>> a lot can happen in two years in any direction. >> quick reminder don't miss full circle. our newscast on facebook. you can get the details watch it we can nights 6:25 eastern p.m. news continues right now. handing it over to chris cuomo for "prime time." >> we jus learned the president is worrying the democrats may try to impeach him when they take over power. the president has reason for concern. the case gens him for obstruction of jus it is reached a high water mark. not because of what he did. because of what he may have known about. cohen. flynn, manafort, have all now revealed they were in contact with administration and campaign members the whole way. in each of what they did to

break the law. we have a man who knows white house politics from the inside. he's here to make the case that sent his "new york times" op-ed speeding around the internet. another stunner tonight a russian spy flipped. what does he snow about efforts to hurt america and why did the president call on her maria butina. at one of his campaign events. we'll lay out what we know. and get deeper into that. anyone want to be chief of staff? the president is suppose dpli on fire once again. this time because pences chief of staff passed on the job. we have the latest on who is on the new list to replace john kelly. how many want to avoid that job and why. it's monday. let's get after it. holy smokes. you can't keep up with the news. it's impossible to plan this show. just a few minutes ago a letter the likes of which i have never

seen before. came out from 44 former senators. 32 democrats, ten republicans. two independents. i'll read the letter in full. it's not the biggest head lean of the day. it frekreflects on now. i want you to hear it and process it. now, they are reaching out because of what we saw. in the mueller probe. and what they expect coming ahead. which obviously the president is doing tonight as well. redactions. there's more. it means there's a continuation. and read between the lines and see the president's knowledge that people around him knowing about what those who were breaking the law were doing will be a big deal. it is for democrats. his stress level is rising so is is theirs to be frank. they have a calculation to make.

a source close to the president he is expressing concern about ip peachment after the congress is sworn in next month. democrats are wrestling with how much over sight to do early on. big development. we have a former white house counsel. bob bower. here to break it down. thank you for being here. i read the "new york times" op-ed. i had known who you were. and followed you in the past. and that was going to be the show. little did we know that there would be so much context to have exactly this conversation. so, the headline of the president being worried. do you believe he has good worry or better reason than he's had until now to worry that the democrats could make a move? >> he has ha continuing worry. it's a mounting worry. i want to say it's a worry that wouldn't be grounded i don't think rationally in the democrats doing whatever is political. his behavior is bringing him swearly within the law and

precedence pointing in direction of impeachment. >> make the case. obstruction of justice is where you put the cross hairs in your op-ed. it's not a topic we discuss much beyond his actions about flynn and really comey. make your case. point by point. what's the first big point of why this is a legit case for the department of the justice to look at on behalf of the president. >> let's take for example the sentencing memo filed in the cohen case. we find out michael cohn circulated within the white house. it's not identified with whom. but included trump lawyers. the testimony he was preparing to gif to congress. that testimony included statements he was going to make about the moscow hotel project. when negotiations took place and ended. he was eager to show to state and stated it publicly the negotiations ended before the active phase of the republican

campaign in 2016. that was not true. that was part of the written statement. the prosecutor say this was premeditated testimony. circulated within the white house. it is inconceivable that white house staff knowing what the president personal lawyer was going to say about business deal. didn't let mim know. the president it seems without an extraordinary explanation to the contrary. cohn was about to go to the congress and lie. >> first of all respect for you picking up on what few did in the sentencing memo. the last point they made cohen had been helpful on. describing the situation around the congressional testimony. people look over it. you seized on it. prove i knew. if i'm the president. can't prove it. you didn't talk to my lour lawyers. you talked to doud. otherwise they would be lying about what he said. let's assume lawyers acting in

good faith. you chaean't show i knew. even if i did know. it's not a crime. it's not obstruction of justice. i had engineered the same. >> well, let me begin by saying we always assume that we have had the last word from mueller. and his team and the team in the southern district surprise us. there's facts to emerge about who received the testimony. and who within the white house was receiving information about the intention to lie. let's that i can to the constitutional precedence for a moment. when nixon was impeached he was impeached for lying publicly about the investigation into water gate and whether one occurred. he was impeached for lying about the activity of his campaign. to try to win the election in 1972. reelection. now if donald trump knew that cohen was about to lie on a business deal he was directly

