Brush like a pro.
>>> MIGHT THERE BE TROUBLE
>>> MIGHT THERE BE TROUBLE BREWING IN THE BROMANCE?
BREWING IN THE BROMANCE? BLOCKBUSTER NEW REPORTING FROM
BLOCKBUSTER NEW REPORTING FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST" DETAILS A
"THE WASHINGTON POST" DETAILS A RARE RIFF THAT’S BEGINNING TO
RARE RIFF THAT’S BEGINNING TO OPEN BETWEEN THE TWO MEN OVER
OPEN BETWEEN THE TWO MEN OVER UKRAINE.
UKRAINE. THE "POST" DETAILS AN EFFORT BY
THE "POST" DETAILS AN EFFORT BY THE PRESIDENT TO GET ATTORNEY
THE PRESIDENT TO GET ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR, DONALD
GENERAL WILLIAM BARR, DONALD TRUMP’S THIRD ATTORNEY GENERAL,
TRUMP’S THIRD ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO
TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE THAT DONALD TRUMP BROKE
ANNOUNCE THAT DONALD TRUMP BROKE NO LAWS ON THAT CALL WITH THE
NO LAWS ON THAT CALL WITH THE LEADER OF UKRAINE AT THE CENTER
LEADER OF UKRAINE AT THE CENTER OF HIS IMPEACHMENT, WHICH BARR
OF HIS IMPEACHMENT, WHICH BARR ULTIMATELY DECLINED TO DO.
ULTIMATELY DECLINED TO DO. FROM THAT "WASHINGTON POST"
FROM THAT "WASHINGTON POST" REPORT, QUOTE, THE REQUEST FROM
REPORT, QUOTE, THE REQUEST FROM TRUMP TRAVELLED FROM THE WHITE
TRUMP TRAVELLED FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO OTHER WHITE HOUSE
HOUSE TO OTHER WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS AND EVENTUALLY TO THE
OFFICIALS AND EVENTUALLY TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. THE PRESIDENT HAS MENTIONED BARR
THE PRESIDENT HAS MENTIONED BARR TO ASSOCIATES IN RECENT WEEKS
TO ASSOCIATES IN RECENT WEEKS SAYING HE WISHED BARR WOULD HAVE
SAYING HE WISHED BARR WOULD HAVE HELD THE NEWS CONFERENCE.
HELD THE NEWS CONFERENCE. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS SOUGHT SOME DISTANCE FROM THE
SOUGHT SOME DISTANCE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, PARTICULARLY ON
WHITE HOUSE, PARTICULARLY ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE
MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTROVERSY OVER TRUMP’S
CONTROVERSY OVER TRUMP’S DEALINGS ON UKRAINE AND THE
DEALINGS ON UKRAINE AND THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. THEY SPARKED THOSE ATTEMPTS
THEY SPARKED THOSE ATTEMPTS INCLUDE ISSUING A STATEMENT
INCLUDE ISSUING A STATEMENT AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED
AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED ITS SUMMARY FROM THE
ITS SUMMARY FROM THE TRUMP/ZELENSKY CALL SAYING THE
TRUMP/ZELENSKY CALL SAYING THE PRESIDENT AND THE A.G. HADN’T
PRESIDENT AND THE A.G. HADN’T SPOKEN ABOUT INVESTIGATING THE
SPOKEN ABOUT INVESTIGATING THE BIDENS, DENYING THAT THE A.G.
BIDENS, DENYING THAT THE A.G. HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH RUDY
HAD ANY CONVERSATIONS WITH RUDY GIULIANI ABOUT UKRAINE, AND
GIULIANI ABOUT UKRAINE, AND DENYING HAVING ANY KNOWLEDGE
DENYING HAVING ANY KNOWLEDGE THAT THE WHITE HOUSE WITHHELD
THAT THE WHITE HOUSE WITHHELD MILITARY AID FOR HELP WITH THE
MILITARY AID FOR HELP WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS.
INVESTIGATIONS. THE PRESS CONFERENCE LIKE THE
THE PRESS CONFERENCE LIKE THE ONE TRUMP SOUGHT IS SO ON BRAND
ONE TRUMP SOUGHT IS SO ON BRAND FOR BARR IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY
FOR BARR IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY TRUMP WAS SO SAD THAT IT DIDN’T
TRUMP WAS SO SAD THAT IT DIDN’T WORK OUT.
