News, analysis and interviews with politicians and observers. Back in the jury room. So how this all unfolded, just after 11 00 a. M. , the jury did send a note to the court asking the judge, judge, what do we do if we cant come to a unanimous decision on one of the 18 counts. That implies that perhaps they have reached a decision unanimously on the other 17 counts, but they havent said that definitively. What the judge had to do was he had to come up with instructions to give the jury as it pertained to them going back and deliberating yet again. That just happened. In just the past few minutes, the judge instructed the jury, go back into the jury room and continue to work on that one final count. Try to continue to work, to come to some unanimous verdict on that one remaining count. Outside of the presence of the jury, the judge indicated that he might be prepared to accept a partial verdict if they werent able to come to a conclusion on that one remaining count that they seem to have indicated. But the judge, however, did not specifically instruct the jury that hed be willing to accept that partial verdict. Thats important because he doesnt want the jury going back into the jury Deliberation Room saying, okay, well, why try that hard because this judge would, in fact, perhaps accept that partial verdict. This judge wants the jury to know that he is anticipating, hoping for a full verdict here. So again, just a few minutes ago, the jury going back into the Deliberation Room with the instructions from the judge, keep going at it, see if you can, in fact, reach a decision on this one count thats giving you trouble. And john, we dont know what that count is, but these are 18 complicated counts that include tax fraud, bank fraud, as well as issues around foreign bank accounts. So theyve been working on this pretty painstakingly. Its really the first weve heard a substantial question from the jury since thursday. So well see as the time continues to tick forward what this jury will do. John . And jess, have we heard anything specific beyond their curiosity and im sure their
is known as a sawyer charge. He instructed them to try again, to listen to each other, whether or not theres only a couple of them who are stuck on one side of the equation, and to consider changing their vote if that doesnt violate their conscience. He was trying to remind this jury that they had a duty to come to a unanimous decision so long as that didnt violate their conscience. The judge wanted to remind both sides before he brought the jury back that what could happen next. If this jury remains stuck, we dont know how long that might be, we dont know how long hell let them continue, but if they come back and say that they cannot reach a final decision on all of these counts, he told them he would consider obviously accepting a partial verdict. Obviously we dont know which particular counts theyve reached their decision on. We dont know which side of this theyve come down on. So theres still a great deal of mystery for the defense and for the prosecution in this case. Something that just came in from our team at the courthouse. Manaforts attorney asked judge ellis to give the jury a new verdict form after the jury said well need another form please in their tuesday note. Ellis said he would not. Downing said he wished jurors would be given a third option, a Hung Jury Option for each count. Take me inside. If youre the prosecutor or the Defense Lawyers and youre at this stage, what are your options and where are you powerless . Well, i think if youre the prosecutor on this case, it certainly feels like you might be winning on 17 counts because when a jury is sort of on that kind of roll, checking off innocent, innocent, innocent, are they going to stay around and argue about one final count if they think the guy was falsely charged or improperly charged on the first 17 . Usually youd have to say no. On the other hand, if youre finding somebody guilty and they can go to jail under certain counts, youre carefully going
up to the trial, but also during the trial. What goes through your mind, and what information do you have . I think this was much more complicated than any of us had anticipated. It seemed like there was overwhelming evidence. But these are 18 counts, very confusing perhaps at times. Look at this jury note. Theyre probably confused in some ways too. Its clear theyve made a lot of progress. Weve been waiting to hear whats going on for days. We really havent heard where they stand. Now we know. I think when they write a note like if we cannot come to a consensus for a single count, how can we fill in the Verdict Sheet . So clearly maybe they either wanted the judge to take something off the Verdict Sheet. That part is very confusing. I think as paul said, the idea that the judge wouldnt give them a new Verdict Sheet i also think this judge just does not want to meddle in this deliberation. Go back, keep at it, and lets see what happens. He also said in court before he sent them back in, continue to deliberate, and he did tell the
