Tom steyer, pumping money into progressive candidates and steve stivers, chair of the National Congressional committee are both here live with me this hour. Do not miss it. Lets start with Paul Manaforts no good very bad day or year, that could get worse with the special counsel now accusing him of trying to tamper with potential witnesses. Prosecutors say he used enkriptded message apps to try to reach certain witnesses with one person telling the fbi mania for the was trying to, quote, subborn perjury. That means to bribe or lure. At least two witnesses have handed Text Messages over to officials. All of this while he was on house arrest. Prosecutors dont like that and now want a judge to take another look. It means the 69rold might end up behind bars until his trial later this year. We dont fwho who tknow who the witnesses are. Manafort is not faces charges on anything connected to the campaign or the president. Hes accused of illegally lobbying on behalf of the ukrainian government
Joining me in a minute. The president s legal team is partly in the dark as it tries to defend the president in the special counsel investigation. And we are learning more about the russia documents he wants declassified. As the water keeps rising, days after florence, the president s appointment might now face a criminal investigation. We are on swamp watch later in the show. We have the team here with reports from both sides of pennsylvania avenue and guests on set. Let me start on capitol hill. That is where we see a Pivotal Moment for the Trump Presidency with the hearing set for next week. Here are the three things we are watching today. Will Brett Kavanaugh withdrawal . Will the gop agree to the fbi investigation democrats want . Will Christine Ford be at mondays hearing . Thats a question and here is the answer from chuck grassley, a couple minutes ago. Are you worried that the questioning from the doctor might come off as im not worried about anything but setting up for the hea
Indictment. James comey slapping back saying donald trump could be in serious trouble and making clear what he thinks voters should do about it. Our team is set up to cover all of this. This morning we start with the moving pieces inside the west wing and who wants to be President Trumps right hand mama man . The answer so far, a few but not many people for a job that used to be the most coveted. You could be fired via tweet after sitting on the tarmac. You could be subject to months of headlines about how your days are numbered and have to deny reports you called the president an idiot and said youre the one saving the country from disaster. The chief of staff will face a democratic controlled house, unafraid to send subpoenas and a president under intense scrutiny, legally and politically whose first choice for the job said nah, im good. My colleague jeff bennett is at the white house. Its not that the president is changing out chiefs again. That happens especially in the last couple
Part of his America First foreign policy. It has been motor with some criticism today with u. S. Allies expre expressing concerns that withdrawal could bolster militant. There have been tensions between the United States and turkey as of lay, so this announcement will not be without controversy and without criticism. When specifically might we hear specifics . That remains to be seen, hallie. I know youll stay on top of it. Also joining us is Richard Engel in our loaned everyobureau. This is a very significant moment. There are many allies who will see this as a Great American betray betrayal. What is happening right now, when you look at the president s tweet, when you look at statements to nbc news by military officials, this administration, the president , is going into the holidays and taking a Mission Accomplished moment, saying the u. S. Under President Trump defeated isis, so now its time to withdraw a significant portion of the u. S. Troops in syria out of the country, out of t