WORK OUT. BARR’S TENURE HAS BEEN
BARR’S TENURE HAS BEEN BOOKMARKED BY A SEEMINGLY
BOOKMARKED BY A SEEMINGLY GLEEFUL AND GLOBETROTTING THAT’S
GLEEFUL AND GLOBETROTTING THAT’S BEEN IN THE PRESS FOR WEEKS
BEEN IN THE PRESS FOR WEEKS ABOUT HIS PLEAS FOR ASSISTANCE
ABOUT HIS PLEAS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WITH
FROM FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS WITH HIS INVESTIGATION INTO THE
HIS INVESTIGATION INTO THE ORIGINS OF THE RUSSIA PROBE.
ORIGINS OF THE RUSSIA PROBE. IT ALSO LEADS TO OBVIOUS
IT ALSO LEADS TO OBVIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY BARR IS
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY BARR IS SEEKING DISTANCE WHEN HE HASN’T
SEEKING DISTANCE WHEN HE HASN’T ON EQUALLY SENSITIVE MATTERS
ON EQUALLY SENSITIVE MATTERS LIKE MUELLER AND THE DURHAM
LIKE MUELLER AND THE DURHAM INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. COULD BARR BE WORRIED THAT A
COULD BARR BE WORRIED THAT A CLOSER LOOK AT HIS ACTIONS AND
CLOSER LOOK AT HIS ACTIONS AND HIS DEPARTMENT’S ACTIONS WILL
HIS DEPARTMENT’S ACTIONS WILL REVEAL SOMETHING THAT HE HAS TO
REVEAL SOMETHING THAT HE HAS TO ANSWER FOR?
ANSWER FOR? LET’S BRING IN WF NATIONAL
LET’S BRING IN WF NATIONAL REPORTER MATT WHO IS BYLINE ON
REPORTER MATT WHO IS BYLINE ON THAT BLOCKBUSTER SCOOP.
THAT BLOCKBUSTER SCOOP. FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE BEEN
FIRST OF ALL YOU HAVE BEEN GETTING ATTACKED BY DONALD
GETTING ATTACKED BY DONALD TRUMP.
TRUMP. WHAT’S SO NICE IS THE DEFENSES
WHAT’S SO NICE IS THE DEFENSES COME FROM EVERYONE, THE FOUR
COME FROM EVERYONE, THE FOUR OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS OR
OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS OR THREE AT LEAST HAVE MATCHED YOUR
THREE AT LEAST HAVE MATCHED YOUR REPORTING.
REPORTING. AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A
AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A PATTERN HERE THAT WHEN SOMEONE
PATTERN HERE THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS SO RIGHT, IT HURTS, TRUMP
IS SO RIGHT, IT HURTS, TRUMP ATTACKS THEM FIVE TIMES LIKE
ATTACKS THEM FIVE TIMES LIKE HE’S DONE WITH YOU TODAY.
HE’S DONE WITH YOU TODAY. >> YEAH, CERTAINLY.
>> YEAH, CERTAINLY. IT’S NEVER A PLEASANT TO BE ON
IT’S NEVER A PLEASANT TO BE ON THE RECEIVING END OF A TRUMP
THE RECEIVING END OF A TRUMP TWEET.
TWEET. I KIND OF KNOW HOW JEFF SESSIONS
I KIND OF KNOW HOW JEFF SESSIONS FEELS NOW MAYBE.
FEELS NOW MAYBE. >> OR ROD ROSENSTEIN.
>> OR ROD ROSENSTEIN. >> OR BOB MUELLER OR JIM COMEY
>> OR BOB MUELLER OR JIM COMEY OR ANDY McCABE, ANY NUMBER OF
OR ANDY McCABE, ANY NUMBER OF THESE FOLKS.
THESE FOLKS. THE BUT, YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY
THE BUT, YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY STAND BY THE REPORTING, AND I’M
STAND BY THE REPORTING, AND I’M EAGER TO TALK ABOUT IT AND THE
EAGER TO TALK ABOUT IT AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT.
