mr. muller's investigation. he totally backed away from ever going back >> did he tell you may 8 was the day which he knew [inaudible] >> i missed the beginning of his opening statement. i cannot say for sure >> is it your impression based on the briefing that this has now crossed the threshold to a criminal matter >> he stress this is an investigation. he did not go beyond that. to say that it goes beyond that would prejudice people's opinion to the nature of it. >> will the appointment of the special counsel negatively impact the ability to investigate >> that was never raised >> is it your understanding that rosenstein knew that comay would be fired before he wrote that memo >> he said he did, that the president had made such statements already >> he said a special counsel could hurt our country terribly. do you agree with that >> i don't think it hurts our country >> what you make of the fact that the president knew he was going to fire comay before he had a conversation >> what he pointed out is that no act

mr. muller must have broad latitude to pursue the russia investigation. in the appointment order, it stipulates the special counsel is authorized to investigate, quote, any matters that rise directly or indirectly from this investigation, unquote. that's a really important power, given the recent reports about an active f.b.i. investigation into general flynn. i am heartened by the news of mr. muller's appointment, but in no way it diminishes the need tn active role in helping to get to the bottom of recent events. intelligence committee chair burr, ranking member warner should still pursue the congressional investigation into these matters with just as much vigor. that investigates has been proceeding in a -- that investigation has been proceeding in a bipartisan way, and it absolutely should continue with such. we should still seek testimony from mr. comey in both the judiciary and intelligence committees to discuss the events surrounding his dismissal and be given access to his memos and any transcripts or tapes of his conversation with president trump

mr. muller. > what's your view of a potential nomination of joe lieberman to be fbi director. have not heard that. e emerged as the leading afternoon.this >> robert muller was a very good good as that the american -- public has ever reason to wonder what is happening to our government. manipulated by russia, a country that does not have our best interest at heart. have to answer. senator. you, >> the deputy attorney general to head robert muller up the investigation into the russian issue. issues i raised -- i multiplicity best igating and we coordinate those activities with irector muller and the fbi so that we don't inadvertently his fere or impede investigation. understand the importance of the executive branch and of director muller as special counsel during this investigation. > do you agree with the assessment of it's a witch hunt? interpret he believes there's no basis to it in egards to his activity but clearly russia was involved in undermining public confidence in our elections and we're conducting an investigation on the senate intelligence getting that i sit on acc

mr. muller to that post. now, local police chief testified to the challenges that

mr. muller is running thing mueller . >> yes i think mr. mueller is a perfect choice but he serves at the pleasure of the president, remember the president could fire him at any time. i warn a independent commission president cannot touch, congress has to do that but right now republicans have prevented us from getting this bill forward we have it on what's called a discharge petition, i've signed on to that to try to get it off the floor, out of committee off the floor and before the house, but we're still fighting an uphill battle for that. i hope the republican leadership after this will understand that an independent commission would be best for the country. >> our intelligence expert malcolm nance who really did write the book on russia's successful effort to hack our election said on the air tonight during the 8:00 hour and i n have the yet heard anyone else say it that jared kushner's security clearance should be pulled. certainly while this investigation focuses more on him by name while these questions are in the air. is that a pro

mr. muller's per view will be the entire russia issue, the whole question of whether any associates of the trump campaign were in any way involved in helping the russians try to influence the election last year and any subsequent things that flow from that. now it's important to note, lester, that as the special prosecutor he's not completely independent like we used to have in the old days. special prosecutors are still subject to the control of the justice department but it's much more independent, it's much more separated from the political appointees than it would have been if rod rosenstein, a trump ultimate decision maker about this investigation. >> and what about the work that's been done so far by the fbi? does that continue on, do they start from square one? >> reporter: they don't start from square one. the normal rule for special counsel is that they use the staffers provided by the justice department, typically career prosecutors but he does have the authority under the rules to bring in his own people, but lester, let's be clear, the immediate effectiveness is going to be to