court that he does not intend to take a partial verdict at this point. Lets see what happens. They could come back and maybe he does take a partial verdict. Does not intend to take a partial verdict at this point. Lets step back to a minute for the importance of this case. If youre Robert Mueller the special counsel, these charges have nothing to do with President Trumps 2016 campaign. These charges ahave nothing to o with russian interference in the 2016 election. There was testimony, however, that rick gates remains t cooperating on other matters, number one, and there was testimony that among the misdeeds, the influence peddling, if you will, that Paul Manafort was accused of doing by prosecutors, was including trying to get a job in the Trump Administration from a Bank President with whom he was trying to get a loan. To your point, i think its important to emphasize that while this is Robert Muellers team that is prosecuting this case, this is not directly tied to the questions of russian interference, nor is it tied to the questions of obstruction
weve seen really circling around donald trump. At the same time, the trump team is obviously really closely watching whats going to happen here, in part for trumps political argue, which is that the Mueller Probe as a whole is a political witch hunt, that theres nothing to it. Certainly if manafort were to get off, that would feed into that narrative. If manafort is found guilty, it will lend real credibility to the Mueller Probe, that he was able to put someone who was the campaign chairman, not an insignificant player in trumps world, on trial and get a guilty verdict. A lot of nervousness in the Trump Administration, in the west wing right now as they wait for this verdict. And that nervousness exhibited by the president himself on friday, who did something remarkable. Many people would say reprehensible, when he publicly talked during Jury Deliberations about how he thought this was sad that the government was putting Paul Manafort on trial, that Paul Manafort was a good man, despite the federal government of the same United States saying hes guilty of
saying they want guidance on being hung on one count. Theoretically, they could be having some dissension on other counts too. Paul, one more quick question here. As a former prosecutor, if youre Robert Mueller and you know you have another manafort trial, youre under constant attack by the president of the United States, you have to decide what to do with the papadopoulos sentencing, the Michael Flynn sentencing. You know the other evidence you have or dont have, are still looking for. How important is it to win the first one out of the gate when youre not only in a complicated legal situation but an incredibly complicated political mess . It is very important, john, to win that first one because, you know, mueller has been under constant attack bit president. The president has got a new derogatory nickname for mueller every week. Theres a new one thats added to the list. So his credibility is on the line here, and that is so important in an investigation like this and in trials to come in the future. A lot of times in these really complicated tax cases, paper
cases, the jury, if they trust the prosecutor and believe in the integrity of the prosecutor, when they get to a point where its really too hard for them to understand the law or its difficult to understand what the accountants mean with the charts that have been put up, they rely on the prosecutor and maybe come forward with a jury guilty verdict, as they do, by the way, in 90 of federal cases. So his credibility is really important, and this is the first test, the first public test of his credibility. Going to ask our legal experts to not go terribly far from the camera. Were going to continue to track whats happening in that courthouse in northern virginia. Well bring you the latest as soon as we get any update. Up next, moving on to a somewhat related story. Microsoft uncovers a russian Cyber Campaign to mess, again, with american democracy. Ive seen lots of homes helping new customers bundle and save big, but now its time to find my dream abode. Right away, i could tell his priorities were a little unorthodox. Keep going. Stop. A little bit down. Stop. Back up again. Is this adequate sunlight for a Komodo Dragon . Yeah. Sure, i want that discount on Car Insurance just for owning a home, but im not compromising. Youre taking a shower . Water pressures crucial, scott its like they say location, location, koi pond. They dont say that. The jury still deliberating, but just moments ago sending a note to the judge asking, what do we do if we cannot reach a unanimous consensus on one of the 18 counts. Thats Paul Manaforts attorney outside the courthouse. Well return to the trial as soon as we get new information. Moving on to other top news today, new glaring evidence that Vladimir Putin lied to President Trump and russia is still attacking u. S. Democratic institutions. Microsoft, the software giant, revealing overnight that Russian MilitaryIntelligence Units launched Cyber Attacks targeting conservative think tanks and the United States senate. According to microsoft, hackers for fancy bear, the same group of Cyber Criminals implicated last month by the Russia Special counsel, set up fake websites meant to Entrap Visitors into coughering up pa coughing up passwords and other sensitive information. This is a mirror image of how the russians broke into John Podestas email accounts. The sites identified by microsoft mimicked real ones