CONSEQUENCES OF IT. >> SO TAKE US THROUGH WHAT YOU
>> SO TAKE US THROUGH WHAT YOU REPORTED.
REPORTED. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. SO LAST NIGHT WE REPORTED THAT
SO LAST NIGHT WE REPORTED THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED BILL
PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED BILL BARR, HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO
BARR, HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO HAVE A FULL ON SORT OF PRESS
HAVE A FULL ON SORT OF PRESS CONFERENCE DECLARING THAT BILL
CONFERENCE DECLARING THAT BILL BARR HAD LOOKED THROUGH THIS
BARR HAD LOOKED THROUGH THIS TRANSCRIPT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S
TRANSCRIPT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CALL WITH HIS UKRAINIAN
CALL WITH HIS UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART AND DETERMINED THAT
COUNTERPART AND DETERMINED THAT TRUMP BROKE NO LAWS.
TRUMP BROKE NO LAWS. I’M SURE EVERYONE REMEMBERS
I’M SURE EVERYONE REMEMBERS AROUND THE TIME THAT THE
AROUND THE TIME THAT THE ADMINISTRATION RELEASED THAT
ADMINISTRATION RELEASED THAT ROUGH TRANSCRIPT.
ROUGH TRANSCRIPT. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT A
THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT A STATEMENT SORT OF SAYING THAT.
STATEMENT SORT OF SAYING THAT. THEY SAID THAT OFFICIALS HAD
THEY SAID THAT OFFICIALS HAD LOOKED AT THE ROUGH TRANSCRIPT
LOOKED AT THE ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE CALL AND DETERMINED THAT
OF THE CALL AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO REASON TO
THERE WAS NO REASON TO INVESTIGATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE
INVESTIGATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS.
VIOLATIONS. BUT THAT WAS A WRITTEN
BUT THAT WAS A WRITTEN STATEMENT, AND IT’S KIND OF VERY
STATEMENT, AND IT’S KIND OF VERY SPECIFIC TO THAT ONE ISSUE.
SPECIFIC TO THAT ONE ISSUE. AND TRUMP WANTED MORE.
AND TRUMP WANTED MORE. NOW, WE HAVEN’T REPORTED THAT HE
NOW, WE HAVEN’T REPORTED THAT HE SORT OF DIRECTLY ORDERED BARR TO
SORT OF DIRECTLY ORDERED BARR TO DO THIS OR EVEN HAD A PERSONAL
DO THIS OR EVEN HAD A PERSONAL CONVERSATION WITH BARR.
CONVERSATION WITH BARR. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS
OUR UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS ROUTED FROM HIM AND THEN IT
ROUTED FROM HIM AND THEN IT MAKES ITS WAY OVER TO THE
MAKES ITS WAY OVER TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. BARR DOESN’T WANT TO DO IT,
BARR DOESN’T WANT TO DO IT, AGAIN FOR REASONS THAT WE DON’T
AGAIN FOR REASONS THAT WE DON’T KNOW.
KNOW. MAYBE IT’S FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL
MAYBE IT’S FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL REASONS.
REASONS. MAYBE HE THINKS, WELL, THE
MAYBE HE THINKS, WELL, THE STATEMENT IS SUFFICIENT, I JUST
STATEMENT IS SUFFICIENT, I JUST DON’T WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF
DON’T WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS.
THE CAMERAS. FOR WHATEVER REASON HE DOESN’T
FOR WHATEVER REASON HE DOESN’T WANT TO DO IT.
WANT TO DO IT. AND IN MORE RECENT WEEKS
AND IN MORE RECENT WEEKS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS COMPLAINED
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS COMPLAINED TO ASSOCIATES, HEY, I WANTED
TO ASSOCIATES, HEY, I WANTED BILL BARR, MY ATTORNEY GENERAL
BILL BARR, MY ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DO THIS.
TO DO THIS. EVERYONE KNOWS HOW MUCH HE LOVED
EVERYONE KNOWS HOW MUCH HE LOVED BILL BARR’S MUELLER PRESS
BILL BARR’S MUELLER PRESS CONFERENCE.
CONFERENCE. THAT LET THE PRESIDENT FEELING
THAT LET THE PRESIDENT FEELING AT LEAST SOMEWHAT FRUSTRATED.
