>> jon: we'll see you back here in one hour. >> jenna: "outnumbered" starts right now. >> sandra: another dramatic day on capitol hill where we are hearing from former fbi director comey's replacement for the first time, andrew mccabe testifying in comey's place at a hearing that was previously scheduled. all of this has the white house continues to defend president trump's decision to dismiss the fbi chief. this is "outnumbered." i'm sandra smith coming here today, harris faulkner, meghan mccain, republican strategist and former spokesperson for president george w. bush, mercedes slap, and congressman peter king is here and he is outnumbered. thanks for being here, welcome back.

>> pete: someday, isn't it? great to be here. >> sandra: i don't know what you mean. lots of news to get to. we are following testimony from a who's who of america's national security team on the most dangerous threats facing the u.s. looming over the proceedings, the abrupt firing of james comey, less than 48 hours ago. the white house continue to defend the president's decision. counselor to the president, kellyanne conway early on "fox & friends" ." >> we need and fbi director that is impartial, that has the trust of those at the bureau, the trust of people from both sides of the aisle in the house and senate and across the land. i think everybody has seen jim comey's performance since january. just this week, the fbi had to correct his sworn testimony before the senate where he got wrong by a portion of thousands apparently, the questions about whom aberdeen's email. >> sandra: democrats calling

the firing unprecedented and has less to do with hillary clinton's emails when more to do with russia. democrat accented senator and former clinton running mate, tim kane. >> this is unprecedented. the notion that you would dismiss an fbi director who is in the middle of investigating the president and his team is without precedent. it demonstrates the fear of this white house. >> sandra: meantime, we are getting a first look at former director comey's farewell letter to his colleagues. john roberts joins us live. that was quite a letter. >> good afternoon to you. it's interesting that the way director comey was talked about by the white house would seem to have gone well beyond just firing. they were trying to bury him and almost humiliate him to a degree, but his letter to the fbi, james comey showing the class that he has been noted for. he wrote "i have long believed

that a president can fire and fbi director for any reason, or for no reason at all. i'm not going to spend time on the decision or the way it was executed. i hope you won't either. it is done, and i will be fine, although i will miss you and the mission deeply. i have said to you before that, and times of turbulence, the emergent people should see the fbi as a rock of competence, honesty, and independence." what's interesting this hearing we been watching unfold for the last hour and a half or so is at the white house narrative was that jim comey had lost the confidence of the president, the deputy attorney general and most notably, the ranking fbi. the acting director of the fbi right now who was the deputy, andrew mccabe, contradicted that assertion just a few minutes ago. listen here. >> i hold director comey in the absolute highest regard. i have the highest respect for his considerable ability and his integrity and it has been the

greatest privilege and honor of my professional life to work with him. i can tell you also that director comey enjoyed broad support within the fbi. he still does to this day. i can confidently tell you that the majority, the vast majority of the fbi employees enjoyed a deep and positive connection to director comey. >> that was a sharp contradiction to the white house assertion that comey had lost the confidence of the fbi which may impact andrew mccabe's chances of becoming the interim director. certainly not the director itself. the white house at the same time, pushing back over fierce criticism from democrats on capitol hill over the firing of james comey. pointing out the democrats for the last six or eight months have been calling for his head as well. here's what kellyanne conway said earlier today. >> i think this entire episode

has shown leadership by the president and it has shown hypocrisy that also the lack of message that democrats have. in this case, they insult and insinuate between them and their friends in the media has been quite a spectacle. >> something it has evolved in the last 36 hours, that's the reason why comey was let go. you remember the deputy attorney general, rod rosenstein had written that letter saying this was all about what happened last year in terms of james comey's handling of the hillary clinton email investigation, but we have learned since then that the president himself was very unhappy with the fbi director going back to the day of the election when sarah huckabee sanders said yesterday, he thought about getting it of him back then. it would sort of contradict this idea that he was upset about the hillary clinton investigation