mr. muller will speak on, not him. >> were you satisfied with the answers you received about the firing of director co me? >> mr. rosenstein wrote the memo, the fact that what he believed the fbi director did in july was inappropriate. >> senator, was he tasked to write that memo? >> he did not. i'll let you ask him that question. now that we have a special counsel about all things related to the process of the memo, i think you'll need to talk to mr. muller. i have to go. >> thank you, senator. >> shepard: lindsey graham speaking on capitol hill. so much to get through. catherine herridge is live with us. catherine, to you. >> senator graham was in the briefing with the deputy general. his bottom line is that based on what he heard from the deputy attorney general, that this fbi investigation has crossed a critical threshold. it has moved from a counter intelligence investigation to a likely criminal investigation and senator graham said this will limit the ability of congress to obtain evidence and also to get witnesses to testify publicly here on capitol hill. i pressed senator graham o

so, laura, what will the scope of mr muller's investigation cover? look at the papers around this investigation, it says any alleged links between russia's meddling in the us election and any links to that — now, that will also probably take in the alleged links between the trump campaign and russia, but the question being asked tonight is whether or not it will include what you mentioned earlier — this revelation that happened just 2a hours ago, that james revelation that happened just 2a hours ago, thatjames comey, the former head of the fbi, has a memo which states after a private conversation with donald trump that the president asked him to drop an investigation into his national security advisor and his alleged links to russia. now, no one has seen this memo. three separate senate committees have asked to see the memo and there is also calls for james comey to testify next week. so, the question is whether all of that will also be included within the scope of this investigation. laura bicker in washington, thank you for the update. so, robert m

mr. muller comes onto the job, he'll have to spend a good deal of time getting up to speed on it. but he certainly is no stranger to the fbi, having been the longest serving fbi director in history, second only, of course, to j. edgar hoover. >> all right. pressure on this has been building certainly since the president fired james comey, the man who was leading the investigation into russia and possible links of the trump campaign. we want to go right now to peter alexander -- >> we're going to head off to florida congressman carlos curbelo. kwong m congressman, the news tonight there is a special counsel former fbi director robert muller. your response, sir. >> greta, good evening from the capital. this is a very positive development. it is evidence that this administration is taking this russia probe seriously, that this is going to be a probe that is independent. the fact that they have chosen someone like director muller, someone who enjoys respect from both republicans and democrats, who is experienced, who knows how the fbi works, clearly as he led it for a considerable amo

mr. muller if that had happened. >> he said of the president should never have let russian foreign ministere oval office last week but now it turns out i want to put this back on the screen that mr. trump told him i just fired the head of the fbi. he was crazy, a real nut job. i faced great pressure because of russia. that has taken off. how do you read that sir? >> i do not know how to read it except that i'm almost speechless because i do not know how, why someone would say something like that. but i know this, he is the stooge of a thug and a murderer who used russian precision weapons to strike hospitals in aleppo who has committed human rights violations. he invaded the ukraine and is taken by mia, has acted in the most sluggish and outrageous fashion and had no business in the oval office.if there is a president to vladimir putin engagement that i think it is under the right spectrum stances and it might be okay. but not this stooge who is nothing but a propagandist. corrective president is looking at several people for replacing this position. including your friend lieberman. after s

mr. muller is going to proceed forward with the idea of a criminal investigation versus the counter intelligence investigation. >> joining me now is a west virginia democrat, a member of the intelligence committee. welcome. the deputy attorney general rod rosenstein briefed the senate on james comey's firing. what can you tell us about what the deputy attorney general said? >> first of all, it's good to be with you and we did get a good briefing today. he comes across very direct, very straight. he said what he could say and he said what he couldn't say. he said this was his decision. he made this decision. he didn't give any explanation, who he talked to or if he talked to anybody or how he came to the conclusion but he picked the best person he thought he could and he feels very comfort ever confident and he's given him untethered reigns to do what he thinks is needed to take this investigation to a conclusion and making sure he has the resources to do so. >> senator lindsey graham said after the briefing he thinks the public will lose out now because there will be fewer open hearings. do yaw

