LEE AND FRANK FRKSZ IGLIUZZO. ANDREW
ANDREW ANDREW WEISZMAN.
ANDREW WEISZMAN. ANDREW WEISZMAN, I START WITH
ANDREW WEISZMAN, I START WITH YOU.
YOU. FOUR PROSECUTORS QUITTING A CASE
FOUR PROSECUTORS QUITTING A CASE IS SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN
IS SOMETHING THAT’S BEEN DESCRIBED AS EXTRAORDINARY.
DESCRIBED AS EXTRAORDINARY. JUST TAKE ME THROUGH INGROUND
JUST TAKE ME THROUGH INGROUND TRUTH OF WHAT IT’S LIKE THERE
TRUTH OF WHAT IT’S LIKE THERE RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >> SO, JUST TO GET YOU A SENSE
>> SO, JUST TO GET YOU A SENSE OF WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH.
OF WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH. SO, IMAGINE A DEFENDANT IS
SO, IMAGINE A DEFENDANT IS FACING SENTENCE FOR HAVING SOLD
FACING SENTENCE FOR HAVING SOLD TEN POUNDS OF COCAINE AND THE
TEN POUNDS OF COCAINE AND THE GUIDELINES AND THE LAW AND THE
GUIDELINES AND THE LAW AND THE FACTS ARE CLEAR WHAT YOU’RE
FACTS ARE CLEAR WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
SUPPOSED TO DO. THAT IF IT’S TEN POUNDS YOU GET
THAT IF IT’S TEN POUNDS YOU GET A CERTAIN GUIDELINE.
A CERTAIN GUIDELINE. AND BECAUSE THE PERSON IS RICH,
AND BECAUSE THE PERSON IS RICH, WHITE AND KNOWS THE ATTORNEY
WHITE AND KNOWS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
GENERAL AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, YOUR BOSS COMES
UNITED STATES, YOUR BOSS COMES IN AND SAYS I’D LIKE YOU TO
IN AND SAYS I’D LIKE YOU TO FUDGE THE FACTS IN THE LAW.
FUDGE THE FACTS IN THE LAW. LET’S PRETEND IT’S A POUND.
LET’S PRETEND IT’S A POUND. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INITIAL MEMO THAT WENT IN BY
THE INITIAL MEMO THAT WENT IN BY CAREER PROSECUTORS AND THE
CAREER PROSECUTORS AND THE AMENDED SUBMISSION THAT WAS PUT
AMENDED SUBMISSION THAT WAS PUT IN THAT LED TO FOUR PEOPLE
IN THAT LED TO FOUR PEOPLE RESIGNING, WHICH IS THAT THEY
RESIGNING, WHICH IS THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FUDGE THE
WERE NOT GOING TO FUDGE THE FACTS OR THE LAW.
FACTS OR THE LAW. >> SO THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN
>> SO THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN EXPLANATION MORE LOGICAL TO
EXPLANATION MORE LOGICAL TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE DOJ THEY
PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE DOJ THEY MET THE GUIDELINES THAT HE WAS
MET THE GUIDELINES THAT HE WAS CONVICTED OF.
CONVICTED OF. WHAT THEY WERE ASKED TO DO WAS
WHAT THEY WERE ASKED TO DO WAS CHEAT, WAS TO CORRUPT THE
CHEAT, WAS TO CORRUPT THE PROCESS.
PROCESS. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE GUIDELINES ARE THERE SO THAT
THE GUIDELINES ARE THERE SO THAT EVERYBODY IS TREATED THE SAME,
EVERYBODY IS TREATED THE SAME, ADD LEAST INITIALLY.
ADD LEAST INITIALLY. THE JUDGE HAS TO START WITH WHAT
THE JUDGE HAS TO START WITH WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES, SO THAT
ARE THE GUIDELINES, SO THAT EVERYONE WHETHER IT’S YOU, ME,
EVERYONE WHETHER IT’S YOU, ME, NO MATTER WHO WE KNOW IN THE
NO MATTER WHO WE KNOW IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, IN THE WHITE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WE’RE ALL, INITIALLY
HOUSE, WE’RE ALL, INITIALLY TREATED THE SAME.
TREATED THE SAME. AND THAT’S HOW YOU HAVE TO
AND THAT’S HOW YOU HAVE TO START.
START. AND YOU DON’T FUDGE IN ANY WAY.
AND YOU DON’T FUDGE IN ANY WAY. THE WAY PROSECUTORS ARE TRAINED,
THE WAY PROSECUTORS ARE TRAINED, THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS.
THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS. YOU CAN’T CLOSE YOUR EYES AND
YOU CAN’T CLOSE YOUR EYES AND PRETEND IT’S LESS.
PRETEND IT’S LESS. YOU CAN’T PRETEND THE LAW IS
YOU CAN’T PRETEND THE LAW IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT THE LAW
ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT THE LAW IS.