because he had only a week before praised james comey. there were some rumors that rosenstein was thinking about resigning on tuesday night after he became the focus of the impetus for firing comey, but i'm told that is not true. the communications director of the department of justice said that never happen. we're going to hear an awful lot of stories about what was going on over these last few months as it relates to james comey and how this ultimately came to his firing. it would seem that as much as this represents a bottom-up decision out of the fbi, it was more the top-down decision. it was the president who is very unhappy with james comey and it was up to his deputy attorney general and the attorney general to back him up in terms of his thoughts about firing comey. >> sandra: all right, john roberts on it for us. thank you. congress meant peter king on the couch today. so-so far, the white house

handling of all this. >> pete: i think they've handled it well. i personally got along with jim comey, but none of the president of the united states. he has a right to have his fbi director there. he believes that jim comey was too much out in front and you can't be prosecutor, judge, and jerry at same time. i can say this unequivocally. as far as i know, there is no evidence showing any type of russian collusion. i have not heard anyone say the fbi doesn't have enough financing or funding or resources to go ahead with the investigation. the fact is, the president should be out front and say that the president of the united states has the right to do what he wants. it has nothing to do with the investigation and the democrats are being hypocrites. >> sandra: was her take away so far from capitol hill on the testimony today? be ten i think andrew mccain is doing the right thing. they have the resources and they

will go ahead with the investigation. this does not interfere with the investigation. >> mercedes: clearly the white house has a chaotic rollout. because we didn't see attorney general sessions come out the deputy attorney general come out and explain why the firing has happened. we want president trump to have the apprentice moment, the moment where he brings in james comey. i think there was a lot of missed opportunities. the fact that you need to have your communications team in the white house very much involved in the internal proceedings and helping to develop the message and get the right target out there to explain why the firing occurred. what happens is you create a vacuum, the democrat to control the messaging and then they make comey the hero. >> sandra: want to stick on this topic because meantime,

president from accusing democrats of hypocrisy over the firing of fbi director comey. tweeting "the democrats should be ashamed. this is a disgrace." >> comey acted in an outrageous way. i think you should take a hard look at what he has done and i think it would not be a bad thing for the american people if he step down. >> do you believe jim comey should resign questioning >> of course. >> did you want to see him gone? >> it's actually true, the democrats have been very critical of james comey and many of us did call -- >> no, it's classified and we can't tell you anything. all i can tell you is the fbi director has no credibility. >> sandra: the president calling democrats phony hypocrites.

>> harris: lets stop on maxine waters because it will it, you dunes in the preamble of her walking up in the orchestration of her flying off. we clipped in the way it was, it was edited. why that's important is because of something you said to me. that is how much of this is for show in the american people, where do we find the truth? where's the truth? >> pete: it's going to be tough because so much of what we hear is classified and we can disclose it. the questions being asked and charges being made, we at the house intelligence committee hearing last month and jim comey was there in the democrats were asking name after name where they involved in the rush investigation? everyone of those questions, jim comey said i cannot answer that. so much of this is for show. it's really unfortunate.

i would hope the fbi can do something in the next six months to at least show at the status is. >> sandra: now some democrats are floating the idea of impeachment. >> meghan: there are floating impeachment election night. this is the problem with the democratic party right now. they cry wolf so much you don't know and it's actually real and whether it's a big legitimate. i think hysteria is overblown. i echo what mercedes just said. it was very sloppy and there's a lot of confusion going on. that being said, i have been calling for james comey to be fired for a long time. i think the american public has distrust of him. he butchered every single thing from the hillary clinton not being indicted to just two days ago with huma abedin and misspeaking on the amount of emails. he wasn't doing a good job. i have many problems with things he did including the fact it a twitter and instagram account.

