releasing -- nbc has learned that it clears the governor and puts the responsibility on bridget steve kornacki will join us in a few minutes. another big story we are following out of the washington state. search and rescue crews are beginning the sixth date of what they are still calling a rescue operation. 16 people are confirmed dead. nine more bodies have been located, but not yet recovered, bringing the total number of deaths to 25 people. now, officials still expect that number to increase and say 09 people are still missing or unaccounted for this morning. for the families of the missing, as you can imagine, this is a heartbreaking wait for information. natasha lost her mother to the mudslide. her 4-month-old baby is also among those in the missing.

>> i have lost my baby and my mom. she's the most beautiful woman. >> when do you stop searching for your baby? >> i don't. you don't, never. you don't. i will not stop. >> nbc's jennifer bjorklund is in arlington, washington. you've been there talking to people personally. we hear these interviews, and it just gives us pause, but we know there can be no pause in the search for those still missing. what is the latest, and how do they plan to get to some of the areas that seem impossible to reach? >> it is a very difficult search, not just emotionally as you heard, but physically. what we have heard is they cut a trench across the mudslide zone

so they have access through the middle and working their way out. there are specific areas that some people in -- you know, some of the family members, some of the relatives are looking in for their specific loved ones. as they find them, they're continuing the search for other people. they want to give everybody the closure that they have. we've heard stories like that coming out of mudslide zone. that number, 90 missing, is a pretty much number now. those are people who all have been verified as to, yes, they were probably there, and they haven't been contacted or made contact with anybody since saturday. that is a new number that we got yesterday. the 35 additional people that may or may not have been in the zone, that one is still up in the air, but the number 90, even though it went down from 196, knowing that's a firmer number, that's a tough one. >> thank you so much.

gayle ashley is joining me now, a professor at rutgers. professor thank you so much for your time. obviously the heartbreak, the pain of that is of the most important issue as the search continues for 90 people, but we have the urgent question of how this hand and why. was your initial concern right now? knolls as it relates to why people were living there, but perhaps why the warnings weren't adhered to? >> well, they've known about the potential for landslides for a long time. the reports that have come out over a couple decades. >> but there's a potential for a tornado in tornado valley. >> yes, but this is a very limited space, a quarter of a mile or so. it wasn't a matter that it was

going to happen, but when it was going to happen. so the fact that people were living at the base of the slope was just in harm's way, which is unfortunate. >> what about the soil, the earth at this location makes is so susceptible to this happening? >> the slope is lushly steep and composed of usually fine-grain sediment. it tends to have fairly high water table. so the water -- combination of the water, steep slope, and fine-grain sediment, it's a recipe for disaster. >> and the disaster certainly did happen. how does the soil, the composition impact the search? i mean, i've seen video of people in all-terrain vehicles talking about the impossible task of just reaching -- we know they have located at least eight bodies they cannot remove. >> it obviously involves a lot of sensitivity because of what

they are doing, but it's different in in some places they're going to have to hand dig, and in others very carefully with mechanicized equipment. >> i think the first question i heard, they described it as like walking in quicksand. now we know it's almost the equivalent of cement in shall areas, as it just has form ed a soil structure around these homes that have crumbled. >> i think initially the river was dammed, so there was additional water in the area they were investigating. now they've been able to clear that stream and the water is draining away. so what was soupy has now turned into, like you say, almost a brick. >> is there something that would have been done vegetationwise, buildingwise outside of telling people simply don't live there. >> yeah, there are a few things

it's pril well known they were doing logging on the bluff above the area. that leads to the potential of more water being added to the area and sort of raising the water table, increasing the possibility of slides. so i think just having regulations about logging in the area would be a step forward. that's one thing. all right. well, we wish we had more time to speak with you, with your incredible knowledge based on this, and obviously the ongoing search for survivors, if that is possible at this point. we know that may not be the reality, but thank you so much. we're going to continue to follow this. professor, thank you very much. we do want to get you caught up on another story. it is in boston where a community is mourning two firefighters killed in a devastating apartment building fire. in fact a makeshift memorial is growing in honor of lieutenant

