a very good eye. welcome to alex witt reports. breaking this hour, nbc news with an exclusive interview today with vice president kamala harris on her reaction to the death of russian opposition leader alexei navalny. harris attending this weekend's munich security conference and pledging the u.s. will work to verify the cause of navalny's death while in president and russia. and condemning donald trump's comments he would encourage the attack on a nato country. the vice president speaking with nbc's chief foreign affairs correspondent. >> we know that putin is responsible and it just speaks to the most recent of many

examples of portella -- brutality of putin and his government. that is part of the conversation i'm having here in munich. the idea that the former president of the united states would say that he, quote, encourages a brutal dictator to invade our allies and that the united states of america would simply stand by and watch, no previous united states president, regardless of their party has bowed down to a russian dictator before. on the issue of gaza, i think there is -- there are steps we need to take now and steps we need to be committed to taking in the future, to ensure on the day after this conflict, which we open to and as soon as possible, we can work towards a

two-state solution. >> all this comes as navalny a spokesperson today confirmed his death and russian police arrest hundreds of people attending memorial events for a navalny. later, andrea will join us with more of her exclusive interview. but first, we unpack the death of alexei navalny in a very unique way. but mark -- worked in moscow in 2017 but he hasn't been the same since. mark returned from russia with mysterious and crippling headaches. what he thinks caused them plus what he has to say about the navalny suppression and does he think the u.s. has any mains to investigate his death. that later this hour. but now today's other big story. donald trump returns to the campaign trail today. voters and michigan will hear from him for the first time since he was ordered to pay more than $450 million, $350 million plus interest to new york state and a highly anticipated civil fraud trial

ruling. that man figure penalty for over valuing his real estate properties and loan applications raises new questions about trump's solvency. reaction to that relent yesterday came fast and furious. here is part of the report from laura jarrett. >> donald trump falsely, knowingly inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to unjustly enrich himself, his family, and to cheat the system. >> the former president blasting the suit brought by new york democratic attorney general. >> there it was no fraud. the banks of got their money. it's ridiculous. fine of $355 million for doing a perfect job, for heaven paid back the lord with no default, no problems. >> that rolling, the product of an 11-week bench trial overseen by judge arthur engoron who decide at the heart of the state fraud case months ago. >> joining me now, nbc's vaughn

hillyard who's following the former president in michigan. and katie feng, trial lawyer and host of msnbc's cave and joe. both good friends to us. we'll start with you vaughn. you are in michigan, where donald trump is going to hold a rally today. tell us, what are we hearing from trump after the judge had been the massive penalty in this new york civil fraud trial? >> we expect to hear from donald trump today on a stage in the philadelphia area where he's attending a convention of sorts before making his way to a rally here just outside of detroit michigan. later tonight, that's where we are now. for anyone who filament on social media, he's posted a flurry of attacks against the likes of letitia james as well as the judge who handed down this decision, what this massive penalty, suspending him from being able to practice business and the state of new york for three years. i want you to listen to the former president addressed the decision last night from his

mar-a-lago's state, take a listen. >> but a crooked new york state judge, just rolled, i have to pay a fine of $355 million four have been put a perfect company. great cash, great buildings, great everything. if i weren't running, none of this stuff would have ever happened. none of these lawsuits would have ever happened. i would have had a nice life. but i enjoy this live for a different reason. we are going to make america great again. >> alex, donald trump and his legal team have made it clear, last, night they will appeal the additional parts of this decision in court. the judge handed down the initial decision hit engaged repeated financial fraud back in september. his team has already appealed. that within this month, we expect him to appeal the other parts of this discussion that came out here yesterday afternoon, alex. >> listen, i know it's cold out there, but stay with me. we have got a couple more questions. we'll bring in katie phang. let's take a closer look

