JUST
AND THE MONEY IN ISN’T JUST FOREIGN.
FOREIGN. IT’S ALSO LOOKING AT WHO --
IT’S ALSO LOOKING AT WHO -- WHETHER INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES
WHETHER INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES GIVE MONEY IN THE EXPECTATION OF
GIVE MONEY IN THE EXPECTATION OF RECEIVING SOME SORT OF SPECIAL
RECEIVING SOME SORT OF SPECIAL BENEFIT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
BENEFIT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. AND THE MONEY OUT IS LOOKING AT,
AND THE MONEY OUT IS LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, THERE HAS
YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, THERE HAS BEEN GREAT REPORTING OUT THERE
BEEN GREAT REPORTING OUT THERE ABOUT THE MURKINESS OF WHAT
ABOUT THE MURKINESS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS MORE THAN $100
HAPPENED TO THIS MORE THAN $100 MILLION THAT WAS SPENT ON THE
MILLION THAT WAS SPENT ON THE OSTENSIBLY.
OSTENSIBLY. >> OSTENSIBLY.
>> OSTENSIBLY. >> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> THAT’S RIGHT. WE DON’T KNOW IT.
WE DON’T KNOW IT. IT’S A BIG TRICK HERE.
IT’S A BIG TRICK HERE. THE TAX RETURNS SAY THEY SPENT
THE TAX RETURNS SAY THEY SPENT IT ON THIS, AND THEY DON’T SAY
IT ON THIS, AND THEY DON’T SAY THAT MUCH.
THAT MUCH. BUT IT’S TRYING TO GET TO THE
BUT IT’S TRYING TO GET TO THE BILL OF THAT.
BILL OF THAT. THERE IS A LOT OF QUALIFIERS
THERE IS A LOT OF QUALIFIERS THERE.
THERE. BUT --
BUT -- >> ON THE ISSUE OF SPENDING
>> ON THE ISSUE OF SPENDING MONEY, DONATING MONEY TO THE
MONEY, DONATING MONEY TO THE INAUGURATION WITH THE
INAUGURATION WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT YOU’LL BE
EXPECTATION THAT YOU’LL BE TREATED FAVORABLY BY THE
TREATED FAVORABLY BY THE GOVERNMENT IN SOME POLICY
GOVERNMENT IN SOME POLICY CONTEXT, OR THE TERMS OF SOME
CONTEXT, OR THE TERMS OF SOME KIND OF FAVOR, I FEEL THAT’S THE
KIND OF FAVOR, I FEEL THAT’S THE OPEN SECRET OF INAUGURAL
OPEN SECRET OF INAUGURAL DONATIONS ANYWAY, THAT MOST
DONATIONS ANYWAY, THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T GIVE TO AN
PEOPLE DON’T GIVE TO AN INAUGURATION OUT OF THE GOODNESS
INAUGURATION OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF THEIR HEART.
OF THEIR HEART. CORPORATIONS AND RICH PEOPLE
CORPORATIONS AND RICH PEOPLE PRESUMABLY ALL DO THAT US BE A
PRESUMABLY ALL DO THAT US BE A THEY WANT TO CURRY IN AN
THEY WANT TO CURRY IN AN ABSTRACT SENSE SOME SORT OF
ABSTRACT SENSE SOME SORT OF FAVOR.
FAVOR. IS THIS INVESTIGATION LOOKING AT
IS THIS INVESTIGATION LOOKING AT ACUTE ALLEGATIONS OF REAL LIQUID
ACUTE ALLEGATIONS OF REAL LIQUID PRO OWE THAT THERE WERE REAL
PRO OWE THAT THERE WERE REAL FAVORS TRADED IN EXCHANGE FOR
FAVORS TRADED IN EXCHANGE FOR DONATIONS?
DONATIONS? >> I’M NOT CERTAIN ABOUT THAT.
>> I’M NOT CERTAIN ABOUT THAT. CERTAINLY MONEY AND POLITICS,
CERTAINLY MONEY AND POLITICS, DEMOCRATS DO IT, REPUBLICANS DO
DEMOCRATS DO IT, REPUBLICANS DO IT, AND -- ALL.
IT, AND -- ALL. >> EXACTLY.
>> EXACTLY. AND THIS OFFICE AND OTHER
AND THIS OFFICE AND OTHER FEDERAL PROSECUTORS AND STATE
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS AND STATE PROSECUTORS LOOK INTO THIS KIND
PROSECUTORS LOOK INTO THIS KIND OF STUFF ALL THE TIME.
OF STUFF ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES THEY DON’T TURN UP
SOMETIMES THEY DON’T TURN UP ANYTHING.
ANYTHING. IT’S HARD THE MAKE CASES ABOUT
IT’S HARD THE MAKE CASES ABOUT MONEY AND POLITICS FOR REASONS
MONEY AND POLITICS FOR REASONS WE DISCUSSED.
WE DISCUSSED. IT’S ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IT’S ALL OVER THE PLACE. >> THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW
>> THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW INVESTIGATION AT THE SOUTHERN
INVESTIGATION AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK?
DISTRICT OF NEW YORK? >> I THINK NEW, EARLY STAGES.
