Reporter. She is the coauthor of our exclusive nbc news report from just last night on Robert Mueller asking witnesses if trump knew with these hacked democratic emails before they were released. Also back with us, jeremy bash, former chief of staff at the cia and pentagon. And we welcome back to the program, cynthia alneya, a federal prosecutor and a Justice Department veteran. Welcome to you all. Carol, about tonights story, what is its central impact the your view . Well, as you mentioned, this hacking and leaking strategically is the worst part. So this is significant in the sense we knew this was happening. But if mueller decides to move forward with an indictment, to me the key question is whether or not there are any americans that are tied to this. Its one thing for him to indict russians who will probably never be extradited and come over and
stand trial in the United States. Its an entirely different ball game if there are americans named or unnamed should he decide to do an
stand trial in the united states. it s an entirely different ball game if there are americans named or unnamed should he decide to do an indictment. there could be strategic reasons why he wouldn t necessarily name an american who was part of hacking and leaking campaign. but either way it could give away too much of the case perhaps? it could give away, he could want to hold back on that to try to pressure somebody to try to cooperate with the investigation. there are a number of different reasons. that s what i think, that gets at the heart of the matter. not only an american but was there anyone in the trump campaign or any trump associates who s potentially corroborated with wikileaks. so cynthia, this guy mueller very rarely, that we can tell ever gets out over his skis. everything is planned and timed out. how will this be a part of the story? well, prosecutors and trial lawyers are basically story tellers. that s what he has to do. you know, his first indictment really
months ago leaves the president without his sounding boards, the friendly face he likes to see in the white house. he said he misses the tight knit campaign. and the staff in the white house as i don t need to tell you, most of what you need to know in life is available in godfather one and two. having said that, not even family is sacred. i want to read this to you. privately, some aides have expressed frustration that mr. kushner and his wife, the president s daughter, ivanka trump, have remain at the white house despite mr. trump at times saying they never should have come to the white house and should leave. yet aides also noted that mr. trump has told the couple that they should keep serving in their roles even as he has privately asked mr. kelly for his help in moving them out. it s like hunger games.
say what you will about sachs, is upset about the tariffs and throws up his hands and says i m out, how do you go out and recruit for these top positions. the white house before the latest round of chaos has had a difficult time bringing in experienced washington hands into the building first because so many of them were opposed to to trump during the campaign. and the staff are saying a these are people we should reconsider, the answer is no, they re perceived as disloyal so they won t get a chance to come inside the white house. there are people throughout washington throwing up their hands that in a normal administration would be thrilled to serve in the white house, but don t want to walk in because of how chaotic it is and the ongoing legal probe, the russia
as we mentioned, this week brings more chaos. to the trump white house. national security advisor h.r. mcmaster may be the next departure. our own nbc news colleague nicole wallace reports the white house preparing for a mcmaster exit as early as the end of this month. mcmaster was brought in to replace michael flynn, you recall who was fired after less than a month on the job for lying about contact he made with russians during the campaign. in a statement the white house said we frequently face rumor and innuendo about senior administration officials there are no personnel announcements at this time. news of mcmaster s apparent departure comes a day after hope hicks tendered her resignation. all of this comes amid questions about the president s son-in-law and his security clearance. speculation that john kelly may