together as judge engoron's rolling in the new york civil fraud trial against donald trump as well as against trump organization. trump was fined more than $355 million plus prey judgment interest. trump and his organization are barred from a plan for learned for new york banks for three years. trump, allen weisselberg, and jeffrey mcconney, they are barred from serving as an officer or director of any new york corporation for three years. allen weisselberg is find $1 million plus pretreatment interest. he and mcconney are permanently barred from serving in the financial control function of any new york corporation. then you have erik and don junior. their age find more than $4 million, plus the pro government interest. both are barred from serving as officer or director of any new york operation for two years. the independent mueller station place. and an independent director of compliance will be appointed for the organization. altogether, let's first look at the pick numbers. when you add the interest, katie, to these fines, donald

trump is on the hope for more than 400 and $50 million. what's your assessment of the rolling and will it stand on appeal? >> i first want to say, congratulations, and to give some applause to whomever created those graphics. because they are on point. it took, whoever that, is distilled 92 pages of justice engoron's rolling yesterday into exactly the key issues. but one of the reasoning messages from that ruling of justice engoron, it means the rule of law is still alive and. while it means donald trump, when he actually has to go to court, and he actually has to deal with, i don't, no rolls of procedure, the law and the rules of evidence, he loses. and we say. that justice engoron took his time to write a very thoughtful ruling. why? because as we know, donald trump will appeal this ruling. but, alex, in order to appeal, it is not a freebie. you do not just get to appeal and let those numbers sit idly by. just like the e. jean four

carroll like that came in a few weeks ago, donald trump has to post a bond, if he doesn't want to pay it in it and hearty into a court for just rape. same thing with what just happened and in this new york civil fraud trial. he, as in donald trump, has to find a surety, a company, a bond company willing to assist him to be able to guarantee the payment of this money to the new york attorney general's office. the other thing is, the other component is not just the numbers. alex, i want to clarify this, too. it's not just damages refined as donald trump likes to call. look it's actually disgorgement. it is the actual taking back from donald trump the ill gotten gains that he received because of the fraud that he committed. and so with that money, you also say that injunctive relief. this idea that trump and others, including the children, the adult children, and some of the other business officers, they cannot hold offices, they cannot be directors.

what important? because it's money, alex. they don't do those roles because they think to a better service for the public at large or even for the company. they are getting paid a lot of money to do it. that is another serious going on that dollar for them. >> first of all, shout out to carter and phil for the great graphics. but how much cash does trump need to shout out to file an appeal? but >> those numbers vary and it depends on a jurisdiction. if he had that totality of the money, he could put it all up. the problem for him is the and risk as a current once the judgment is entered as we speak. right? but if he can find upon surety company, he can put a percentage, and a relatively small one. but what are you using for collateral? what are you seem to make up the difference between the cash putin for and the remaining $400 million a misjudgment. he's going to have to use properties, he's going to have to use other assets. but right now, a lot of properties that are really valuable, they're upping under the auspices of the independent

court monitor, barbara jones, a retired federal judge. everything has been at least. everything has been rained in. and he's not going to be able to use these willy-nilly, as collateral, to be able to post a bond. >> if alina habba, who called this ruling manifest injustice, saying it politically field, saying there is no crime, no victim, here's what trump said last night. >> there was no fraud. the banks all got their money, 100%. there were no victims. the banks made a lot of money. they might 100 billion dollars. by the way, i paid approximately $300 million and taxes. >> okay, but vaughn, judge engoron wrote in his role in, quote, timely and total repayment of the loans does not extinguish the harms false statements inflict on the marketplace. he added, the common excuses that everybody does it is all the more recent to try for

honesty and transparency and to be vigilant and enforcing the rules. do you have a sense of where an appeals court could settle between these two arguments? >> i think this is part that we expect to hear from the appellate division. of course, donald trump contested that he believes that the appellate court will roll in his favor. this comes down to that discussion over the extent to which anybody who was a victim or harmed by this. the prosecutors for the new york attorney general's office argued that donald trump effectively distorted the market and made it more difficult for other borrowers to get loans when they're competing against donald trump. so this is part of donald trump's contention here. we expect him to make this case on the campaign stage. and for him, part of this is making the case to the broader public at large despite whatever the judge or even the appellate division finds. he continues to lay out his