AT LEAST SOMEWHAT FRUSTRATED. >> I ALLUDED TO THIS BEFORE.
>> I ALLUDED TO THIS BEFORE. IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY
IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY TRUMP THINKS THAT BILL BARR WILL
TRUMP THINKS THAT BILL BARR WILL GLADLY GO TO THE DOJ BRIEFING
GLADLY GO TO THE DOJ BRIEFING ROOM AND PERFORM FOR HIM BECAUSE
ROOM AND PERFORM FOR HIM BECAUSE IT’S PRECISELY WHAT IT IS VIEWED
IT’S PRECISELY WHAT IT IS VIEWED ACROSS THE IDEOLOGICAL SPECTRUM
ACROSS THE IDEOLOGICAL SPECTRUM THAT HE DID AFTER THE MUELLER
THAT HE DID AFTER THE MUELLER PROBE.
PROBE. BUT, I MEAN, BARR ISN’T SPECIAL.
BUT, I MEAN, BARR ISN’T SPECIAL. DONALD TRUMP WANTED JIM
DONALD TRUMP WANTED JIM SESSIONS, JIM COMEY, DNI DAN
SESSIONS, JIM COMEY, DNI DAN COATS, ROGERS AND MIKE POMPEO TO
COATS, ROGERS AND MIKE POMPEO TO ALL PROCLAIM HIS INNOCENCE.
ALL PROCLAIM HIS INNOCENCE. IF YOU’RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT SOME
IF YOU’RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT SOME SORT OF EXPOSURE, WHY DO YOU
SORT OF EXPOSURE, WHY DO YOU WANT ALL OF YOUR OFFICIALS
WANT ALL OF YOUR OFFICIALS ANNOUNCING PUBLICLY THAT YOU’RE
ANNOUNCING PUBLICLY THAT YOU’RE INNOCENT, MATT?
INNOCENT, MATT? >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP TOO IS
I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP TOO IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC PERCEPTION.
PERCEPTION. THAT’S WHY SORT OF A WRITTEN
THAT’S WHY SORT OF A WRITTEN STATEMENT ISN’T ENOUGH.
STATEMENT ISN’T ENOUGH. HE WANTS A BIT OF A SHOW.
HE WANTS A BIT OF A SHOW. HE IS A SHOWMAN.
HE IS A SHOWMAN. SO HE WANTS BILL BARR TO GET OUT
SO HE WANTS BILL BARR TO GET OUT THERE IN FRONT OF CAMERAS.
THERE IN FRONT OF CAMERAS. AND HE LIKED HOW WELL THAT WENT
AND HE LIKED HOW WELL THAT WENT FOR HIM WHEN BILL BARR DID THAT
FOR HIM WHEN BILL BARR DID THAT AT THE END OF THE MUELLER
AT THE END OF THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. HE LIKED BILL BARR OUT THERE
HE LIKED BILL BARR OUT THERE SAYING, I THINK HIS DIRECT QUOTE
SAYING, I THINK HIS DIRECT QUOTE WAS AS THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID
WAS AS THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID THERE WAS NO COLLUSION.
THERE WAS NO COLLUSION. SO THE PRESIDENT LIKES WHEN BILL
SO THE PRESIDENT LIKES WHEN BILL BARR GETS UP AND DOES THAT.
BARR GETS UP AND DOES THAT. BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, BILL BARR
BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, BILL BARR HAS SOUGHT SOME DISTANCE.
HAS SOUGHT SOME DISTANCE. AND IT’S NOT JUST REFUSING TO DO
AND IT’S NOT JUST REFUSING TO DO THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
THE PRESS CONFERENCE. BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE UKRAINE
BUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE UKRAINE SCANDAL, YOU HAVE SEEN SOME
SCANDAL, YOU HAVE SEEN SOME MOMENTS WHERE THE JUSTICE HAS
MOMENTS WHERE THE JUSTICE HAS SOUGHT SOME DISTANCE FROM THE
SOUGHT SOME DISTANCE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
WHITE HOUSE. >> ONE OF THEM IS WE SORT OF
>> ONE OF THEM IS WE SORT OF MENTIONED THEM BRIEF.
