If hypothetically someone comes to the door and knocks tonight, oh, heck, lets just say the fbi rings the doorbell tonight its like, whose there . Elaine chao . Who else is around . As soon as wheels were up to start this foreign trip, the New York Times reported this story. According to the times reporting, and the white house does not dispute it, the official white house record of the president hosting the Russian Foreign minister and the Russian Ambassador in the Oval Office Last week, the official white house record not disputed by the white house includes direct quotes from the president telling these russian officials that thank god the pressure on him about russia is lifted now because he fired the fbi director. Quote, i just fired the head of the fbi. I faced great pressure because of russia. Thats taken off. Lots of subsequent headlines about this story and discussion about this story today have been focusing on the fact that the president is also quoted in this official white
Assured President Trump he was not under investigation, officials now say that changed shortly after comeys firing. This comes after the New York Times reported that the president has been considering firing mr. Mueller himself, but someone on his staff waved him off the idea warning this would make a bad situation worse. Well see about that. Yesterday Deputy Attorney general Rod Rosenstein assured members of congress that mr. Muellers investigation would remain independent. Director mueller is going to have a full degree of ipdence that he needs. As long as im in this position, hes not going to be fired without good cause. Thats bad news for trump. For now, Robert Mueller is safe. Im joined by Washington Posts Devlin Barrett, glenn thrush, and ashley parker, White House Reporter for the Washington Post. Thank you all. Let me start with glenn and work across the table here. Lets talk about this. The Washington Post is reporting tonight that the special counsel Robert Mueller is in fact
The russians james comey is a nut job, told them the pressure is off the russia investigation because comey has been fired. Then from the Washington Post, a senior white house adviser is now a significant person of interest in the russia investigation, a person likely to be on Board Air Force one with the president right now as the 11th hour gets underway. Good evening once again from our headquarters here in new york. This was day 120 of the trump administrati administration. If the russia investigation was ever just a distraction or a subplot, as of tonight, it defines and has consumed this presidency thus far. Which by the way is aloft at this hour. Air force one is about four hours out from landing in the neighborhood of 3 00 a. M. Eastern time in riyadh, saudi arabia. Upon departure, within half an hour of wheels up from andrews two big stories came out that dominate our coverage tonight. The New York Times has been shown a transcript of the notes from a meeting between the presid
Security advisor on february 13th. Very big news obviously no National Security advisor has ever had a tenure that short. Also, administration has ever lost someone that senior ever for lying about and concealing contacts with a foreign government. In time we would also learn mike flynn had been a paid agent of a foreign government. We learned that when he retroactively registered after he left the white house. Nbc news since reported the trump transition was actually aware of payments mike flynn received from foreign governments but apparently did not see that as a red flag to be worried about hiring him nor did they require him to report those payment his security clearance required him to do. In time we would also learn, just this past week we would also learn mike flynn was required to get a new security clearance from the cia in order to take the National Security advisor job but the trump transition apparently didnt make him get that before they gave him the National Security job
Following now because we didnt really have that concept in here. Maybe some of my guests have thought of it. But it hadnt crossed my mind until ari just said it. Thats right. He is a consequential man, this medical better fellow. Its a stunning day starting with that horrible shooting which were going to talk about in this program later. Use know, and everyone knows that anyone who works in the capitol, develops a real affection for Capitol Police. And to see what they did today heroically and what they were ready for is just an amaze thing to have seen. To have two of the three members of scalises protective detail, to have two of them pretty seriously injured in trying to save him and trying to stop this attack. It was incredible heroism. We will get more details on it. Right now a lot of thoughts and prayers throughout still for Steve Scalise himself and that congressional staff, both in Critical Condition tonight. Your sentiments are thoughtful and complete on this tonight, rachel.