PBS NewsHour; May 17, 2017 3:00pm-4:01pm PDT

Captioning sponsored by NEWSHOUR PRODUCTIONS, LLC

>> Yang: GOOD EVENING. I'M JOHN YANG. JUDY WOODRUFF IS AWAY. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT: QUESTIONS OF LOYALTY AND THE LAW. SOME REPUBLICANS BEGIN TO BREAK RANKS, JOINING DEMOCRATS CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL AFTER REPORTS THE PRESIDENT TRIED TO STOP THE F.B.I. INVESTIGATION INTO HIS FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. THEN, HOW THIS LATEST BOMBSHELL RAISES QUESTIONS OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. WE BREAK DOWN THE LAW, AND WHY IT'S NOT ALWAYS A CLEAR OFFENSE. AND, HOW BUSINESS BETWEEN TWO MEN IS IMPROVING RACE RELATIONS IN ATHENS, GEORGIA.

>> WE HAVE CUISINE FROM EVERYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD. LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT: YOU CAN FIND HIP HOP, COMEDY, SINGER SONGWRITERS. WE WANT TO BE A PLACE FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST ANYONE.

>> Yang: ALL THAT AND MORE, ON TONIGHT'S PBS NEWSHOUR.

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>> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS APPOINTED FORMER F.B.I. DIRECTOR ROBERT MUELLER TO OVERSEE THE INVESTIGATION INTO ANY POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA IN LAST YEAR'S ELECTION. FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY, THERE WAS NO ESCAPE FROM THE FALLOUT OVER ALLEGEDLY PRESSURING THE PREVIOUS F.B.I. DIRECTOR, JAMES COMEY, AND ABOUT SHARING SECRETS WITH THE RUSSIANS. TALK OF OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE AND ENDANGERING NATIONAL SECURITY HUNG HEAVY IN THE AIR, EVEN AS THE PRESIDENT SPENT THE DAY ON THE ROAD. LISA DESJARDINS BEGINS OUR COVERAGE.

>> THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS FAIR.

>> Reporter: THE FIRESTORM IN WASHINGTON CLEARLY ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MIND, AT THE COAST GUARD ACADEMY GRADUATION IN NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

>> LOOK AT THE WAY I'VE BEEN TREATED LATELY, ESPECIALLY BY THE MEDIA. NO POLITICIAN IN HISTORY, AND I SAY THIS WITH GREAT ASSURITY, HAS BEEN TREATED WORSE OR MORE UNFAIRLY.

>> Reporter: BUT THE PRESIDENT ALSO DECLARED TO THE GRADUATES,

>> YOU WILL FIND THAT THINGS HAPPEN TO YOU, THAT YOU DO NOT DESERVE AND THAT ARE NOT ALWAYS WARRANTED. BUT YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR HEAD DOWN AND FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT.

>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT DID NOT DIRECTLY ADDRESS THE LAST DAY'S HEADLINES, NEWS ACCOUNTS THAT STARTED WITH THIS REPORT FROM THE "NEW YORK TIMES" CITING UNNAMED SOURCES SAYING, IN FEBRUARY, MR. TRUMP SPOKE TO JAMES COMEY ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION OF HIS ADVISER MICHAEL FLYNN, AND TOLD COMEY "I HOPE YOU CAN LET THIS GO." THAT REPORTEDLY HAPPENED A DAY AFTER FLYNN WAS FIRED AS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER FOR LYING ABOUT HIS CONTACTS WITH THE RUSSIANS. COMEY HIMSELF WAS FIRED LAST WEEK. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DENIED THE STORY, INSISTING THE PRESIDENT NEVER ASKED ANYONE TO END ANY INVESTIGATION. BUT, IT ALL MEANT A NEW ROUND OF SHOCKWAVES ACROSS CAPITOL HILL. DEMOCRATS RENEWED CALLS FOR AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OR SPECIAL PROSECUTOR ON THE RUSSIA CONNECTION AND TRUMP'S FIRING OF COMEY.

>> THE EVENTS OF THE LAST TWO WEEKS HAVE SHAKEN MY CONFIDENCE IN THIS ADMINISTRATION'S COMPETENCE AND CREDIBILITY.

>> LOOK, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S UNCHECKED AND RECKLESS BEHAVIOR IS IMPACTING THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

>> Reporter: AMONG REPUBLICANS, SENATOR LISA MURKOWSKI OF ALASKA ALSO JOINED THE CALL FOR AN SPECIAL COUNSEL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

>> YEAH, I AM PRAYING FOR THE PRESIDENT.

>> Reporter: OTHERS, LIKE GEORGIA REPRESENTATIVE RICK ALLEN, INDICATED CONCERN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> I MEAN, HOW CAN ANYONE ENDURE ALL THIS AND GOVERN?

>> Reporter: HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN IS WITHHOLDING ANY CONCLUSION FOR NOW, SAYING CONGRESS HAS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF ALL THIS.

>> WE NEED THE FACTS. IT IS OBVIOUS-- THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WANT TO HARM THE PRESIDENT. BUT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO CARRY OUT OUR OVERSIGHT, REGARDLESS OF WHICH PARTY IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> Reporter: ALONGSIDE THOSE WORDS, A SUDDEN FLURRY OF ACTIVITY. HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JASON CHAFFTEZ ASKED THE F.B.I. TO SEND "ALL MEMORANDA, NOTES, SUMMARIES AND RECORDINGS" ABOUT CONTACT BETWEEN JAMES COMEY AND THE PRESIDENT. AND, THE COMMITTEE SAYS IT HOPES TO HAVE COMEY TESTIFY NEXT WEEK. THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE IS ALSO ASKING FOR COMEY TO TESTIFY, AND THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IS GETTING INVOLVED, SENDING LETTERS TO THE F.B.I. AND THE WHITE HOUSE ASKING FOR ALL MEMOS AND RECORDINGS AS WELL. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN JUSTIN AMASH OF MICHIGAN WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY, IF THE COMEY MEMO IS TRUE, IT WOULD BE GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT. BUT CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT ADAM SCHIFF, RANKING MEMBER ON THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AND A LEADING TRUMP CRITIC, SAID IT'S TOO SOON TO GO THERE.

>> NO ONE OUGHT TO, IN MY VIEW, RUSH TO EMBRACE, YOU KNOW, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY REMEDY, THAT INVOLVES THE REMOVAL THE PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE.

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN MADE HIS OWN OFFER TO CONGRESS, OVER REPORTS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DISCUSSED HIGHLY CLASSIFIED INFORMATION WITH RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS LAST WEEK. PUTIN SPOKE AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN SOCHI, RUSSIA.

>> ( translated ): IF THE U.S. CONSIDERS IT NECESSARY, WE ARE READY TO PROVIDE THE SENATE AND U.S. CONGRESS WITH A RECORD OF THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN LAVROV AND TRUMP.

>> Reporter: PUTIN ALSO DECRIED WHAT HE CALLED "ANTI-RUSSIAN SENTIMENT." SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NICK SCHIFRIN COVERS RUSSIA. HE SPOKE TO US FROM THE DAGESTAN REGION.

>> PRESIDENT PUTIN EXPRESSED GENUINE FRUSTRATION THAT, IN HIS VIEW, THE WASHINGTON ESTABLISHMENT WON'T LET PRESIDENT TRUMP TO IMPROVE THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP. AND HE SAID HE WAS CONCERNED BY WASHINGTON'S UNPREDICTABILITY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, PUTIN CRACKED A JOKE AT THE U.S.'s EXPENSE, AND THE VIDEO SHOWED SENIOR OFFICIALS LAUGHING. THERE'S A CERTAIN SCHADENFREUDE HERE IN SEEING WASHINGTON SUFFER SUCH TURBULENCE. AS THE SENIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN PUT IT YESTERDAY: "HOW DO WE LIVE IN THIS UNSTABLE WORLD OF INFORMATION? WITH PLEASURE."

>> Reporter: MEANWHILE, WITH THE PRESIDENT BACK IN WASHINGTON TONIGHT, THE NEXT ACT IN THE POLITICAL DRAMA IS SET TOMORROW. THAT'S WHEN DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL ROD ROSENSTEIN WILL BRIEF THE FULL SENATE OVER THE FIRING OF JAMES COMEY AND HANDLING OF THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION.

>> Yang: SO REPEATING THE BREAKING NEWS WE REPORTED AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, MOMENTS AGO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT ROBERT MUELLER, THE FORMER HEAD OF THE F.B.I., IS THE SPECIAL COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA DURING THE 2016 CAMPAIGN. NOW, WE GO BACK TO LISA DESJARDINS ON CAPITOL HILL. LISA, HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY REACTION TO THIS FROM LAWMAKERS YET?