walsh and michael kennedy outside their fire station. the firefighters and residence residents from all over have been leaving flowers, candle, even a red sox cap to pay tribute. 13 other firefighters are still in the hospital. official say they do not yet know what started that fire yesterday, but they do know winds blowing off the charles river. we talked so much with the -- they believe the winds caused the fire to spread out of control within minutings. the firefighters were killed in a powerful burt of fire after a window broke. and back to the developing news we mentioned at the top of this newscast, we are waiting for a news conference with president obama and the italian prime minister. it comes after the president met with pope francis this morning. that meeting taking place with the papal library with just translators present, no staff. it lasted 52 minutes, almost

twice as long as originally scheduled. the vatican just released a statement po both of president meeting with the pope and the meeting right after though, the president and secretary of state john kerry held with the vatican secretary of state. the statement says in part views were exchanged and in hope in areas of conflict build be respect for human tauren and international law and negotiated solution between the parties involved. the statement goes on to say there was a discussion on the el such as the exercise of religious freedom, life and conscientious obje conscientious objection. join -- father, thank you so much for your time. >> great to be with you today.

thanks. >> talk about the historic significant as we await to hear from the president, his first remarks after meeting with pope francis. >> i think it's always a very exciting it thing. pope francis has in his first year met with almost every major leader. i know the president himself had said he was very much looking forward to this event. i think it's a great thing for the president to be in rome today. >> we know the meeting went longer than had been planned or expected. now we've got the first, i guess, glimpse inside in the statement from the press office after the meeting with pope francis, from the vatican, and it says here, obviously that the discussion was particular refusalens for the church in the country they bring up the issue of religious freedom and

consequen conscientious objection, and we know the conversation going on, even some businesses being required if objectionable to their faith, to provide contraception to their employees. >> it's a major fundamental issue, and it certainly has been no -- -- the contraception man dade, the legitimate issue of rights, these are fundamental, so i'm not surprised these things came up today. >> and also the other issue of immigration reform, i think many people anticipated that as well. we are looking at a stalemate politically, but it's interesting that the holy father brought this up in his conversation with the president.

>> i think probably it was one of those areas where the president probably feels like he has some real good common ground with the holy father in making this an issue. certainly the holy father impetus has been, you know, a concern for the poor, for the immigrant, for the, you know, disenfranchised, so i would think that made the president probably very happy that came up at the table. >> we have a new nbc news/"wall street journal" poll, and i don't want to get you too -- i notice that's not your role in this conversation, but 60% agree with pope francis in the way he 'renewed the faith. american catholics' view of pope francis is positive, 55% obviously that is a huge number here. see and here, do you believe

that people within the church might perhaps be more vocal in expressing their views if it in fact is the direction of the pope in seeking some kind of immigration reform? >> well, i think that once again, i think that's an issue which most people would not be surprised that the holy father is concerned about. i think the most important thing is that -- the pope is experiencing certainly a tremendous amount of popularity, but, you know you can't just be reduced either to a photo op or a sound bite. there are obviously very substantive issues, you know, and immigration is one of them. it certainly is an issue that needs to be addressed in our own country. >> also we'll be curious to see if he hear more from the president, and the issue of income equality, which we know this pope was very vocal about prior to taking on the

responsibility of taking on the church. he was vocal as a cardinal as well. it's not noted in this statement, but we certainly know that's something that many expected the two men to discuss. >> yes. you know, the thing is that the holy father certainly is an eadvantavangelizer and reformer. i think he seeks to do that inside as well as outside of the church, in calling catholics to be revitalized in their faith and be enthusiastic about really spreading the joy of the gospel. i think the holy father's whole approach has been from the beginning just to really love people first, and i think that that opens the door then for a whole lot of conversation and whole lot more interaction. i think that's what he's brought to the table. i think it's great that the conference between the pope and

the president actually went longer. i think we both know -- they both have very big personalities. they like to talk, and i would say that is a good sign. >> i think that could be perceived and processed that way whenever a conversation goes longer than expected. ours has gone on long, i wish tech go on longer. father, thank you so much for your time. >> thank you, god bless you. >> thank you. we'll bring you the president's news conference as soon as it begins. more potential debris from the missing ma lasha airplane spotted. this time as many as 300 objects. we'll go live to perth, australia. and new reaction to the big win for athlete at northwestern university. the national labor relations board says that players can form a union, because they are employees of the school. we'll talk with the professor of sports management who says the current system denies athletes dignity. just moments ago from -- we are just moments away from chris