used by United StatesSenate Staffers and bore official sounding web addresses. Russian hackers built two other imposter sites, one for the hudson institute, and one for the International Republican institute. Both are conservative groups that have broke within the president , and both have very hawkish views when it comes to russia. Cnns Fred Pleitgen is in moscow for us. Fred, the kremlin response today, i suspect, was deny . Reporter i would say its even more than deny. The kremlin spokesman was in a Conference Call with reporters earlier today, and he didnt just deny these new allegations, he basically said that the russians had absolutely no idea what all of this is about. They say that so far, they believe that not enough information was provided for them to even issue a denial, and they say a lot of the players that are involved in this, they dont even know if these players exist or who they are. I want to read a little bit of the statement that was put forward. He said, quote, our reaction has
already become traditional. We dont know which hackers theyre talking about. We dont know what is meant about the impact on elections. It was interesting because we asked in that same call what about these six websites that were stopped by microsoft . He said, look, i have no idea what fancy bear is or what this has to do with any sort of russian intelligence services, which is interesting because Cybersecurity Experts believe fancy bear is directed by the Russian Military intelligence, by the gru. So the russians certainly issuing a very strong denial and going on further beyond that. Fred pleitgen in moscow. Appreciate that reporting. Ill be waiting to see Vladimir Putin say its a 400pound guy in his basement. Microsofts newly documented evidence of russian meddling puts the president , who has repeatedly questioned russian interference, in a fresh bind. The disconnect between what the president says and what his
intelligence Community Says highlighted again just yesterday. In an interview with reuters, this from the president. Muellers probe played right into the russians. If it was russia. They played right into the russians hands. The key words there from the president of the United States, again, despite all of the evidence, if it was russia. Julie pace is back with us. Also joining the conversation, Jonathan Martin of the new york times. Cnns phil mattingly. If it was russia. The president has been told by everybody on his National SecurityTeam Including most of his appointees, that this is continuing. You have microsoft saying we caught them again, the same People Mueller has indicted. The president says if it was russia. He cant help himself when it comes this. Hes really on an island by himself. The only other person whos continuing this narrative that russia was not involved in this is Vladimir Putin. Everyone else, as you say, even the president s own appointees
in the intelligence community, go to him with evidence saying russia was clearly behind this, you have u. S. Companies combatting this on a daytobda basis. It begs the question, and theres no good answer, why does the president continue to question this . It leads you back to the questions about his ties to russia. Is there a reason why he cant just get over this hurdle, why he cant side with american intelligence . And Fred Pleitgen going through what you would expect from the kremlin. They say what are you talking about, we dont know anything about this, just as Vladimir Putin has said. If you talk to the cyber people, including u. S. Intelligence officials who work for President Trump, they say that russia is getting caught on purpose, that russia is leaving fingerprints. If they wanted to be more clever, if they wanted to be for nefarious that they want were still going this. Were in the game. Were still in the game. This is the president s own director two Administration Officials today testified on capitol hill. This is still going on. Their boss, the man they report to, the director of national