IS. SO F YOU LOOK AT THE MEMO
SO F YOU LOOK AT THE MEMO SUBMITTED BY THE PROSECUTORS,
SUBMITTED BY THE PROSECUTORS, THEY DEAL WITH THE FACTS AND THE
THEY DEAL WITH THE FACTS AND THE LAW AND SET IT OUT STRAIGHT.
LAW AND SET IT OUT STRAIGHT. WE UNDERSTAND ONCE YOU SET THE
WE UNDERSTAND ONCE YOU SET THE GUIDELINES, YOU HAVE DISCRETION
GUIDELINES, YOU HAVE DISCRETION TO DECIDE WHETHER IT SHOULD BE
TO DECIDE WHETHER IT SHOULD BE HIGHER OR LOWER.
HIGHER OR LOWER. THEY POINT OUT WAYS IN WHICH THE
THEY POINT OUT WAYS IN WHICH THE JUDGE WOULD WANT IT GO LOWER.
JUDGE WOULD WANT IT GO LOWER. I KNOW THE PRESS HAS REPORTED A
I KNOW THE PRESS HAS REPORTED A LOT ON THIS.
LOT ON THIS. THEY SAY THE PROSECUTORS
THEY SAY THE PROSECUTORS RECOMMENDED INITIALLY A SEVEN TO
RECOMMENDED INITIALLY A SEVEN TO NINE-YEAR SENTENCE.
NINE-YEAR SENTENCE. THAT’S NOT TRUE.
THAT’S NOT TRUE. THEY SAY THE GUIDELINES
THEY SAY THE GUIDELINES INITIALLY WOULD CALL FOR THAT.
INITIALLY WOULD CALL FOR THAT. THEN THEY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO
THEN THEY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO TALK ABOUT THE JUDGE’S
TALK ABOUT THE JUDGE’S DISCRETION TO GO TO OTHER
DISCRETION TO GO TO OTHER FACTORS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A
FACTORS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A LOWER AND WHAT THEY DIDN’T DO
LOWER AND WHAT THEY DIDN’T DO WAS PRETEND THAT THE LAW WASN’T
WAS PRETEND THAT THE LAW WASN’T CLEAR.
CLEAR. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ACT OF
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ACT OF SUBMISSION THAT WENT TO HIM, HE
SUBMISSION THAT WENT TO HIM, HE UNDERSTANDS WHY I’M NOT IT’S NOT
UNDERSTANDS WHY I’M NOT IT’S NOT TEN.
TEN. >> BUT THREE OF THE PROSECUTORS
>> BUT THREE OF THE PROSECUTORS WHO WORK IN THE ATTORNEY’S
WHO WORK IN THE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IN D.C., THEIR BOSS IS A
OFFICE IN D.C., THEIR BOSS IS A POLITICAL APPOINTEE WHO -- WHAT
POLITICAL APPOINTEE WHO -- WHAT DID THEIR BOSS DO.
DID THEIR BOSS DO. >> HE DIDN’T HAVE THE BACKS OF
>> HE DIDN’T HAVE THE BACKS OF HIS PROSECUTORS.
HIS PROSECUTORS. JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE MOST
JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE MOST JUNIOR PERSON IS IN THE
JUNIOR PERSON IS IN THE RESPECTIVE OFFICE.
RESPECTIVE OFFICE. AND ONE PERSON UP AND QUIT.
AND ONE PERSON UP AND QUIT. >> AND THAT WAS A STATEMENT AS
>> AND THAT WAS A STATEMENT AS DESCRIBED TO ME BY A FORMER DOJ
DESCRIBED TO ME BY A FORMER DOJ OFFICIAL.
OFFICIAL. >> I WAS TRAINED EARLY ON BY
>> I WAS TRAINED EARLY ON BY MARY JOE WHITE WHO’S A RENOWNED
MARY JOE WHITE WHO’S A RENOWNED FIGURE IN NEW YORK.
FIGURE IN NEW YORK. HAS A SENIOR POSITION IN
HAS A SENIOR POSITION IN BROOKLYN AND MANHATTAN.
BROOKLYN AND MANHATTAN. >> LEGENDARY.
>> LEGENDARY. >> SHE TRAINED IN THAT THERE IS
>> SHE TRAINED IN THAT THERE IS NO SHAME IN RESIGNING IF THERE
NO SHAME IN RESIGNING IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU’RE ASKED TO DO
IS SOMETHING YOU’RE ASKED TO DO AND YOU JUST CANNOT STOMACH IT,
AND YOU JUST CANNOT STOMACH IT, THERE’S NO SHAME IN SAYING YOU
THERE’S NO SHAME IN SAYING YOU CAN’T DO IT.