christie's office releasing an internal review of the bridge lane closure scandal, the findings will reportedly clear the governor, but democrats wonder how tryly independent the probe is. steve kornacki will join us live. you can join our conversation on twitter. when folks in the lower 48 think about what they get from alaska, they think salmon and energy. but the energy bp produces up here creates something else as well: jobs all over america. thousands of people here in alaska are working to safely produce more energy. but that's just the start. to produce more from existing wells, we need advanced technology. that means hi-tech jobs in california and colorado. the oil moves through one of the world's largest pipelines. maintaining it means manufacturing jobs in the midwest. then we transport it with 4 state-of-the-art, double-hull tankers. some of the safest, most advanced ships in the world: built in san diego with a $1 billion investment.

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developing now, we're waiting for two major news conferences. first president obama will speak in rome, his first comments after meeting with pope francis this morning. and in new york city, the attorneys pyrely the christie administration will release its findings on the george washington bridge lane closure scandal. when these'll vents begin, we will bring them to you live.

northwestern university is planning to appeal the historic ruling from the national lake relations board declaring players on the school's football team should have the right to unionize. that landmark decision has the potential to change the landscape of athletics. they based on the time they have dwoes fall clearsly within the definition of employee. the peat was filed by the players association with the backing of the united steelworkers union. the ruling means player can move forward in organizing with the association's stated goals of guarantees coverage of sports-related medical expenses for current and former players, and better procedures to reduce head injuries. joining mess is ellen strawuski. thank you for your time. >> good morning.

first after, i heard that i education is paid for, in some cases more than $100,000 and that's the fair exchange for that relationship. your response to that? >> i think what's at issue here is we have a college industry that's been built on the labor of athletes for many, many years, and what this ruling affirms is the athletes are employees and they have certain rights under that status. one of the things we see in the college sport industry is huge inequities between who benefits from the labor of those athletes versus what goes directly to the athletes who have produced the revenue. so i think this is a very, very important ruling, and wen that levels the playing field in terms of allowing athletes to have a say in their own destiny. it is report defined what an

employee is in this relationship. they point to, for example that these players devote more to their sport. but never, these young men and women are getting 50 hours or better. >> yeah, you know the director of the regional office in chicago is very, very clear about this, that in many ways college athletes in the sport of football at northwestern are working actually in excess of the number of hours we would expect a full-time employee to work. northwestern expects to appeal, and says -- we disagree with it the northwestern believes strongly that our student athletes are students. u.n.ized and collective

bargaining are not the appropriate methods to address is the concerns raised by student athletes. if this is not the appropriate way to address it, professor, what would be the appropriate way? >> i believe this is the appropriate way to do it for a couple reasons. number one, the college system has had many, many years to form itself, to respond to the concerns. these concerns go back to the 1930s, and possibly earlier. so it isn't as if the college sport system hasn't been confronted with thinks issues. typically minor responses have occurred as a result of lawsuits. so i think -- i think that collective bargaining is absolutely the way to go with this. and when we think about the ncaa rules that limit athletes opportunities to have lawyers and agents representing them at the table, i think that we have a whole sport system that's been

build on rules that athletes had not had a significant say in that influence and control their lives in ways that are not appropriate. i see this as a way for genuine reform to occur. >> the ncaa, which of course they said they were disappointed in this, they point out basically these students participate to enhance their overall college experience and for the love of their sport, not to be paid. i believe that their reference to enhancing the college experience would be that their university is being paid for while they play this sport, that they say they love. your reaction to that? >> increasingly we have athletes coming forward indicating he would not have gone to northern if not for his opportunity to

