Tonight. Were just hours away from the first democratic debate of the 2020 president ial race with senator Elizabeth Warren coming in hot and with a target on her podium. Welcome to the lead, im jake tapper. We begin with the politics lead, quote, does it ever stop . That question coming from President Trump after finding out that special Counsel Robert Mueller is being forced by congress to testify publicly on july 17th in what may be the most anticipated testimony of the Trump Presidency so far. Mueller will answer questions from the members of the house judiciary and Intelligence Committee after being slapped with a subpoena. Now mueller made clear in his view his 448page report was his official statement and the only one he wants to give but House Democrats are eager to question the special counsel about the evidence he uncovered and whether he would have charged the president with obstruction of justice but for Justice Department precedent that a sitting president cannot be indicted. Republicans, of course, planning to hammer mueller on the origin of the investigation and raise concerns about the probes integrity. Cnns sarah murray kicks off the coverage on what is sure to be mustsee tv. Look, the mueller thing never stops. Reporter President Trump railing against democrats after learning Robert Mueller will testify publicly for the First Time Since he started investigating the president and Russian Election interference. How many times do we have to hear it. It never ends. It just keeps going on and on. At what point does it end . It is a disgrace. Reporter mueller set to appear july 17th before the house judiciary and Intelligence Committees. Democrats subpoenaed the special counsel who hoped to avoid testifying publicly. I hope and expect this to be the only time that i will speak to you in this manner. Reporter the appearance at a p Pivotal Moment after they decide to dive into impeachment proceedings but they say this will help them understand the report. But theyre already managing expectations. Certainly the outlines of what hes going to talk about are in the report, so, um, Many Americans havent read the report, but again i think we should be realistic about our expectations. Reporter the the committees are expected to question mueller followed by a closeddoor meeting to focus on the counterintelligence issues. There was not enough evidence to charge the members of Trump Campaign with conspiring with the russians and left open the question of whether he obstructed justice. Writing, if we had confidence that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we could so state. Any testimony from this office would not go beyond our report. We chose those words carefully and the work speaks for itself. And the report is my testimony. Reporter republicans are jumping at the chance to question the special counsels conclusions. Bob mueller better be prepared because i could tell you he will be crossexamined for the first time and the American People will see the flaws in his report. Reporter now, bob mueller said hell stay within the four corners of the report if called to testify but that will not stop lawmakers asking whatever they want to, jake, particularly why bob mueller never subpoenaed donald trump for an interview and testimony and as you mentioned, why he declined to bring the obstruction charges if there was enough evidence there to recommend them, back to you. Sarah murray. Thank you. And joining me to talk about this is President Trumps personal attorney jay sekulow. Thank you for being here. Thanks. The first question, will the president try to block or limit muellers testimony in any form or tell the attorney general bob barr to do so. The president turned this issue over to the attorney general. The attorney general said attorney general barr said it is fine for bob mueller to testify and now hes going to testify. What he said what bob mueller said was that his report was his testimony. Noup i expect that his testimony is his report. So, no there is no legal moves. Bob mueller will testify and im sure hell stick to what is in his report. I dont expect a new revelation. That certainly would be inappropriate. So well find out when he testifies what hell say but i expect it to be of the report. I think i messed it up. Bill barr is who i meant to say. That is okay. I knew who you were talking about. Are you worried at all that Robert Mueller will testify that he did, in fact, intentionally leave it up to congress to decide whether the president obstructed justice . Is that a concern . No, ill tell you what it is. If you look at volume 2 of the report, of the report which is the obstruction provision, the whole process is turned upside down. I think the biggest question bob mueller will have to ask him selfor be asked is do you really think it is the job of the special counsel to exonerate someone . Because prosecutors dont exonerate. Youre presumed innocent until Proven Guilty or until a charge is brought in a court of law. Here he said that he said were not saying the president committed a crime, were not exonerating him either, but the job of the special counsel is not to exonerate, i think that where this is conflated and it was conflated in the report, it turned the whole burden of proof and our presumption of innocence upside down and that is a big question hell have to answer. Why do you think he did that, he and his staff . I dont think they could come to a conclusion that there was, in fact, obstruction of justice. And he did what under the department of justice guide lines if a prosecutor cannot make that determination, which he did not, then it is reviewed by the superiors, and the Department Attorney general and the attorney general and they said