arguments, because ultimately for him, it is not a matter of even these decisions and the impact on his business, but the extent to which it would impact his ability to when the white house in november. because if he does win in november, it will allow him to make the case that the american public didn't listen to these judges or juries, potentially from any of these criminal trials, and instead place decided with him -- >> fallen, i'm cold just looking at you. so place got warm up my friend, because i want to see you later on. got put on a hats. back to you, katie, with us. another huge legal development in new york this week came in the hush money case. the judge there sit march 24th day for election. this is likely to become the first criminal prosecution of a former u.s. president in the first of trump's criminal cases to go to trial. do you think the hush money trial date, did that take the trump team by surprise? was that expected?

>> yeah, it definitely did. we heard out from the trump lawyers, when they were in front of the judge in that new york quote a couple of days ago. alex, sometimes we say first in line, first in time. that is exactly what's happening here. that new york manhattan d.a. case, that was the very first of the floor criminal indictment against the former president of the united states. i think a lot of us, not just the trump team, were taken by surprise. because we all thought that judge chutkan days a federal election interference case was going to go to trial before the case. but obviously we alter the writing on the wall that with the appeal taken by donald trump and his attempts to get his presidential immunity defense hurt by the supreme court of the united states, that case was likely not to go. but you know what? it's the first time it's for trial. alex, and quote unquote, real life, and the real legal world, a lot of times these cases do not go to trial i am up. so the fact that both sides are now going to go to trial on march 25 is a very big deal. i would like to say it's not

just a hush money case. i'd like to say it's an election interference case. come in from the fact that donald trump paid that money to make sure he could get into the oval office. >> you are 100% right. that's how the public has become familiar with it by calling it a hush money case. but you're right. last question, how does this fit into a campaign strategy overall, given the amount of time donald trump is going to be required to be present in court? >> it is materially going to impact his campaign strategy. that is reality. and several cases, as we saw with donald trump, you, as in a defendant, you don't have to be there. you could have your floors there. you could show up and write the newspaper. it doesn't make a difference. but in a criminal case, you are record as a criminal defendant to be personal times. why? because your liberty is at stake. the low is going to require you to be there, so you understand everything that's going on. so donald trump, when he's actually starting the criminal trial, he has to physically be present in court to be able to participate in a criminal

trial. that's going to during his campaign schedule southerly. >> donald trump could supreme court, rape lenders pepper, i'm not sure he rate newspapers. or he could sit there looking solemn the entire time and clearing at everybody. that's more likely. stay with me, we have got to talk about that riveting testimony with fulton county district attorney fani willis. katie, i know you are in the courtroom. so we'll talk about what shall this week. plus, we'll talk about what happens if willis is disqualified. and later, does the u.s. have any real pains to investigate the death of alexei navalny? we are back in 60 seconds. 60 . with a rapid dry core that locks in your heaviest gush quickly for up to zero leaks. always discreet- the protection we deserve! with nurtec odt, i can treat a migraine when it strikes and prevent migraine attacks, all in one. don't take if allergic to nurtec. allergic reactions can occur, even days after using. most common side effects were nausea, indigestion, and stomach pain. ask about nurtec odt.