he did too many interviews, too much racial pony. i think this is a good choice, but democrats, you have to be careful with how often your calling for impeachment because god forbid something really does happen, i don't think it will, but if it does, you completely lost any clinical capital whatsoever because everyone thinks you hate trump so much they are going to manifest anything to take him out? stomach. >> sandra: the decision to fire comey reminds me of the nuclear doomsday clock. "we should maybe have an impeachment clock and if we did, i think yesterday moved us about an hour closer to having that need." >> meghan: what crime has a committed question eczema needs to explain this. what warrants impeachment other than you don't support him firing james comey? >> harris: hillary clinton, she was pretty mad at him in 2016 when she didn't win. james comey was on her short list of reasons why she didn't win. the other thing in all of this,

you want him to testify, you want him to do all these things, you lay out all the messages for him. he laid out that there is a gap, democrats are filling in with their own narrative in the absence of that enumeration. >> mercedes: the democrats are so focused on this russian prob probe. the first question out of the gate was what did comey president trump, were you aware? andrew mccabe couldn't answer that question. i think what mccabe was able to do in this hearing was say listen, this investigation is going to continue, the men and women are focused on this woman despite the fact that comey is gone, does mean the investigation will change. i think that's an important message to send to the administration.

for the white house, americans aren't going to agree with the president. comey had to go. the democrats are using this as political leverage in trying to make the case. >> harris: how do they get away with that? how do democrats get away with being on tape and that was a little bit of that two-minute tape and then having the face to be able to say or the gall to say, the president shouldn't have done it? >> pete: the media lets them get away with it and on every public's are tough enough to stand up. you asked what crime the president committed. what crime has anyone committed? this is investigation and search of a crime. the media gets away with it. i blame republicans. we should be out there defining the president. >> harris: why do you think they're not? >> pete: because donald trump doesn't come from a political system, people don't know him, they're not familiar with him. he does thing in his own way.

>> meghan: his communications team makes my life harder every day and every way. your 105 days and at this point, firing the fbi, you need to get a cracker jack team in place. mercedes worked for president bush. you have been present in the white house had the decision been made and got on tv immediately after. >> mercedes: and the leaks. if our president trump, i would be infuriated. it could be permanent government employees who are in there, but if you have members on the team who are leaking, that destroys the trust of the team and it also sabotages the president. >> pete: may be if you put comey to the white house, they wouldn't do that. >> mercedes: the problem becomes in the way it happens. >> pete: they have to get their act in place. >> sandra: to do something really interesting onerous during the show about the hearings in general.

in getting out of them. >> pete: so much of this is just for show. you have democrats just repeating sound bites and you have republicans so afraid to ask questions, for the most part, they think this is going to blow up somewhere along the line and they don't want to get caught up. >> harris: if you can't walk with swagger, when will you? >> meghan: why are you elected if you won't defend our side as well? >> pete: also defending the presidency. that goes against congress. >> sandra: democrats now on the warpath after comey's firing. chuck schumer calling for a special prosecutor and the russian probe. just 1 of 3 demands he's laying out, how should republic and respond? plus, is being called a nail in

the coffin for obamacare. another insurer drops out of the exchanges. is obamacare officially dead? and what section of the g.o.p. health care is better umbrellas!!

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>> harris: we are keeping an eye on the hearing with the senate selection committee intelligence. their annual meeting on worldwide threats, and start a couple of hours ago and we expected to break at some point. we are monitoring it for the hot spot of news to come out of there and there has been some interest points because among those participating today is the acting fbi director, andrew mccabe and that's significant to note because tuesday night, the director of the fbi was fired, james comey. that's been a topic along with some others in terms of the greatest threats to americans in america around the world. meanwhile, we are continuing to watch the fallout over the president's firing of fbi director james comey. the senate's top democrat is laying out demands that he says must happen right now. watch. >> first, mr. rosenstein should not be the one to appoint a special prosecutor. that responsibility should go to