>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT. WE PUT OUT SOME CALLS AND WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF REACTION FROM THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS' LEADER'S OFFICE, NANCY PELOSI'S OFFICE, THEY SAY THEY ARE FURIOUSLY WRITING A STATEMENT BUT THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THEIR CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION, WHICH IS WHAT THEY WERE WORKING ON TODAY. THEY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL OF THIS SORT, BUT THEY SAY THEY STILL WANT MORE THAN THAT. FROM REPUBLICANS, OUR CAPITOL HILL PRODUCER JULIE PERCHA, JUST TALKED TO REPRESENTATIVE PETER KING OF NEW YORK, HE IS ON THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. HE TOLD HER THAT HE THINKS THERE WAS NO ALLEGATION OF A CRIME HERE, AND HE'S NOT SURE A SPECIAL COUNSEL IS NEEDED. SO NO SURPRISE, JOHN, IN THIS DIVIDED CONGRESS WE HAVE DIVIDE REACTION RIGHT NOW TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> Yang: BUT IS THIS GOING TO TURN THE TEMPERATURE DOWN, DO YOU THINK, ON SOME OF THE RHETORIC WE'RE HEARING, ESPECIALLY FROM THE DEMOCRATS?

>> Reporter: I THINK ONE FACTOR HERE AND THE CHOICE OF ROBERT MUELLER IS THAT HE IS VERY WELL KNOWN DISMEER VERY WELL RESPECTED IN CONGRESS. THAT COULD HELP REPUBLICANS SORT OF SAY THAT WE THINK THERE WILL BE AN UP-AND-UP INVESTIGATION THAT COULD GET TO THE FACTS OF THE RUSSIA PROBE. NOW, AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT COULD BE SEPARATE FROM WHAT CONGRESS DOES IN THIS MATTER OF POTENTIAL OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AT THE WHITE HOUSE. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY IN THE SENATE TODAY, JOHN, A LOT OF BIG DECISIONS OVER HOW THE SENATE GOES FORWARD, AND WHO HANDLES THOSE QUESTIONS OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID OR DID NOT TELL MR. COMEY ABOUT WHETHER HE SHOULD INVESTIGATE MICHAEL FLYNN.

>> Yang: AND, OF COURSE, THAT IS GOING ON, THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CALLING FOR DOCUMENTS, THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE CALLING FOR DOCUMENTS. WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HEAD FROM HERE?

>> Reporter: THERE'S A KEY PERSON TO WATCH, JOHN. THAT IS SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY OF IOWA. NO COINCIDENCE HE WAS OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT TODAY. HE'S GOT A BIG DECISION TO MAKE-- HOW HARD DOES HE PROAS THIS MATTER? TRADITIONALLY, THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE IS WHERE YOU WOULD SEE AN OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION OR LOOKING INTO THIS. BUT IS THAT WHERE REPUBLICANS WANT TO GO WHEN IT IS THEIR OWN PRESIDENT WHO IS IN THE QUESTION-- WHO IS BEING QUESTIONED HERE? IT'S PROBABLY A DECISION FOR MAJORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL, AS WELL AS CHUCK GRASSLEY. AND MR. GRASSLEY SORT OF SEEMED TO GO OUT OF HIS WAY TODAY, JOHN, TO AVOID REPORTERS. DIANNE FEINSTEIN, WHO IS THE RANKING DEMOCRAT ON THAT COMMITTEE, SAID SHE ABSOLUTELY WANTS JUDICIARY TO BE A LEAD COMMITTEE ON THESE QUESTIONS. THEY ARE CERTAINLY STEPPING UP THEIR INVOLVEMENT, AS YOU SAID, ASKING FOR MORE DOCUMENTS TODAY, ALONG WITH TWO OTHER COMMITTEES. WE ARE POSTING ONLINE ALL OF THESE DEVELOPMENT. IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK. BUT RIGHT NOW THREE COMMITTEES ASKING FOR DOCUMENTS INVOLVING MR. COMEY, AND THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE TWO INVESTIGATIONS IN CONGRESS AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES ON RUSSIA.

>> Yang: LISA DESJARDINS ON CAPITOL HILL KEEPING UP WITH THESE EVENTS THAT ARE FAST BREAKING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LISA. IN THE DAY'S OTHER NEWS, WALL STREET HAD ITS WORST DAY SINCE SEPTEMBER, AS INVESTORS WORRIED ABOUT THE TURMOIL ENGULFING THE PRESIDENT. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE LOST MORE THAN 370 POINTS TO CLOSE BACK NEAR 20,600. THE NASDAQ FELL 158 POINTS, AND THE S&P 500 DROPPED 43. THE DOLLAR ALSO SLIPPED AGAIN, WIPING OUT ALL ITS GAINS SINCE THE ELECTION. MAX WOLFF IS WATCHING ALL THIS, FOR THE INVESTMENT FIRM "55 CAPITAL."

>> A SIGNIFICANT PART OF WHAT'S PRODUCED THE SIX-MONTH MARKET RALLY IS THE NOTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE RADICAL DEREGULATION, PARTICULARLY, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY, AROUND FINANCIAL ISSUES, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MASSIVE TAX CUTS, PARTICULARLY, BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR LARGE COMPANIES. THE WEAKER THE PRESIDENT IS, THE LESS LIKELY YOU ARE TO GET THOSE TAX CUTS, AND SOME OF THOSE PREMIUMS START COMING OUT OF THE MARKET.

>> Yang: INVESTORS SOUGHT REFUGE TODAY IN GOLD AND THE TREASURY MARKET. ARMY PRIVATE CHELSEA MANNING WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON TODAY, AFTER SERVING SEVEN YEARS OF A 35-YEAR SENTENCE FOR GIVING THOUSANDS OF SECRET DOCUMENTS TO WIKILEAKS. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAD GRANTED HER CLEMENCY. MANNING POSTED A PICTURE OF HER FEET, CAPTIONED "FIRST STEPS OF FREEDOM," AFTER LEAVING FORT LEAVENWORTH PRISON IN KANSAS. THE TRANSGENDER SOLDIER WAS KNOWN AS BRADLEY MANNING BEFORE TRANSITIONING WHILE IN PRISON. PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL HOLD OFF HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO MOVE THE U.S. EMBASSY IN ISRAEL TO JERUSALEM. THE PALESTINIANS STRONGLY OPPOSE IT, AND NOW CNN, REUTERS AND OTHERS REPORT, MR. TRUMP HAS DECIDED NOT TO ANNOUNCE IT WHEN HE'S IN ISRAEL NEXT WEEK. REUTERS QUOTES A SENIOR U.S. OFFICIAL AS SAYING THE PRESIDENT STILL DOES WANT TO MOVE THE EMBASSY SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE. WASHINGTON, D.C. POLICE ARE PURSUING CHARGES IN THE VIOLENT ATTACKS ON PROTESTERS OUTSIDE THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE. IT HAPPENED TUESDAY EVENING AS PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN WAS VISITING. 12 PEOPLE WERE INJURED, AND TWO WERE ARRESTED. WITNESSES SAY THAT ERDOGAN'S SECURITY DETAIL ATTACKED DEMONSTRATORS, AS POLICE TRIED TO INTERVENE. THE POLICE CHIEF SAID TODAY DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY WILL NOT SHIELD THE TURKISH PRESIDENT'S GUARDS.

>> THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WILL TOLERATE HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THIS IS A CITY WHERE PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO COME AND PEACEFULLY PROTEST. WE ARE GOING TO PURSUE EVERYTHING THAT'S WITHIN OUR LEGAL POWER TO HOLD THE FOLKS THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

>> Yang: THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY IT'S COMMUNICATING ITS CONCERNS ABOUT THE VIOLENCE TO THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT "IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS." ARRESTS OF SUSPECTED UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS SOARED IN THE EARLY MONTHS OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. THE U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT SAYS MORE THAN 41,000 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED FROM JANUARY 22 TO APRIL 29, UP 40% OVER A YEAR AGO. AT THE SAME TIME, ACTUAL DEPORTATIONS FELL 12% DURING THE SAME PERIOD. CREWS IN NEW ORLEANS REMOVED ANOTHER CONFEDERATE MONUMENT TODAY. WORKERS USED CRANES TO LIFT THE STATUE OF GENERAL P.G.T. BEAUREGARD OFF ITS PEDESTAL IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. IT WAS ERECTED BACK IN 1915. A STATUE OF ROBERT E. LEE WILL BE THE LAST OF FOUR CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS TO COME DOWN. AND, A TEXAS TEENAGER IS THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" BEE. HE'S 14-YEAR-OLD PRANAY VARADA. HE WON THE TITLE IN A SUDDEN- DEATH TIEBREAKER IN WASHINGTON TODAY. VARADA WINS A $50,000 SCHOLARSHIP, A LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, AND A TRIP TO THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. NOT BAD. STILL TO COME ON THE NEWSHOUR: DO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ACTIONS CONSTITUTE OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE? I ASK NEBRASKA REPUBLICAN SENATOR BEN SASSE FOR HIS THOUGHTS ON THE RECENT WHITE HOUSE TURMOIL. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S OVERHAUL AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. AND MUCH MORE.

