James comey at the white house and whether he has confidence in his attorney general Jeff Sessions moving forward. There may also be some questions about the president s Senior Adviser and soninlaw Jared Kushner who now is expected to talk with Senate Investigators as part of the russia investigation. Team trump attacking this admission by james comey during his public testimony yesterday. The president tweeted on friday after i got fired that i better hope theres not tapes. I woke up in the middle of the night on monday night because it didnt dawn on me originally that there might be corroboration for our conversation. There might be a tape. My judgment was i needed to get that out into the public square. So i asked a friend of mine to share the content of the memo with a reporter. Didnt do it myself for a variety of reasons but i asked him do because i thought that might prompt a special counsel. So i asked a close friend. Was that mr. Wit tes . No. Who was that . A good friend of mine who is a professor at columbia law school. Lets bring in jim acosta. Hes standing by at the white house. Justice producer shimon. And our congressional spent phil mattingly. Jim, the president tweeted about that passage early ther morning but thats just a small part of the white house reaction to all of this, right . Thats right, wolf. The president went back to tweeting earlier this morning after being dark on twitter for a good 24 hours. He tweeted that comey is a leaker. That is a statement he said in that tweet early thier this mor. Total and complete vindication the president tweeted and wow, comey is a leaker. That tweet from the president basically echos what his legal team was saying yesterday in response to the testimony from the former fbi director. Marc kasowitz is now casting the former fbi director as a leaker after he admitted in that testimony to the Senate Intelligence committee that he did orchestrate the release of his memos to the columbia law professor. It was shortly after that he accused the former fbi direct of leaking. Its not classified information. Hes not an employee of the federal government anymore and he was not being blocked by executive privilege, so there will be legal experts who will say this is not a leaking of classified information. But Marc Kasowitz making it clear this morning that he is going to file a legal complaint against the former fbi director. Hes going to file that complaint with the office of Inspector General over at the department of justice. Also with the Senate Judiciary committee again trying to make the case that comey improper le released that information about the president. Of course were going to hear from the president about an hour and a half from now in the rose garden. Hes going to be appearing at that joint press conference with the leader from romania. There are many questions that are going to be asked, whether or not the president has a recording system here at the white house. The Deputy Press SecretarySarah Huckabee sanders could want answer that question yesterday. And does the president have faith in his attorney general. And if hes to last in that role, how much long ser that going to happen . I suspect the president may be asked something about that as well. Just the overall thrust of james comeys comments yesterday, wolf, in that hearing. It is incredible to hear a former fbi director repeatedly accuse the president of the United States of being a liar. Of lying about this and lying about that. You would think that will get the president s dan der up and that would have prompted him to tweet something in response yesterday. The president did not take that bait, so the question becomes does he do that later on at this press conference. He was pretty restrained over this whole period of the comey testimony. Not a lot of tweets. Just that tweet earlier this morning. And this white house was pretty restrained as well keeping the president sort of away from the tv t tvs. He had meetings and so forth. It was interesting he let his private outside attorney speak for him yesterday. And remember that comeys testimony was under oath. If he was lying repeatedly calling the president of the United States a liar, thats perjury. He could go to jail for that. Were going to hear from the attorney general of the United States, Jeff Sessions. Hes going to face questions on capitol hill. The topic is the budget. Hell surely be asked about what we heard from james comey yesterday during those hearings. There are other questions about sessions as well involved in the russia investigation. Whats the latest youre hearing . Thats right, wolf. We fully expect him to be questioned about some of his contacts with russians. Sessions has certainly been in the news quite a bit concerning whether or not he had additional contacts with any russians, specifically the Russian AmbassadorSergey Kislyak. Its been a topic that has been ongoing. We know that the fbi and based on what the direct former director did yesterday at his testimony, he would not discuss certain information that the fbi knows about. Its intelligence that they gathered during the course of this investigation that hasnt necessarily been corroborated, but there is some intelligence that suggests that the russians were talking about sessions and perhaps there was a suggestion by the russians that kislyak may have had another