the highest career civil servant at the department of justice. second, mr. comey is needed now them ever to testify. third, sessions and deputy attorney general rosenstein should testify separately and in classified settings if necessary and they should do it soon. >> harris: so far, republicans are not budging mitch mcconnell is rejecting calls for a special prosecutor. paul ryan is saying congressional probes underway are already enough. >> i don't think it's a good idea. i think the intelligence community is the one to do this. don't forget that the methods and sources of our intelligence gathering are also at play here and we have to be very sensitive so we don't compromise and information as well. i do think that director comey was compromised. clearly his superiors felt that

way. the president made a decision. >> harris: can resort the brand-new face of the democratic party because we never see senator chuck schumer ever. i'm surprised he speaking up. he has a long list of demands. not only does on a special prosecutor, he wants to be able to pick them. >> pete: i asked chuck schumer to give one bit of evidence that a crime is committed at all. you don't appoint a special prosecutor unless you believe a crime is committed and if the people leading the investigation cannot do it. if there's any evidence, i'm not aware of it. for chuck schumer to be out there, that's what's wrong. the fact is, what they're doing is wrong. the fbi is going ahead. >> harris: mercedes has her pen in the air. after cut you off.

>> mercedes: i have to laugh a little bit because you can see the fundraiser for the democrats saying we have to go for a special prosecutor. we know how this works. you have be appointed by the attorney general or any is to be passed through congress. they passed the law or they have to vote on it. it's a lot more complicated than we think. these are unrealistic demands. there's enough investigations going on at this point. let's get to these conclusions of these investigations and if you think there's a need for special prosecution, go ahead. this is clearly, the political tactic of the democrats because for them, president trump is guilty as charged in their eyes. he has been guilty since day one. they don't give him the benefit of the doubt. at the end, it really is about -- >> harris: clinton is the only other person who is fired and fbi director.

real quickly, that intel hearing has taken a break. we told he would let you know if news was made. they're going to take a little break here during the hour of "outnumbered." if they come back, will let you know. we've heard some news come out of this. one of the points is that the acting fbi director is saying not only is the russian mustache and going to continue, but he sees it as highly significant which flies in the face with the white house upset about it. that's an interesting point to this factor in. as we look at the picture and all this, one thing isn't being said. i know we talked on the bumpy rollout of how this went. it's reminiscent of the executive order. all the news was about that rather than the order. all the news about the rollout, may be pieces are being put together we don't know about. >> meghan: of a special

prosecutor means you committed a crime. that means you have to label what crime. it's actually serious thing to do. i know democrats are getting into their feeding frenzy right now, but can you think what would happen to this country if he actually went forward and accused our present of a crime and possibly went forward with trials question market would be history making in a very serious way. i think throwing us around that it gets casual, it would tear this country apart. i think they're being so selfish, so self-involved that you can't see the forest from the trees. this is hard enough already. people are very confused right now and you also have to emphasize, investigation into president trump and a possible collision with russia, that's not going anywhere. >> sandra: democrats are still driving that message. there are still controlling the narrative. you just said, republicans aren't asking questions, they're not saying the right things. how do republicans get out ahead of this?

>> pete: they have be more aggressive and have more guts. need to get right out in front and knuckle these arguments dow down. one legitimate argument made by the democrats. they need to carry the investigation forward, i don't know why they're saying it's not important. that just feeds into the democratic game. to say it is important, we are going to go ahead. i'll be the first to say it. if any collusion is found, go public with it. until then, it's absolutely immoral to accuse the president of the united states of treason with no evidence. this is the ultimate crime. i can't imagine. >> harris: then get us to not talk about republicans moving forward with the reporting and replacement bill. democrats do have that on their side. >> mercedes: on the health care bill at this point with the senators, they don't

even want to deal with the house. they make it the best ideas from the house and move forward on the bill, but i think the democrats, they decided -- the reason being because a firing comey. >> harris: as democrats think their heels on a special prosecutor, how the senate standoff is shaping up and more discouraging news on obamacare. a major insurer has pulled out of the program altogether. with that could mean to the effort to repeal and replace. >> this is the final phase of the death spiral. it's done. stick a fork in this thing because it's finished. why do we make grills?