fareed estimate this week and donald trump's other big case in georgia. trump and his codefendants or sicknick disqualify fulton county district attorney fani willis and ticket election racketeering indictments dismissed. we list will endorse that the pushback i gains salacious

allegations raised by the defendants. here is some of what she said. >> let's be clear, because you've lied -- i think you lied right here. no, this is the truth. it is a lie. it is a lie. intrusive into people's personal lives. you are confused. you think i'm on trial. pace people are on trial for trying to steal an election in 2020. i'm not on trial to measure how hard you try to put me on trial. >> katie phang is back with me. let's bring in josh gerstein, senior legal affairs writer with politico. welcome. josh, i'll start with katie because you have been reporting from the courthouse and fulton county for the last days. give me your assessment of the strength of the case trump's codefendants are trying to make and of willis is far histamine in response to the allegations? >> that is appropriately phrase. the burden is on the defense. it is their motion to dismiss the indictment and disqualified fani willis as the prosecutor

on this case. because it is their burden and it is an evidentiary hearing, the defense has to present evidence. it can't just be arguments by the lawyers. it can't just be a filing dunkirk. they have to substantiate the allegations they have made and they've bitten off more than they can. do when it comes to district attorney fani willis. there has been an absence of evidence presented to the court that would justify the disqualification of fani willis at this time. georgia low is very specific. you have to have an actual conflict of interest. how is that defined in georgia? law where a prosecutor has a personal stake in the conviction of a defendant. there has been no evidence presented about the defense. whether you think it has been very may see, whether you think the optics are not so good, that maybe your opinion. but that opinion doesn't count when it comes to the law in a court of law. judge mcafee has the ability to assess the credibility of the witnesses that have testified. he is a fact finder, as well as the person who looks at the law. if you look at the people who

testified, the only person who may have said proportional isn't ship again prior to nathan wade being appointed special prosecutor is a former employee of the fulton county district attorney's office who was forced to leave her job because of bad performance, who came across as a disgruntled former employee and now from a friend of dna fani willis. the judge is going to weigh, why? why would somebody take a stand and not tell the truth? why are they testifying in the first place? that also includes nathan wade's fulmor to force lawyer, i got by the name of terrence bradley. there was also testimony from fani willis's father. it was powerful and compelling and he corroborated fani willis when she said she reimbursed nathan wade in cash. >> you said he just heard about the relationship between dame when it became public seven weeks ago. let me ask you, what if willis is disqualified, katie, what happens? >> we always have to explore that. and the offense district attorney fani willis is

disqualified, which is not likely to happen, but if that happens, alex, the entire a fulton county district attorney's office is disqualified as well. that's what the law is in georgia. a special prosecutor council will decide we are to reassigned that case. here are the big endangers. number one, time. the same thing happened to fani willis when it came to her investigation into the current lieutenant governor of georgia, i got the name of pork jones. another judge in georgia said that there was a conflict of interest because she, as in fani willis, supported bernd jones political opponent. but right now, 18 months later, alex, that investigation has yet to be assigned to a new prosecutor. the second major problem, once a prosecutor is reassigned on this file, that prosecutor could decide the charges are not to be pursued. they may not be strong enough, in their opinion. that may choose to eliminate some of the charges. that might eliminate the r.i.c.o. charge. that's a serious danger to the survival of this r.i.c.o.

indictment, if she gets boulevard. >> okay. josh, you coauthored this forecast that all four of trump's criminal cases would reach inflection points this week. what's your sense of where things stand on these major cases? >> alex, i think as you were discussing earlier, it's interesting that this case, out of new york, whether you want to call it hush money or election interference, is going to, it looks like, and up being the first of these criminal cases to go to trial. i guess the reason i think it's interesting is not only that it went forest in terms of being filed for, but it makes me think back, alex, to the clinton impeachment era. and at one point i'll -- deliver a speech defending then president clinton. and he said, when i say it's not about sex, it's about sex. and i think one of the concerns that many democrats and many trump critics have about that new york case is as long as

there is that tawdry element to it, there is a certain element of the population that is gonna dismiss any verdict, any trial, any testimony in that case. and the other three cases the trump is involved and don't have that tawdry element. some of them and got very, very serious matters like his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. and so i do think it's a bit of a political risk to have the prosecutors stepping out, maybe not intentionally, was that case up in new york, as the first one against him. >> political risk perhaps, josh, but legally that which happened until the court, the politics, is supposed to make it out of the court. do you think interest that way? >> yeah, i do think it's a. risk that another factor, alex. i don't know if that's necessarily the strongest of the cases. the claim there is that trump forged the business records of the trump organization in order to make these payments. it is based on a notion that the payments were intended to