>> Yang: THE DISCLOSURE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ALLEGEDLY ASKED JIM COMEY TO DROP AN F.B.I. INVESTIGATION HAS RAISED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THIS MAY CONSTITUTE OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. THERE'S PLENTY OF DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THIS. TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS, WE ARE JOINED BY MICHAEL WALDMAN, HE IS PRESIDENT OF THE BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT THE N.Y.U. SCHOOL OF LAW. HE ALSO WORKED FOR PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON. AND, WILLIAM JEFFRESS IS A TRIAL LAWYER WHO HAS WORKED ON CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CASES AT BAKER BOTTS. ONE OF HIS BEST KNOWN CASES WAS HIS DEFENSE OF LEWIS "SCOOTER" LIBBY, THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY. MR. JEFFRESS, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU. I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THE NEWS THAT BOB MUELLER, THE FORMER F.B.I. DIRECTOR, HAS NOW BEEN NAMED SPECIAL COUNSEL IN THE CASE INVOLVING THE POSSIBLE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA IN LAST YEAR'S CAMPAIGN. WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?

>> EXCELLENT CHOICE, HIGHLY QUALIFIED, VERY WELL RESPECTED, COULDN'T HAVE A BETTER PERSON.

>> Yang: MICHAEL WALDMAN, HOW ABOUT YOU? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS? IT'S ENCOURAGING NEWS. HE IS VERY WELL RESPECTED. SOME OF THE QUESTIONS INCLUDE WHAT WOULD BE THE SCOPE OF HIS BRIEF AND WHAT IS HIS LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE? PRESUMABLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP ISN'T GOING TO ASK HIM, AS ALLEGED, FOR HIS BELTWAY, BUT IS HE ONLY GOING TO LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL COLLUSION DURING THE CAMPAIGN OR AT SOME OF THESE BROADER ISSUES THAT AMOUNT TO, IF TRUE, ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

>> Yang: AND, MR. JEFFERS, IS HIS REPRESENTATION SUCH THAT YOU THINK THIS SHOULD PUT TO REST ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION?

>> I FOLLOWED HIS CAREER VERY CLOSELY. KNOW HIM PERSONALLY. CERTAINLY PUTS TO REST ANY QUESTION IN MY MIND.

>> Yang: LET'S TURN NOW, TO THIS QUESTION OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, AND WHETHER OR NOT WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN DOING CONSTITUTES IT. FIRST OF ALL, THE LEGAL DEFINITION UNDER THE LAW "OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE." MR. JEFFRESS, WHAT IS IT?

>> IT'S CORRUPTLY ENDEAVORING TO INFLUENCE AN OFFICIAL PROCEEDING.

>> Yang: "CORRUPTLY." WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> THAT'S THE KEY WORD. IT MEANS FOR AN IMPROPER PURPOSE. IT'S DEFINED IN THE LAW. YOU KNOW, ONE COULD MAKE A REQUEST OF AN F.B.I. AGENT OR FOR THAT MATTER THE IMMEDIATE OE F.B.I. IF NOT DONE FOR AN IMPROPER PURPOSE IT WOULD NOT BE OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. IF DONE FOR AN IMPROPER PURPOSE, IT WOULD BE.

>> Yang: MICHAEL, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT OR TAKE AWAY FROM THAT?

>> I THINK THAT'S CORRECT. THE IN FACT LEGALLY THE PRESIDENT CAN, FOR EXAMPLE, FIRE THE F.B.I. DIRECTOR IS TRUE, BUT NOT IF IT WAS DONE FOR CORRUPT PURPOSES. AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A RIGHT TO DRIVE A CAR, BUT NOT TO DRIVE A GETAWAY CAR. AND SO THAT IS THE KIND OF FACT-BASED QUESTION THAT PROSECUTORS AND JURIES HAVE TO LOOK AT. AND, ALSO, THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION NEEDS TO LOOK AT. MR. MUELLER HAS A LEGAL BRIEF, BUT ULTIMATELY, AS YOUR STORY SHOWED EARLIER, CONCLUDE HAS A VERY SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO PLAY IN LOOKING AT THE BROADER SET OF QUESTIONS, INCLUDING THIS.

>> Yang: THEN DO YOU THINK WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE OR ALLEGED TO HAVE DONE WITH-- WITH JAMES COMEY AND HIS DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. COMEY, DOES THAT CONSTITUTE OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IN YOUR MIND, MICHAEL?

>> AGAIN, ASSUMING THAT THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE, IT RAISES VERY SERIOUS QUESTIONS AND COMES CLOSE O THE KIND OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE THAT HAS LED TO IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS, FOR EXAMPLE, AGAINST RICHARD NIXON. WE KNOW THAT HE ASKED MR. COMEY FOR HIS LOYALTY. WE KNOW THAT ACCORDING TO THESE NEWS REPORTS HE PULLED HIM ASIDE, TOLD THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO LEAVE THE ROOM, AND ASKED HIM, AS HIS SUPERVISOR, ASKED HIM TO DROP THE INVESTIGATION OF HIS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER. AND WHEN HE DIDN'T DROP THAT INVESTIGATION, ACTUALLY ASKED TO EXPAND IT, WE KNOW THAT HE FIRED MR. COMEY. AND THEN WENT ON NATIONAL TELEVISION TO SAY THAT THE REASON IN HIS MIND WAS "THE TRUMP RUSSIA THING." THOSE ARE ALL BITS OF EVIDENCE THAT SUGGEST VERY WORRISOME PATTERN THAT COULD IN FACT AMOUNT TO OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. IT'S CERTAINLY AN ABUSE OF POWER AND A RISK, I WOULD SAY, TO THE RULE OF LAW.

>> Yang: MR. JEFFRESS WHAT, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, FOATIONING ON THE CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR COMEY ABOUT GENERAL FLYNN, BASED ON WHAT MR. TRUMP HAS SAY, THAT HE MADE THAT REQUEST BECAUSE HE THOUGHT GENERAL FLYNN WAS A GOOD MAN, PRESUMABLY SUFFERED ENOUGH BY BUYING FIRED, THAT WOULD NOT BE A PROVABLE CASE OF OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. BUT THERE ARE OTHER HYPOTHETICALS. AND THERE'S CERTAINLY REASON TO INVESTIGATE. FOR EXAMPLE, IF MR. TRUMP KNEW THAT GENERAL FLYNN HAD RAR INCRIMINATING INFORMATION ON MR. TRUMP HAVING TO DO WITH THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION AND MADE THIS REQUEST OF MR. COMEY IN ORDER TO KEEP MR.-- GENERAL FLYNN QUIET, THAT WOULD BE OBSTRUCTION.

>> Yang: BECAUSE THAT WOULD-- THAT WOULD SATISFY THE ACTING CORRUPTLY?

>> THAT WOULD BE AN IMPROPER PURPOSE, YES, TO KEEP A WITNESS QUIET.

>> Yang: IN THIS DISCUSSION, CAN A PRESIDENT MJEFFRESS, CAN A PRESIDENT BE INDICTED?

>> NOT WHILE HE'S SITTING. THAT SEEMS TO BE SETTLE. HE CAN BE IMPEACHED AND COULD BE INDICTED AFTER BEING IMPEACHED IF-- ONCE HE'S REMOVED FROM OFFICE.

>> Yang: SO, MICHAEL, THIS BECOMES NOT-- THEN BECOMES A QUESTION OF NOT SO MUCH A LEGAL QUESTION OF WHAT THE LAW SAYS BUT HE BECOMES A POLITICAL QUESTION, DOES IT NOT, OF WHAT CONGRESS SAYS, WHAT THE HOUSE SAYS IN OF DRAFTING A BILL OF INDICTMENT AND WHAT THE SENATE WOULD SAY IN WHETHER TO CONVICT ON THAT BILL.

>> I DO THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. YOU HAD, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING WATERGATE, THE GRAND JURY THEN NAMED PRESIDENT NIXON AS AN UNINDICTED COCONSPIRATOR, BUT THE REAL ACTION WAS DURING THE IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS. I THINK IMPREEVMENT IS A PRETTY STRONG REMEDY. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SEEING MEANINGFUL AND PUBLIC CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS, WHETHER BY A SELECT COMMITTEE OR BY A 9/11 COMMISSION-STYLE, INDEPENDENT PANEL TO LOOK INTO THE VERY THINGS THAT MR. JEFFRESS HAS DISCUSSED. REMEMBER, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ACTIONS BY A HOSTILE FOREIGN POWER TO UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY, POTENTIALLY THE COLLUSION WITH ONE OF THE CAMPAIGNS WITH THAT ACTION, AND NOW WE SEE WHAT LOOKS LIKE, IF IT IS IN FACT THE MOTIVES THAT SEEM TO BE IN PLAY, A CORRUPT EFFORT TO UNDERMINE THAT INVESTIGATION. IN OTHER WORDS, EVEN THE BEST OF PROSECUTORS PROCEEDS IN SECRET AND THROOKS SEE WHETHER THERE'S A LAW BROKEN OR NOT. BUT THE PUBLIC HAS A REASON TO WANT TO KNOW THE BROADER SET OF QUESTIONS AND PATTERNS. SO IT REALLY DOES COME DOWN TO CONGRESS, WHERE THERE'S MORE RUNNING AROUND, MORE ACTION BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME COORDINATED AND MEANINGFUL OVERSIGHT HERE.