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>> meghan: democrats are threatening to slow the senate to a crawl unless republicans get on board with appointing a special prosecutor on russia. after the firing of fbi director, james comey. a "new york times" piece arguing a standoff could throw a wrench into the president's agenda. it reads the tension over comey has spilled over into other issues and can make it hard for republicans to maintain unity. lawmakers are leery of the president. there could also be an impact on the emerging plan for major tax cuts. how speaker paul ryan and sitting the g.o.p. want to get size the prize. >> yes, we have a full packed agenda. you can walk and chew gum at the same time. we have different committees work on these bills at the same time. that's on the legislative process works. that's what people elected us to do is enact an ambitious agenda to get this country back on track. i'm excited about it. i makes it a wait of leading in, encouraging us to get this done. >> meghan: he's living in

never never land if he thinks what just happened with comey doesn't have an impact. we were talking about all last week, i'm talking about comey all this week. >> mercedes: the democrats are obstructing a lot of these committees when it comes to nominees for the president. they don't show up to these committee hearings when it comes to the health care mark up. they're able to slow down the process, but when it comes to the voting things, they put tax reform through that process, they need republicans tonight. the problem we've had with republicans from the beginning of a trump administration where we've seen such a divide between conservatives both in the house and the senate. >> meghan: what do you think congressman? >> pete: first of all, republic and see just stand together and we need to stop making these arguments. whip to show how we're doing. these are the people -- there will always be certain people who vote democrat.

there is the in the middle, the hard-working people. >> sandra: that's what one trump the election and you wonder why they don't pick up on that message more. every time the white house text about tax reform or economy, that conversation and that message wins for them. will this distract from that question ? >> pete: it shouldn't. with the comey thing, we should turn around and say listen, the president of the united states with elected get the job done. they're hurting us overseas, they're hurting us with allies and turning america. now i want to make sure your taxes and you'll have better opportunity. stop talking about the theoretical stuff. >> harris: you can drown out all the noise among democrats if you do that because they're not talking about it. they're looking for too many ways to be able to put in wedge issues and piggyback off of what

the hottest scandal -- they're looking at different things. you got maxine waters is saying fire james comey and on the day, no, can't. they'd rather spend her time on that. republicans can on that message. >> pete: you're right. then we have to go back and we can be apologizing. go after them and say these people are trying to destroy the presidency. >> harris: you saw one republican leader and spend five hours at a town hall meeting. >> pete: they stack them with 300 or 400 people. all the media shows as you being yelled at. >> mercedes: didn't want to listen to the proposals that republican's are putting forward despite the fact they have obama obamacare feeling, despite the fact that you've had communities hurt. i think for the resistance movement, it gets to a point

where it's like, what solutions are you putting forth to the american people? this is where republicans have the opportunity to say these are our solutions and this is how we can help families. they might not need the democrats if they can put this out in a positive way. you do have room with democrat like joe mansion in the senate, individuals who understand these communities who say i cannot link myself completely with the liberal senator schumer who is focused on special counsel. >> meghan: we have to move on. republican state over and over again, obamacare is dying. now it may be dying even harder. it will tell you why and what it means for the big battle in the senate to put unwelcome lawn weeds to rest. so draw the line. roundup for lawns is formulated to kill lawn weeds to the root without harming a single blade of grass. draw the line with roundup for lawns.

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than $200 million this year alone and the remaining states where it still says obamacare is planned. stuart varney says it's time to admit obamacare has officially collapsed. watch this. >> this thing was structurally flawed from the get-go. they need for more young people, healthy people to enroll in these exchanges and fewer older sicker people. that's not what they got. they got it the other way aroun around. now costs are spiraling upwards. the bottom line here is obamacare is dead. this is the final phase of the death spiral. it's done. stick a fork in this thing because it's finished. the >> sandra: chris coons blames the trump administration for obama cares current woes. watch. >> i think the uncertainty about the direction that the trump administration is going in terms of whether they will continue to enforce provisions for portable care act makes it unstable in