influence the campaign, rather than his personal life. and we have seen other cases were these kinds of mixed motive payments, that's what i'd call, them obviously i think he was trying to preserve his political viability in 2016 when he arranged for this hush money payment. on the other hand, it was also something that was personally embarrassing to him. have we ever seen a case like that before? sure. i covered one down in north carolina against john edwards. ended up with a hung jury. i'm not entirely sure that also for cases i would write this one as necessarily the absolute strongest of them. >> interesting. trump is asking russia supreme court to get involved and his immunity claims and efforts to delay the federal january 6th trial and d.c.. the lightest jack smith falling, says quote a, president alleged criminal scheme to overturn an election and for the peaceful transfer of power to his successor should be the last place to harness a novel form of absolute immunity from federal

criminal law. katie, you expect the supreme court to intervene at this stage? >> i do. and i know a lot of people don't agree with me but i do think she supreme court is going to grant. and i think christmas eve with our thanks to. because i think because there is this argument of presidential immunity raised by donald trump and different restrictions of the supreme court of the united states should be the final say on it. so there's uniformity and all courts across the united states. i also think it is such a major issue that supreme court doesn't want to punt it. they want to make sure they have the final in premature on this issue, whether you call it egot, whether you think it's because i think they're in doubt with the important job of being able to do it. but i think there could be the ones that want to put this issue to rest. >> okay. , josh, she's thrown the ball in your court. what do you think? >> i echo with katie on. this i think despite pretty clear rulings from the lower courts, there was no dissent on

the dc circuit court of appeals when they took out this issue. two democratic appointees and one republican. they are great there is no criminal immunity for former presidents. i do think because opposite difficulties, yet the supreme court will take it up. and i think the fact that this trial in new york might be going ahead in a late march timeframe gifts to supreme court a little extra space to take up this issue and how shocked the legal issues without necessarily being accused of delaying his election subversion trial in washington. because that one won't be right to take a before late may or early june anyway. if this trial is ongoing at the new york state. >> okay. josh gerstein, always good to see you. and of, course katie phang, always good to see you. people can see market by watching to katie phang show, such a daze at noon eastern, right here on msnbc. so you don't see it every day, a high-speed chase involving a very unlikely vehicle. that's next. unlikely vehicle. that's next. for a full 24 hours. for one and done heartburn relief, prilosec otc. one pill a day, 24 hours, zero heartburn.

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today's other top stories. starting in sterling, for, kenya one firefighter was killed, nine others hurt and a massive house explosion. the firefighters weather investigating an apparent drastic when the explosion happened. and in maryland, a wild police chase of tow truck during rush hour on friday. the driver making risky moves on the wrong side of the road and ramming into other cars after it nearly an hour that suspect was taken into custody. and here in california, we're bracing for yet another major

soaker. two back to back storms will bring more snow in the mountains and up to eight inches of rain are expected to hit this weekend. central and northern parts of the state will be hit the hardest. whatever happened to the ongoing u.s. military strikes against iranian proxy groups? has it ended? plus, we'll talk about this headline. a former cia officer who's also an msnbc analyst, what he thinks happened to him a few years back. plus what he thinks happened to alex navalny, next. navalny, n . dayquil honey, the honey-licious, daytime, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever, power through your day, medicine.