MENTIONED THEM BRIEF. I WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU THINK
I WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU THINK THAT THERE’S BEEN PARSING AND
THAT THERE’S BEEN PARSING AND THAT THERE COULD BE A SHOE TO
THAT THERE COULD BE A SHOE TO DROP.
DROP. BECAUSE IT DOESN’T SEEM THAT
BECAUSE IT DOESN’T SEEM THAT BARR IS MOTIVATED BY, JUST TO BE
BARR IS MOTIVATED BY, JUST TO BE BLUNT, WHAT YOU OR I THINK OF
BLUNT, WHAT YOU OR I THINK OF HIS CONDUCT IN TERMS OF SERVING
HIS CONDUCT IN TERMS OF SERVING AS ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR DONALD
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR DONALD TRUMP.
TRUMP. SO LETTING IT BE KNOWN OR AT
SO LETTING IT BE KNOWN OR AT LEAST NOT DENYING THAT HE
LEAST NOT DENYING THAT HE WOULDN’T DO A PRESS CONFERENCE
WOULDN’T DO A PRESS CONFERENCE AND SORT OF PUTTING OUT THERE I
AND SORT OF PUTTING OUT THERE I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT AGGRESSIVELY
KNOW THE DEPARTMENT AGGRESSIVELY MADE CLEAR THAT THEY NEVER
MADE CLEAR THAT THEY NEVER WOULD’VE LET THE HEAD OF THE
WOULD’VE LET THE HEAD OF THE CRIMINAL DIVISION MEET WITH RUDY
CRIMINAL DIVISION MEET WITH RUDY GIULIANI HAD THEY KNOWN SDNY WAS
GIULIANI HAD THEY KNOWN SDNY WAS INVESTIGATING HIM.
INVESTIGATING HIM. NOT TO KNOW THAT A CRIMINAL
NOT TO KNOW THAT A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OUT OF THE LARGEST
INVESTIGATION OUT OF THE LARGEST OFFICE IT RUNS?
OFFICE IT RUNS? >> BOY, THAT ONE IS A LITTLE
>> BOY, THAT ONE IS A LITTLE WEIRD.
WEIRD. BECAUSE THIS IS A CAMPAIGN
BECAUSE THIS IS A CAMPAIGN FINANCE CASE.
FINANCE CASE. AND ALL CAMPAIGN FINANCE CASES,
AND ALL CAMPAIGN FINANCE CASES, EVEN OUT IN THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S
EVEN OUT IN THE U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, HAVE TO BE RUN BY THE
OFFICE, HAVE TO BE RUN BY THE PUBLIC INTEGRITY SECTION, WHICH
PUBLIC INTEGRITY SECTION, WHICH IS UNDER THE CRIMINAL DIVISION.
IS UNDER THE CRIMINAL DIVISION. NOW IT’S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT
NOW IT’S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT WHEN THAT IS RUN BY PUBLIC
WHEN THAT IS RUN BY PUBLIC INTEGRITY, IT’S JUST A LEV
INTEGRITY, IT’S JUST A LEV PARNAS AND IGOR FRUMAN AND THEIR
PARNAS AND IGOR FRUMAN AND THEIR NAMES DON’T MEAN A LOT AND IT
NAMES DON’T MEAN A LOT AND IT DOESN’T GET UP TO THE HEAD OF
DOESN’T GET UP TO THE HEAD OF THE CRIMINAL DIVISION.
THE CRIMINAL DIVISION. WE DON’T KNOW WHETHER RUDY
WE DON’T KNOW WHETHER RUDY GIULIANI WAS ACTUALLY A SUBJECT
GIULIANI WAS ACTUALLY A SUBJECT OR A TARGET AT THAT TIME.
OR A TARGET AT THAT TIME. BUT I THINK THE WEIRDER THING IS
BUT I THINK THE WEIRDER THING IS THE HEAD OF THE CRIMINAL
THE HEAD OF THE CRIMINAL DIVISION THROUGH A SPOKESMAN
DIVISION THROUGH A SPOKESMAN COMING OUT AND SAYING LATER I
COMING OUT AND SAYING LATER I NEVER WOULD’VE TAKEN THAT
NEVER WOULD’VE TAKEN THAT MEETING IF I HAD KNOWN AND
MEETING IF I HAD KNOWN AND COUPLE THAT WITH A COUPLE OTHER
COUPLE THAT WITH A COUPLE OTHER INSTANCES.
