hi, everyone. it s 4:00 in new york. things are getting intense for the ex-president. those viewers of this program know very well about the drip, drip, drip of new clues trump could soon be facing multiple criminal indictments from special counsel jack smith. today is no exception to the pattern of drips. in miami, one of jack smith s most senior prosecutors was back at a federal courthouse where a grand jury is meeting in the classified documents case. we should note that the washington, d.c. federal grand jury that jack smith has been working with in the january 6th investigation is also in session today. new york times reports that the special counsel s office has put trump s legal team on notice that the expresident is a target of the investigation into his handling of classified documents. quote, the notification to trump s team by prosecutors from the office of the special counsel jack smith was the clearest signal yet that the former president is likely to face char
Rachel Maddow takes a look at the days top political news stories. Comments are anything to go by. The New York Times reported that the serving White House Counsel Don Mcgahn has done more than 30 hours of voluntary interviews with the special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors. Shortly there after we got new reporting from the times about the president s personal lawyer being sqozed, for look of a better term. The Wall Street Journal is first on the story as they have bone the criminal intrigue surrounding president trumps long time lawyer Michael Cohen from the very beginning. But following the initial reporting a couple weeks ago that the potential charges Michael Cohen might be facing, now the New York Times as of yesterday and the Associated Press as of today, who have both match that had story. So the Wall Street Journal and the ap and the New York Times, all now reporting that Michael Cohens legal vulnerability may be at least in part rehated to
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Rachel Maddow takes a look at the days top political news stories. Has publicly verifiable information, tread lightly. Dont go too fast around this corner. This may be someone trying to trip you up. On top of the mcgahn and cohen news, there have been a bunch of new developments today and into this evening including one that relates to this guy. Remember this guy . He is the one person who has gone to prison already. Actually served his custodial sentence in the russia scandal. His name is alex van der zwaan. Hes a lawyer that served 30 days in federal lockup as punishment for lying to investigators about his role in one of Paul Manaforts foreign lobbying gigs. It has always been possible there was a Big Biographical coincidence about him. It is totally possible its a coincidence. But one of the more intriguing details about him, who has
oligarchs. He described them as having a close relationship with putin. They said significant favors continue to be done in both directions. Quote, st
This is cnn blakicnn break im wolf blitzer in the situation room. We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world. Were following Breaking News on the president s former fixer and lawyer, Michael Cohen, and the russia investigation. Two Court Filings just released, one by the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller, the other by prosecutors in new york, and theres new information about cohens cooperation. What it could mean for President Trump and for Michael Cohen as the feds in new york argue he should get substantial prison time. Right now, Robert Mueller also is set to file a secret document on Paul Manafort, the former Trump Campaign chairman, and why prosecutors believe manafort lied. Theres lots of news to unfold right now. I want to go first to our
political correspondent sara murray. Sara, muellers document makes it clear that Michael Cohen was cooperating but hes not necessarily suggesting he shouldnt get a substantial prison sentence. No, i think theres
Senate Panel Next Week that she gave a forceful warning to the white house regarding then National Security advisor michael flynn. This nearly three weeks before he was fired, contradicting the administrations version of events. Sources familiar with her account tell cnn, on february 14, the day after flynns firing, white house Spokesman Sean Spicer described the meetings in far les serious ter terms. Wanted to give us a heads up. Reporter but yates will explain that in a private meeting january 26, she told white House Counsel john mcgahn that he had discussed both public and private conversations with russias ambassador to the u. S. Sure bay kislayak, his comments made him potentially vulnerable to being compromised by russia. Flynn was fired 18 days later, only after news reports that flynn had lied to Vice President mike pence. This week will start a weeks worth of appearances starting with the Senate Judiciary committee on wednesday. The committee will press comey on how the fbi w