(USSR propaganda music starts) And with that: your questions. (Reporter) "Over the weekend, a lot of
complaints from Democrats about, uh.. the Comey..uh.. replacement process. Uh.. first of all, that
Jeff Sessions is leading the search. There are a lot of Democrats that think that because he recused himself
in the Russian investigation, that he should not be in that position. Secondly: some Democrats
in the Senate are saying that before they will consider the President's next
nominee, they want a special prosecutor appointed to look into the Russia
investigation. Can you respond to that?" (applause track) (Spicer): I.. I think this is a process that is running...
completely as it should. (raucous laugh track) It's being headed by the Deputy Attorney General and the
Attorney General as you've..you've noted in the past, the FBI director reports to the Deputy Attorney General. Uh,
they continue to move through a series of highly qualified candidates..uh... and it's..you know,
obviously, this is a huge priority for the President, to make sure that we have someone that has..uh..
the ability to administer the proper leadership..uh.. to the FBI. Blake. (Same Reporter): "On the special
prosecutor?" (Spicer): I..I think that's..there's frankly no need for a special prosecutor. (laugh track)
We've discussed this before. You have two Senate committees..uh.. that are looking into this. The FBI is
conducting, uh... their own review. And.. and, I think, if you even look at what Acting Director McCabe
said last week, he made it very clear that they have the resources that they need, uh, and that the work
continues. But the bottom line is, again, I think part of it is, there's a difference between what we've
talked about in that and it's been made very clear that there's been..uh.. with respect to the President himself,
both Senator Schumer, Senator Feinstein, Senator Manchin, everyone else who have
been briefed on this have been very clear that there was no collusion..(raucous laugh track) with..with respect to
the President himself and their investigation. Alexis. (Simendinger):"Sean, can I followup, um,
on the, uh, tape question from last week. As you know, several Republicans have joined
Democrats in seeking additional information from the White House in writing about the existence of any tapes,
producing the tapes, and any further information about the, um... potential taping of conversations. Is the White
House intending to cooperate with those requests and furnish that information as requested in writing?"
(Spicer): I think I made it clear last week that the President has nothing further on that. Hunter.
(Simendinger): "Sean: does that mean that the President will deny the request?" (Spicer): I..I think..I..
said... I was very clear.. that we..that the President would have nothing further on that last week. (Simendinger):
"You're describing a situation in which the President would defy the legislative branches request, that's what
you're saying." (Spicer): Alexis: I..I made it clear what the President's position is on that issue. thank you guys very
much. I'll see you tomorrow. (reporters continue to ask questions) (audio fades out)
