Russian interference in the 2016 election. This morning the reaction over that move from the white house to capitol hill. New questions emerging over former National Security adviser Michael Flynn and who in the trump team new what and when and his ties to turkey. Demonstrators take to the streets in tulsa, oklahoma, after a Police Officer is acquitted in the shooting of an unarmed black man. Good morning. Its thursday, may 18th. Im Ayman Mohyeldin in washington, d. C. Jasmine is in new york alongside Louis Burgdorf. A highprofile special counsel will take over the Justice Departments investigation of russian interference in the 2016 campaign. Former fbi director Robert Mueller takes the helm immediately in charge of prosecutors and fbi agents in multiple field offices across the country. He was appointed by Deputy Attorney general Rod Rosenstein, who is overseeing dojs investigation after attorney general Jeff Sessions recused himself. A Justice Department spokesperson told nbc news t
The kremlin. I dont see anything wrong here. I dont think it is standard procedure prior to the inauguration of a president of the United States, but someone that is not in an appointed position. It becomes more and more and more bizarre. Angela merkel warning of frosty relations after Donald Trumps behavior in europe says times when the allies could count on the u. S. Are over. The Communications Director is out, who is in next . People in administrations tend to leave of their own volition as well. They find working 18 hour days in different environments is maybe not what is best suited for them. Good day, everyone. The white house is setting up a socalled war room to get out in front of the stories about russian russ russias influence on the elections. He was trained as a spy and sanctioned as the u. S. Treasury after the takeover of crimea. They both close ties to Vladimir Putin that go back decades. Joining me now is peter alexander. You were first to break the story about Jared K
Trusts. End quote. All this adds up to some very tough questions for the White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Hell be going to the lectern not that far from now. Within an hour or so. Less than an hour i should say. His first on camera Briefing Since President Trump returned from his overseas trip. We will of course have live coverage right here on cnn. But first lets bring in cnns chief National Security correspondent jim sciutto and our senior White House Correspondent jim acosta. I know youve got some breaking news, some new reporting on the president s personal attorneys now being asked to provide Sensitive Information to the u. S. Congress. What can you tell us . Thats right, wolf. Another person connected to President Trump being drawn into the russia investigation. This time it is President Trumps personal Attorney Michael Cohen who is a fixture of course throughout the Campaign Cycle frequently appearing on cnn and other networks as a surrogate to donald trump. He has been
From sessions, a source with knowledge tells cnn. Theyre focusing on such a meeting took place on april 27th, 2016, at the may flower hotel in washington, d. C. , where then candidate donald trump was delivering his first major Foreign Policy address. Prior to the speech, they be senator sessions and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak attended a small vip reception with organizers, diplomats, others in addition to congressional investigators, the fbi is seeking to determine the extent of interactions the Trump Campaign team may have had with russias ambassador during that event. This is part of its broader counterintelligence investigation of russian interference in the election. Neither hill nor fbi verdicts have yet concluded whether a private meeting took place. They also acknowledge that it is possible that any additional meeting, anderson, was incidental. Has attorney general sessions responded . We got this statement a short time ago from the department of justice. Ill read it in
Endorsement and you still win an election. Thank you, montana. Reporter just 24 hours after charged with assaulting a reporter, Greg Gianforte heading to washington after winning a special election for montanas open house seat. Gianforte directly addressed the shocking incident at his victory rally. Sick and tired of you guys. The last guy that came in here you did the same thing. Get the hell out of here reporter apologizing both to supporters and to the reporter that he allegedly body slammed. Last night i made a mistake and i took an action that i cant take back. And im not proud of what happened. I should not have responded in the way i did. And for that im sorry. I should not have treated that reporter that way. And for that, im sorry, mr. Ben jacobs. Reporter the gianforte an policy coming after republicans on the hill are silent about the attack. Im not sure what happened. Reporter showing unwillingness to condone gianfortes behavior. We did not have a course when i went to scho