based on the evidence there was not obstructive intent which is required for obstruction of justice. So bob mueller will have to explain this report, specially volume 2 aspect and ive read it many times and you said in the beginning maybe members of congress will read this report, the fact of the matter is it is not a coherent legal argument in volume 2 and it turned the burd an of proof upside down and incorrect of the matter of law. Has the president read the Mueller Report . He said hes reviewed it. I wont discuss conversations ive had with the president or not on this. I dont know the details of what hes reviewed. Ill tell you this, his lawyers have. We have reviewed it. Thoroughly. More than once. And it is not an easier read the second or third time around. It is very convoluted and hard to follow and people are trying to shed a new light on it but i expect bob mueller is going to say, here is what i said, i said what i said in the report, that is my conclusion. It was interesting when he made his statement back a month ago he said he thought it was be inappropriate to appear before congress to respond or to answer questions from the press. So now hes in the situation where hes agreed to do it, fine, well see what he has to say. I dont expect any new revelations in any of this. I think well hear more of the same of what is in it and they did not make a conclusion that ultimately the attorney general, department of justice did make. What if he does go beyond the parameters of the Mueller Report . What will you do . Are you anticipating or preparing for him to do Something Like that . Well, i mean look, you cant run into you wont run into the proceeding and stop the proceeding. We actually unlike others, we respect the separation of powers here and whose job and responsibility is. But i cant imagine a circumstance where hes going to start extrapolating something not in the report. The issue on the counterintelligence investigation is done in closeddoor session. So that is completely separate. But i cant imagine a scenario where hes going to change something, come to a different conclusion after the report has been issued when he said my report is my testimony. So i just it is hard to speculate what that would actually be. Frankly, think that is why youre seeing this initial enthuse sax and lowering of expectations 24 hours later. It seems likely the democrats are doing this because most americans, unlike you and i, most americans are not read the Mueller Report and they want them to know what is in it. Do you think that House Democrats will ultimately begin impeachment proceedings and are you preparing for that . I do not think theyre going to start impeachment proceedings. First of all, you have to go back to the high crime and misdemeanor. There is outset. But politically look, politically and republicans have this experience, this is a nonstarter. And, look, the democrats can say whatever they want to say and that is up to them and within their political caucus to determine what theyre going to do but to start an impeachment proceeding based on bob muellers report, i think would be a im not in a political prognosticator but i think it would be a political mistake. Legally it would be ridiculous. Politically it would be very dangerous. So you dont think they will but with you preparing for them to do so just in case there is obviously i think it is a third of the Democratic Caucus in the house is now on record saying they want impeachment proceedings to begin. Youre not preparing . We have no we have no impeachment Preparation Team in place. So, no. Because you just said it. There is an example. Onethird of what they need wants impeachment and twothirds do not. So you look at some of the key districts involved here, there is a lot of members of the party that the Democratic Party that dont want impeachment and it doesnt bode well for them on reelection. Nancy pelosi is doing what shes doing, shes the majority leader, speaker of the house, trying to control her caucus the best she can. There is going to be diversity within the caucus. I get that. That is part of the political process. But i dont see impeachment as a threat at all. Jay sekulow, thank you for your time. Thanks for having me. A warning now, the images youre about to see are upsetting. A toddlers tiny lifeless arm draped across her fathers body, the horrific photo from the border raising questions about the desperation and danger. Stay with us. Not ecan match the power of energizer. Tery because energizer ultimate lithium is the longest lasting aa battery in the world. [confetti cannon popping] energizer. Backed by science. Matched by no one. With a lot of other young couples. Then we noticed something. Strange. Oh, could you, uh, make me a burger . Poof youre a burger. [ laughter ] everyone acts like their parents. You have a tattoo. Yes. Fun. Do you not work . So, what kind of mower you got, seth . I dont know. Some kid comes over. We pay him to do it. But its not all bad. Someone even showed us how we can save money by bundling home and auto with progressive. Progressive cant protect you from becoming your parents. But we can protect your home and auto. Who used expedia to book the Vacation Rental which led to the discovery that sometimes a little down time can lift you right up. Expedia. Everything you need to go. an daughter ia. Do mom, are you ok to play . E . mom yeah honey, how about we play. Princess and pirates . announcer imagine what you can do with more migrainefree days. pirate arr mom en garde announcer when youre not fighting through migraine imagine the possibilities. Oncemonthly emgality is used for the prevention of migraine in adults. Its specifically developed to help give you more migrainefree days. With emgality about 60 of people had their migraine days cut in half or more. Do not use if you are allergic to emgality or its ingredients. Emgality may cause allergic reactions, such as itching, rash, hives and trouble breathing, which can happen days after use. Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have symptoms of an allergic reaction. The most common side effects include injection site reactions. mom what should we do tomorrow . announcer ask your doctor about emgality. Learn about savings at emgality. Com when crabe stronger. Strong, with new nicorette coated ice mint. Layered with flavor. Its the first and only coated nicotine lozenge. For an amazing taste. That outlasts your craving. New nicorette ice mint. And i dont add trup the years. S. But what i do count on. Is boost® delicious boost® high protein nutritional drink has 20 grams of protein, along with 26 essential vitamins and minerals. Boost® high protein. Be up for life. [laughter] im okay. Csaid alice. D curiouser, the rabbithole went straight on like a tunnel for some way. Ive seen a cat without a gri, but a grin without a cat. Hey, mercedes, end audio. Change lighting to soft blue. The completely reimagined 2020 gle. With Intelligent Voice control and available third row. Your adventure awaits. Visit your local mercedesbenz dealer for exceptional lease and financing offers. Mercedesbenz. The best or nothing. Were back with our National Lead and the heartbreaking photograph gripping the nation. And fair warning here, what were about to show you is difficult to look at but were showing it to you to illustrate the desperation and the humanitarian crisis at the southern border of the United States. So this is Oscar Alberto martinez and his daughter Angie Valeria. She was just about to turn two, fleeing conditions in los angeles. They drowned in the rio grande this week. Ed lavendera has the story behind this haunting image. Reporter the tiny arm of 23monthold Angie Valeria still clings to her father Oscar Alberto martinez as they float lifeless on the shore of the rio grande. The long and desperate journey toward a better life cut short at americas edge. The childs mother tannia witnessed it all from the mexican side of the river. She told a local reporter her husband and daughter initially made it across the river. Oscar set their child on the opposite shore and began swimming back for his wife but the toddler jumped in after him. He clung to her as they were swept away in a current. Eventually drowning together in his tshirt. Back in their home country of los angeles, her grandmother weeps for her family. Translator they lived here with me in the same house so they wanted to have their own house and that was what motivated them. Reporter the family of three spent some two months in mexico eventually joining thousands of other migrants crowding near the u. S. Border. They were waiting to ask for asylum from american officials but on sunday they risked their li lives for a faster way into the country. The push of poverty and the pull of promise have led millions to take such chances. Customs and Border Protection often release footage of migrants and Young Children making the Dangerous River crossing into the United States. According to u. S. Border patrol, 283 migrants died on the south west border with mexico last year. 283 dead. It is a number some pay easily forget until an image like this reveals what a humanitarian crisis on the border really looks like. And, jake, critics of the Trump Administration crackdown on this asylum policy which limits the number of people who could cross legal ports of entry say this will not remain an isolated incident and have seen dozens of people who have had to have been rescued from the rio grande over the last few months and in many cases weve seen Border Patrol agents jumping into the river to save people from drowning. Jake. Ed lavendera, thank you. President trump was asked how he felt after seeing the photograph. Take a listen. I hate it. And i know it could stop immediately if the democrats change the law. They have to change the laws. And then that father who probably was this wonderful guy, with his daughter, things like that wouldnt happen. They want to have open borders and open open boards mean crime and open borders mean people drowning in the rivers. The president blaming the democrats. And priscilla, let me start with you because you cover immigration for cnn. That is the president. His argument is the democrats need to change the asylum laws so as to provide a disin disincentive so they stop coming and dont try to cross the river. What are the policy implications and prevented this horrific tragedy. That is right. So the administration wants to see two specific things happen. They want to hold Families Together no detention for a longer period of time. Something that is limited currently and they want to be able to return unaccompanied minors from the northern triangle countries back to their countries, something we do with mexico. These are both nonstarters for democrats but something the administration has urged them to do. As far as this current situation, what we know about the father and his child is that they were coming here to seek economic opportunity. Now the Trump Administration has made it more difficult for asylumseekers to seek asylum in the u. S. Through the policies. But it is difficult to know what exactly would change now, another part of this, because all of this is a multilayer add poach is layered approach is funding for the countries. And theyre cutting funding to the countries so the conditions theyre fleeing from as far as we understand are worsening. Funding that trumps own officials said was working in los angeles. K