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democrats agree. conservative republican steve garvey is the wrong choice for the senate. ...our republican opponent here on this stage has voted for donald trump twice. mr. garvey, you voted for him twice... as your own man, what is your decision? garvey is wrong for california. but garvey's surging in the polls. fox news says garvey would be a boost to republican control of the senate. stop garvey. adam schiff for senate. i'm adam schiff, and i approve this message.

breaking news. as u.s. central command says for anti ship ballistic missiles were fired into the right sea early this morning frequently controlled areas of yemen. four current regional conflict is now a main point of concern as world leaders gather in europe for the munich security conference. our reporter joins us now. what we know about these latest strikes and how much concern is there about the middle's conflict endangering the broader global security? and also, what happened to that ongoing u.s. military strikes against the iranian proxy groups besides a reported cyberattack on an iranian ship, it feels like that ended. a lot to throw at you, take it away. >> that's actually been a critical question. one of imposing to u.s. officials over the last two days. on the strikes, threats been some more back and forth between the houthis and the

united states. the houthis barring several anti ship ballistic missiles towards at least one commercial vessel. they did not strike that vessel. then the u.s. conducting at least tyronza a x, what the u.s. is called a dynamic or preventive strikes against houthi targets. alex, these are cases where the u.s. is the houthis moving something around, whether it's missiles, potential, in this case also up a tangible unmanned surface vessel. what most of us might refer to as i.c.e. drone. and technique that strike before the houthis are able to use those as potential targets -- to target commercial vessels in the red sea. this is the back and forth have been seeing every day for several days for weeks now. as you know, alex, the u.s. took retaliatory action against the houthis about two weeks ago. it was after an iranian-backed proxy groups aren't on and killed three u.s. soldiers in jordan and injured at least 40 others.

the u.s. retailer strikes in iraq, syria, and in yemen. against these iranian-backed proxy groups. what's critical to note here, alex, essence of those frittelli a tory actions, the attacks in iraq and syria have slowed. and we have been seeing them in more than ten days. but the houthis have continued to act. and according to a number of u.s. officials who have been speaking, with both here and back in d.c., iran continues to pack this houthi rebels in their efforts to go after those. so on the retaliatory actions, they u.s. said it would be a wave of responses. there is the kinetic strike we've been talking about. with also been reporting on a u.s. cyber attack against an iranian ship there in the region. but officials say if these actions continue, they u.s. will continue again in the right retaliation, alex. >> another question about all this conference which is coming as the reports emerged of a russia development in nuclear space based weapon the target

satellites. how much focus has their pain on broader nuclear threats, courtney? >> that has been, i, maine obviously we're in munich. a huge part of this conference has dealt with the security concerns here in the region. that is primarily right now with russia's invasion of ukraine. it's going on two years since that invasion. there's been a huge topic of conversation. but the overall threat from russia has been a major focus, and couldn't that surprised disclosure we heard from house intelligence chair mike turner earlier this week. with this idea of some sort of a russian space based threat, nuclear threats. that's been a big topic of conversation. but even more than that, has been the overall state of play with russia's invasion of ukraine. we have heard from a number of poor leaders here over the last several days including secretary of state antony blinken who made the argument that russian invasion of ukraine now almost two years later has proven not only to be a strategic mistake on their part, but it's also weakened

russia. here is what he had to say. >> we have a nato alliance, a defensive alliance. with no intent of ever attacking russia. only there to defend its members. that is now stronger and larger. all of this result of actions russia has taken. precipitating the very thing it wanted to prevent. >> there has been a pretty consistent message out of the conference this year, alex. that is that the world needs to continue to support ukraine against russia. we've heard from president zelenskyy this morning. he argued for the need for more ammunition, artillery, and your differences. that's a big critical piece of equipment we've been hearing here. there is a big concern that russia -- that ukraine confront out of her defenses. and that it could lead to a situation where russia would contest the airspace over ukraine. it's a big concern here, alex. >> for sure. let me say quickly, quote, your reporting on board the aircraft