the marketplace. unfortunately, we are in a game of chicken right now. >> meghan: that's so dumb. >> harris: that's not right. >> sandra: will start us off? >> meghan: is collapsing. i couldn't have put it better myself, stuart varney saying young people opted into it. it's collapsing into the marketplace which is why it's so important that we keep our eye on the ball and get back to repealing and replacing it as soon as possible. >> harris: the reason i say that, isn't even possible of the trump administration could be to blame for this because it's just been over 100 days. president obama years ago began tweaking it by executive order because it was broken. he would be tweaking it if it weren't broken. he was taking a hammer to this baby. how could it possibly be that the current administration is at fault? 160% and price hikes in our state of arizona. that happened far beyond the actual election. >> sandra: let's go back to the words of the great story

bernie. >> pete: clinton said is the craziest thing he's ever heard of. it's on life support. i'm one of those who believe that we do have to repeal and replace it. we have so many states that font signed up medicaid expansion, we need something ease that. >> mercedes: i'm wondering when the funeral services will be held for obamacare. >> sandra: i want to get your reaction, this was a very angry person at a town hall. you have to watch this. >> you have been the single greatest threat to my family in the entire world. you are the reason i stay up at night. you insist that i will pay you

save me? that is immoral, sir. completely. you have no legs to stand on. i will not forgive, i will not forget. >> sandra: he was addressing tom macarthur, that was the new jersey rez resident. >> mercedes: to his credit, he stood there and listen to him. that is a critical component for these congressmen to listen to the constituents because health care is a personal issue. there is concern amongst americans, the uncertainty. what's going to happen to their health care? they saw it happen under president obama with obamacare. you are able to keep your doctor, but the new couldn't keep it. the fact that premiums grew 24% in some states. it's clear that it's so important that when these town

halls are happening to have the opportunity. i know it's going to be uncomfortable, but sometimes you have to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and listen and figure out what is their concern and be able to address it. they might not listen to you. >> sandra: that exchange was uncomfortable, because if you watch in its entirety, he didn't want to hear the congressman's response. >> pete: thing you have to find another venue because it looks as if the bill is more unpopular. his own daughter died. he's been through this. his family went through a very heavy medical expenses. >> meghan: when he brought it up, he wasn't listen to by this constituent. again, a 11-year-old special needs daughter. >> mercedes: >> pete: i don't hn

hall meetings because they turn into fiascoes. >> harris: as long as somebody's listening. i was aware of the hours and hours and hours this representative put in. >> meghan: angry town halls nothing new. people get angry and emotional may have a venue and a microphone. i agree with mercedes that is kind of part of the process and it's vitally important. >> pete: i was in a fight with a guy the other day. i don't mind fighting. these are organized by democrat democrats. >> sandra: this was some welcome. the booze for becky devos did she deserve this?

>> i'm honored to become a wildcat. and it's a real honor and privilege to be with that uses technology once only available in doctors' offices you.

>> harris: betsy devos

nearly drowned out by booing as she delivered a commencement speech at cookman university in florida. at one point, the president friend to stop the ceremony of the disrespect continued. >> i am honored to become a wildcat. >> if this behavior continues, your degrees will be mailed to you. >> harris: we will mail them to you. and we have this, many students raised their fists in the air and turn their backs to divorce who has come under fire for calling historically black colleges choice. they issued a statement saying i have respect for all those who attended and those who

demonstrated their disagreement with me. one of the hall marks of higher education and democracy is the ability to converse with and learn from those with whom we disagree. >> mercedes: i greatly respect her for going into hostile territory. and standing up and giving the speech any difficult situation. afterwards, she sent out a tweet basically saying i know we have differing points of view, but i'm here to support. school choice benefits so many minorities and the fact you have some who don't want to listen to that message, i find it to be very rude. >> harris: the origin of her message needed to be dealt with in some sort of venue before she spoke. >> pete: again, you don't treat some buddy like that. she's a guest and whether you're from the left or right, i would say the same thing of hillary clinton or president obama, it's wrong. to me, how students are privileged to begin with, they feel like they're above it all and summation smack him in the head. in real life, that wouldn't go

