The Health Care Vote just got even tighter. Two more republican defections and this sucker is done again. How is health care coming, folks . All right, were moving along . Plus the peacemaker, President Trump, meeting with the Palestinian Leader today after saying this about the middle east peace. There is no reason theres not peace between israel and the palestinians, none whatsoever. We are going to begin this morning with fbi director james comey on the hill in just one hour. You know he is going to get questions about how russia may have meddled in our election but what about his own influence on the outcome . Weve got a great team to help me break it down this morning and i want to take you first to nbcs mike vicara like on capitol hill. Michael, what are we expecting today . Reporter im just outside the Senate Judiciary committee. Folks are lining up waiting for this muchanticipated testimony. Fbi director james comey for the first time testifying before he revealed before congre
Resignation. Just over an hour ago, the second term democrat from minnesota announce head would be resigning. But he didnt leave without a parting shot to those republicans facing multiple instances of arguably far more serious accusations of Sexual Misconduct. Today i am announcing that in the coming weeks, i will be resigning as a member of the United States senate. I of all people are aware that there is some irony in the fact that i am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of Sexual Assault sits in the oval office, and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the senate, with the full support of his party. But this decision is not about me. Its about the people of minnesota. I want to start with nbcs kacie hunt. I know youve been talking to members of congress all day. Give us a sense of the mood there and what do we know about al frankens plans to leave . Well, chris, i think the mood here is definitely on the somber side. Senator franke
Kasie hunt is on capitol hill. Were watching the senate gaveling in now. Roller coaster 24 hours for al franken. Do we have guidance on where his head is at . Reporter hallie, i think the overall sense is its very difficult for him to remain in the position in the senate but, of course, we at this point are still waiting for final word on what his decision will be. There was a report last night that he was going to resign. Franknesss office denied it saying he had not made a decision an we know hes going to the senate floor at 11 45 a. M. To make a speech where we will learn we think what his decision is going to be. And this comes in the face of overwhelming pressure from democrats, particularly Democratic Women, who say he needs to go. Heres jackie spear on morning joe earlier today. I think he should resign. It is a pattern of behavior that cannot be tolerated and whenever you have someone who infringes on another person as he has done repeatedly he does not have the right, frankly,
On capitol hill right now, waiting for an answer to this question, will republican senators stand up for one of their own, john mccain, as they break bread with President Trump. Its been six days now since a trump aide made a crude joke about the senators Failing Health and still no public apology from her or this white house. Trump is making the rare foray to the hill to sit down with senate republicans. Topics on the agenda expected to range from north korea and china to the economy. But trump enters a room that includes some of mccains closest friends. Most, if not all, have had to answer questions about that apology. More than one openly upset over the administrations treatment of their fellow senator. Does the white house owe him an apology . If i had said that, i would apologize. The comments that were made, if they were made, and no ones denied they were made, i find them to be offensive and i think more indicative of what our politics has become, so angry and bitter. Everything
If that sounds like a new and significant development, it is. Heres why, very simply. First, this is the first criminal charges for election interference in 2018. Youre hearing the right. What youre seeing on your screen, this is happening. Second, the defendant, a russian named elana kushinova has linked to putin and was posing as an american to try to trick voters in our country. Third, this ongoing effort doesnt just repeat 2016 tactics with those attacks on american politicians. It also includes attacks on the very probe into those 2016 tactics with public criticism designed to trick americans into having trust issues, you might say, with bob mueller. Well get into that in a moment. The new charges come from the doj, not the special counsel. And the charges are Sowing Division and discord in the political system, creating and amplifying a divisive social media and trying to elect particular candidates. That echoes what we have seen before. I want to be clear as we unpack all of thi