carrier a week ago, you, my friend, our a boss. i'll leave it. that more now on the death of russian opposition leader alexei navalny, whose death comes a month before putin is expected to win a fifth term in russia's rubber stamped presidential elections. and as put an interest total control over domestic politics. joining me now is former cia officer and msnbc national security and intelligence analyst marc polymeropoulos. marc, first, off your reaction to navalny's death. a man who for more than a decade was vladimir putin's fiercest critic, that leading voice against corruption and authoritarianism in russia. what are your thoughts on his legacy? >> he's a hero. for russia. he's certainly an inspiration around the globe. i think a lot of us thought this day was going to come, it was and if a double when he decided to come back to russia. but ultimately, i think it is a sign, very much, that flood emit putin sees elections coming in march and is sending a message to the russian people. there is no push putin russia.

he is the ultimate litter. he'll be in power for years, if not decades to come. but ultimately, the death of navalny as one that i think will inspire many people around the world. the real question is, why did vladimir putin think he could do this and get away with it? >> well, look. russian authorities claim navalny lost consciousness and died after taking a work and the siberian person camp where he was been held, well below freezing temperatures. it happened a day after he appeared healthy and was in good spirits. the white house is calling for an investigation into his death. but will the truth ever be found out about what actually happened? does the u.s. have any means to investigate? >> look, the intelligence community is going to certainly do all it can to find out what happened. whether it's from human sources or second in the state. but i think we can be clear instantly my putin's responsible for the death of alexei navalny. there is no doubt about. that right now would think -- they can't look at his body.

they're now saying it's sudden death syndrome, no one understands what. this but i think, i push the question before, because i think putin do this because he thought he could get with it. again, he says russia a bit on the ascendancy, in the sense that ukraine is actually suffering some battlefield losses. they've lost a city in the east, they're evacuating right now, in fact. and putin of course political dysfunction in the united states with house republican leadership -- the aid package because of the opposition of donald trump. ukraine's input trouble right now, as courtney just mentioned. there is a poll over the munich security conference, not only because of the death of navalny but because ukraine is in trouble. we have at mains in how we honor alexei navalny. that is providing 60 billion dollars to ukraine. the question is, can make it over the political dysfunction envy united states to do it? >> big picture thing about this. navalny's death mark must make you reflect on your

temperature. you believe you are attacked in 2017 while you are working in moscow with the cia. you mysteriously began experiencing vertigo and crippling migraines. that in fact ultimately led to your early retirements. you have said that several other officers work on russia around the world but also similarly unfulfilled. tell us about that and how navalny's death is resonating with you. >> alex, thanks for mentioning this, because this was certainly a significant portion of my life. i had to write her early from see eye based on crippling injuries. i suffered, and you mentioned others have as well. there is several of us from the cia or congressional efforts who were in top physical and mental condition, and then head the same type of symptoms. we all had to retire. we were taken off the battlefield, in essence. i understand it's dangerous to work against the russians. it's dangerous to be an american inside russia. i'll just note on this, the house permanent select committee on intelligence just opened an investigation into

retribution. i think there's a lot of questions on whether or not rushed to this or not. they're going to look into this. the intelligence community, i and many others don't think they did a good job on this. in the intel committee, and the house, will look at this again. with the notion that some whistleblowers and other intel committee officials come forward with information. i think ultimately russia was involved in this. time will tell. but your. right i certainly sympathize with alexei navalny and -- you know, russia is a terrorist pariah state. this is not a competitor of the united states, they are our competitor -- anniversary. both sides of the aisle, i hope, would understand. that >> time it will be a critical component. alexei navalny looked fine. he looks healthy. he was joking. in his court appearance on thursday, via video. then what sudden death syndrome? yeah. okay. thank you, marc, good to talk with you as always. some new details after one