intelligence. This is dan coats last month at the hudson institute, one of the conservative think tanks microsoft said was hacked. In regards to state actions, russia has been the most aggressive foreign actor. No question. They continue their efforts to undermine our democracy. The Warning Signs are there. System is blinking and it is why i believe we are at a critical point. The location more than ironic, but he didnt say if russia did it. He says the lighting are blinking, were at a crisis point. The purpose for russian interference is to create distrust, to create chaos in the political system. And thats exactly what theyre doing. Theyre succeeding in that with Administration Officials like dan coats saying things like that. Then we have the president completely going the other way and saying if russia did it. So you know, Vladimir Putin right now is succeeding, if thats the goal, in terms of creating this chaos weve seen in the last year. I think the interesting bit,
you mentioned the hearing on capitol hill where you had officials from across the spectrum of agencies controlled by President Trump saying without hesitation this is something thats happening, this is something that was happening, and theres no question about it. But the interesting element is there are Policy Ramifications to the president s unwillingness to seemingly embrace this wholeheartedly. You had senators from both parties on capitol hill. The reason the hearings are happening today, theyre considering new sanctions on russia. That would seem to undercut what the president wants to do in terms of bettering the relationship. Perhaps that means easing sanctions. Congress is considering ramping them up. Then you look across the spectrum on the cyber capability side of things where you have the Defense Department considering offensive action or reaction on Something Like this, which is also extremely important and very, very kind of touchy when it comes to a legal standpoint. You have all of these things happening as the president cant seem to embrace it. The net of it is that what the president wants in terms of a relationship with russia, he cant get because he wont
accept it in the first place. And it complicates other relationships, including with key u. S. Allies. Listen to the uks Foreign Minister in town today essentially saying, yeah, i see what the president says on twitter, but i call mike pompeo and say, what are you going to do as opposed to what is he going to say. Hes particularly active on twitter, and its a very different style of politics, but its very important to look at what he does as well as what he says. When it comes to sanctions, it was this administration that first said that they were going to take economic action against russia as a result of what happened in salisbury. It wasnt europe. It was the United States that were first to do that. Thats so fascinating. What hes doing there is basically saying out loud that there is a gap between the Trump Administration policy and the Trump Twitter riffs, which is what everybody knows. Its striking to hear our most important ally say it out loud
in washington, d. C. , like that. Hes totally exposing what everybody gets, which is that there are two different policies. To phils point, im sort of almost innered to this Groundhog Day Routine of saying if they did it. What im more interested in now is action. Will trump at rand pauls urging kind of go easier on some of these sanctions . Will he let russian legislators visit the u. S. . Thats wrihere i think it gets more interesting, less him sowing doubts and more following up by easing up on putin. That could create a rubber meets the road issue with congress. Theyre okay, at least okay turning a blind eye to the tweets about if they did it, but they wouldnt be okay, i think, with actually easing the sanctions. Something to watch in the weeks ahead because rand paul is pushing the president to do something on that specific issue. Well watch. Up next, somewhat related, damned if you do, damned if you dont. President trump says sitting down for an interview with the special counsel would be a nowin situation. Theres a lot to love about medicare. Theres also a lot to know. Part a thats your hospital coverage, part b is all the doctor stuff. The most important thing to know . Medicare doesnt pay for everything. And guess what that means. Yep. Youre on the hook for the rest. Thats why its important to consider an aarp Medicare Supplement insurance plan, insured by Unitedhealthcare Insurance Company. A plan like this helps pay for some of what medicare doesnt. So you could end up paying less out of your own pocket. Thats nice. And these are the only Medicare Supplement plans endorsed by aarp. Selected for meeting their high standards of quality and service. It feels good to have someone looking out for you. Want to find out more . Call Unitedhealthcare Insurance Company now to request this free decision guide, with aarp Medicare Supplement plan options
