brent: this is dw news live from berlin. tonight, president trump's russian scandal that just won't go away. both republicans and democrats are calling on the head of the house intelligence committee to step aside. they say he is compromised -- has compromised his position. we will have more on that. also comoming up. germany's president visits paris. germany and france have an even greater responsibility to further european integration after britain's exit from the

union officially begins. venezuela's supreme court strips members of congress of all of their duties. opponents say it is a step towards dictatorship. the court supports president maduro. ♪ i'm brent goff, good to have you with us. it we begin with the russian scandal that refuses to go away for u.s. president donald trump. republicans and democrats both are now calling on the head of the house intelligence committee devon nunes to step aside saying it is impossible for him to lead an impartial investigation into alleged russian meddling in the u.s. election. meanwhile, a hearing on the potential of russian technology to eliminate elections began

today. >> russia's president vladimir putin -- undermining our election. first, russia struck in our political institutions by electronically breaking into the headquarters of one of our political parties and stealing vast amounts of information. >> the kremlin can do this through the sole remaining superpower. imagine how other countries see it. the differences between russia anthe united states are profound and will not be resolved soon. this is not a crisis. not something that will pass soon. it is the new normal. we will see russia relying on this toolkit in the months and years to come. in the upcoming elections in france, germany, and our own future political campaigns. deception and active measures have long been and will remain a

staple of russia dealings for the for seeable future. -- foreseeable future. brent: i'm joined by john, a former u.s. ambassador to germany. good to have you. let me ask you about mr. nunes. the new york times reporting that he is a danger to the united states. can the house intelligence committee, can forget about doing any type of investigation? john: well, he's in danger i suppose if he is the head of the committee but we have seen he has stepped down. brent: they are calling for him to recuse himself. john: i don't like all these titles whereomeone is a danger or a catastrophe. these things are made up of dozens of people. the house of representatives and its committee have lost any credibility they may have had

that they could do a serious investigation of this. so that means either the senate will take it over, or there will be an independent prosecutor. brent: an independent special prosecutor. john: right. brent: what would that mean for the u.resis.s. pnt? john: it would be a big defeat for him and we do'. second, we don't know what it means. the united states has very clear laws and the things are done very carefully. they don't necessarily mean someone is guilty if you have a special prosecutor. as you saw with bill clinton whose crimes were much less strategic than these, but the special prosecutor dogged him for two or three years and made his life unpleasant. brent: in the u.s. senate today, there were strong words about russia lost ability -- russia's ability to infiltrate the

election. possibly germany and france. is russia much more powerful? are we beginning to realize it is much more influential and powerful than we ever imagined? john: it's not that powerful, actually. it is quite a week country. but the russians, the communist, the soviets -- whatever you want to call them. in the beginning, they believed that agitation propaganda, active measures, lies -- whatever you want to call them. it is a unique tool to use against stronger countries. we shouldn't believe this is just now because there are all these new cyber tools. the russians have been doing this for a couple hundred years. in much of my career before there was internet or anything like that, we fought continuously against russian active measures. it's not new at all. brent: should there be a new level of concern or worry? john: it seems the russians have

developed a method using modern tools to do this and we should be worried about it. we were very worried about it going back to the 1950's. yes, it has worsened. it but it is not if somehow there is a brand-new situation in the world. this is something the russians have been doing time immemorial. brent: i would like toove to another flashpoint. that is turkey. the united states and turkey are split over how to defeat the so-called islamic state. it is perhaps the biggest challenge. reporter: rex tillerson will meet at a time when relations between the two nato allies could be better. still, the top diplomat insisted on highlighting the importance of the relationship describing turkey as a trusted ally and thinking ankara for the efforts in the fight against the

so-called islamic state. >> troops have permanently pushed isis off the turkey syria border. and the united states is grateful for turkey's important contributions as a member of the counter isis coalition. reporter: the two countries are at odds over u.s. backing. turkey views the syrian people's the texan units as a terror group. the u.s. government doesn't see the difference between the syrian kurdish mission and the pkk. the pkk is on the list of terrorist groups and we have witnessed a collaboration with the ypg in syria in the past. the policy of supporting ypg began during the old obama administration. new president donald trump has not given any indication he intends to change it.

seeking to establish common ground, tillerson is suggesting so-called safe zones in syria. it is hoped that they will be returned to these safe havens. this will be a big relief to turkey that will host more syrian refugees than all other countries combined. brent: we're back here at the big table. john, would you say that turkey is suddenly one of the biggest problems for u.s. foreign-policy when we consider the situation with nato? the upcoming referendum in the country? john: turkey has become a problem, no question about it. early because the west neglected turkey and partly because of turkey's fear of the neighborhood that it is in. i don't think that i have a great understanding of where erdogan is coming from.

