Thank you for being with me. Heres our top story this hour. After several political pardons, dr donald trump has declared an act of clemency that even his critics will applaud. Hes commuting the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson who get life in prison for her first drug offense. The president learned of johnsons case from a white house visit by Kim Kardashian west last week. The reality star learned of johnsons plight after the news sight mike featured her story. Moments ago she tweeted this, the phone call i ever had with alice will forever be one of my best memories, telling her for the first time and hearing her screams while crying together is a moment i will never forget. With me now is one of the mike cofounders who helped motivate Kim Kardashianwest and also with us is chief political analyst gloria borger. Great to have both of you here. Lets just cut right through it. The fact is had it not been for mike and you all featuring Alice Johnsons story, Alice Johnson may be serving th
Good morning, welcome to early start. Busy news day. It is thursday, february 21, 4 00 exactly in the east. And the justice for jussie has an entirely different meaning this morning. Sm Jussie Smollett is facing a felony charge for a false Police Report claiming two men attacked him. Police say they hope he will turn himself in overnight. Right now they dont know who he is. Class four felony carries a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years. The actor has insisted that he didnt stage any attack. Who the bl[ bleep ] would ma Something Like this up or add something to it or whatever it may be. I cant even im an advocate. Assuming he is in custody, a bail hearing wroob expe would i today. Reporter and Jussie Smollett has gone from victim to suspect and he now faces a felony charge. A class 4 felony, Disorderly Conduct for filing a false Police Report. The empire actor of course claimed that he was attacked in the early hours of january 29th on a cold frigid morning here in chicago by two men who
Influenced her decision. We begin with explosive, new details this morning. The alleged attack on actor Jussie Smollett. The Chicago Police Department Investigation has now shifted into whether or not the actor paid two men who were questioned to stage an assault. Joining me now, nbc news correspondent kathy park. Good morning to you. This is just a sad story any way you look at it, but can you give us the latest on this probe . Alex, youre absolutely right. I mean, if youve been following this story ever since it broke on january 28th, there seems to be a new twist and turn every single day. So, overnight, we have learned that a Police Source close to the investigation, theyre now looking into whether or not the actor, the empire actor allegedly may have paid the two men to stage this attack. You know, Chicago Police still have a lot of questions for the actor, and he has lawyered up. He has hired a highprofile attorney who issued a statement overnight, and we want to show you that on
Ratcliffe who sits on the house judiciary and intelligence committees, and he is also a former federal prosecutor who has seen the redacted documents. Democratic congressman ro khanna of the House Oversight committee joining me as well. Plus, former u. S. Solicitor general ken starr is here. Just how much of the Mueller Report will be made available . We are on it this morning. We look ahead right now on sunday morning futures. Maria and we are awaiting attorney general william barr to deliver a letter to lawmakers summarizing his principal conclusions of the justfinished Mueller Report. Receiving that summary will be the Top Republicans and democrats on the senate and house judiciary committees. We are told that could happen as early as today. Many lawmakers told me they are expecting it within the next few hours. I had an excusive interview this past week with President Trump, a day before the special counsel filed the report. You will hear much of that throughout this hour this morn
Death penalty. Good morning, everyone, having to early start. Im jessica dean. Good morning, im dave briggs. Major sports news, Odell Beckham jr. On the move. Well get there in a moment. We start in the nations capital, round two, for former Trump Campaign manager Paul Manafort this morning. 17 months after his indictment was the first in the mueller probe, manafort will learn how long hell spend in prison. After a sentence last week for financial crimes, a sentence many thought was lien yentz, the 69yearold manafort now faces a judge who revoked his bail and threw him in jail last summer. More now. Good morning, dave and jessica, in just hours, Paul Manafort is back. Judge aim jackson will sentence Paul Manafort for the final time. And shell sentence him to two criminal charges to which he pleaded guilty. Conspiracy to the u. S. And conspiracy for witness tampering. The judge will also potentially consider that he lied during his investigation, and that he lied to a grand jury, about