mr. muller. i think the shot to the body is it's now considered a criminal investigation and congress's ability to conduct investigations of all things russia has been severely limited, probably in an appropriate fashion. it was counter intelligence. it seems to be an investigation. >> the naming of a special prosecutor has implications for how they will proceed. >>> a lot to discuss. you know, for the last two days you have been daying the president should lawyer up and stop tweeting and here he is saying this is a witch hunt. >> how many clients have we all had as lawyers who haven't listen today what we advised them to do? what he said is so foolish, anybody who lived through the age where so many other kinds of witch hunts really occurred to say that he has so much information and fox news basically on his side and other media on his side. i don't feel sorry for him saying that this is a subject of a witch hunt. it has been levelled at the trump administration -- >> that advice is the -- do y

i can't think of anything i toldn't clear on my schedule muller. with mr. schumer.or that should give me and the american people confidence of great is a man integrity and experience. second, after this meeting it's clear as ever that the intelligence committee in the has to continue its work full should continue throttle ahead and the need for to come rector comey testify in public soon is as ever.as thank you. >> that's it. >>> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states and the president of the republic of colombia. >>> thank you very much. it's a great pleasure to welcome president santos to the white house. is one of our closest allies in the hemisphere and we reaffirm a partnership be

mr. muller is running things and that as of tonight at least, the sene intelligence h gone up a notch? >> mr. mueller is a perfect choice, but mr. mueller serves at the pleasure of the president. the president could fire him at any time. i warned a commission the at this time cannot touch and congress has to do that. the republicans prevented us from getting this bill forward. we now have it on what's called a discharge petition. i signed on to that to try to get it off the floor and out of committee and off the floor. before the house. we are still fighting an uphill battle for that. i hope the republican leadership will understand an independent commission would be best for the country. >> our expert malcolm nance who did write the book on the successful hacking of the election. jared kushner's clearance should be pulled. certainly while this investigation focusing more on him by name while the questions are in the air. is that a proposal you would share? >> it's a proposal a lot of democrats share and i am trying to make up my mind. on the one hand it gets worse and worse with everyt

mr. muller if that had happen. >> chris: do you say that the president should have never let russian foreignrst place last week, now it turns out, i want to put this back up on the screen, that mr. trump put in the official, told him i just hired the head of the fbi, he was crazy, or will not drive. i faced great pressure because of russia, that's taken off. how do you read that? >> senator mccain: i don't know how to read it except -- i'm almost speechless because i don't know why someone would say something like that, but i know this, mr. lab of a thug and a murderer who use precision weapons to strike hospitals in aleppo, his human rights violations all over the place, invade ukraine, taken crimea, has acted in the most thuggish and outrageous fashion and he had no business in the oval office. the president to putin in the meeting, under the right circumstances that might be okay, but not this stooge lavro lavrov, who was nothing but a propagandist. >> chris: the president is considering a number of people to be the new fbi director to replace james comey, including your old friend former

mr. muller's. he doesn't trust the people he doesn't know including hr mcmaster. how concerned are you. that continues. i'm a democrat, but i pray priebus doesn't leave. it will be disastrous for the white house. we will see the white house and that's not good for any american especially low with the troubles brewing overseas. i am rooting for this white house and i'm a democrat. >> it does feel like it comes down to does donald trump have the ability to compartmentalize it or not. >> as a rr79 who covered him for more than a year now, there is no way he will stop tweeting and talking about russia and stop feeling the siege. he will take it super personal. they are out to get me and they are treating me unfairly and look at how terrible washington is treating me. that is the narrative coming out of the white house. that's not how presidents are supposed to act. i talked to so many people who want to pass legislation. the republicans for years had a laundry list of things they want to get done. people need jobs and don't like obamacare and i was just out in rural mississippi riding aroun

