trump s impromptu interview with new york times. reaction from both sides of the aisle, one of the most explosive comments, saying i have absolute right to do what i want to do with the justice department. here is former ethics lawyer richard painter last night. wrong country to be president of if he thinks he has absolute power to run the justice department however he wants. that may be the way it works in putin s russia and other places, that s not the way it works here. he is not above the law, he is not a king. he is a president in a constitutional system of government. congress adam schiff, ranking member of intel committee slamming him, no, you don t. you can do what you want with your golf courses but the country and justice department belong to the american people. the washington post says new york times interview is reminder that his time at march a lag oh is respite for him and headache for staff.
bass dorr. and we know the michael flynn has also disclosed he is cooperating with the essential counsel s office. thanks so much for that report. and outfront now, former white house ethics lawyer for president bush, richard painter and former white house counsel for richard nixon, john dean. great to see you both. thank you. richard, if president trump would pardon a cooperating witness like michael flynn as his brother is requesting, could that be seen as an attempt to keep him quiet? yes. if the president were to pardon general flynn at this point, that could be perceived as an attempt to interfere with a testimony. it likely would not be very effective because general flynn is probably already given bob mueller and his team a significant amount of testimony and information in interviews in order to get such a good plea deal. he only pled golt to one cougui
call it deep state or what are off the rails. i would look to see the directors of the agencies purge it. and say, look we have got a lot of great agents, lawyers here. those are the people that i want the american people to see. those were strong word from florida republican congressman, francis rooney on this network earlier today. joining me now some one will certainly, some one who will have thoughts on that statement. richard painter former chief white house ethics lawyer for president george w. bush. richard, deep state. purge. the deep state ideology coming from steve bannon, the idea of purging the fbi in the days since president trump has the started insulting the fbi and its legitimacy and credibility. we have just learned today the fbi agents association has received more than 2,000 donations totaling more than 140,000. doesn t seem the public is turn ing aa turning against the fb what do you make about the comments? there are a handful of those doing this, like rooney
i m very concerned the doj and fbi, whether you want to call it deep state or what are off the rails. i would look to see the directors of the agencies purge it. and say, look we have got a lot of great agents, lawyers here. those are the people that i want the american people to see. those were strong word from florida republican congressman, francis rooney on this network earlier today. joining me now some one will certainly, some one who will have thoughts on that statement. richard painter former chief white house ethics lawyer for president george w. bush. richard, deep state. purge. the deep state ideology coming from steve bannon, the idea of purging the fbi in the days since president trump has the started insulting the fbi and its legitimacy and credibility. we have just learned today the fbi agents association has received more than 2,000 donations totaling more than 140,000. doesn t seem the public is turning agen the fturn
on going after investigators or in this case a witness who could be testifying, you know, as to his obstruction, it just lends to that picture that special counsel mueller is going to try to paint. and to your point there, richard paynter, the chief white house ethics lawyer for president george w. bush put it this way to president trump when talking about andy mccabe. you don t like andy mccabe because he s a witness to your obstruction of justice. of course, he is the deputy fbi director retiring soon. cnn reported that comey told him about the alleged loyalty pledge trump asked him to make when comey was head of the fbi. what is the likelihood mccabe is being treated as a witness in the mueller investigation as part of the obstruction of justice case against the president? i think it s very likely he s considered a witness.