>> Yang: BUT, MR. JEFFRESS, I TAKE IT FROM WHAT YOU SAID YOU THINK THIS ALL REALLY DOES DEPEND, THEN OWHAT MR. MUELLER IS GOING TO INVESTIGATE, ABOUT BWHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A REAL LINK WITH GENERAL FLYNN AND THE RUSSIANS AND WHETHER PRESIDENT TRUMP KNEW ABOUT THAT. IS THAT RIGHT?

>> CERTAINLY HE'S GOING TO INVESTIGATE WHAT MR. FLYNN SAID TO THE F.B.I., WHAT HE SAID TO VICE PRESIDENT PENCE, WHAT HE-- HIS ACTUAL CONVERSATION WITH THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR, AND WHAT DID PRESIDENT TRUMP KNOW ABOUT ALL THAT OR HAVE TO DO WITH IF.

>> Yang: WILLIAM JEFFRESS, MICHAEL WALDMAN, I'M SURE WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS A LOT IN THE FUTURE BUT THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> Yang: WE TURN OUR FOCUS BACK TO CAPITOL HILL. EARLIER THIS EVENING, I SAT DOWN WITH REPUBLICAN SENATOR BEN SASSE OF NEBRASKA. WE SPOKE BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF ROBERT MUELLER AS THE SPECIAL COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE TIES BETWEEN RUSSIAN AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. WE LOOK AT HOW HIS PARTY'S LEADERSHIP IS HANDLING THE FALLOUT, AND HIS NEW BOOK, "THE VANISHING AMERICAN ADULT." HE IS A REPUBLICAN WHO HAS BEEN ABOUT HIS OPPOSITION TO MR. TRUMP. I BEGAN BY ASKING FOR HIS RESPONSE TO THE RECENT EVENTS.

>> WELL, THERE'S JUST A LOT WE DON'T KNOW, SO LET'S FIRST BE HUMBLE ABOUT HOW LITTLE WE KNOW. BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE, THOSE OF US WHO ARE CALLED TO BE PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR A TIME, ARE CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT WHAT CAN WE DO TO REBUILD, NOT FURTHER ERODE PUBLIC TRUST? WE HAVE THE INSTITUTIONS OF OUR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC THAT HAVE 9%, 12%, AND 15% APPROVAL RATINGS, AND THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE. THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION IS A REALLY IMPORTANT INSTITUTION, AND WE NEED TO ALL WANT TO SHEPPARD IT. WE WANT IT TO BE PROTECTED FROM POLITICAL INFLUENCE, TO NOT BE A PLACE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THINK OF AS A PARTISAN AGENCY THAT THEY SHOULD DOUBT. VERY CRITICAL, WHEN YOU HAVE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR INVESTIGATIVE ARM-- THE F.B.I.-- AND YOUR PROSECUTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

>> Yang: YOU HAVE QUESTIONED, EVEN IN THE CAMPAIGN, YOU SAID YOU TRUSTED NEITHER CANDIDATE. YOU DIDN'T TRUST MR. TRUMP. YOU DIDN'T TRUST SECRETARY CLINTON. AS YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE LEARNED MORE AND AS WE HAVE ALL LEARNED MORE ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP, HAVE YOU BEEN SATISFIED WITH THE WAY YOUR COLLEAGUES AND ESPECIALLY THE LEADERSHIP HAVE REACTED?

>> WELL, I THINK BOTH OF THESE POLITICAL PARTIES ARE LIVING ON BORROWED CAPITAL. AND THEY'RE EXHAUSTED. THERE AREN'T CLEAR VISIONS THAT EITHER PARTY HAS RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I'M THE THIRD OR FOURTH MOST CONSERVATIVE GUY IN THE SENATE BY VOTING RECORD, BUT I'M NOT PARTICULARLY PARTISAN. WE SHOULD BE HAVING A CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES, WHERE THEY'RE EACH TRYING TO OUTDO EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF HAVING BETTER IDEAS TO PERSUADE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT A VISION FOR 10 AND 15 YEARS AND 20 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE SHOULD BE FOR POLICY MAKING. INSTEAD, WE CONSTANTLY HAVE A LESSER OF TWO EVILS CONVERSATION, AND RIGHT NOW THE POLITICAL PARTIES TEND TO ACT LIKE THEIR MAIN JOB IS TO EXPLAIN YET OTHER SIDE IS WORSE. THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

>> Yang: IS THE CONSTANT DISCUSSION OF TRYING TO EXPLAIN OR DEFEND THE PRESIDENT, IS THAT GETTING IN THE WAY OF NOT ONLY THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA BUT ALSO THIS GREATER DISCUSSION THAT YOU TALK ABOUT?

>> YEAH. I MEAN, WE HAVE A CONTINUUM THAT SHOULD BE REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRAT OR CONSERVATIVE VERSUS PROGRESSIVE CONTINUUM ABOUT WHAT POLICY MAKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO. BUT MOST OF OUR POLICY MAKING DISCUSSIONS ARE SHORT-TERMIST. WE SHOULD BE HAVING LONG-TERM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE PORTABILITY OF BENEFITS IN AN ERA WHERE AVERAGE JOB DURATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION IS GOING TO GET SHORTER AND SHORTER FOR EVER MORE, AND THAT'S BEFORE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING IS REALLY DISRUPTING IT. THOSE POLICY DISCUSSIONS SHOULD STILL BE SUBORDINATE TO A LARGER CIVIC CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT DOES AMERICA MEAN? WHAT IS OUR SHARED NARRATIVE? HOW IS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, PRERKS RELIGION, AND ASSEMBLY, THE BEATING HEART OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT? WE TALK ABOUT THE BLOOD FIEWFD HATFIELDS AND McCOY'S ALMOST EVERY DAY.

>> Yang: LET ME QUICKLY BRING YOU BACK TO SOMETHING SHAIT A LITTLE MORE IMMEDIATE. LYNDA MRUCZKOWSKI SAID IT MIGHT BE TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL IN THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION INVOLVING THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. ARE YOU HEARING THAT MORE? AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IDEA?

>> I HAVEN'T YET CALLED FOR EITHER A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR OR AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL BUT I WANT TO DISTINGUISH THOSE TERMS AND TALK ABOUT WHY NOT. FIRST OF ALL, INDEPENDENT COUNSEL, OR A CRIMINAL OR AN INVESTIGATIVE THING THAT'S BASED ON RETROSPECTIVE PROBLEMS, THAT'S ONE POTENTIAL PATHWAY. WE ALSO-- WE USUALLY USE THE WORD "INDEPENDENT COMMISSION" OR "9/11-STYLE COMMISSION--" TO LOOK AT NOT JUST WHAT'S HAPPENED RETROSPECTIVELY BUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT RUSSIA OTHER AND HOSTILE POWERS ARE GOING TO DO WITH CYBERATTACKS AGAINST US IN 2018 AND 2020. I THINK FOR THE FUTURE-LOOK THING WE NEED TO BE DOING MUCH MORE BECAUSE WHAT COMES NEXT IS FAR MORE COMPELLING AND DANGEROUS ATTEMPTS TO INTERFERE WITH AMERICA'S TRUST OF-- AMERICANS' TRUST OF EACH OTHER. WHEN THE BOT TECHNOLOGY AND THE MACHINE LEARNING ENABLES EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE CYBERATTACKS IN THE FUTURE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AGAINST ONE PARTY OR AGAINST THE OTHER. IT'S GOING TO BE A WAR OF ALL AGAINST ALL WHERE EVERY AMERICAN IS SUPPOSED TO DOUBT EACH OTHER. PUTIN IS WINNING RIGHT NOW WITH THESE KINDS OF EFFORTS. WE HAVE TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE PROSPECTIVE LOOKING AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE PREPARED FOR THE CYBER ATTACKS OF THE FUTURE. BUT I BELIEVE WE ALSO NEED TO-- AND THIS IS WHY I HAVEN'T YET CALLED FOR A SPECIAL COMMISSION OR A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR-- THOUGH I'M OPEN TO THOSE DELIBERATION, I HAVEN'T YET CALLED FOR IT BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE US RESTORE TRUST IN THE INSTITUTIONS WE CURRENTLY HAVE-- THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE TO SHORE UP THESE INSTITUTIONS. IT'S NOT THE CASE THAT YOU CAN JUST PUNT BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT DUS TRYST AND SAY, IF WE HAVE A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR THAT WILL BE A PANACEA AND EVERYONE WILL WILL TRUST IT." THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR-- WE DON'T HAVE A STATUTE FOR IT BY THE WAY-- USUALLY IT WOULD BE SOME FORM OF A THREE-JUDGE PANEL. WELL, IF THEY APPOINT SOMEBODY, THEN TWO OF THEM ARE GOING TO HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES AND ONE A REPUBLICAN OR TWO REPUBLICANS AND A DEMOCRAT AND THEN THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIG INTO THEIR HISTORY. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DISTRUST ALL THE WAY DOWN. WE ONLY HAVE FEET OF FLAY KLAY AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WE NEED TO RESTORE TRUST IN SOME OF OUR INSTITUTIONS AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Yang: LET'S TURN TO YOUR BOOK, MAKE YOUR PUBLISHER HAPPY. IT'S CALLED "THE VANISH AMERICAN ADULT." YOU WRITE, "WE ARE LIVING IN AN AMERICA OF PERPETUAL ADOLESCENCE. OUR KIDS SIMPLY DON'T KNOW WHAT AN ADULT IS ANYMORE OR HOW TO BECOME ONE." TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, "THE VANISHING AMERICAN ADULT" IS A CONSTRUCTIVE PROJECT. TWO-THIRDS IS ABOUT DIFFERENT HABIT-FORMING ENTERPRISES THAT WE SHOULD BE DEDICATING OUR 13, 15- AND 15-YEAR-OLDS TO. IT'S NOT A BLAME OF-LAY BOOK. IT WERE, IT WOULD BE DIRECTED AT THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, NOT THE MILLENNIALS TODAY. WE HAVEN'T DONE A GOOD JOB OF HELPING OUR KIDS UNDERSTAND THAT SCAR TISSUE IS SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE. SCAR TISSUE IS THE FOUNDATION OF FUTURE CHARACTER. AND RIGHT NOW, WE'VE COME TO BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE WAYS TO SERVE OUR KIDS IS TO PROTECT THEM FROM HARDSHIPS AND TRANSFORMATIONAL COMING-OF-AGE MOMENTS AND PROTECT THEM FROM WORK. NOOSE NOT WHAT WE WANT UPON. WE WANT THEM TO BECOME FREE TO FIND MEANING IN WORK AND SERVICE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> Yang. BEN SASSE, THE BOOK IS "THE VANISHING ADULT."