involved in. he was operating on behalf of trump in negotiating the deal. and took no action to stop him from lying then it seems he's imly kated in clearly an impeachable offense. whether in fact the facts rise to the level of an action for which the president would be impeached and convict him. that remains to be seen. on the face we have it i would add one more point. the president knew that michael cohen was going to lie. he previewed his testimony before he gave it. and was clear. that this business negotiation ended before the primary and knew that was not true. he said the reason that he did tell that lie was to spare the president a public embarrassment and having to account for a lie had told himself during the campaign. >> and do something that was clumsy at the time. i was reading the report and i was close and in contact.

and i was trying to coordinate my story so as to not mess up the narrative out of the white house. that was suggestive of something. he had more than gut of watching my show and reading the paper. he had much closer contact in the white house. and you have flynn and the 18 days between when the president and others were told he was lying and exposed the problem. and acted on it the and president at that time never exposed criminality for a reason to get rid of him. sp manafort lying about having been in contact with administration/campaign officials about what he was doing and all of that makes you think who knew what and when. come back and we'll continue the case. maria butina the russian spy. it's rare for a russian spy to turn. i don't know how to read the intrigue here. do you believe the investigation she's cooperating with against

her boyfriend is about just her own efforts? or do you think that there's a chance this russian invasion dynamic could have some type of next sus with what's going on in the larger probe? >> it seems like it would have the an ex. in what way it wind up feeding into the mueller investigation or a house proceeding i think is not known. what it does demonstrate however is the wide range of russian efforts to influence the out come of the election and influence public policy. what's striking about this episode taken together with the others is no matter how much evidence mounts about the contacts the russians were having with the campaign and policy makers. the cyber intervention they made into the campaign. the president consistently told the public and tweet after tweet and public statement, nothing like that that he was concerned

with really happened. in fact he was inclined to believe the president of russia than his own intelligence. >> important point. let's let people be reminded. >> i want to continue the politics of sanctions. that damaging of both economy. or you have any other ideas? >> i would get along nicely with putin. i mean we have the strength. i don't think you need the sanctions. we would get along very well. i really believe that. >> i didn't set that up right. that was instructive sound. that was then candidate now president. answering a question and calling on maria butina. the russian spy. in 2015. she asked a question about sanctions. now, people understand why this is curious. who the held is butina why did he call on her. did he know her why would he do that. she infiltrated through conservative groups in the nra.

she found this boyfriend a conservative political consultant. why is she asking about sanctions? it's been relevant with flynn talking to the ambassador and the other russian plant in the meeting with the the president's son and son-in-law and others in trump tower. that's the part that makes it curious. >> i wouldn't rule out also the business that the kremlin delegation brought to trump tower june of 2016. and talk about policy. this was an effort from directions. some involving the campaign. some involved the republican influence industry. but as far as we know, unprecedented and not tear to assume we have heard the last fact. >> as mueller puts more meat on the bones there's one course of the meal. if this proceeds about a political accountability contest you'll get to the over sight hearings and the frustration

will be the redundancy. it's going to pour into a new process. of political accountability chblt that's why people with you with your experience and mind is so valuable. we learn more counsellor please come back. let's test what is could and could not mean. thank you, all right. now in the middle of this. the president is concerned the democrats are trying to figure out what to do. mueller puts more fuel for the fire of anticipation what who knew what and why and they keep lying about russia. 16 associates of this president having had contacts. with russian different players before and during and after the election. why do they lie? coming this letter. 44 former senators. republican, democrat and independent. two of the colleagues in the senate laying out concerns that are chilling. and i don't like the tv word. but it applies here.

i want to read it to you in full. we'll process what it means. next. say hello to the braava jet mopping robot from irobot. its precision jet spray and vibrating cleaning head loosen and scrub stains. all while navigating kitchens, bathrooms and those hard to reach places. you and braava jet from irobot. better together. your digestive system has billions of bacteria, but life can throw them off balance. re-align yourself, with align probiotic. and try align gummies, with prebiotics and probiotics to help support digestive health