on. >> sandra: we are going to hear from senator mark warner. we are told he just met with the deputy ag. let's listen in. >> i think it's important to point out the place of the vice chairman and i still have 100% agreement and that's that regardless of what happens in the justice department, rather the fbi, that the investigation is done by the senate intelligence committee will be continuing on its current course as aggressively as we are able to based upon. we continue to hold interviews as was noticed last we issued our first subpoena. i hope it's our last because everything else might be voluntary. in the absence of voluntary participation, we are willing to go to whatever basket of tools

we feel is necessary. >> reporter: is the deputy attorney general -- of the white house betray the firing accurately? >> that was in the purpose of his visit with us and i would ask you to put the question to him or to the white house verses to us. >> reporter: are there any concerns about the circumstances about how mr. comey's firing came about? >> we didn't address that. you have a copy of what he wrote. this is an individual comes with an unbelievable background. certainly he feels the role, but our purpose meeting today, we wanted to make sure we had a way forward so that we both understood it and felt comfortable with it. >> let me add to that. >> sandra: you are listening

to some response there from senator richard burr and senator mark warner. they just met with the deputy attorney general. let's go back and we can listen again. >> we wanted to make sure we had a way forward that both the vice chair and i understood and felt comfortable with. >> let me add to that. i voted for this individual. he comes with a solid record. i was very disappointed. i still find the timing of mr. comey's dismissal with sally yates' testimony on tuesday and the fact that jim comey was supposed to be in that hearing today very troubling to me. i want to express that. >> reporter: what do you mean he took it under advisement? >> i think you listen. this is an individual who listen

carefully and he will weigh those issues. >> reporter: mr. coates described a threat from russia. their cyber power seems to mess up elections. what's your reaction to that? >> that's consistent with everything that we've looked at as a committee. we looked at an increasing desire on russia's part to have a president, their involvement in only in our elections, but seems to be aggressive in their frontal actions. potentially german elections. we might have a hearing in the not-too-distant future that gets those elections outside the united states so they make people understand just what russia as an adversary today is attending to do. >> one of the things i find so troubling, i've heard one expert indicate that when you add up all of the costs that russia

spent trying to mess up our elections, the french elections, to disrupt the german elections, the fact that the dutch had to hand count their ballots because of fear of russian interference, you are that altogether, that is less than 5% of the cost of an aircraft carrier. as we start thinking about asymmetrical threats, as one of the reasons i think cyber is our greatest adversary. >> that's why today's hearing is more important than anything else will do today. it is to share with the american people just how that threat has changed. >> reporter: do you think director comey would appear if you invite him? >> we have sent him a request to brief the committee next tuesday. at this point, i have not gotten a response back. >> reporter: did mr. rosenstein claim that he threatened to quit after the

comey firing? >> we didn't ask him about it, he didn't share it with us. report back to what extent has the investigation in the future require the investigation itself require? >> i think we've shared continually that we've had unprecedented access to information. unprecedented access to interviews to date. we have not been denied. sometimes you had some very crucial negotiations to get to folks that we felt we needed to talk to, but that were confident that everything we've done up to this point has been items that were needed and an investigatio investigation. the level of cooperation existed and that's why meeting with the

deputy ag today was important because that keeps our pathway open. >> we both have sometimes been concerned with the pace of the investigation, but a lot of that is that we are in uncharted territory. at times, it's not because the chairman and i have had a disagreement, it's been because there is no playbook for how they share this kind of information. not only with a congressional committee come up with the >> reporter: talking about the pathway to deconfliction, is the pathway open between your priority and fbi priorities, is there any concern for both of you? that a special counsel could interfere with your work? >> i make no judgment on whether special counsel would interfere. this investigation will go forward, and it will be completed. it is a commitment that the vice chairman and i have w