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special counsel Robert Mueller will find a way to call him a liar. The president shares this insight in an interview with reuters. So if i Say Something and former fbi director james comey says something and its my word against his and hes best friends with mueller, mueller might say, well, i believe comey. Even if im telling the truth, that makes me a liar. Thats no good. Today the Drudge Report Echoing the president s concern,. Of course, sad to say, the president already is a liar. Comey and mueller know each other from past Government Service but are not best friend, as the president likes to say. The president s trouble with the truth is one reason his lawyers want no part of a mueller interview. That concern isnt new, but it is heightened now after revelations that White House Counsel Don Mcgahn sat for 30 hours of interviews with muellers investigators. Two people familiar with the president s thinking say that news has him unnerved. Not a surprise exactly, but more clarity now even though the public line is the president wants to testify that he has zero intention of answering questions from bob mueller, right . It was a fascinating set of comments he made to reuters there, using language weve heard from people like Rudy Giuliani saying an interview is potentially a perjury trap. Thats the concern that the White House Team has, not that mueller is trying to set him up, but that trump could commit perjury because he changes his story so often. I think youre right. This at one point looked like trump did want to do an interview, that he felt like there was a political imperative to going forward. It seems increasingly unlikely hes going to do this. The concern from him and his legal team seems to be too great at this point. Also in that same interview, this from the president about, you know, can you shut down the Mueller Investigation or will
you shut down or try to assert more control . Quote, i can go in and do whatever. I could run it if i want. But i decided to stay out. Im totally allowed to be involv invol involved if i wanted to be. Sometimes the president says things that he knows are provocative and that he knows are not of the planet, shall we say, to stir up conversations. But when you have, among the things don mcgahn has talked to the special counsel about, is he wanted me to fire you, mr. Mueller. Hes several times wanted to make runs at jeff sessions. He wanted to go after the Deputy Attorney general. The fact is he hasnt stayed out at all. He just wants to put that image out there. The other thing i think has been effective from his legal team in terms of the conversation about the perjury trap is that the president is a paranoid person. Weve seen this now again take place with the conversation about don mcgahn. Hes paranoid. So the way they get him to not interview is to kind of make him think this is a setup. If he goes into it, this is going to to be a setup and a trap. That seems to have worked. Now hes kind of again making things up about how hes actually more in control than it might seem. Interesting too is the authority or whether the president has the authority has always been understood to be the case. He probably does have some authority to shut down or try and get in the way through various dominos falling if he wanted to. Its always been the political ramifications of what would happen if he tried to pull that trigger. Thats what terrifies republicans on capitol hill. Thats what im told repeatedly white house officials have had to make calls to Senate Majority leader mitch mcconnell, speaker paul ryan, assuage their concerns. Its almost as if the president is relaying what hes been told about his own authority while also ignoring the fact that the result of what would happen if he did that would be cataclysmic, which is generally understood across his party,
which for the most part has turned a blind eye. And saying it out loud in interviews and tweets, it would be like if the nixon tapes were played in realtime on the Evening News Back in the early 70s. You could hear it all, right. It makes you curious as to what were not hearing. We get so much of the inner monologue. Hes musing out loud aboutic i could run the investigation myself. We know what hes thinking because hes glaringly transparent. For example, i pulled those Security Clearances because brennan was involved at the beginning of the russia investigation, not because of anything he said on television. The lester holt interview about why he fired comey. This is jack quinn, former white house counsel, worked in the Attorneys Office back in the clinton administration, back during the lewinsky investigation. His take on the impact of having it now Public Knowledge that the White House Counsel Don Mcgahn not only cooperated with investigators but spent 30 hours with them. Nobody wants to be the last one standing. Nobody wants to watch ones colleagues go in, spill the beans, and be the one whos last in line to cooperate. I think theres a good chance youll see a lot of people making phone calls to the special counsels Office Asking when their interview can take place. Is that fair in the sense that you know, my understanding is not only is don mcgahn given 30 hours, but don mcgahns instructions to all the younger lawyers around him have been protect yourself, tell the truth. And weve seen many people who have gone in to already talk to the special counsel from the white house staff. The more interesting thing to look at there is think about the effect in the west wing. You have advisers showing up every day looking at each other, knowing theyve all gone in to talk to bob mueller, wondering what everybody has said, whos pointing a finger at who. That is a really difficult Work Environment if youre actually trying to get something done running the government. Although, i keep saying for months now, if you did nothing wrong, and you all told the