they could also potentially block charges, though if they did that, given mr muller willett mueller‘s bad indeed. donald trump calling it the single biggest witchhunt of a politician in american history. i wonder what the voters are making of it, particularly the voters who voted for him. i think people made up voted for him. i think people made up their minds about donald trump will be swayed one way or the other. is based on his core supporters, we'll see this as yet another example of the establishment trying to get their man. they'll see this as media theory, frenzy, as lawmakers, democrats in particular, doing what democrats do. i think it will persuade them one way or another. but i think, more importantly, again, it brings more credibility to the process of this investigation. there is no question that the fbi investigation itself has been compromised. the lens through which it has been seen, the firing of the director last week, these allegations that perhaps donald trump tried to sway the investigation, it brings all these disparate strands, distils them into one single inves

mr. muller go down the path of looking at the very concise and very well documented cases of wrongdoing?ussia investigation and everybody knows that if there was something there or had been leaked a long time ago. so i'm just concerned what chart he's going to be given. how long this will stretch out and, look, the most clear evidence of collusion with the russians is on the clinton side with john and tony podesta having a relationship with the russian banks. brian: i don't think they're going there. tara, has your years and contacts, have they turned on this administration? is that what we're witnessing now? >> no. i think that's a very unfair characterization. the intelligence community is made up of some of the most hard working patriotic individuals. they have missions every day with al-qaeda, to what's going on in mosul. they're writing the president's daily brief just as good as any other president. brian: i want to get everybody else in. that's your point of view. now, chairman, we do know with the russian situation somehow when it got to the intelligence community, it did end up

mr. robert muller's team acting acting mr. robert mueller's. >> james: you received a briefing on this investigation. if you are part of that, correct? >> i did not confirm. i will say senator graham always has a lot of things. he loves talking to the media. sometimes he is right. sometimes he is wrong. >> james: is a criminal investigation as far as you understand it. >> all investigations are taken seriously. but they are just investigation investigations. all americans are innocent until proven guilty. i strongly suggest that most people keep their powder dry. let former director robert mueller run this investigation properly. i think the investigations that are ongoing need to be very, very careful as to not get into the wrong lane. i will just say this, i've you have to see any issue regarding collusion with the russians. one of the things that i think has gotten to the point of ridiculousness is that i was the one who a year ago warned about putin. the last administration totally ignored those warnings. they downplayed m

mr. muller to that post. now, local police chief testified to the challenges that local from his face before a house judiciary subcommittee. this is an hour and 50 minutes. >> the sum committee will come to order. we will declare a recess of the subcommittee at anytime. we welcome everyone to today's hearing on the challenges faced in law enforcement in the 21st century. i recognize myself for an opening statement for a matter of quick personal indulgence. i would ask everyone to please remember our friend and colleague, tom tillis north carolina. i want to thank everyone for being here today. i want to thank chairman for this hearing. this week we celebrate national police week and that's important to all the members of the subcommittee that we have a hearing to honor all law enforcement officers. i want to extend a special thank you to our witnesses for being here. we have with us to canterbury, my own personal chief, and director of public safety, alonzo thompson from the great city of spartanburg, south k

mr. muller and get back to the people's work back he's a good choice.out the choice. is it time though for democrats to say, okay, it's in his hands now. now, we get back to the people's work rather than invest ginny mr. trump. >> this is a big step toward doing that. we need an independent commission to look at that noncriminal aspect of this, if there are any. if possible, i suppose, that the house committees and senate committees that are looking at that can accomplish that. the main point, i think, we should be focusing on these other questions. this ought to be taken out of the realm. leland: you say other questions, tax form. >> just last week i was trying to focus my attention on trade. this is one of those areas where the president and myself and maybe some other democrats could find some common ground. i did a news conference with other members saying, let's focus on the principles that are underlying this renegotiation of nafta, for example. leland: why does it seem that maybe not every democratic argument but certainly democratic leadership s