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.

>> WE TURN TO OUR TOP STORY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT APPOINTING FORMER F.B.I. DIRECTOR MULLAH ABDUL RAUF KHADIM AS SPECIAL COUNSEL TO OVERSEE THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO COORDINATION, POSSIBLE COORDINATION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. WE'RE JOINED NOW BY PHONE BY JOHN CARLIN. HE SERVED AS CHIEF OF STAFF AND SENIOR COUNSEL TO MULLAH ABDUL RAUF KHADIM. MULLAH ABDUL RAU-- ROBERTMUELLER. MR. CARLIN, THANKS FOR JOINING US. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR FORMER BOSS.

>> I CAN'T THINK OF AN AMERICAN OF HIGHER INTEGRITY AND EXPERIENCE. THIS IS SOMEONE LEGENDARY TO PROSECUTORS AND AGENTS IN THE FIELD WHO-- FORMER MARINE, SPENT A CAREER AS A PROSECUTOR. HAS BEEN NOMINATED BY PRESIDENTS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT CLINTON, PRESIDENT BUSH, AND PRESIDENT OBAMA, FOR DIFFERENT POSITIONS. AND THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, HAS EARNED RESPECT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

>> Yang: AND DO-- TALK ABOUT HIS INDEPENDENCE. THERE WAS-- YOU TALK ABOUT BEING LEGENDARY. ONE OF THE LEGENDS ABOUT ROBERT MUELLER IS HIS THREAT TO RESIGN, IRONICALLY, WITH THEN-DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES COMEY FACING DOWN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.

>> HE'S SOMEONE WHO HAS A FIRM BELIEF IN WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG AND WHAT THE APPROPRIATE ROLE OF A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SHOULD BE. I THINK HE'S SOMEONE WHO LOOKS TO-- EPITOMIZES THE IDEA THAT YOU SHOULD JUST FOLLOW THE FACTS AND THE LAW AND HAS DONE SO IN ALL THE DIFFERENT STEPS OF HIS-- OF HIS CAREER. AND AS YOU'VE REFERENCED, HE'S SOMEONE WHO, IF SOMETHING APPEARS THAT IT'S OUTSIDE THE LAW, HE WON'T DO IT, OR IF IT'S IMPROPER, HE WON'T DO IT. IT'S THAT TIME OF FIRM BACKBONE THAT EARNED THE RESPECT OF SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED WITH HIM AS F.B.I. AGENTS, WORKED WITH HIM AS PROSECUTORS, AND OBSERVED HIM OVER THE YEARS. HE'S ALSO HIGHLY UNUSUAL IN THIS AGE. HE'S SOMEONE WHO HATES THE-- AND AVOIDS THE LIME LIGHT. AND HE'S MANAGED TO STAY OUT OF MOST NEWS STORIES AND KEEP AN UNBELIEVABLY LOW PROFILE WHEN YOU CONSIDER WHAT HE'S DONE OVER HIS CAREER.

>> Yang: COULD YOU REMIND US OF THAT EPISODE, RECOUNT FOR US THAT EPISODE WITH THE SHOWDOWN WITH-- I BELIEVE-- AS I RECALL, WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL ROBERTO GONZALES. THEY WANTED TO OVERRULE A JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FINDING REGARDING SURVEILLANCE, AS I RECALL.

>> YES. AND ACCORDIG TO PUBLIC REPORTING ABOUT WHAT OCCURRED THERE, THERE WAS A SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM THAT THE THEN-ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT WAS ILL. AND DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM COMEY HAD ASSUMED THE ROLE OF ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND BASED ON THE ADVICE HE RECEIVED FROM LAWYERS AT THE OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL, HE FOUND THAT THE PROGRAM, AS IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING RUN, WAS NOT LAWFUL, AND SO HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN. AND HE LEARNED ABOUT A VISIT THAT WAS GOING TO BE MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE WHITE HOUSE, INCLUDING THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL, TO ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT IN HIS HOSPITAL BED AND WAS CONCERNED, SO HE ASKED DIRECTOR MUELLER TO ACCOMPANY HIM TO THAT HOSPITAL ROOM. DIRECTOR MUELLER DID SO. ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT SAID THAT AS ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, IT WOULD BE COMEY'S DECISION AS TO WHAT WAS LAWFUL OR NOT LAWFUL. AND I THINK DIRECTOR MUELLER, CONSISTENT WITH HIS CAREER, IF THE LAWYERS AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAY SOMETHING IS NOT LAWFUL, YOU CAN'T DO IT UNTIL YOU WORK OUT A A WAY THAT'S IN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW, NO MATTER HOW IMPORTANT THE PROGRAM MIGHT BE. THE LAW IS THE LAW.

>> Yang: IRONICALLY, THE CAREERS OF JAMES COMEY AND ROBERT MUELLER ONCE AGAIN INTERTWINED. JOHN CARLIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Yang: AND NOW WE TURN TO, CONTINUING ON THIS STORY, WE TURN TO CONGRESSMAN ADAM KINSINGER, A REPUBLICAN OF ILLINOIS. HE CALLED TODAY FOR A SPECIAL COUNSEL. REPRESENTATIVE CINSINGER, WHAT'S YOUR REACTION NOW TO THE APPOINTMENT OF FORMER F.B.I. DIRECTOR ROBERT MUELLER.

>> WELL, I WAS SURPRISED. I WAS SURPRISED IN A GOOD WAY. I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THE REASON I CALLED FOR IT TODAY WITH THE REVELATIONS OF THE SUPPOSED MEMO YESTERDAY, THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ARISING, I JUST CAME TO THE REALIZATION-- AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID FROM THE BEGINNING IT'S AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE THE FACTS. WHATEVER THEY ARE, WHOEVER THEY EXONERATE OR WHOEVER THEY INDICT. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE THAT. AND THIS HAD BECOME WAY TOO POLITICAL. ANY NEW STORY, ANY NEW PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT HAD COME OUT, YOU KNOW, THE LEFT SCREAMS-- SOME ON THE LEFT MENTION IMPEACHMENT RIGHT AWAY, SOME ON THE RIGHT SAY IT'S FAKE NEWS, AND NEITHER IS TRUE. SO WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. WE NEED ANSWERS, AND WE NEED THEM IN A NONPARTISAN WAY. AND MY HOPE IS THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS OF SAYING LET'S ALL TACK A DEEP BREATH. LET'S AGGRESSIVELY FIND OUT THE TRUTH OF EVERYTHING AND THE FACTS AND WE CAN MOVE AHEAD AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN HAVE FAITH AGAIN IN THE INSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT.

>> Yang: DO YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO TURN THE TEMPERATURE DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THE HILL, SORT OF THE BOILING CONTROVERSY THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST REALLY COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW?

