on the issue of overseeing the mueller investigation, though, the question of potential conflicts of interest, the question of him prejudging the case, presumably the ethics officials at the justice department would consider those when deciding whether or not he should be recused from overseeing mueller. how does that process work, though? and how much transparency are we allowed to see? how much transparency are we allowed into that process in terms of seeing whether he has been given that advice? >> so the way the process works is that the attorney general would ask the career ethics folks at doj for their view on whether recusal is required. then he'll receive that advice. but confidentially. it's not made public. then he will make a decision based on that advice as to how to proceed. unlike with a court case where there is a ruling that is public, here that all happens behind the scenes. >> can congress ask to see it? >> yeah. >> i know that democrats have written to the top ethics officer at the justice department asking whether these consultations have happened. >> i think that's the mechanism by which this advice at the career ethics folks give is likely, although it's not guaranteed, but likely to eventually become public, both congressional requests and also media requests. i think the past precedent here is pretty clear.