Alex Witt hosts coverage of national and international news, including breaking stories. His son to cancel the meeting. He did not tell the fbi about the meeting. And if anything, he further encouraged and emboldened the russians to hack. Because he went out just about a month and a half after the meeting and said, russia if youre listening which is two years ago from today as you pointed out you would be rewarded for hacking Hillary Clintons emails. Lets go to Kelly Oconnell in new jersey also joining us u. S. Congressman Danny Heck Of Washington and glenn kushner. First to you, kelly in berkeley heights, new jersey not too far where the president is spending the weekend at the bedminster resort. I want to talk about the ten different ways weve counted that the president has refused to answer questions on camera regarding cohen in that 2016 Trump Tower Meeting in the month of june. Are we hearing any feedback from
the white house on this . And all of this Radio Silence on this matter,
Point, Michael Cohen had a light bulb go off, and in recent times, tried to behave a little bit better and maybe thats whats reflected in the kinder document thats been filed by the Special Counsel. All right. Thanks so much. Our cnn coverage continues right now. This is cnn breaking news. Im wolf blitzer. We welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. Were following breaking news. We have just received two major filings involving the former trump lawyer, Michael Cohen. One from the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller, and another from federal prosecutors in new york. And were awaiting another mueller filing pertaining to former Trump Campaign chairman, paul manafort. Theres lots of news thats breaking right now, significant
developments. I quickly want to go to our senior justice correspondent, evan perez. Evan, like all of us, youve been going through these filings. Give our viewers the headlines. What are you findin out . Well, wolf, this is a tale of two documents of
Good evening. Im Chris Matthews in washington. Federal prosecutors in new york have accused the president of criminal violation of the federal Campaign Laws. They say trump directed thats the word Michael Cohen to cover up a Campaign Contribution in the form of payments with two women with whom he had sexual relations. This comes from the Southern District of new york, not Robert Mueller, not the socalled 17 democrats the president says are working against him, not the deep state, not from a witch hunt. Its from one of the two Sentencing Memos filed in the case of trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen, today, which are shedding new light on the president s potential legal exposure. As trumps longtime fixer, cohen pleaded guilty in august to Campaign Finance violations and making hush payments to two women on trumps behalf. And now, tonights Sentencing Memo makes clear that with respect to both payments, cohen acted in coordination with and at the direction of individual
one. Thats the pr
a big dud. there are many ways to look at this. but as the hearing approaches we re getting all kinds of hard news about it. on the congressional side democrats holding a private mock hearing to prep for a witness proven to be dry, unyielding unshakableable in his appearances before this institution. then there s the mueller side. even the famous little tight-lipped operator has been compelled to reveal some things about his approach. he s being represented and prepped by an old partner in his law firm because congress has to list a lawyer written down in the formal subpoena for mueller. we know as of today mueller wants one of had his deputies to sit alongside him tomorrow. it looks like that s going to happen. given the exacting lawyer and boss he is, can you imagine what it s like for those two to prep and advise him on the most watched hearing of his life? can t be easy.
step to open a formal inquiry to make this decision. this is not future presidents. this is a moment where democrats have to stand up and defend the constitution. so you hey that all out. on the hearings themselves, are the democrats wrong to put john dean s, you know, greatest hits back in the day testimony ahead of say, bob mueller? no. look. we re continuing to bring, to do what we have to do to get the witnesses before the committee. the conversations with mr. mueller continue. we re going to bring contempt against two witnesses. the contempt is important. we ve been covering that. on the mueller side, wouldn t you want to hear from mueller before john dean? and hasn t he made clear what his position is? he told you last week publicly, and jerry nadler says they ve