CAN’T DO IT. WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE THESE
WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE THESE FOUR CAREER PROSECUTORS WHO WERE
FOUR CAREER PROSECUTORS WHO WERE PUSHED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY
PUSHED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY RESIGNED?
RESIGNED? ARE OTHER PEOPLE PEERING OVER
ARE OTHER PEOPLE PEERING OVER THE EDGE?
THE EDGE? WHAT IS THE STATE OF TENSION AND
WHAT IS THE STATE OF TENSION AND DESPAIR INSIDE DOJ, IF ANY?
DESPAIR INSIDE DOJ, IF ANY? >> IT’S BOTH WITHIN DOJ AND
>> IT’S BOTH WITHIN DOJ AND PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO SPENT CAREERS
PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO SPENT CAREERS AT THE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE NOW
AT THE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE NOW OUTSIDE.
OUTSIDE. ONE, I THINK PEOPLE ARE
ONE, I THINK PEOPLE ARE HEARTBROKEN.
HEARTBROKEN. IT’S JUST LIKE PEOPLE ARE
IT’S JUST LIKE PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT THE STATE
HEARING ABOUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THAT PEOPLE ARE
DEPARTMENT, THAT PEOPLE ARE EMOTIONALLY VERY UPSET AT SEEING
EMOTIONALLY VERY UPSET AT SEEING THE RULE OF LAW GUTTED.
THE RULE OF LAW GUTTED. THERE IS TENSION THOUGH AS TO
THERE IS TENSION THOUGH AS TO WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHAT DO YOU DO? DO YOU REALLY WANT EVERYONE TO
DO YOU REALLY WANT EVERYONE TO QUIT WHO CAN’T STOMACH THIS
QUIT WHO CAN’T STOMACH THIS BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT A
BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT A DEPARTMENT LEFT WITHOUT THOSE
DEPARTMENT LEFT WITHOUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRINCIPALED.
PEOPLE WHO ARE PRINCIPALED. SO THERE, IS A DEBATE ABOUT WHAT
SO THERE, IS A DEBATE ABOUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND I
IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND I FEEL TERRIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE PUT
FEEL TERRIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE PUT IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE THEY
IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T ASK TO BE IN THAT
DIDN’T ASK TO BE IN THAT SITUATION.
SITUATION. THEY’RE VICTIMS JUST LIKE THE
THEY’RE VICTIMS JUST LIKE THE FOUR PROSECUTORS WHO HAD TO TAKE
FOUR PROSECUTORS WHO HAD TO TAKE THE STEPS THAT THEY DID.
THE STEPS THAT THEY DID. I THINK THERE ARE A VARIETY OF
I THINK THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WAYS TO RESPOND TO IT.
WAYS TO RESPOND TO IT. OBVIOUSLY, IT’S A HUGE STATEMENT
OBVIOUSLY, IT’S A HUGE STATEMENT AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHO SAY
AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHO SAY I CAN’T TAKE IT AND I’M LEAVING,
I CAN’T TAKE IT AND I’M LEAVING, BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN DO THAT.
BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN DO THAT. >> YOU GIVE US SOME OF THE WHY
>> YOU GIVE US SOME OF THE WHY TO WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IN A
TO WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT IN A STUNNING, A REMARKABLE PIECE OF
STUNNING, A REMARKABLE PIECE OF JOURNALISM IN YOUR PAPER WITH
JOURNALISM IN YOUR PAPER WITH YOUR BY LINE TODAY.
YOUR BY LINE TODAY. TAKE ME THROUGH IT.
TAKE ME THROUGH IT. >> STEVE BANNON IN AN INTERVIEW
>> STEVE BANNON IN AN INTERVIEW YOU SITED SAID THE PRESIDENT NOW
YOU SITED SAID THE PRESIDENT NOW FEELS UNBOUND.
FEELS UNBOUND. THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IS OVER.
THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS IS OVER. HE IS FULLY SUPPORTED BY HIS
HE IS FULLY SUPPORTED BY HIS PARTY AS HE MAKES THESE MOVES
PARTY AS HE MAKES THESE MOVES REGARDING THE DEPARTMENT OF
REGARDING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
JUSTICE. PEOPLE LIKE SENATOR ROMNEY ARE
PEOPLE LIKE SENATOR ROMNEY ARE RAPPING HIM ABOUT THAT DECISION
RAPPING HIM ABOUT THAT DECISION BUT NOT READY TO TAKE DECISIVE
BUT NOT READY TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION.
ACTION. McCONNELL NOT CALLING FOR
McCONNELL NOT CALLING FOR HEARINGS OR INVESTIGATIONS LIKE
HEARINGS OR INVESTIGATIONS LIKE HOUSE DEMOCRATS ORSONT
HOUSE DEMOCRATS ORSONT DEMOCRATS.