that he is worried about the spread of muslim radicalism in turkey. it is a very big issue for the west. brent: he has not been extradited. do you see that happening act out john: -- do you see that happening? john: it is difficult. he claims he is innocent and that he is in the united states legally. i think it would be politically almost impossible for the president to do. brent: and turkey's place in nato? john: i don't think that -- i don't think nato as such, there

is not as much fundamental danger. there's just lots of conflict at the moment which keeps us from doing other things. brent: let me turn your attention to brexit. it has been triggered. the european union is going to lose a member. take a listen to what the u.k. home secretary said today about these rumors that the issue of security has been used as a bargaining chip. >> there is actually -- absolutely no threat. it is strengthened by the european union and we need to put in place something to replace those. brent: she is saying the prime minister is not using security cooperation as a bargaining chip , even as a threat against the european union.

what is she doing then? john: what they are trying to do is sweeten the bargain. they suggest the trade agreement . i don't think it was a threat. i think they were pointing out there are very fundamental things that they need to do with europe or with britain. brent: is brexit going to be a positive or a negative for the eu when all is said and done? john: they are working very hard to turn it into a negative. i think their strategy is about as bad as it could be. in a think the reason their strategy is so bad is because they are worried that if the british are allowed to move peacefully into a different kind of status, one outside the center of the union, then other countries might want the same thing. but what they should be doing is try to build up the very best relations. brent: a soft brexit instead of

a heart brexit. john: the british are the second largest country in the eu and the second-largest economy of the international finance center. everything that europe needs helps provide england and great britain. they are doing it, i think, because of their own insecurity. brent: john, as always, we appreciate you coming on the show. john: thank you very much. brent: meanwhile, the u.s. ambassador to the united nations says the u.s. is no longer making the removal of syrian president bashir al-assad a focus of its policy in the country. ambassador nikki haley told ity isers that our prior no longer to sit there andocus on getting a sought out. our priority is to really look at how do we get things done?

who do we need to work with to really make a difference for the people? germany's president took the opportunity of his first official visit abroad to reinforce the importance of the european project. it is in the wake of britain's notice that it is leaving the eu.. he said germany and france have an even greater responsibility to protect european integration. reporter: it is his first official visit as germany's new president. sticking to tradition, steinmeyer was welcomed with military honors. as foreign minister, steinmeyer was here often and developed a strong partnership with president francois lond -- francois lhollande. the leaders reiterated their country's leading roles in the block.

germany and france have a clear responsibility to set the right course. in order to build the europe of the future. steinmmeier said that the eu must change with the times. upcoming elections were also discussed. we talked about what worries us at the moment in both of our countries. it is the new destination with authoritarianism and the question of how enlightened democracies should handle it. steinmeier is expected to act this evening. in april, he visited greece. -brent: park is accused of

helping a friend extort donations for businesses -- from businesses in a state fo political favors. she is transferred to a detention facility and held in a cell for up to 20 days while the investigation continues. we will take a one minute break. we will have more news. and the business headlines. stick around.

brent: welcome back. live from berlin, our top story. the russian scandal that has been dogging donald trump, both republicans and democrats are calling on the head of house intelligence committee to step aside. they say that he i has compromised his position. then his witless supreme court has taken over the duties of the country's congress. a movement that opponents of president nicolas maduro says is a step towards dictatorship.

the promo bureau court says the opposition controlled congress is contempt for swearing in lawmakers suspended over accusations of rigging the elections. this is the latest between a power struggle between the supreme court and congress after the opposition one a parliamentary majority two years ago. [applause] reporter: the decision to strip lawmakers of their power is the latest act in a long-running power struggle between the promo during court and the opposition controlled congress. the parliament says it is another r ep towardsds dictatorship. it is the first time the court is giving all the power to nicolas maduro to make whatever laws he feels like making. to conclude whatever contracts he feels like.

to put the country in whatever debt he feels like. and to persecute venezuelans in whatever way he feels like. it is a coup in every possible way. venezuela's top people accuse congress of being in contempt of court after lawmakers for in opposition politicians. it was in 2015 amid jubilant scenes on the streets that opposition parties gained control of parliamentary elections. since his defeat, president maduro has been jailing opponents. his supreme court has overturned most of the new laws passed by parliament. opposition supporters have bowed to stage mass rallies. brent: we will stay in the

americas. trump has called a disastrous but the u.s. president is going soft on nafta. what is this? reporter: what is going on? the trade representative in washington has prepared a draft proposal to overhaul the north american free trade agreement. it appears to only contain minor changes to the agreement with canada. president trump called it a disasaster i in his election campaign. it is a loose set of guguidelins with limited revisions instead of a list of specific proposals for radical change. it leaves many of nafta's most controversial provisions intact. the white house says the proposal is not a statement of policy at this point. however -- surprise there. let's bring in financial correspondence on wall street. we are looking at a minor change