INSTANCES. MICK MULVANEY SORT OF ADMITS THE
MICK MULVANEY SORT OF ADMITS THE QUID PRO QUO AND THE JUSTICE
QUID PRO QUO AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY SAYS
DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY SAYS THAT’S NEWS TO US WHEN THIS
THAT’S NEWS TO US WHEN THIS TRANSCRIPT OF THE PHONE CALL
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PHONE CALL COMES OUT AND THE PRESIDENT IS
COMES OUT AND THE PRESIDENT IS OFFERING UP BARR’S SERVICE TO
OFFERING UP BARR’S SERVICE TO HELP THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
HELP THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY COMES OUT AND SAYS,
IMMEDIATELY COMES OUT AND SAYS, LOOK, THE PRESIDENT AND BILL
LOOK, THE PRESIDENT AND BILL BARR NEVER TALKED ABOUT THIS
BARR NEVER TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE HIS SERVICES WERE OFFERED
BEFORE HIS SERVICES WERE OFFERED UP.
UP. SO IT’S ALL OF THOSE THINGS
SO IT’S ALL OF THOSE THINGS COLLECTIVELY TO MAKE IT SEEM
COLLECTIVELY TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE ON THIS, WHICH IS A LITTLE
LIKE ON THIS, WHICH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER THINGS,
DIFFERENT THAN OTHER THINGS, BILL BARR AND THE JUSTICE
BILL BARR AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAVE SOUGHT SOME
DEPARTMENT HAVE SOUGHT SOME DISTANCE.
DISTANCE. >> YOU KNOW, I SAW YOU SHAKING
>> YOU KNOW, I SAW YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD.
YOUR HEAD. I WANT YOUR REACTION TO SORT OF
I WANT YOUR REACTION TO SORT OF THE FEASIBILITY OF SOME OF THESE
THE FEASIBILITY OF SOME OF THESE EFFORTS.
EFFORTS. BUT -- GO AHEAD.
BUT -- GO AHEAD. IS IT REALLY PLAUSIBLE THESE
IS IT REALLY PLAUSIBLE THESE PLACES WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING
PLACES WHERE THEY ARE PUTTING SOME DISTANCE?
SOME DISTANCE? >> LOOK.
>> LOOK. --
-- >> OH, I’M SORRY.
>> OH, I’M SORRY. WE’LL COME BACK TO YOU, MATT.
WE’LL COME BACK TO YOU, MATT. >> I FIND IT VERY UNLIKELY THAT
>> I FIND IT VERY UNLIKELY THAT PEOPLE AT DOJ WOULD NOT HAVE
PEOPLE AT DOJ WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BRIEFED REGULARLY ABOUT AN
BEEN BRIEFED REGULARLY ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION THAT TOUCHED UPON
INVESTIGATION THAT TOUCHED UPON RUDY GIULIANI, GIVEN HIS CLOSE
RUDY GIULIANI, GIVEN HIS CLOSE ROLE WITH THE PRESIDENT, I JUST
ROLE WITH THE PRESIDENT, I JUST CAN’T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IT.
CAN’T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IT. SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE, I
SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE, I MEAN, THIS IS NOT, YOU KNOW,
MEAN, THIS IS NOT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT THEY JUST LET
SOMETHING THAT THEY JUST LET U.S. ATTORNEYS OFFICES GO AND DO
U.S. ATTORNEYS OFFICES GO AND DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, ESPECIALLY
WHATEVER THEY WANT, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH-PROFILE POLITICAL CASES
IN HIGH-PROFILE POLITICAL CASES SUCH AS THIS.
SUCH AS THIS. I CAN’T BELIEVE THEY WOULDN’T
I CAN’T BELIEVE THEY WOULDN’T HAVE WANTED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT
HAVE WANTED TO BE INFORMED ABOUT SORT OF EVERY STEP OF THIS
SORT OF EVERY STEP OF THIS INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. >> AND, MATT, THAT’S WHAT I WANT
>> AND, MATT, THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU ON, AND I
TO COME BACK TO YOU ON, AND I WANT TO GET NICK AND JONATHAN ON
WANT TO GET NICK AND JONATHAN ON THIS TOO.