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which i used to offer health insurance to my employees. what's in your wallet? all right. so this letter that i'm about to read, just came out at 8:30 p.m. the "washington post" published it. from 44 former u.s. senators. mostly democrat. 32. ten republicans. two independent. and all together with one voice. warning the current senate of what they're about to confront as the mueller investigation draws to a close. here it is. dear senate colleagues, as former members of the u.s. senate democrats and republicans it's our shared view we're entering a dangerous period and feel obligation to speak up about serious challenges to the rule of law. the constitution, our governing institution and our national security. we are on the eve of the conclusion of special counsel

mueller the investigation and the houses commencement of investigations of the president and his administration. remember that line. the likely convergence of the two events will occur at at time when simmer regional conflicts and global power confrontations continue to threaten security, economy and political stability. it's a time like other critical junctures in history when the nation must engage at every level with precision and the hand of the president and the senate. we are at an inflection point. in which the foundational principles of knock si and national security interests are at stake. lt rule of law and ability of institutions to function freely and independently must be upheld. during our service in the senate at times we were allies and other times opponents. never enemies. we all took an oath swearing

allegiance no the constitution. whatever united or divided us we didn't veer from our unwaivering and shared commitment to placing our country, democracy and national interest above all else. all other critical moments in history when crisis threatened our foundation. it has been the senate that stood in defense of the democracy. today is once again such a time. regardless of party affiliation, ideology leaning or geography. as former members of this body, we urge current and future senators to be steadfast and zealous guardians of the knock democracy. ensuring partisan ship or self-interest not replace national interest. if you look at the names. that signed this. you'll see a lot of names that loom large. in our nations history.

i have never seen a letter like this. and we have never had a time like this. what will these words mean to the men and women that are working in the senate right now? we'll take this up in our great debate. ahead. once i started looking for it was a no-brainer. i switched to geico and saved hundreds. that's a win. but it's not the only reason i switched. the geico app makes it easy to manage my policy. i can pay my bill, add a new driver, or even file a claim. woo, hey now! that's a win-win. thank you! switch to geico®. it's a win-win.

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enjoy. ♪ there's no place likargh!e ♪ i'm trying... ♪ yippiekiyay. ♪ mom. ♪ 44 former senators signed a letter tonight. saying that our country is in a constitutional crisis.

that the senate must stand in defense of the democracy. it was wake up call. it was people from the past grabbing by the collar those in the job currently saying wake up. don't just sit on the sideline and watch things happen. you were elected to lead. and the time is now. a source close to the president tells cnn trump thinks impeachment is quote a real possibility. he's right. now he feels confident about his chances in the senate. because remember, impeachment in the house removal in the senate and you need two-thirds. would you have enough republicans. even come close to approaching 67 votes. what would it take? to get that kind of consensus. remember that's a word that nancy pelosi the big bad wolf of the left when asked by me she said slow down. we don't know what the american people want. let's see the facts if anything like that happened it would have

to be because it was an echo of their desire. let's debate it. rick santorum and jennifer. in especially valued guest. a former u.s. senator. you were not asked to sign this letter. would you have? >> no. i think it tells you something. i within the asked to sign the letter. if you look at the ten republicans who signed. all good people friends of mine. they are not i would say conservative republicans or supporters of the president. so that is number one. number two the fact they didn't reach out beyond a group of folks who were antitrump. gives you more perspective on this. and the other thing what's the letter saying? it looks like a letter that maybe was put together or the idea was put together to call on the senate to go after trump or do something. but it looks like a letter written by committee they couldn't really come up with anything other than stand for god and country. it says nothing.

so i don't know really what this is all about. is it a to say this is a wink and the nod vote for impeachment when there isn't real possibility that will occur. i have no idea what the letter is all about. >> allen simpson he's not a conservative. say it with your hand up. >> i voted against him. when i got to the united states senate. >> john warner? >> i didn't think he was a conservative. yeah. i'll say it to his face. he said similar things to mine. >> you have to check your definition. i didn't take it the way the former senator does. i took it as this stuff matters. you'll be called on. you should be ready. i didn't take it in terms of a specific action. what do you make about the importance? i read it in full. i have never seen one like it before. >> first of all. any time you have two parties in this town actually agreeing on language for something.