. the trouble administration is looking at a soft change of nafta. how is that going down with investors? >> overall, wall street is not so much in favor of big changes to nafta. it could be disruptive. nothing that wall street really likes to see. if there would be small changes, it would be welcomed. having said that, this is just a draft and there are already some parts in there that donald trump could go along with the buy american program. we still don't know what going to happen to the adjustment taxes that could prove costly. some u.s. industries like the car industry. it is far too early to tell if it is going in the right direction with regards to what investors on wall street like to see. reporter: overall, what is the

picture here? is the investment world still behind donald trump? looking at the rocky start as a president. and some of the campaign promises he has made. they don't seem to be in place during his presidency. >> i would say from the wall street perspective so far, on thursday, the tech heavy index nasdaq composite reached a new all-time high. on friday, we will probably finish the best quarter since 2005. in more than 11 years. the reason why the stock market is on fire is not just because of donald trump. it looks pretty stable. companies are back. it all started even before donald trump got elected. the outlook for less regulation, infrastructure spending, and tax cuts are, to a certain degree, already priced in.

if the president is not able to deliver anytime soon, we might see a mood swing on wall street. reporter: thank you from new york. the proceedings underway, the u.k. and eu only have two years to negotiate a new relationship. the german foreign minister says the talks will not be easy. he says the european union's remaining stes expect britain to keep to its financial obligations. >> brexit could prove difficult. they calculated the uk's financial obligations to the eu. if it leaves, says the block, the island nation will oh about 60 billion euros. the lions share of that will be for bills from the past. britain is in debt to the eu to the tune of 29 billion euros. an additional 23 billion are owed on infrastructure investments across the eu.

projects like streets and those to strengthen labor markets that britain agreed to pay when it was still a member. then there is the issue of pensions for eu civil service. brussels could demand up to 8 billion for that as well, bringing the grand total to 60 billion. there are no clear legal precedents. they are doing their best to calm fears at home. >> we're not talking about paying to leave. what we are talking about is ensuring that when we leave, first of all, when we leave, people will see that we will be taking decisions about the budget. we will not be required to make significant payments every year into the eu budget. reporter: the eu doesn't want to punish britain harshly for the decision to leave either according to the head of the negotiating team. >> we have to find a new relationship that we think an agreement is for the best way to

go forward and give against certainty and stability. reporter: member states made it clear they don't want to go to easy because it is a good way to discourage other members from following britain's lead. reporter: expected to move 100 jobs from the british capital to brussels to retain its foothold in the eu. it will be completed in the next few years. to make sure the belgian bases up and running by the time the u.k. officially leaves the block. the business with continental europe makes up around 11%. it is the first major u.k. financial institution bu to leae the islands. that is your business update for now. brent: thank you very much. the former germany captain has

touched down in the u.s. and getting used to life with his new club chicago fire. the midfielder joined his teammates on the training pitch for the first time, wrapping up the windy chicago weather. the fire will be hoping to utilize his skills and experience as soon as possible. it was officially unveiled at a press conference where one reporter seemed a little confused about how soccer works. >> is it a fair expectation n to see clear patathway towards a world cup competition come out of chicago? let me rephrase. do you expect now that you are here, the world c cup goal for chicago fire is a realistic expectation?n?

>> not the world cup. we as a club don't play for the world cup. brent: maybe they will, one day. [laughter] cristiano ronaldo has been honored with yet another statue. this time on the hometown of the island of madeira. his chiseled features were falling a little flat with many observers suggesting that the bust is somewhat unflattering. the game against sweden, the islands airport. coinciding with the match. here is a reminder of the top stories we are following for you. in the russian scandal dogging u.s. president donald trump,

both republicans and democrats are calling on the head of the house intelligence committee to recuse himself. they say he has compromised his position. then his witless supreme court is taking over the duties of congress. they support president nicolas maduro. they say this is a step towards a dictatorship. after a start break -- short break, i will be back to take you through the day. we will take you through brexit. is this the end of europe? stick around.

q?q?q?q?q?q?q?q?q?

>> 9:00 here in the french capital. the headlines. reports from south korea's saying ousted park geun-hye has been arrested. we will be gained the latest from seoul. now france..s. lawmakers in washington probing allegations of russian attempts to influence elections. onsenting a united front syria. u.s. secretary of state in turkey amidst tensions in ankara. we are live from paris. ♪