>> IT'S HARD TO TELL. YOU KNOW, TRUTHFULLY, PROBABLY NOT A LOT. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NOW AN OUTLET, I GUESS, FOR THIS. IT'S CONGRESS CAN SAY-- THERE WILL PROBABLY BE THESE INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUING STILL IN CONGRESS-- BUT THE MAJORITY OF THE FOCUS WILL BE WITH THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE. BUT THIS IS A VERY HOT-BUTTON ISSUE. ANY NEW REVELATION THAT COMES OUT, PREME ANGRY OR PEOPLE ARE HAPPY ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE OR WHATEVER. YOU'LL YOOUR GOG CONTINUE TO SEE THAT DIEJ, I THINK. I THINK THIS WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE NEWS CYCLES AND DRIVE STORIES. BUT I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SO THEY CAN SAY-- LOOK, NOTORIOUSLY, THEY HAVE A VERY LOW FAITH IN CONGRESS TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS IN A NONPARTISAN WAY BECAUSE WE'RE A PARTISAN BODY. BUT TO BE ABLE NOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND SAY WE WANT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM WITH AN HONORABLE PERSON LIKE MR. MUELLER I THINK IS A GOOD STEP.

>> Yang: IS THIS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT, THAT THE TURMOIL, THE BACK-AND-FORTH WITH THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TRYING TO INVESTIGATE THIS, THAT THEY JUST COULD NOT HANDLE THIS, THAT YOU HAD O TURN TO SOMEONE-- AN OUTSIDER LIKE THIS?

>> I THINK, ULTIMATELY, IT'S HANDLEABLE. AND WHETHER IT'S THE HOUSE INTELE, OR THE SENATE INTEL COMMITTEE, THEY DO THIS KIND OF STUFF. THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION. THEY GO THROUGH THE PRTIONZ PRS. THERE'S NO DOUBT A MONTH OR TWO AGO IT GOT VERY HEATED. IT GOT PERSONAL. YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT ON THE INTEL COMMITTEE-- I DON'T KNOW WHO TO THROW STONES AT-- BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT ON THE ININTELECOMMITTEE. THIS, WITH THIS SPECIAL COUNSEL, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT. THERE WILL STILL BE A LOT OF PASSION. DONALD TRUMP IS A VERY CONTROVERSIAL PRESIDENT. PEOPLE EITHER LOVE HIM OR DON'T LOVE HIM, SO YOU WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT. BUT HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL REST ASSURED THE WORK WILL GET DONE. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS GOING TO BE A SLOW AND DELIBERATE PROCESS. I HEAR IT WILL BE AT LEAST 60 DAYS TO GET A SPECIAL COUNSEL UP AND RUNNING.

>> Yang: LET ME TALK ABOUT THE OTHER CONTROVERSIES FROM THIS WEEK. THIS WAS TOPPED YESTERDAY BY THE COMEY MEMO. BUT BEFORE THAT, WE HAD THE ALLEGATIONS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP GIVING ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE-- WHAT'S REPORTED TO BE ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE-- TO THE RUSSIANS. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> SO, I WAS DISAPPOINTEDDED. I'M A MILITARY PILOT. I STILL SERVE IN THE GUARD AND FLY PLANES AND I'VE BEEN IN BASICALLY AFTER COLLEGE, AND WE LEARNED EARLY WHEN IT COMES TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION-- I HAVE A MILITARY CLASSIFICATION AS WELL AS A CONGRESSIONAL CLASSIFICATION-- YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT. NOW, THE PRESIDENT DOES HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECLASSIFY INFORMATION WHENEVER HE WANTS TO. THEORETICALLY, A PRESIDENT COULD TAKE EVERYTHING EDWARD SNOWDEN STOLE AND RELEASE THAT HIMSELF. BUT BUTT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT WISE. BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO, WITH AN ADVERSARY, TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S CLASSIFIED, YOU NEED TO DO TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, TALK TO THE FOLKS WHO PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU AND MAKE SURE IT'S OKAY. AND FUT THROUGH THE BRAIN TRUST OF YOUR NATIONAL SECURITY GROUP-- H.R. McMASTER, AND EVERYBODY ELSE-- AND SAY I WANT TO REVEAL THIS TO THE RUSSIANS BECAUSE IT MAY HELP US ON OUR FIGHT WITH ISIS, OR WHATEVER REASON, IF IT WENT THROUGH THAT FILTER I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFERENT. IT SEEMS LIKE-- I WASN'T IN THE OVAL OFFICE-- IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS RELEASED VILL WILKESY NILLY, AND I THINK THAT'S A VERY BAD THING, VERY DANGEROUS, AND HOPEFULLY A LESSON LEARNED FROM ALL OF THIS.

>> Yang: HOW HAS ALL OF THIS AFFECTED YOUR CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN THE PRESIDENT? IT'S A VERY EARLY ADMINISTRATION, AND WE'VE HAD ALL THIS TURMOIL, ALL THESE STORIES GOING ON. HAS THIS SHAKEN YOUR CONFIDENCE AT ALL?

>> AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID, I THINK THE POLICIES-- AS A REPUBLICAN-- THE POLICIES COMING OUT OF THIS ADMINISTRATION THE FOREIGN POLICY, HAS BEEN GOOD. THE STRIKE ON SYRIA WAS GOOD. PUSHING BACK AGAINST NORTH KOREA. THE WORDS ARE NOT. YOU KNOW, THE TWEETS, THE EARLY-MORNING KIND OF TWITTER RAMPAGE AND SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS AREN'T. DOES IT SHAKE MY CONFIDENCE? I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY BOISTEROUS THING TO SAY FOR A MEMBER OF CONGRESS TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEIR CONFIDENCE IS SHAKEN. I HAVE CONCERNS. BUT I KNOW HE HAS A GREAT TEAM AROUND HIM ADVISING HIM, AND I HOPE HE TAKES THAT ADVICE. THIS IS, AGAIN, HOPEFULLY THIS SPECIAL COUNSEL IS THE BEGINNING OF BRINGING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN A LITTLE BIT. WILL ALWAYS BE PRETTY HOT, BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE THAT.

>> Yang: ARE YOU HOPEFUL THAT YOU'LL-- YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE WILL BE ABLE TO FOCUS MORE ON THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA NOW THAN ON-- OF THE PRESIDENT'S TWEETS AND OTHER THINGS?

>> YEAH. I'M REALLY HOPEFUL. I'VE BEEN HOPEFUL FAIR WHILE THAT WE CAN DO THAT. I HATE TO USE THE TERM, BUT WE CAN WALK AND CHEW GUM OUT HERE. WE CAN HAVE THESE CONTROVERSIES GOING ON. STILL, TODAY, WE JUST VOTED ON A BILL-- PASSED UMAN MUFFLE-- FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST SYRIA. WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK. WHEN YOU HAVE ALL THIS DOMINATING THE NEWS PSYCHE TELEDOESN'T GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUR MESSAGE OUT, WHETHER IT'S HEALTH CARE, TAX REFORM. AND, FRANKLY, THEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS NOT OUT SELLING THAT AGENDA, TOO. IT TAKES AWAY SOME KEY PIECES TO GETTING THIS DONE. HOE SPRINGS ETERNAL, AND I HAVE IT NOW.

>> Yang: THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> ANY TIME, TAKE CARE.

>> Sreenivasan: AND NOW WE ARE JOINED BY MATT ZADAPATOWSKI, FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST." MATT, THANKS FOR JOINING US. I THINK I PROBABLY BUTCHERED YOUR LAST NAME, AND I APOLOGIZE. MATT, AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY, THE WHITE HOUSE WAS SAYING THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR A SPECIAL COUNSEL IN THIS CASE. FROM YOUR REPORTING WHAT,-- WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID THIS-- WHAT PRECIPITATED ALL OF THIS?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE ALWAYS KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND FOR DAYS NOW, ROD ROSENSTEIN, WHO IS THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, HAD JUST SEEN HIS REPUTATION BATTERED OVER HIS ROLE IN THE COMEY CASE. YOU KNOW, PRESSURE HAD BEEN INCREASING ON BOTH SIDES, DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN, FOR THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO APPOINT AN ATTORNEY GENERAL. I'M SURE CONVERSATIONS WERE GOING ON THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO REPORT ON BETWEEN HIM AND BOB MUELLER, THE FORMER F.B.I. DIRECTOR THEY APPOINTED TO BE SPECIAL COUNSEL. AND THOSE, OBVIOUSLY, CAME TO FRUITION TODAY. ALTHOUGH, IT'S LATE BREAKING AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO REPORT OUT EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

>> Yang: WE KNOW THERE WAS REPORTING THAT ROD ROSENSTEIN HAD-- WAS UNHAPPY THAT THE DISMISSAL OF COMEY WAS PUT ON HIM, THAT THE WHITE HOUSE WAS PUTTING IT ON HIM. AND THAT HE MAY HAVE EVEN THREATENED TO RESIGN. IS THIS A WAY FOR HIM TO TRY TO SORT OF RECLAIM HIS REPUTATION?

>> I THINK SOMEWHAT, YOU KNOW, AND I MEAN, LOOK, HE-- HE MAY BE MADE SOME THREATS OR SAID SOME THINGS TO EXPRESS HIS UNHAPPINESS WITH THE WAY THIS WENT DOWN, BUT YOU CAN'T READ HIS MEMO ANY OTHER WAY THAN TO SEE HE WANTED JIM COMEY GONE. THAT WAS JUST A BLISTERING CRITIQUE OF JIM COMEY. I DO THINK HE SAW A LOT OF THE BLOWBACK AND RAEBLGHTED IN SOME WAYS, AND MAYBE THAT IS WHAT LED TO US WHERE WE ARE ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> Yang: LET'S TURN TO THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, ROBERT MUELLER. REMIND US WHO HE IS, HIS BACKGROUND, AND WHAT HE BRINGS TO THIS.