it's a miracle. in this regard, i think what they're saying the most important part of the letter is that we are about country and not party. whatever that means. maybe they don't know what mueller is going to find. i'm sure they're saying in the language it stand up for the rule of law. presumably imbedded in that is understanding to allow mueller to continue the investigation unimpeded. bottom line i wish i longed for the days where we had people coming together and say we are americans we may disagree but we're united in this. stand together against add ver says and for the country. >> rick, i don't know why you are so ain't this letter. antithis letter. what do they say. >> my point is there's nothing in the letter that raises any kind of concern. it doesn't say anything. the fact it sent says something. the fact it sent at this point

in time. says something. so to me it's smacks of trying to cast a appall on the senate that somehow they're not acting in the best interest of country. >> they have been -- i think you see this as a manifesto. i don't. again that's why we have different voices on the show. this is about something true. which is that you cannot sit idly by in times like this. as if what's going on with the probe doesn't affect you. lawmakers on both side of the aisle in the house and senate when they get asked about this stuff, if they're key players on committee it's different. they're in the game. >> hold on. >> they want to stay out of it. >> leadership said the investigation will continue. they sent strong words to the president. leave mueller alone.

number two, confronting the president right now on saudi arabia. >> don't con flat saudi arabia with this stuff. i understand. we'll see what they really do. they triggered magnitsky. we'll see where it goes. mcconnell said no vote needed. >> there isn't. mueller is doing his job. >> common sense outside the belt way. the idea that you don't pass legislation to protect something because it hasn't been hurt yesterday is the stupidest rational for non-criminality. you protect something so nothing happens. you don't wait for the president to do something to mueller and we'll act. too late. >> that's what he said. non-sense. >> there's a question of whether it's constitutional. he would veto it. what's the point. >> no question. >> the president has the authority to fire bob muellerer.

the senate not with standing. >> you should know that. he would have to do it indirectly going after the person in charge. he cannot fire mueller. >> he can direct someone to. >> saturday night massacre. >> it's a big difference. they want to protect him. >> the letter is a call to not be passive. when people ask you what things mean, don't say it's really hard to know. i don't know. i don't know what's going on. we'll wait and see. you won't have a will the of time once the report comes out. you have to be ready to defend things and make statements of intention. i'm not saying remove the president. i don't know how it happens frankly on the facts. you have to be ready to lead. so don't sit by. >> there is an argument. there's a story today earlier that the president is worried about what's happening in the

house. and a will the of discussion. >> with good reason. >> this letter could be an indication to make sure the house allows mueller to do his job. as well. you don't want to see parallel investigations. if the house starts to do some sort of impeachment proceeding and calling witnesses which interferes with the parallel track that mueller is on. that would muck it up. >> what happens if it happens after it end. of the challenge for the party is mueller end. there's a long report. a ton in there. it's embarrassing and exclusive. it shows people doing stupid things. reckless. showing they were open for business and open to suggestion. close to the president. doing these kind of things. not crimes. what do you do with the information? if you start a new round of over sight, and committees over here and there. all looking at the same stuff we just read about. is that good for your party into 2020? >> i would mueller has already

identified a couple of crimes. he's got a lot more underneath what we saw filed on friday. >> not against the president. >> well, i think -- yes individual number one is implicated. the president maybe implicated in crimes. >> didn't name him for a reason. >> i think that what mueller we'll see what the report says. >> true. >> if it says anything about how russia has infiltrated. maria butina's plea today she was using the nra as a means to get into the republican party. this is instructive for us. when the russians are coming and infralting organizations that are political. in order to influence people. that is instructive for us. those things regardless of what mueller has. those are worthy of hearings. for nothing else than to say we

have got to be on guard as a nation. our democracy is in peril. >> everybody should be on the same page. hopefully the this letter invites that. i hope you're wrong in how people read it. be aware. remember why you're there and make sure that comes first. we'll see. i appreciate your tame. >> bipartisan is a good thing sometimes. >> don't disagree with that. >> that's the point. >> did rick agree with me? >> smile on his face. two days in a row. >> it's a fight about who agreed first. i'm ending it here. another big situation going on. who is going to be chief of staff. that job matters. it matters more in this administration. the general john kelly. he was hired for obvious reasons. he was a general. bringing in discipline and keep the president on task. didn't work.