THIS TOO. OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IS DONALD
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IS DONALD TRUMP’S BRAND.
TRUMP’S BRAND. HE DIDN’T DENY IT.
HE DIDN’T DENY IT. HE NEVER REALLY ASSAILED THE
HE NEVER REALLY ASSAILED THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE MUELLER
SECOND VOLUME OF THE MUELLER PROBE.
PROBE. HE SIMPLY SAID, YOU KNOW, IT WAS
HE SIMPLY SAID, YOU KNOW, IT WAS BASICALLY -- I DON’T THINK HE
BASICALLY -- I DON’T THINK HE KNEW WHY IT WAS HIS RIGHT TO DO
KNEW WHY IT WAS HIS RIGHT TO DO IT, BUT BASICALLY LEANED ON THE
IT, BUT BASICALLY LEANED ON THE FACT THAT A PRESIDENT HAS THE
FACT THAT A PRESIDENT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DO THOSE THINGS.
AUTHORITY TO DO THOSE THINGS. I MEAN, THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE,
I MEAN, THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE, FOR STUDENT OF PATTERN
FOR STUDENT OF PATTERN RECOGNITION, THIS WOULD BE HIS
RECOGNITION, THIS WOULD BE HIS VERY TRUMAN PATTERN.
VERY TRUMAN PATTERN. HE THOUGHT TO INTERFERE WITH THE
HE THOUGHT TO INTERFERE WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS IN SDNY THROUGH
INVESTIGATIONS IN SDNY THROUGH MATT WHITAKER.
MATT WHITAKER. HE SOUGHT TO HAVE JIM COMEY SAY
HE SOUGHT TO HAVE JIM COMEY SAY HE WASN’T UNDER INVESTIGATION.
HE WASN’T UNDER INVESTIGATION. HE ATTACKED ROD ROSENSTEIN FOR
HE ATTACKED ROD ROSENSTEIN FOR THE TENURE OF HIS INVESTIGATION.
THE TENURE OF HIS INVESTIGATION. AND NOW HE SOUGHT TO HAVE HIS
AND NOW HE SOUGHT TO HAVE HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL SAY HE HADN’T
ATTORNEY GENERAL SAY HE HADN’T BROKEN ANY LAWS.
BROKEN ANY LAWS. THE THREAD THAT RUNS THROUGH IT
THE THREAD THAT RUNS THROUGH IT IS WHEN HE’S GUILTY HE WANTS
IS WHEN HE’S GUILTY HE WANTS HIGH-LEVEL PEOPLE IN THE LAW AND
HIGH-LEVEL PEOPLE IN THE LAW AND ORDER WINGS OF THE U.S.
ORDER WINGS OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO SAY HE ISN’T.
GOVERNMENT TO SAY HE ISN’T. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. TO COME OUT AND DO IT IN A VERY
TO COME OUT AND DO IT IN A VERY PUBLIC WAY.
PUBLIC WAY. I THINK THE COMEY EXAMPLE IS
I THINK THE COMEY EXAMPLE IS MAYBE THE MOST PARALLEL.
MAYBE THE MOST PARALLEL. SO COMEY IS TELLING HIM
SO COMEY IS TELLING HIM PRIVATELY, LOOK, SIR, YOU ARE
PRIVATELY, LOOK, SIR, YOU ARE NOT A TARGET OF THIS
NOT A TARGET OF THIS INVESTIGATION, AT LEAST NOT
INVESTIGATION, AT LEAST NOT RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. BUT BECAUSE COMEY WON’T GO OUT
BUT BECAUSE COMEY WON’T GO OUT AND SAY IT PUBLICLY AFTER
AND SAY IT PUBLICLY AFTER MULTIPLE REQUESTS, THE PRESIDENT
MULTIPLE REQUESTS, THE PRESIDENT FIRES HIM.
FIRES HIM. THEN INSISTS ON MAKING THAT A
THEN INSISTS ON MAKING THAT A PART OF SORT OF THE FIRING
PART OF SORT OF THE FIRING LETTER.