play quarterback there. i think we know anecdotal level many, many athletes pursuing their sports in college because of fact that they do have an opportunity to play that's not to undermine the fact we do have college athletes that do pursue their education, but the critical issue is we have athletes that are in an employee/employer relationship, that the primary consideration driving that relationship is not the student at that time tuesday, with you athlete status. athletes do not receive scholarships on the academic performance. they receive it on the basis of athletic talent. that i think has been recognized in this ruling as setting up a compensation system for athletic ability. >> thank you so much. i greatly appreciate it. and new developments in the

search for malaysia airlines flight 370, a thai satellite detected some 300 objects floating in the ocean near the search area, some 1600 miles southwest of australia. meanwhile, the search was cut short again today due to bat weather. it's the second time this week that's happened. ian williams joins us live if perth, australia. this time of year -- >> that's right. there's a lot of frustration over at the pearce air force base which is the hub of this search operation. for the second time this week they are grounded -- they did sent out -- but they had to turn back almost as soon as they got there. the commander of the u.s. flyers

said the visibility sauce so bad that he could barely see the edge of his wing. as you point out, this time of year the weather does start to close in. we're not sure if they'll get out there to continue the search tomorrow, friday. now, we have more data, the thai satellite imagery, though they do warn that the resolution is not great. there's an awful lot of trash out there. also as of yet, no wreckage has picked up by the ships. the ships did stay out there today. but as long as this weather continues, it does make life difficult. the debris, if that is what it

is will have been moved by the storm in an erratic and violent way. in fact the way it's moved, the way the occurrence behave was described by one expert here as a bit like an oceanic pinball machine, so you're up against some considerable challenges there. >> ian, thank you so much. we'll see if they are able to resume the search perhaps in the morning. thank you so much. developing now, we have live pictures out of rome. the italian prime minister, and the president's first comments since his meeting with pope francis. we will bring that to you live. dad, why are you getting that? is there a prize in there? oh, there's a prize, all right. [ male announcer ] inside every box of cheerios are those great-tasting little o's made from carefully selected oats

that can help lower cholesterol. is it a superhero? kinda. ♪ still running in the morning? yeah. getting your vegetables every day? when i can. [ bop ] [ male announcer ] could've had a v8. two full servings of vegetables for only 50 delicious calories. taking you straight to rome, president obama has begun

speaking. >> i was extremely moved by his insigts about the important of us all having a moral perspective on world problems, not simply thinking in terms of our own narrow self-interests. of course it's wonderful to be back in rome, one of the truly great cities of is the world. i should point out, though, while this is our first official bilateral meeting, i already had the chance to welcome mateo renzi to the white house. he came a few years ago back when he served as the mayor of florence. [ speaking foreign language ] and i look forward to welcoming him back as prime minister. i also want to say that i had a wonderful meeting with my good friend president napolitano. i think italy is lucky you have

to such an extraordinary statesman to help guide them, you know, the country through some challenging times. >> italy and the united states chair extraordinary bonds. we're especially grateful and proud for the italian-americans who made enormous contributions to our country. italy is one of our closest allies. our partnership is one of the strongest links binding europe and the united states together. i've matter clear that the importance -- the cornerstone of our security policy. so i appreciate the opportunity to consult the prime minister on ar a wide range of issues. on a more personal level, i want to say that i've just been impressed by the energy and

vision that mateo is bringing to his. in the spirit and the energy of the i tal wand naeem, has the opportunity to be unleashed in a way that will be good for italy, but itle will be good for the world. so it's wonderful to see this regeneration of leadership coming to the fore. we continue to see international unity in the face of a violation of international law in ukraine's territorial integrity. the announcement today reached a preliminary agreement with ukraine on a loan program is a major step forward. the significant package of support will help ukraine

stabilize its economy and meet the needs of the ukrainian people over the long term. it provides the prospect for true growth. it will require some structural reforming, but it also means that ukraine can go on a path that cunning like po listen have been able to xwark on. he's also will reinforce democratic reforms and should help unlock international support for ukraine. so it's a concrete signal of how the world is united with ukraine as it makes tough choices. and ukraine's leaders can show considerable courage and foresight by making the reforms that will help them grow their economy, leave behind the corruption of the past, and today i want to call on the united states congress to make sure the united states does its