however, one of the fall out victims of that move was the new communication director. anthony scaramucci. he knowst what's happening to this day. what about the struggle to find a chief of staff. why is it so hard? what does it mean? what does he make of the letter. the president's anxiety. next. coaching means making tough choices. jim! you're in! but when you have high blood pressure and need cold medicine that works fast, the choice is simple. coricidin hbp is the #1 brand that gives powerful cold symptom relief without raising your blood pressure. coricidin hbp.

general kelly the 4 star marine tasked with bringing law and order to a chaotic white house is out. as chief of staff. did he want to leave was he told? who knows. nick airs the chief of staff for

the vice president was supposed to get the job. he's not taking the job. now we're hearing the president is quote super pissed. about the frustration over how to get the process going all over again. even though he tried to play off the job off as fake nus. that is a lie. he was offered the job. he was going to take the job things changed. lets bring in former white house communication director. anthony scaramucci. >> am i wrong? he was never offered the job. >> i saw nick and bill shine. kelly ann and sanders on friday night. never came up. i have no idea. >> nick airs with bill shine and kellyanne conway. you see them three together a lot? >> they were having a staff dinner and a party after wards. i accidently ran into them. i doing a book signing

downstairs. they were having a cocktail party. >> it's interesting he was with them. if they didn't want him to take the job. >> i don't know if he was offered the job at that point. >> anyway. >> you just like to fight. >> i never said that. people are listening to the conversation. anyway. it's good to have you here. >> great to be here. >> merry christmas. why is it so hard to fill the job? >> who said it's hard to fill the job. if the president wanted to hire a 1,000 people. if he went into the ceo community. or the political community. they would line up for the job. they would. >> big name people. who are known. i don't think you're right. the fact is they have trouble staffing. they have a lot of open positions. >> they don't have trouble staffing. they have people that haven't

staffed the place properly. if you get the right people to be the chief of staff. no trouble staffing. >> you believe -- >> good people. c people hire d and f people. >> how do you explain the president hiring so many people close around him who stunk up the joint? >> he misfired with the two chief of staff selections. >> general kelly was a mistake? >> i honor his service. as a marine. and his service to the military. yes, tvs a miss take. he didn't have the right personality to deal with trump. personality or way to handle a civilian culture inside the white house. it was a mistake. he said he was humiliated today. how do you think how i felt when i was fired on the first day. on wall street if you fire somebody, not working out. you made a gaffe with the

report. or whatever it was. not working out. no problem. i get it. you don't fire people like that. that was indicating the way he was going to handle the 17 months in the job. so i'm not saying it's over importance by me. just pointing out that culturally that's style that operating style in a civilian syst system. >> he was supposed to bring in order. bring in the general. >> the president -- that's the media. >> you respect me because of the uniform and the medal. listen to me. >> first of all the president doesn't need somebody like that. the president needs was okay you're the boss, here's the agenda. he needs somebody tough enough to talk to him honestly. we have had the conversation off the air. selfishness and self-preservation. that's not loyalty.

>> airs was a kid. and compliant. >> you're under estimating him. he's successful. i don't see him like that. he had a good political operating skill set. and the president enjoyed that. and by the way, people like jared and ivanka talk honestly to the president. the president needs somebody not going to alter the behavior when he enters the room. that's what the president needs. somebody that actually doesn't need the job. doesn't really care. loves the country. really loves him and likes him. wants to do a good job. will have his back. you'll go into warfare i read this letter you're describing. you have major trench warfare over 24 mornts and you'll need somebody to defend you and recruit people loyal to you. they flooded the staff with

people not -- >> the cabinet level we have never seen turn over like this. he said he was going to clean up the swamp. he's introduced more alligators than ever. >> he went with people. the president core mistake is he went with people in government. core mistake. that was his mistake. >> turn over has been. ma malfeasance is unprecedented. a guy running hud who is a surgeon. personal pilot and personal doctor. >> carson is stable. >> he hasn't created scandal. that's not the bar of the success. >>. get the gun on the bird of the president and what he's going to do. he had two years of great accomplishments. the economy still growing. there's a little bit uncertainty about the trade. he's dialled into the situation. he's going to fix --