truth, why are you so nervous and agitated . But well leave it there. Before we go to break, a flashback from the trump presidency. The fighting grinds on in afghanistan. A look back at a promise the president made exactly one year ago. From now on, victory will have a clear definition. Attacking our enemies, obliterating isis, crushing al qaeda, preventing the taliban from taking over afghanistan. Its the sears labor day event . Where you can shop with confidence and convenience plus get these 4 benefits from kenmore at sears. Up to fifty percent off appliances with your sears card. Like this washer and dryer for 539. 99 each. And this refrigerator for 899. 99. Hurry in to sears today. Now tmobile has unlimited for the rest of us. Unlimited ways to be you. Unlimited ways share with others. Unlimited ways to live for the moment. All for as low as 30 bucks a line. Unlimited for you. For them. For all. Get unlimited for as low at 30 bucks per line for four lines at tmobile. Topping our political radar today, two top government Officials Say despite claims to the contrary, theyve seen no evidence floridas Election Infrastructure has been compromised. The Homeland Security secretary and the fbi director say they cannot corroborate claims from democratic senator bill nelson who said recently that certain jurisdictions around florida have already been penetrated by russians. A manhunt happening right now for a man suspected of making Death Threats against President Trump. The 27yearold of pennsylvania allegedly made a Facebook Post earlier this month threatening to kill a local District Attorney and the president. He was last seen cumberland, maryland, thursday. The Trump Administration this morning following through on a 14yearold Deportation Order for the last known Nazi Collaborator in the United States. The 95yearold plucked from his home in queens, placed in an balanc ambulance, and sent back to germany. He was an armed guard at a labor camp where some 6,000 jews were shot to death. When we come back, President Trumps Supreme Court nominee making the round. The Kavanaugh Conundrum for red state democrats front and center today. Ed. It senses your movement and automatically adjusts to keep you both comfortable. And now, all beds are on sale. Save 50 on the new sleep number 360 limited Edition Smart bed. Plus, free home delivery. Ends saturday. I think he might need some support. Yes. Start them off right, with the School Supplies they need at low prices all summer long. Like these for only 2 or less at office depot officemax. Like these for only 2 or less what i just introduced you worto my parents. G . Psst craig and sheila broke up. What, really . Craig and shelia broke up . No, craig . What happened . I dont know. Is she okay . Craig and sheila broke up craig and sheila . As long as Office Gossip travels fast, you can count on geico saving folks money. Craig and sheila broke up what . Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on Car Insurance. Trumpfriendly state. Cnns Sunlen Serfaty is on capitol hill. What have we learned . Reporter certainly a big meeting today, john. Brett kavanaugh just emerged after an over twohour meeting with senator Susan Collins. As you said, a key swing vote here leading up to those Confirmation Hearings on september 4th. Coming out of that meeting, senator Susan Collins just addressed press. She said essentially that she had not made up her mind, not settled, or not revealing what her vote will be for kavanaugh. Certainly she had positive things to say about him coming out of the meeting. She said it was an excellent session, very productive, informative, and she questioned him about his judicial philosophies, of course, but most specifically, importantly, as you noted, she talked to him about precedent and abortion cases, specifically she said she pressed him on whether he considered roe to be settled law or not. So certainly an important meeting lasting over two hours here today. He moves on to a slew of other
big important meetings up here on the hill. Many democrats on the list. Mccaskill, patrick leahy, of course, amy klobuchar, and Senate Minority leader chuck schumer, leading the charge to get more documented released. A significant day up here on the hill leading to the Confirmation Hearings two weeks from today. Sunlen, appreciate the update there. Next for us, senator Elizabeth Warren says washington is still swampy and the Trump White House is to blame. Her anticorruption push amid 2020 speculation. Liberty mutual saved us almost 800
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