Cnn about communications during the 2016 president ial campaign between Donald Trump Associates and russians known to u. S. Intelligence. Multiple u. S. Officials tell cnn the white house sought the help not only of the bureau, but other agencies investigating the russian matter to say that the reports were wrong and that there had been no contacts. These officials tell cnn. Youll recall that cnn and the New York Times first reported on this just over a week ago. So far the white house has not commented on the record to cnn. And evan, this is not a typical request. How did this start . Anderson, a u. S. Law enforcement official said this began with the fbi Deputy Director Andrew Mccabe and white house chief of staff Reince Priebus on the sidelines of a separate white house meeting on the day that these stories were published. A white house official says that mccabe actually told priebus that this New York Times story vastly overstated what the fbi knows about these russian contacts. Bu
Seemingly out of nowhere the president late today returned to the subject of yesterdays combative press conference and the target of his ire. He tweeted the Fake News Media failing nbc news, abc, cbs, cnn, is not my enemy but the enemy of the American People. His initial tweet had the word sick in all caps at the end. Tomorrow he holds a rally in melbourne, florida. More on that tonight and his search for a new National Security adviser. We begin, though weather the surprise lateafternoon intel briefing. Cnns Phil Mattingly is at the capitol. What if anything do we know about this briefing from fbi director comey . Limited amount, john. But the fact it happened and when it happened is kind of underscores the importance of what this moment was. Senators were done with the session. They were supposed to be headed home for recess. You know you never get in the way of a lawmaker on his way home for reses. And you dont get in the way of a senator and a camera. Jim comey did both today and e
President obama with the same twopage document, mr. Biden saying Intelligence Leaders felt obliged to tell the president because they were planning on informing mr. Trump. On top of that, about 10 00 last night, director of National Intelligence James Clapper took the rare statement of putting out a statement summarizing a phone conversation last night with the president elect. In it he confirms there was a briefing and suggests the alleged claims came up saying, and i quote, however, part of our obligation is to ensure the policy makers are provided with the fullest possible picture of any matter that might affect National Security. Hes talking here about a twopage summary of unproven allegations about information some people have claimed russia has. So that is two very public confirmations about what cnn reported. Then just about two hours ago cnn learned again from multiple u. S. Officials that it was fbi director james comey who told mr. Trump of the information. No comment from th
Instead he is. Just like yesterday, he said hell go look at it. Let me finish. He was almost about to sign the invitation for comey to come testify, but suddenly, there are stipulations. There was no reason to have stipulations. Same thing today. He was invited jack, youre rewriting jack, youre rewriting history. Stipulations, what are you saying let me answer the question. I know this not because ive talked to him, but because ive read the documents and read the public reporting which you can read as well and you probably already know, which is that he was willing to sign the letter. In fact, he said today, hes willing to have comey and rogers come in behind closeddoors testimony, but he also wants a guarantee that clapper, that yates, and others are going to testify openly and that hasnt been assured. Even today, he still hasnt gotten assurances from nunes thats going to occur. And jack, let me also ask you, if you were devin nunes right now and say you just walked into this, unwitti
Myself have agreed to cancel our planned meeting scheduled for next week. Thats now how mexico sees it. The mexican president said he was cancelling the meeting, alerting the white house in a morning message on twitter. Trump learned about it on the way to philadelphia, his first trip on air force one. Presenting the agenda to republicans who are skeptical on how to pay for a border wall. Unless mexico is going to treat the United States fairly, with respect, such a meeting would be fruitless and i want to go a different route. We have no choice. The firestorm between the two leaders has been escalating. We did discuss the wall. We did not discuss payment of the wall. That date has now arrived. It is at the heart of a collision between campaign promises. You Better Believe it. They are going to pay. And governing realities. I said many time that is the American People will not pay for the wall. I made that clear to the government of mexico. Mexico said they will not meet the demands to