part with as economic assistance package that helps support the ukrainian people as they move forward. the united states and ilitaly will uphold or solemn -- and our g-7 partners, without russia as an -- a signal of russia's growing isolation. the sanctions that the united states and the european union have imposed will continue to grow. if russia doesn't change course, but as i said yesterday in brussels, we are continually hopeful that russia walks through the door of department sill. and works with all of us to try to resolved this issue in a peaceful way. we will continue to coordinate closely with italy and our other european partners through this crisis. i thanksed italy for its commitment to nato. the italian forces have served

admirable in afghanistan, where italy is one of our largest contributors to the coalition, in coals kosovo. i would add that italy commands and contributes a number of peacekeepers to the u.n. force in lebanon, and at the nuclear security summit, we announced the removal of the -- and this is a critical step. it's one more example of italian leadership across the board. we discuss the need to boost economic growth, so we're creating jobs for our people, especially young people. that's why in addition to the kind of steps that the prime minister has outlined, we have an opportunity to also move forward with a transatlantic trade and investment partnership

that moves growth, investment, but also for small and medium-sized businesses on both sides of the atlantic. i commended the prime minister for his efforts to make it easier to hire more workers and to make the italian economy more competitive. i know a lot more remains to be done, there will be tough choices, but's italy moves forward and makes the hard decisions, the united states will continue to stand together with you. finally we discussed broader global issues. italy played a critical role in the air campaign to protect the libyan people a few years ago. now we're working together to make sure they can develop the security forces that can restory order to libya and make sure they have a government that's actually serving the libyan people. the entire world appreciate the role italy will play in working to destroy the syrian weapons.

it's an italian port where it would be unloaded to u.s. ships for elimination, this is another example how we work together, and we are looking forward to being back in italy in milan hosting the world -- or being part of the world exposition next year that italy is hosing. eye proud to announce today that the united states will participate in the expo. together with our partners, we'll put together an outstanding usa pavilion that showcases innovation, and the health of people around the globe. i know the milan expo will engage and educate the world as only italy can. i already have volunteers from my staff who want to go and make sure the expo goes smoothly. i suspect that some restaurants and shopping may somewhere about in their agenda.

so, mr. prime minister, thank you for your friendship and your leadership. i'm confident that together we can build on the progress that we've already made, and i'm even more confident that the bonds between our two nations will continue to grow, rooted in the enduring friendship between our two people. so molto grazie. >> thank you so much, also for the shopping and food. it's absolutely important for the economy. >> okay. the questions -- >> channel 1 news, good afternoon. the prime minister, you said a moment ago that you are committed to creating a new era with less austerity and more growth, less bureaucracy and you have to be closer to the people.

we just heard the remarks from the president following the historic meetings with pope francis earlier this morning, both 9 president and the prime minister of italy now taking a few questions, but let me bring in peter alexander, who is traveling with the president, who joins us live from rome. we of course heard the president speak about ukraine's similar remarks that we've heard throughout this trip, peter. >> i do want to tart with the meeting with pope francis. >> reporter: i can guarantee you one of the first questions from the american journalists would be more detail about that conversation between him and pope francis. he described it as extremely moving. pope francis specifically referring to his morale perspective on world events, not just in president obama's

language narrow self-interests. we heard a short time ago from the holy see specifically putting out what it describes as sort of a readout of the conversation. the sort of spin that comes from both sides. what was notable is during the course of the conversation. catholic church's objection to the contraception as part of the obama care, the affordable care act was brought up, as the language described in it, they discussed the ritz to religious freedom. obviously these two men have agreements as disagreements. the president with like to emphasis the agreements. it's clear that for the vatican, for the catholic community, one of the real significant topics was that about contraception, the topic of abortion, birth

control, and gay marriage as well. >> peter, thank you very much. we appreciate it. we'll be talking about this more. i want to take our audience to developing news, we'll hear details about a report commissioned from governor cristie. this is an attorney giving details on the findings at the same times we have facilitated cooperation with other ongoing investigations. i'm here to tell us, the bottom line findings and here to answer your questions. i probably won't be able to get to everything today. you'll probably have many more questions as you read or 345-page report, which we consider to have been based on a thorough and exhaustive review.