>> anxiety on the street about trade. precursor to a recession. people are nervous. >> the market volatility. federal reserve guidance. and also a lack of lick kwidty. >> let the feds. she gave her speech. and came out and said some things. it's more -- >> the president will get the trade deal done. he'll pick a great chief of staff. >> who should it be? >> i don't know who the participants are. >> you know name the names. maryla meadows. >> i heard meadows dropped out. if he's still in. he's a competent guy. >> it would be an honor to serve. but said i'm different than the other guys and there was no

answer. >> i got the impression -- he thought he was valuable inside congress. i like mark meadows. >> is he better? >> loyal to the president. >> chris and i are personal friends. if chris gets the job -- >> should he? >> he's got the right skill set. for a job like that. he's a guy that's a trench warrior. >> kelly ann is a personal friend. >> would you tell her to take it? >> it depends on the parameters. somebody needs to have an honest discourse with the president. and talk to the president the way he likes kp challenge him he and there. point out we can be doing better. if you look at the list of plirmentes we should be at 60% approval rating. talk about how to get there. i believe he can. he needs to collaborate with

people. one of the president's negatives. >> point by point. go ahead. >> it's your show. congratulations. >> i'm on the cup. >> congratulations on the ratings. my name wouldn't fit on the cup. god bless you. go ahead. >> i'll ask this, his accomplishments. he should be at 60. 60%. the reason he isn't is because of the way he speaks and how he is continued to try to divide the country. that has to be true. look at the midterms. let's not have the discussion anymore. it was a wide rejection. he lost by millions more than he did in his own election. it was a smaller pie. people reject the negativeivity. the deviciveness. he picked up two seats he should have picked up five. >> a point to you. what i don't like is some of the

rhetoric. it doesn't help him. i got my wife yelling at me over the rex tillerson tweet. he went after him to use those words. my wife says i'm glad that our two kids can't read. she doesn't like it. so -- >> not good for the american people. >> you want the -- >> he can't not do it. >> i'll send the audio book. listen to me in the car. you're interrupting me. >> he's never shown the capacity to do. he's not 17. he's 70. >> i know him well. he doesn't feel like a fortification of media surrogates. he uses the twitter system as a way to get his message out there. he needs more media. go back and read my plan. i was ready to execute it the day i got fired. a ten paragraph plan. >> i remember the plan. it was good. you have to follow it.

i'm surprised they're not asking you to take the job. >> come on. if they ask me to, you'll be my deputy. >> that gives us a good indication of what will happen. best of you. mark meadows. he's open to a conversation. >> okay. >> others said he said no way. par for the course. >> he's a great team player and he's been supportive of the president. >> we'll see what happens. thank you. back to the big concern on the president's mind. the reporter is he is real in his concern they may try to impeach him. the democrats. why? would that be right for the democrats to do. could it backfire on them? we'll discuss. next. ready to get your feast on? you better be 'cause it's red lobster's new create your own ultimate feast event! pick 4 of 10 favorites to create the ultimate feast

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and the pan surface. farberware neat nest™. stacked & intact™ cnn learned from a source the president does think impeachment now to be a real possibility. signs mueller's investigation could be drawing to the redactions show that there's more there. i know i keep saying that. but how much longer is the point. and what happens after that, all right? that's where the democrats come in. they're going to take control of the house of representatives in january. they have tremendous oversight capabilities. let's bring in d. lemon. i've been saying for a while now, and i know it's crude, but that's the way i think. deal-making, ball-breaking. the democrats have to make a decision about the balance. if they decide to go heavier toward ball-breaking, oversight, and after the mueller report comes out, there is now a new phase of investigation into the president, his anxiety that we're reporting tonight is well founded.