>> HE'S A FORMER F.B.I. DIRECTOR WHO IS VERY WELL RESPECTED IN WASHINGTON. JUST AS I SAT DOWN, A FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR I KNOW WAS TEXTING ME SAYING THERE JUST COULD NOT ABE BETTER PICK. HE HAS A REPUTATION OF FIERCE INDEPENDENCE. I THINK HE HAS SOME MILITARY EXPERIENCE IN HIS BACKGROUND. AND, OF COURSE, LED THE F.B.I. FOR A LONG TIME. SO, YOU KNOW-- AND WHAT HE'LL DO NOW IS JUST TAKE OVER THIS INVESTIGATION, TAKE OVER WHAT ROD ROSENSTEIN WOULD HAVE DONE. HE COULD BRING IN HIS OWN TEAM. HE COULD USE F.B.I. AGENTS. MAYBE HE KNOWS SOME FROM HIS TIME IN THE BUREAU, BUT JUST A VERY WELL-RESPECTED GUY IN WASHINGTON.

>> Yang: MATT, YOU COVER THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. WHAT'S THIS DONE TO THE CAREER PROSECUTORS, THE CAREER OFFICIALS, THE CAREER LAWYERS AT JUSTICE? WHAT'S THE MORAL BEEN LIKE, FROM WHAT YOU CAN GATHER?

>> I THINK THERE'S SOME FRUSTRATION. BUT BY AND LARGE, PEOPLE ARE JUST PUTTING THEIR HEADS DOWN AND WORKING. I MEAN, THERE'S A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, A VERY TIGHT CIRCLE, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY-- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SMALL NUMBER-- ON THIS RUSSIA STUFF. AND THE OTHER BUSINESS OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING ON. CERTAINLY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY LIKES THE HIT IT'S GIVE TONIGHT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S REPUTATION BUT THESE ARE CAREER PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO COME IN AND DO THEIR JOBS EVERY DAY.

>> Yang: AND DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE OF WHERE THIS INVESTIGATION IS, WHERE IT WAS BEFORE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT?

>> I WOULD SAY NOW IT HAS PROBABLY SLOWED DOWN. I MEAN, BOB MUELLER NOW HAS TO COME IN, DECIDE WHAT HE NEEDS FOR A BUDGET, DECIDE WHO HE'S GOING TO KEEP ON, AND IF HE NEEDS TO BRING IN ANY NEW PEOPLE. I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL-CLEAR SENSE OF EXACTLY HOW FAR ALONG THEY WERE. I THINK THE F.B.I. DIRECTOR, THE FORMER F.B.I. DIRECTOR SAID THAT IT HAD STARTED IN JULY, AND THAT'S A PRETTY SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME FOR A COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE CASE. AND NOW, YOU KNOW, BOB MUELLER IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN AND WRAP HIS ARMS AROUND THIS AND DECIDE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.

>> Yang: THE FACT IT IS A COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE CASE, THE F.B.I. AND THE JUSTICE DEPS SPY HUNTERS, DOES THAT MAKE IT DIFFERENT? OR HOW DOES THAT MAKE IT DIFFERENT FROM A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION?

>> CERTAINLY, THAT ADDS SENSITIVITIES TO THIS. YOU COULD BE TALKING ABOUT CLANDESTINE SOURCES AND METHODS. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT F.B.I. COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE AGENTS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS. THITHIS IS JUST A LITTLE MORE SENSITIVE THAN, SAY, A THINK ABOUT ROBBERY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THE F.B.I. ALSO INVESTIGATES. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S NOT SAYING THIS CAN'T PRODUCE CRIMINAL CHARGES. I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE THERE YET. EVEN IN MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT, ROD ROSENSTEIN SAID, LOOK, I AM NOT SAYING THIS BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE READY FOR A PROSECUTOR OR THIS IS READY FOR CRIMINAL CHARGES BUT IT'S IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OVERSEE THIS THING.

>> Yang: SO WE ARE PROBABLY MONTH AWAY.

>> YES.

>> Sreenivasan: MATT, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Yang: AND NOW WE GO BACK TO CAPITOL HILL FOR A DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE. THIS TIME REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SCHIFF OF CALIFORNIA, THE RANKING MEMBER ON THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. MR. SCHIFF, THANKS FOR JOINING US. YOUR REACTION TO THIS NEWS THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS APPOINTED ROBERT MUELLER AS THE SPECIAL COUNSEL IN THIS CASE.

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A VERY POSITIVE STEP, AND I APPLAUD THE CHOICE OF BOB MUELLER. I THINK HE'S VERY WIDELY RESPECTED BY PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, IMMENSELY BRIGHT, CAPABLE PERSON. AND I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT CALL. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T GOOD, CAREER PEOPLE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT COULD DO THIS. BUT NONETHELESS, I THINK IT WILL HAVE THAT MUCH MORE CREDIBILITY IN THE PUBLIC EYE BY APPOINTING SOMEONE IN THE SPECIAL COUNSEL POSITION THAT HAS WHAT ADD DEGREE OF INDEPENDENCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT. STILL NOT THE FULL INDEPENDENCE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE HAD UNDER THE OLD STATUTE, INDEPENDENT COUNSEL STATUTE, BUT NONETHELESS, I THINK A VERY SOLID DECISION. AND I THINK IT OUGHT TO HELP INSPIRE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING.

>> Yang: NOW, HOW WILL THIS WORK WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS ON THE HILL? WILL YOUR COMMITTEE'S INVESTIGATION CONTINUE IN PARALLEL WITH MR. MUELLER'S?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT I THINK FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND JUST WHAT THIS MEANS AND WHAT IT DOESN'T MEAN. THE HOUSE AND SENATE INVESTIGATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD. WE HAVE VERY IMPORTANT OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY, AND, OBVIOUSLY, IF WE UNCOVERED FACTS THAT WE THINK THAT PROSECUTORS OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT, WE WOULD REFER THAT NOW TO THE SPECIAL COUNSEL. IN THE SENSE THAT WE MAY NEED TO COORDINATE OUR ACTIVITIES BECAUSE WE HAVE PARALLEL INVESTIGATIONS RUNNING, WE WOULD NOW WORK WITH MR. MUELLER. SO NONE OF THIS STOPS WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. INDEED, IF WE FORM AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION, THAT ALSO IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE MISSION THAN THAT BY THE SPECIAL COUNSEL. THE SPECIAL COUNSEL WILL BE OVERSEEING THE F.B.I. AGENTS WHO ARE WORKING THE INVESTIGATION, AND THE SPECIAL COUNSEL WILL BE MAKING DECISIONS IF IT COMES TO THAT, WHETHER CHARGES OUGHT TO BE BROUGHT AND AGAINST WHOM.

>> Yang: AND WHAT WILL YOUR COMMITTEE BE ASKING FOR WITH THIS DISCLOSURE THAT MR. COMEY APPEARS TO HAVE KEPT CONTEMPORANEOUS MEMOS OF HIS CONVERSATIONS AND DEALINGS WITH THE PRESIDENT THROUGHOUT THIS? WILL YOU BE SEEKING THOSE DOCUMENTS? WILL YOU BE SEEKING TESTIMONY FROM MR. COMEY?

>> I THINK WE WILL IN CONGRESS BE SEEK THOSE DOCUMENTS. INDEED, MANY OF THE CHAIRS HAVE ALREADY ASKED FOR THEM. I ALSO THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR DIRECTOR COMEY TO COME AND TESTIFY, ONCE AGAIN I HOPE IN OPEN SESSION, SO WE CAN ADD CONTEXT TO WHATEVER IS WRITTEN IN THESE WRITTEN MEMORANDA. IF THERE ARE TAIMS AS WELL, AS THE PRESIDENT HAS THREATENED, WE OUGHT TO OBTAIN THOSE. THOSE, IN FACT, WOULD BE THE VERY BEST EVIDENCE OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE ALONG THE LINES OF THAT "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORT IN WHICH IT'S ALLEGED THAT THE PRESIDENT ASKED DIRECTOR COMEY TO DROP THE INVESTIGATION OF MICHAEL FLYNN. SO ALL OF THAT WORK IN CONGRESS BY THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMIT, BY THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, AND OTHERS, WILL GO FORTH. IT'S JUST THAT THE F.B.I. INVESTIGATION, THE PROSYOU CAN PORL DECISIONS WILL NOW BE MADE BY THE SPERM COUNSEL BOB MUELLER.