i'll be happy as you take questions to you go there the report later and get the information you're looking for. today's fog can let me go to the bottom line. first in connection with the allegations related to the george washington bridge real n realignment, we found that governor christie had no knowledge beforehand of this george washington bridge realignment idea, and that he played no role whatsoever in that decision or the implementation of it. we further found no evidence that anyone in the governor's office besides bridget kelly knew of this idea in advance or played any role in the decision or the implementation of it. what we did find was that after

the decision to implement the lane realignment, while it was going on, and in its aftermath, the members of the governor's office, some of them, became aware of the lane realignment, inquired of port authority representatives and were told this was a legitimate stud,and appropriate issue for the port authority to deal with. we further found as the controversy continued, as there were rumors about the governor's involvement, appropriate steps were taken to try to determine if anyone else in the governor's office, anyone in the governor's office was involved in the lane realignment decision.

a when those appropriate inquiries were made, bridget kelly lied to her colleagues, even reached out to a subordinate and asked them to destroy a potentially incriminating document. we further found it was not until january 8th, 2014, when documents had been subpoenaed were first revealed that they showed that david wild steen and bridget kelly had participated in this act this decision and the implementation of it to realign this george washington bridge lanes at fort lee. we further found based on our investigation that david wildstein is the person who

originated this idea and orchestrated it, he went to bridget kelly for approval in the governor's office, and that they had an ulterior moment for implementing that decision to some some way -- we're not able to answer every question today. we're not able to answer what that ulterior motive was. so was to target mayor sock olitch, because he did not endorse governor christie for reelection. in fact there's substantial contrary evidence. in fact, the evidence shows that both the governor's office and chrissy campaign new as early as march 2013 that mayor sokolich would not be endorsing the governor for reelection, yet by

his own account he continued to have good relations with the christie administration and indeed was on a list of mayors being considered for honorary appointments by the governor as recently as may. 2013. we further find that when the governor became aware that bridget kelly in his office was involved in the decision to close those lanes, he took appropriate action, he fired bridget kelly, and he commissioned this investigation, and made a public commitment early on before our investigation had progressed beyond its initial stakes that he was going to release our findings to the public, before

he could have known what they would be, and he directed us on the day we were retained, which was the first time i ever met governor christie to find out the facts, whatever they may be, to report them back to the governor's office and to make recommendations, as we saw fit, to address the problem so something like this never happens again. that is what we have down in our 345-page report. now to the second issue that we were asked to investigate involving hoboken's sandy-gate, we find that mayor zimmer's allegations that members of the christie administration

delivered a mench from the governor to her, threat in this to unless she supported a project, they are demonstrably false. the mayor's perceptions do not match the objective reality reflected in the hard evidence that we uncovered during our investigation. in fact they are contradicted by contemporaneous documents, witness accounts and her own prior statements. so no remedial actions are required in regard to those allegations. finally i wanted to briefly summarize some of the recommendations we have made to the governor s because while the actions of the few there was a

violation, a breach, and we take our mandate seriously to make recommendation to the governor that something like this never happen again. so among the recommendations that we have made to the governor's office, our -- are that iga -- that's the inter-governmental affairs office that was run by bridget kelly in 2013, that that office be disbanded and that the governor's office be reorganized and its functions be combined with those of the governor's office of constituent relations into an office of legislative and constituent services. to get back to the original mission of that office, which

was to provide constituent services, to provide services to local elected officials in a nonpartisan way, open to all, the way that office functioned during the first three-plus years of governor christie's administration, until the aberrational behavior directed by bridget kelly in 2013. the mission of that office should be made crystal clear to a department of service to all. second, we recommend an ombudsman and chief ethics officer for the governor's office. the ombudsman would be a senior statesman of unquestioned

integrity and independence, to report directly to the governor, and to issue periodic reports to the public, as both a resource, a sounding board and a place to go for complaints within the governor's office. and we've recommended separately the appointment of a chief ethics officer for the office of the governor to be responsible for ethics enforcement, conflicts, issue resolution, and training. and that that person should have a direct reporting relationship both with the chief counsel to the the ombudsman and an ability to report to the governor as well. finally in regard to the port authority, which is where this lane realignment was