DEMOCRATS. SPEAKING TO SENATOR SUSAN
SPEAKING TO SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS YESTERDAY, IT WAS CLEAR
COLLINS YESTERDAY, IT WAS CLEAR SHE WAS NOT YET READY TO CALL
SHE WAS NOT YET READY TO CALL FOR HEARINGS INTO ANY OF THIS.
FOR HEARINGS INTO ANY OF THIS. SO, THE PRESIDENT ADDING ON
SO, THE PRESIDENT ADDING ON LOYALISTS LIKE HOPE HICKS BACK
LOYALISTS LIKE HOPE HICKS BACK TO HIS STAFF, FEELS LIKE HE CAN
TO HIS STAFF, FEELS LIKE HE CAN TEST THE LIMITS OF NOT ONLY THE
TEST THE LIMITS OF NOT ONLY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND POWER BUT
EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND POWER BUT THE RULE OF LAW.
THE RULE OF LAW. AND THAT’S A DEVELOPMENT THAT IS
AND THAT’S A DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ALMOST UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED
ALMOST UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION AND
WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. >> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ENTIRE
>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ENTIRE PARTY FROM THE TOP ALL THE WAY
PARTY FROM THE TOP ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM -- AND I PUT
DOWN TO THE BOTTOM -- AND I PUT DONALD TRUMP AT THE TOP AND
DONALD TRUMP AT THE TOP AND WILLIAM BARR REPRESENTING THE
WILLIAM BARR REPRESENTING THE LOW, DIRTY UNDERBELLY OF THIS
LOW, DIRTY UNDERBELLY OF THIS OPERATION BY BEING THE MAN
OPERATION BY BEING THE MAN SHOVING CAREER PROSECUTORS OUT
SHOVING CAREER PROSECUTORS OUT THE DOOR.
THE DOOR. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A WHOLE PARTY
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A WHOLE PARTY FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM IS
FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM IS CORRUPT ON ITS RULE OF LAW AND
CORRUPT ON ITS RULE OF LAW AND ITS BELIEF IN IT?
ITS BELIEF IN IT? >> IT MEANS THE GUARDRAILS ARE
>> IT MEANS THE GUARDRAILS ARE GONE.
GONE. IT MEANS THE CHECKS AND BALANCES
IT MEANS THE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE IN
THAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE IN PLACE HAVE BEEN ERASED.
PLACE HAVE BEEN ERASED. AND SO THE GUY WHO’S SUPPOSED TO
AND SO THE GUY WHO’S SUPPOSED TO BE STANDING FOR JUSTICE,
BE STANDING FOR JUSTICE, SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING
SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING EVERY AMERICAN NOW IN THE ROLE
EVERY AMERICAN NOW IN THE ROLE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL CAN NO
OF ATTORNEY GENERAL CAN NO LONGER BE COUNTED ON AT ALL.
LONGER BE COUNTED ON AT ALL. KUDOS TO ANDREW FOR CLEARLY
KUDOS TO ANDREW FOR CLEARLY EXPLAINING THE DEPARTURE OF THE
EXPLAINING THE DEPARTURE OF THE FOUR PROSECUTORS WAS NOT ABOUT A
FOUR PROSECUTORS WAS NOT ABOUT A SNIT OR DEBATE ABOUT DIFFERENCE
SNIT OR DEBATE ABOUT DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON A SENTENCING
OF OPINION ON A SENTENCING RECOMMENDATION.
RECOMMENDATION. IT’S ABOUT ASKING THEM TO DO
IT’S ABOUT ASKING THEM TO DO SOMETHING THEY SIMPLY COULD NOT
SOMETHING THEY SIMPLY COULD NOT AND SHOULD NOT DO.
AND SHOULD NOT DO. I SEE PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
I SEE PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA DISTRAUGHT AND FRUSTRATED.
DISTRAUGHT AND FRUSTRATED. WE NEED MORE OF THIS.
WE NEED MORE OF THIS. THIS IS AN EVOLUTION FOR ME.
THIS IS AN EVOLUTION FOR ME. I’VE COME FROM SAYING HANG IN
I’VE COME FROM SAYING HANG IN THERE IF YOU’RE AT DOJ, IF
THERE IF YOU’RE AT DOJ, IF YOU’RE AT THE FBI, HANG IN
YOU’RE AT THE FBI, HANG IN THERE, BE ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS.
THERE, BE ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS. I’M NOW SAYING THAT’S NOT GOING
I’M NOW SAYING THAT’S NOT GOING TO CUT IT ANYMORE AND YOU DON’T
TO CUT IT ANYMORE AND YOU DON’T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS
WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMPLETE DEMISE OF JUSTICE AND
COMPLETE DEMISE OF JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY.
DEMOCRACY. YOU NEED QUIT BY SPEAKING OUT
YOU NEED QUIT BY SPEAKING OUT WHEN YOU’RE ASKED TO DO