LETTER. HE DOESN’T EVEN SORT OF TRY TO
HE DOESN’T EVEN SORT OF TRY TO HIDE BEHIND THE PRETENSES.
HIDE BEHIND THE PRETENSES. HE SAYS THANKS FOR TELLING ME
HE SAYS THANKS FOR TELLING ME THREE TIMES I WASN’T UNDER
THREE TIMES I WASN’T UNDER INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. BECAUSE IT JUST SO VEXES HIM
BECAUSE IT JUST SO VEXES HIM THAT JIM COMEY WON’T GO OUT AND
THAT JIM COMEY WON’T GO OUT AND SAY THAT.
SAY THAT. MAYBE WE ARE SEEING THE EARLY
MAYBE WE ARE SEEING THE EARLY SIGNS OF THAT WITH BARR.
SIGNS OF THAT WITH BARR. THIS IS NOT A SESSION SITUATION
THIS IS NOT A SESSION SITUATION YET.
YET. BUT IT CERTAINLY IS PARALLEL TO
BUT IT CERTAINLY IS PARALLEL TO SOME THINGS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE
SOME THINGS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.
PAST. >> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> THAT’S RIGHT. THE COMEY EXAMPLE IS SPOT ON.
THE COMEY EXAMPLE IS SPOT ON. THAT IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE
THAT IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE LARGEST REASONS WHY HE WAS
LARGEST REASONS WHY HE WAS FIRED.
FIRED. THE PRESIDENT ASKED HIM
THE PRESIDENT ASKED HIM REPEATEDLY AND HE WOULDN’T DO
REPEATEDLY AND HE WOULDN’T DO IT.
IT. BARR HAS SINCE EARNED MORE THAN
BARR HAS SINCE EARNED MORE THAN COMEY.
COMEY. BUT CERTAINLY HE HAS SAID TO
BUT CERTAINLY HE HAS SAID TO PEOPLE AROUND HIM THAT HE
PEOPLE AROUND HIM THAT HE FINALLY HAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
FINALLY HAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HE’S ALWAYS WANTED.
HE’S ALWAYS WANTED. THEY’VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO TO
THEY’VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO TO BE WHERE THEY WERE WITH JEFF
BE WHERE THEY WERE WITH JEFF SESSIONS WHO THE PRESIDENT TO
SESSIONS WHO THE PRESIDENT TO THIS DAY IS STILL SO ANGRY AT.
THIS DAY IS STILL SO ANGRY AT. HE’S CONSIDERING ACTIVELY
HE’S CONSIDERING ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNING AGAINST HIM FOR HIS
CAMPAIGNING AGAINST HIM FOR HIS ALABAMA SENATE RUN.
ALABAMA SENATE RUN. INCIDENTALLY, THE PRESIDENT WILL
INCIDENTALLY, THE PRESIDENT WILL BE IN ALABAMA ON SATURDAY.
BE IN ALABAMA ON SATURDAY. IT’S THE FIRST SORT OF DIVIDE
IT’S THE FIRST SORT OF DIVIDE BETWEEN THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL
BETWEEN THIS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE PRESIDENT.
AND THE PRESIDENT. IT’LL BE INTERESTING WHERE IT
IT’LL BE INTERESTING WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.
GOES FROM HERE. >> SPEAKING OF HIS ATTITUDE
>> SPEAKING OF HIS ATTITUDE ABOUT THIS, I THINK THE MOST
ABOUT THIS, I THINK THE MOST ELOQUENT STATEMENT WE CAN FIND
ELOQUENT STATEMENT WE CAN FIND ABOUT HIS KIND OF VIEW OF HIS
ABOUT HIS KIND OF VIEW OF HIS POWER IS THAT HIS LAWYERS WENT
POWER IS THAT HIS LAWYERS WENT TO A JUDGE IN NEW YORK AND SAID
TO A JUDGE IN NEW YORK AND SAID ACTUALLY IF HE KILLS SOMEBODY IN
ACTUALLY IF HE KILLS SOMEBODY IN NEW YORK HE CANNOT BE
NEW YORK HE CANNOT BE INVESTIGATED FOR IT.
INVESTIGATED FOR IT. IF THAT DOESN’T SAY EVERYTHING