mr. muller if that had happened. >> he said of the president should never have let russian foreign ministeroval office last week but now it turns out i want to put this back on the screen that mr. trump told him i just fired the head of the fbi. he was crazy, a real nut job. i faced great pressure because of russia. that has taken off. how do you read that sir? >> i do not know how to read it except that i'm almost speechless because i do not know how, why someone would say something like that. but i know this, he is the stooge of a thug and a murderer who used russian precision weapons to strike hospitals in aleppo who has committed human rights violations. he invaded the ukraine and is taken by mia, has acted in the most sluggish and outrageous fashion and had no business in the oval office.if there is a president to vladimir putin engagement that i think it is under the right spectrum stances and it might be okay. but not this stooge who is nothing but a propagandist. corrective president is looking at several people for replacing this position. including your friend lieberman. after som

mr. lieberman -- is senator lieberman one of your top picks, sir? >> he is. >> reporter: and tonight, sources tell abc news the new special counsel is already at work on the investigation. robert muller was the longest serving fbi director since j. edgar hoover. in his new role he'll have broad powers -- the power to seek subpoenas, to convene a grand jury, and add as many fbi agents as needed as he digs for evidence of any crimes, ranging from collusion with the russians to obstruction of justice. mueller has worked under republican and democratic presidents, and he's worked closely with james comey for years -- his successor at the fbi. >> i want to commend the president for the choice of jim comey as the next director of the fbi. >> pierre thomas with us live at the fbi tonight. pierre, this fbi investigation has been under way now for about ten months, long before election day. this new special counsel, does he start all over or does he pour through the evidence that they already gathered there at the fbi. >> i'm told that mueller will assess the investigation and the ed so far and determine how best to proceed. it's totally his call. david. >> pierre thomas with us tonight, our

muller. rory, your response here to these two senators coming out of this meeting with mr. rosenstein and saying that it appears to be a criminal investigation territory and, b, it appears that rosenstein wrote the letter recommending the firing of comey after he had learned he would be removed. >> well, i want to go back and correct one thing. he did not recommend that comey be fired. in fact, this letter said very clearly that the decision to fire the fbi director should be taken with great care and study and thoughtfulness and he refrained from recommending it. >> but didn't he recommend new leadership in the letter. >> well, what he said was we need an fbi director that has the attention and command and respect of everybody. it turns out, comey had that respect. i think what rod wrote in that letter is what he really believes and i've known him for many years, as i've known bob mueller, they are people with deep integrity and independence. a lot of people believe comey did not handle all of the public appearances that he made traditionally with regulations. rosenstein w

mr. rosenstein who was an appointee of president trump, i think that to a large degree does provide a certain amount of political independence. and i do have confidence that the director muller, former director muller will be able to run this investigation professionally, expeditiously. i think he will follow the facts and establish the truth and let the chips fall where they may. >> minority leader nancy pelosi saying she wants to see a full independent commission. but you are saying i think i am hearing you saying, that mr. moeller is the right person for the job and can get the job done. >> what i am saying is this, again, i felt that there was an inevitability to some part of independent investigation that i thought - nothing special counsel has been appointed, i think we have to let them do their work. by the way i served as chairman of the house ethics committee and i was involved with some very sensitive investigations. as was mike conway who is now the house intelligence investigation on a russian matter. and i will tell you, are there going to be times were members of congress are going to have to actually communicate with the justice department because when i was c