>> Yang: AND ON THE QUESTION OF THE TAPES, THERE GOING TO BE ANY INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE TAPES TO ASK FOR? WELL, WE DO NEED TO FIND OUT WHETHER THERE ARE TAPES. SO I THINK WE NEED TO USE WHATEVER COMPULSION, IF NECESSARY, TO FIND OUT. THE PRESIDENT HAS, OBVIOUSLY, STOPPED TALKING ABOUT THE TAPES, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WAS SIMPLY A HOLLOW THREAT HE WAS MAKING AGAINST DIRECTOR COMEY OR IN FACT IT'S BACKED UP BY THE EXISTENCE OF TAPES, BUT WE DO NEED TO FIND OUT.

>> Yang: YOU CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE ON SORT OF WHERE YOUR INVESTIGATION IS, WHERE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE'S INVESTIGATION IS, AND WHERE IT'S LIKELY TO PROCEED IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE?

>> WELL, WE ARE WHERE YOU WOULD EXPECT A LARGE INVESTIGATION OF THIS KIND TO BEGIN, AND THAT IS WITH A REVIEW OF AN EXTRAORDINARY NUMBER OF DOCUMENTS. A LOT OF THEM ARE INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENTS THAT UNDERLIE THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY'S CONCLUSION ABOUT RUSSIAN INTERVENTION, ABOUT RUSSIAN MOTIVATIONS. ALSO, WE'RE, OBVIOUSLY, LOOKING INTO THE ISSUE OF COLLUSIONS, WERE U.S. PERSONS INVOLVED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. WE'RE INVITING WITNESSES TO PROVIDE US DOCUMENTS. WE'RE INVITING WITNESSES TO COME BEFORE TE COMMITTEE. WE'RE SCHEDULING OPEN AND CLOSED HEARINGS AND WE SHOULD HAVE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BUT THESE ARE ALL THE STEPS WE'RE TAKE AND I THINK WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER VERY WELL IN A NONPARTISAN WAY.

>> Yang: REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SCHIFF, TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMIT, THUMP.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Yang: NOW, TO THE CONTINUING FALLOUT FROM THE REPORTS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SHARED HIGHLY- CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE WITH RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS THAT CAME FROM ISRAEL. WILLIAM BRANGHAM HAS THAT.

>> Brangham: IT WAS THE "NEW YORK TIMES" THAT FIRST REPORTED YESTERDAY THAT ISRAEL WAS THE SOURCE OF SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE ABOUT ISIS IN SYRIA, THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ALLEGEDLY DIVULGED TO RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER AND ITS U.S. AMBASSADOR. SO, WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS, NOT ONLY FOR THE POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND ISRAEL, BUT THE CLOSE TIES BETWEEN THE NATIONS' INTELLIGENCE AND MILITARY SERVICES? TO HELP US ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, WE TURN TO RONEN BERGMAN. HE'S THE INTELLIGENCE CORRESPONDENT FOR ISRAEL'S LARGEST DAILY NEWSPAPER, "YEDIOT AHRONOTH," AND AUTHOR OF THE FORTHCOMING BOOK, "RISE AND KILL FIRST: THE SECRET HISTORY OF ISRAEL'S TARGETED ASSASSINATIONS." HE JOINS US FROM TEL AVIV. RONEN, MAY I FIRST ASK YOU, WERE YOU ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THIS INTELLIGENCE THAT THE PRESIDENT ALLEGEDLY DIVULGEDLY WAS IN FACT FROM ISRAEL? AND IF SO, WHAT THE REACTION AMONG ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE HAS BEEN?

>> THIS IS NOT YET FINALLY CONFIRMED. THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON IN ISRAEL, TRYING TO CHECK WHICH OF THE MANY, MANY ITEMS OF INTELLIGENCE THAT WAS DELIVERED TO THE UNITED STATES DURING THE LAST THREE OR FOREMONTHS REGARDING SYRIA, THE ACTIVITY OF ISIS, RUSSIA, HEZ BOWL AIRAN, ALL CLOSELY GUARDED BY ISRAEL. WHICH HAVE THESE ITEMS WERE GIVEN BY PRESIDENT TRUMP TO FOREIGN MINISTER LAVROV. AS PER THE EMOTIONS OR THE REACTIONS INSIDE ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, I WOULD SAY THEY ARE BALLISTIC. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO EXTREMELY UPSET, AND ONE OF THEM TOLD ME THIS IS SORT OF-- THIS IS A KICK, VIOLATION IN OUR SACRED TRUST OF EACH OTHER, A BLUNT VIOLATION OF EVERYTHING THE TWO COUNTRIES AGREED. THAT PERSON SAID THAT MAYBE THE PRESIDENT HAS AN AUTHORITY, AS WE TWEETED, TO DELIVER U.S. INTELLIGENCE, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY TO SHARE ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE AND INTELLIGENCE THAT WAS SHARED WITH CLOSE CIRCLES OF AMERICANS, AND JUST AMERICANS, WITH ANYONE ELSE.

>> Brangham: PRESIDENT TRUMP SPOKE WITH NETANYAHU YESTERDAY. CERTAINLY, THIS MUST HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS SAID OR NOT SAID DURING THAT CONVERSATION. HOWEVER, PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU ORDERED HIS STAFF NOT TO REACT IN ANY WAY TO THE RECENT SCANDALS IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE LEAKAGE OF INFORMATION, ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE TO THE RUSSIANS, AND HE'S-- I THINK THAT NETANYAHU IS A BIT INTIMIDATED OF-- AND AFRAID OF PRESIDENT TRUMP. MR. NETANYAHU IS DOING WHATEVER HE CAN TO PLAY DOWN THIS AFFAIR AND NOT DOING ANYTHING THAT COULD HARM THE PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO ISRAEL NEXT WEEK.

>> Brangham: IN YOUR REPORTING, HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY SENSE THAT ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE IS NOW TRYING TO PRESERVE OR PROTECT OR SOMEHOW TRY TO COVER THE INTELLIGENCE THAT THEY'VE ALREADY SHARED WITH THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF THIS? YES, INDEED. THERE IS A RISK ASSESSMENT AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT PROCESS GOING ON, AS WE SPEAK. AND THE ASSUMPTION, AS IN ALL INTELLIGENCE SCANDALS, IS THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO MEANING THAT MUCH OF THE INFORMATION IS IN JEOPARDY. THEREFORE, STEPS NEED TO BE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE, SAVE THE LIVES SOURCES AND PROTECT THE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IF, N.T.S.B. INDEED, INFORMATIOS IN THE HANDS OF U.S. INTELLIGENCE, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, U.S. PRESIDENT IS NOT SAFE, THAT MEANS THAT MUCH OF THE SECRETS OF ISRAEL, SOME OF THEM SECRETS THAT TOOK YEARS TO-- MODUS OPERANDI, TOOK YEARS TO DEVELOP, MUCH, MUCH RESOURCES, ARE AT RISK, AND ONE OF THE ISRAELI OFFICIALS TOLD ME THAT HE BELIEVES THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A REASSESSMENT OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS-- THAT WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE U.S. FROM THIS POINT ON UNTIL IT'S PROVEN THAT THE CHANNEL, THIS PIPELINE OF INFORMATION GOING FROM ISRAEL TO THE UNITED STATES, AND VICE VERSA, OF COURSE, IS SAFE AGAIN AND CAN BE TRUSTED 100%. NOTHING LESS THAN 100% IS NOT SECURE.

>> Brangham: ALL RIGHT, RONEN BERGMAN, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> Yang: ONCE AGAIN, OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT NAMED FORMER F.B.I. DIRECTOR ROBERT MUELLER AS SPECIAL COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED COLLUSION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN CALLED IT A "GOOD FIRST STEP." REPUBLICAN SENATOR JOHN CORNYN SAID IT COULD EASE PARTISAN TENSIONS. SEPARATELY, "THE WASHINGTON POST" REPORTED THAT LAST SUMMER, HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER KEVIN McCARTHY TOLD COLLEAGUES THAT HE THOUGHT THEN-CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP WAS BEING PAID BY THE RUSSIANS. SPOKESMEN FOR BOTH McCARTHY AND HOUSE SPEAKER PAUL RYAN FIRST DENIED THAT IT HAPPENED, THEN SAID IT WAS MEANT AS A JOKE. AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. I'M JOHN YANG. JOIN US ONLINE, AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. FOR ALL OF US AT THE PBS NEWSHOUR, THANK YOU AND SEE YOU SOON.

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>> Rose: WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH POLITICS AND OUR CONTINUING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. TONIGHT, KATY TUR OF NCB NEWS.

>> YOU HEAR MITCH McCONNELL SAY, YEAH, I WISH THERE WERE A LOT LESS DRAMA, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE NOT MAKING REAL STEPS TO DISASSOCIATE OR DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THIS PRESIDENT, BY AND LARGE. YOU'VE GOT TO POINT TO WHAT A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS SAID ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, CHARLIE, AND I HATE TO ALWAYS LOOK BACK, BUT PAST IS OUR BEST GUIDE, BUT REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING PAUL RYAN -- AND THIS IS PART OF THE REASON DONALD TRUMP WON AS WELL -- KEPT SAYING OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT HILLARY CLINTON WAS CARELESS WITH CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. THEY TOOK THAT FROM JAMES COMEY.

>> Rose: WE CONCLUDE WITH JANN