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president biden is calling on the jia pay to end its impeachment inquiry into him after the fbi informant whose claims about a multi million dollar bribery scheme involving the president and his son hunter was charged with lying about it. here he is yesterday when asked

about the informants alexander smirnov. >> he is lying and it should be dropped. it has just been an outrageous effort from the beginning. >> nbc's gary grumbach is joining us now from capitol hill. welcome, gary. how crucial was this informants apparently debunked evidence in that republicans case against the president? >> alex, it's hard to overstate just how crucial this 5 million dollar alleged bribe story about from the ukraine executive to hunter and joe biden was to the entire investigation. that the republicans are putting on. here every time the democrats said there is no there there, or questioned the veracity of this, republicans would come back in sight, no, we have this very legit, very real fbi informant. turns out that is not the case. here is what republicans had to say over the summer about this. >> holly credible fbi source alleges job often receive $5 million in exchange for pressuring for the firing of a

ukrainian prosecutor. >> the confidential human source who provided information about then vice president biden being involved and a criminal bribery scheme is a trusted, highly credible informant who's been used by the fbi for over ten years and has been paid over six vigorous. these are facts and no amount of spin and frankly lies from the white house or congressional democrats can change this information. >> it turns out will change that information is actually a grand jury indictments and the central district of california and information from special counsel david weiss. republicans now say this is not the end. they still have a lot of and ambition from the interviews and depositions they've kind of. jamie raskin, who's also on the committee, a democrat, says he believes this is game over. >> mike johnson in endorsement the impeachment inquiry went right to the barista

allegations. this really is the heart of it. i think it's an opportunity for them to say, you know, what we give it our best shot but we're gonna give up the ghost. there is nothing there. >> the committees do still have planned a petition to the coming weeks. james biden, the brother of president biden, will be testifying on thursday before the committees. and hunter biden will be at the end of debris. no telling what comes after hunter biden's position, whether this investigation continues. alex? >> just gotta say on the face of, but it all seemed rather incredulous when you come with these kinds of blatant accusations. but we shall see, more to come. thank you so much. >> and our next hour, ana marie cox on donald trump reported support for federal abortion ban and why it might be a political gift. plus, most unusual valentine from the former president to his wife. what he's really looking for, ahead. ng for, ahead.

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two teenagers are facing charges for the deliberating at the candle chiefs super bowl victory rally. police say this wouldn't start with the fight. one woman was killed and 20 people were hurt, most of them children. nbc's adrienne broaddus is joining us now from chicago. welcome. we're hearing from one of those child survivors about what it was like to get shots. >> alex, we are. he's among the injured. according to the chief of police, at least half of the people who are injured are under the age of 16. and including the ten year old, samuel ariana. he said he was walking along the sidewalk with his grandfather. when he realized he was shot. he described feeling as a burning sensation. here is more of that conversation. >> all i hear was three shots, or two, and i hit behind the trash can and tried to hide from him. i put my right arm up and then

all -- like, the sun was out. that's when they shot me. my grandpa saved me. because he put me to the ground, wrapped me around his arms. >> and he hit behind the trash can because that's something he learned an active shooter training. today, two teens have been -- or, face, we should say don related charges and resisting arrest. investigators say more charges could come. four people still remain in the hospital. one critical. and patrick mahomes and his wife visited some of those patients yesterday. alex? >> i tell you, it is so hard to listen to a ten-year-old kid talking about getting shot at a super bowl victory rally. it is extraordinary. thank you so much, appreciate your time. we'll see you again soon. main time, coming up for all of you, and bases andrea mitchell just spoke with vice president

kamala harris and munich, and what she says the world is at an inflection point. but first, what you need to know about donald trump's massive judgments. the rules for when and how he must pay. plus, trump's team pushed back -- no crime, no victims. and what happens next after the riveting testimony of fani willis? ♪ ♪ ♪ a good day from los angeles, welcome to alex witt reports. we begin this hour with donald trump back on the campaign trail. but dogged by the headlines of the day. $355 million plus interest, he was ordered to pay a new york judge for falsifying business records to get favorable loans on february -- favorable terms on loans. trump's legal team indicate he plans to appeal that ruling while he hints -- insists there was no crime. >> there