>> I THINK NEW, EARLY STAGES. IT’S ONE OF THESE THINGS FROM MY
IT’S ONE OF THESE THINGS FROM MY UNDERSTANDING IT’S RECEIVING
UNDERSTANDING IT’S RECEIVING DIFFERENT KINDS OF EVIDENCE FROM
DIFFERENT KINDS OF EVIDENCE FROM DIFFERENT -- FROM DIFFERENT
DIFFERENT -- FROM DIFFERENT PLACES, AND MAKE IT’S ALL
PLACES, AND MAKE IT’S ALL STARTING TO COALESCE INTO
STARTING TO COALESCE INTO SOMETHING THAT WILL LOOK LIKE AN
SOMETHING THAT WILL LOOK LIKE AN INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. >> SOME OF THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU
>> SOME OF THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU DESCRIBE IN YOUR PIECE TONIGHT
DESCRIBE IN YOUR PIECE TONIGHT IS THERE ARE INTRIGUING.
IS THERE ARE INTRIGUING. I’M JUST GOING TO READ TO YOU
I’M JUST GOING TO READ TO YOU FROM YOUR OWN REPORTING.
FROM YOUR OWN REPORTING. IN APRIL RAIDS OF MICHAEL
IN APRIL RAIDS OF MICHAEL COHEN’S HOMES AND HOTEL ROOM,
COHEN’S HOMES AND HOTEL ROOM, FBI AGENTS OBTAINED A RECORDED
FBI AGENTS OBTAINED A RECORDED CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. COHEN
CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. COHEN AND STEPHANIE WINSTON WOLKOFF, A
AND STEPHANIE WINSTON WOLKOFF, A FORMER ADVISER TO THE FIRST LADY
FORMER ADVISER TO THE FIRST LADY WHO WORKED ON INAUGURAL EVENTS.
WHO WORKED ON INAUGURAL EVENTS. IN THE RECORDING MS. WOLKOFF
IN THE RECORDING MS. WOLKOFF EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT HOW THE
EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT HOW THE INAUGURAL COMMITTEE WAS SPENDING
INAUGURAL COMMITTEE WAS SPENDING MONEY.
MONEY. THIS IS ACCORDING TO A PERSON
THIS IS ACCORDING TO A PERSON FAMILIAR WITH THE COHEN
FAMILIAR WITH THE COHEN INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" COULD
"THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" COULD NOT DETERMINE WHEN THE
NOT DETERMINE WHEN THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. COHEN
CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. COHEN AND MS. WALL COULD HAVEOLKOFF TO
AND MS. WALL COULD HAVEOLKOFF TO WHEN IT WAS RECORDED.
WHEN IT WAS RECORDED. MAYBE THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN SOME OF
MAYBE THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN SOME OF THE TIMING AS COHEN AS NOW MOVED
THE TIMING AS COHEN AS NOW MOVED ON TO HIS SENTENCING.
ON TO HIS SENTENCING. >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. WE KNOW THAT THEY SEIZED THE
WE KNOW THAT THEY SEIZED THE RAIDS TOOK PLACE IN APRIL, AND
RAIDS TOOK PLACE IN APRIL, AND IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR THE REVIEW
IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR THE REVIEW TO TAKE PLACE.
TO TAKE PLACE. SO THE PROSECUTORS DIDN’T GET IT
SO THE PROSECUTORS DIDN’T GET IT FOR A WHILE.
FOR A WHILE. BUT YEAH, THIS IS AN POTENTIALLY
BUT YEAH, THIS IS AN POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT
IMPORTANT PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT WAS TAKEN.
WAS TAKEN. >> I HAVE TO ALSO ASK YOU JUST
>> I HAVE TO ALSO ASK YOU JUST AS A MATTER OF PERSONAL
AS A MATTER OF PERSONAL OBSESSION, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO
OBSESSION, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO GET A PEEK AT THAT FULL AND
GET A PEEK AT THAT FULL AND CLEAN EXTERNAL AUDIT THAT THEY
CLEAN EXTERNAL AUDIT THAT THEY SAY EXISTS AND SHOWS THEY WERE
SAY EXISTS AND SHOWS THEY WERE PERFECTLY SQUEAKY CLEAN?
PERFECTLY SQUEAKY CLEAN? >> I THINK THE STORY WOULD BE
>> I THINK THE STORY WOULD BE LONGER IF I HAD.
LONGER IF I HAD. >> YES.
>> YES. WELL, THEY WOULD BE CLEAN
WELL, THEY WOULD BE CLEAN COMPLETELY EXONERATED OBVIOUSLY.
COMPLETELY EXONERATED OBVIOUSLY. >> WELL, TIME WILL TELL.
>> WELL, TIME WILL TELL. >> TIME WILL TELL.
>> TIME WILL TELL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. REBECCA O’BRIEN, REPORTER FOR
REBECCA O’BRIEN, REPORTER FOR "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL."
"THE WALL STREET JOURNAL." AGAIN, YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES A
AGAIN, YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES A THE JOURN HAVE REASON TO TAKE A
THE JOURN HAVE REASON TO TAKE A VICTORY LAP THIS WEEK.
VICTORY LAP THIS WEEK. THE AM iREPORTING THAT YOU GUYS
THE AM iREPORTING THAT YOU GUYS DID AT THE JOURNAL WAS BORN OUT
DID AT THE JOURNAL WAS BORN OUT IN COURT DOCUMENTS TODAY ALMOST
IN COURT DOCUMENTS TODAY ALMOST AS IF IT WAS "THE WALL STREET
AS IF IT WAS "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" STORY JUST WRITTEN BY
JOURNAL" STORY JUST WRITTEN BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK.
YORK. WELL AHEAD OF THAT STORY AND SO
WELL AHEAD OF THAT STORY AND SO MANY OTHER ANGLES IN THIS
MANY OTHER ANGLES IN THIS SCANDAL.
SCANDAL. CONGRATULATIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