affectwaited, we recommend the appointment of a bistate commission to examine ways to fundamentally restructure and reform the port authority to ensure its independence and professionalism. this incident exemplifies there are times within the port authority when the rivalries between new york and new jersey have led to communication failures and other problem theic issues. a bistate commission can look at ways to help improve the operations of the port authority to make it truly independent and professional to serve the needs of both states. in the first instance, that commission will hopefully look at these types of issues. first, whether it's appropriate

to restructure so that there are new jersey and new york divisions, functions, projects, principle principally so those states will be truly accountable for the projects applicable to each state. second, to look at ways to restructure the appointments process at the port authority, to encourage independence and professionalism. terms of years, staggered terms that will exceed the length of terms of governors and joint appointments by both governors to -- >> we've had a few minutes take in the report. we have with me, steve kornacki, the bottom line, i think the question everyone has, this clears according to randy

massachuset mastro of all wrong doing and points the end at bridget kelly and david wildstein. does it have credibility? >> the most important thing to keep in mind, this has the trappings of a press conference where an independent investigator is going to reveal what we have found. this is chris christie's lawyer, someone chosen by christie and represents the governor's office. in this report it even says and acknowledges that the gibson dunn was represented to help it in inquires from the u.s. attorney and potentially from the state legislative committee. this is a law firm and lawyer who are representing the governor's office in serious inquires from the u.s. attorney. simultaneously conducting an internal investigation. if you're representing christie in these -- >> it's not an independent investigation, bottom line. >> important to keep in mind.

erring they say in here, may end up proving true but this is not the final word on it. >> the first thing that struck me, the motive, according to randy mastro, their investigation shows that kelly and wildsteinn al tear yor motive but -- >> what they are suggesting, they say they have no -- keep in mind, this is an investigation that did not include, they were not able to interview bridget kelly. they have limited -- this is one area where they are limited in information they have. they have here they claim that bridget kelly reconfirmed on the 12th of august, the day before she sent the e-mail, time for traffic in ft. lee, she reconfirmed that mayor sokolich

would not endorsing governor christie. but she cared and reconfirmed on august 12th. they are strongly suggesting that's the link. >> and saying she destroyed incriminating documents. >> or attempted to. one of her subordinates in this unit, the iga, one of her subordinates when she was first -- this report claims when she was first asked questions by the governor's lawyer, chief counsel, she got nervous and sent apparently called or sent an e-mail saying, please delete this but didn't delete it. >> the other big headline is the mayor of hoboken, according, again, to the report, they have evidence via e-mail that dawn zimmer misrepresented what she said happened when she said on your show that essentially she was being punished and not

giving the sandy -- the hurricane sandy recovery money that her city was supposed to receive. >> i read through that part more closely than anything so far. there are a couple of claims they are making there. look, they are -- one thing they are leaning on is it what we heard from christie's defenders all along. the idea that this happened in may of 2013 and she was praising him publicly, months afterwards. now the counter to that, if you say the story is still plausible, this is a governor with 70% reapproval rating, if she still wanted sandy money, i can't go public, i have to play ball. that would be the counter to that. they go to great length in here to say, look, she's basically alleging a conspiracy theory. this is what would be required for governor christie to do that. everybody would have to be in it, federal oversight. okay, except we all learned that

christie did play around with sandy money for the town of bell well. the governor at an event explained how he did it, how he took the extraordinary efforts -- so, you know that -- >> there's a lot here and i hate that we had to rush you through this. we needed to get the news conference on. 340 plus pages of information you're dissecting. we'll continue to follow the developments from this report and developments frollowing the president's meeting with pope francis. up next quts andrea mitchell reports. probably about five times. it was different than the other times i tried to quit. [ male announcer ] along with support, chantix varenicline is proven to help people quit smoking. it's a non-nicotine pill. chantix reduced my urge to smoke. that helped me quit smoking. [ male announcer ] some people had changes in behavior, thinking, or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, and suicidal thoughts or actions

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thank you so much. >> right now on "andrea mitchell reports," the pope greeting the president, a historic first meetinat