director muller was a fantastic director but a little more aloof. that was his style. and mr. fbi director of the people, that was kind of his reputation in the department of justice as well. and he had a very impeccable credentials going into the job. >> for those on the other side who say maybe he did over step his bounds little bit in in cases and perhaps that could be reason for the firing and cause, the timing though is that something that can get past especially now you have to go through congress whether it be with a special prosecutor now to look into this investigation or special investigator quite simply to go ahead and put somebody else into his position because that would have to go through congress as well. >> right the timing is very difficult i think we talked about the perception of politic it's kind of hard to explain why now. part of it could be because the deputy attorney general who i mentioned was just recently confirmed and maybe they were waiting for him to weigh in& because he's an experienced prosecutor and they valued his opinion but it does seem a li

conversations] what teddy the issues robert muller will investigate this special counsel into the russian investigation is the firing of director comey if then as fbi director and mr. rose is fine briefed senators on the firing and

mr. muller. i've got to go >> deputy attorney general declined to give details concerning james comey's dismissal because he is

mr. muller's plane of a e of the possibility criminal investigation. muller will just tell us what we can get and what we can't. >> so the upshot is that your is going to be put on the back burner and while you're inside, you may not have lieberman's name as just emerged as top contender in the fbi. >> >>. having a special counsel hurts our country terribly. entitled to his opinion. i would suggest to the president that one has been appointed. that decision. cooperate where appropriate. fight back when you have legal ability to do so. this once hrough before with the clinton administration. clinton hired an individual awyer to deal with all things related to ken starr so the white house could conduct its business. the business, i would focus on defending the nation to -- we can go back legislative th matters that affect the american people. the bottom line here is the liked nt may not have this decision. it was made. i had questions about it. i honor it. picked a 't have better man to do the job. in that nk most people meeting are generally oak with the

mr. muller. i've got to go >> deputy attorney general declined to give details concerning james comey's dismissal because he is anxious to give latitude to robert muller to make a determination as to where his investigation should go and what it should include. as a former prosecutor i respect that decision. he did acknowledge he learned james comey would be removed prior to him writing his memo >> say that again >> he knew james comey was going to be removed prior to him writing his memo >> joe lieberman has emerged as a top candidate for fbi director. are you receptive to that >> i think it's a mistake to nominate anyone who is run for office. i have spent a lot of time in law enforcement for this is a moment where we need a law enforcement professional that never has campaign for a presidential candidate, never campaign for office, never worn a party label to head the fbi >> what is your take away from the revelation that he knew director comey was going to be fired regardless of the memo >> i

mr. muller but it is now considered a criminal investigation in congress's ability to conduct investigations of all things russia is severely limited in then to have a special counsel to be appointed but don't understand you are knocked out of the gate and that is the way it should be. it seems to me so what does that mean for the congress? so the records of somebody like mr. flynn who may be subject to a criminal investigation because he has a right not to incriminate himself. and then if i was robert mahler i would regard though witness pole bent one of the decisions is that we had a very good hearing where the public could hear what happened with mr. clapper and mr. gates that opportunity has been lost before the greater good that when a special counsel has been appointed that congress has expectations of what they can do so i always believe the counterintelligence investigation did not need a special prosecutor or council their criminal investigation might the deputy attorney general with the ability of congress to call people who may be witnesses in that investigation will be severely r

mr. rosenstein answered a lot of questions today. many of the questions he declined to answer came down to his concern about whether he might interfere with the investigation by director muller. we left with more information, but not all the information >> based on what you heard today, do you believe the deputy attorney general knew before he wrote the memo that james comey would be fired >> yes >> when did he know >> he knew the day before >> did that at any pressure >> no >> we heard from senator graham who said he believes this has moved from counterintelligence investigation to a criminal investigation. is that your assessment >> that is the ultimate responsibility of director muller to determine if any laws have been broken. we have to leave it to him and trust him. i do trust him. he faced a stark decision. he could appoint someone or resign. to protect his own credibility, he made the right decision in appointing muller. [inaudible] >> why did he decide to appoint a special counsel >> to make sure the integrity of the department of justice was protected and to make certain the american people felt this would be handled fairly and justly >> how did he know the preside