but there is risk for the democrats as well. >> yeah. well, here's the thing. i think we should wait for the report. everybody, including the president, especially the democrats, to see what happens before they decide what approach they're going to take on impeachment. i would say everyone hold their horses. hold your breath, or take a deep breath, rather, to see what happens. if they're high crimes and misdemeanors, fine. i think they have any right to it, with any president. i'm not just talking about trump. but i think right now we should wait and see. yeah, he should be concerned. think about what we're talking about here, chris. we're talking about campaign finance violations for what we know to be true, that he paid off two people just before the campaign, two women with whom he is accused of having affairs, then lied about it a number of times and continues now to try to shape public opinion by lying about it. and then coming up with the excuse, saying it's the same as the obama administration.

it's not the same as the obama campaign. >> nope. >> it has nothing to do with it. legal experts can tell you, and you know that yourself. >> no question about it. and that's just legal exposure where those payments come in. political exposure is what i'm talking about. i'll make a case next, and then i'll see you at the top of the show, d. lemon. >> see you in a little bit. >> pleasure. >> see you in a little bit. this is too busy. we need to make sure people can actually use this stuff. which one says, "hours of free live streaming coverage without cable or subscription fees"? aluminum, aluminum? you ready, zack? oh, we're ready. welcome to the show. let's make finance make sense. ♪

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tonight is different. i have made no secret of the fact that i tell you to slow down when it comes to seeing the mueller probe as somehow winding up with some grand prosecution of the president of the united states. i'm just telling you that my legal acumen and what i understand from my reporting is i don't see the basis for that given the rules that are in place regarding a sitting president. so that's why i say go slow. also you only know what you can show, and we haven't seen much from mueller. however, we have reached a high water point that i should not ignore either. 16 people, associates of the president, all meeting, open to, soliciting, receptive to russian influence, and many lied about

the same. again, the central question, why lie if you have nothing to hide? why meet? why not do what any seasoned political hand knows to do when contacted by a foreign power, let alone russia? report it. and how could the president not know about all this if the people in the crosshairs say that they were in contact with people in the campaign and the administration high up? now, crimes? not necessarily. still don't see it. high crimes and misdemeanors? well, we're going to have to see what meat mueller puts on the bones of what i just put there above. but a basis for political debate and aggressive oversight, without question.

his personal attorney, his campaign chair, his national security adviser, errand boys, coffee boys they ain't. and they all say that whatever they were doing, they were in touch with the administration about the same or the campaign to varying degrees. and mueller has cited their cooperation on those bases in each and every case. and then we have the line. >> i have nothing to do with russia. to the best of my knowledge, no person that i deal with does. >> now, why would he say to the best of my knowledge? that's legal speak, careful speak from a man who seems to see being careful as weakness. it is hard to believe he didn't know. we know that he talks to these people. we know that he is obsessed with this type of intrigue. and then there was this from the president of the united states. >> it was a well known project. it was during the early part of '16 and i guess even before that. it lasted a short period of

time. i didn't do the project. i decided not to do the project, so i didn't do it. >> now, again, this was exposure of a lie. he told you he had no dealings with russia. that was a lie. he had dealings with russia. he had them when he told you he did not have them. now he's explaining the deal. he's explaining what he lied about. and in his answer you see the problem. it was going on. all right. i lied about that, but it's not a big deal. i decided not to do it. wait a minute. you and all the people that you have called people like me were arguing that you knew nothing about it, that it was cohen freelancing, looking for a deal that he could get a piece of. none of that was true. why lie? so tonight we see that the president's concern that the democrats may be out to impeach him is a justifiable concern. do they have a case? here's my final point.

that's up to you. a lot of pressure, but all of this will come down to you. this is not going to be about a criminal prosecution. i don't see it. if i'm wrong, i'll be the first one to admit it. but impeachment is about an echo effect of the public sentiment on the same. there will be polls. there will be reporting. there will be chances for you to be heard on this. that's what will drive what happens next. thank you for watching us tonight. happy monday. so much news. let me get you right to don. "cnn tonight" starts now. >> he lied about the lies he lied about. he's like, let me tell you why i lied, and even in those statements, there is some factual errors in the statement as well. to me, i think it has been sort of accepted that this president lies and normalized in a way, and that is bothersome no matter who the president is. but that's just bothersome to me