meeting with sessions. That information has not been corroborated by the fbi. They have not necessarily ruled it out. And our understanding is that theyre still looking at it, the department of justice and sessions have denied there were any additional meetings. This meeting in particular happened over a year ago at the m Mayflower Hotel in d. C. Where trump was giving a speech and kislyak was attending. There may have some contact that kind was was on the side, but the department of justice and really the attorney general have denied there have been any additional meetings. The fbi has not really talked about this publicly. It was really telling and interesting when the former director comey yesterday was asked about sessions. He kept saying there were other reasons why he felt sessions would have to be recused from the russia investigation, which he eventually was but he did not go into those reasons. We were told yesterday, cnn manu raju was told yesterday that in the closed session comey did talk about some of these other concerns. One of it was this intelligence, this other information about a possible meeting or some contact at the Mayflower Hotel. Its also intriguing. The president s aides and spokes people, they continue to refuse to say whether the president has confidence in the attorney general. Yesterday Deputy Press Secretary would only say the president s confidence in his cabinet. Pressed repeatedly on sessions they wont say that. Well see if the president is asked that later. Phil, whats the latest up on capitol hill as far as the investigations are concerned and the reaction to comeys testimony . I think on the reaction front whats been most interesting is kind of how republicans have tried to play. This theyve said there was nothing new, there were no big surprises. Theyve also said in multiple occasions from multiple senators and members of the house, maybe the president just didnt know anybody. Take a listen to what Susan Collins had to say. The first interaction that the president had with mr. Comey in early january at trump tower, it was the fbi director who cleared the room so that he could have a oneonone discussion with the president about that salacious dossier. And i wonder if perhaps that made the president think that whenever theres a sensitive conversation to be had with the fbi director that it should be oneonone. Now, wolf its worth noting that the president has a White House Counsels Office and white House Counsel and staff that should probably be the people that would inform him what he should or shouldnt do if hes unaware. I think the interesting thing is as well as yesterday seemed like a climb max. As you noted with shimon, Jeff Sessions will be testifying on capitol hill on a separate matter next weechk. You also have bob mueller. Hell be meeting with the top two members behind doors. Then you have Jared Kushner. As you noted, he as soon as next week will be meeting with staff on the Senate Intelligence committee. After that meeting he was expected according to sources to be submitting documents and then meeting with senators. So the idea that yesterday was kind of the end game or there is large scale vindication or anything like that, if you talk to people on capitol hill they make very clear they are still in the early stages of the investigation. There are still a lot of issues they are going to take on and theres no end in sight as they move forward on those probes. Seems to be expand as we speak. Guys, thanks very much. Lets get some perspective on all of this, the russia investigation, the comey testimony, democratic senator jack reed of rhode island is joining us. Thach you had a chance to question comey yesterday. The president is claiming what he calls total and complete vindication. You agree with the president . No, not at all. I think dregt or comirector com strong impression. He did so under oath. The president i think if hes willing to insist upon his position, that should also be made under oath. Not through an attorney or through tweets. I think comey was very compelling. I think both my colleagues on both sides of the aisle thought so. He was open. He answered all the questions. So i think frankly the burden is now on the president to come forth definitively and say what happened. Well, theres a few ways he can do it. What youre saying is he should make a statement under oath. Where . At the white house . Come up to capitol hill and say that comey was lying as far as the loyalty issue and the Michael Flynn issue was concerned . Because thats what his lawyer said yesterday . I think thats ultimately what will happen. In the course of these investigations, especially with prosecutor mueller, since part of this was indicated yesterday goes to the rational behind the firing of mr. Comey and the rational of trying to deflect if not stop the investigation of general flynn. It involves to some degree the president , at some point, not right away, that at some point mr. Mueller will feel he has to depose the president. That would be the special counsel deposing the president under oath. Well see if that actually winds up happening. The other way this could be resolved, the he said verse he said, one is lying, the other is lying, is if there are tapes in the white house of those conversations he had with comey. First of all, do you know if there are tapes . I dont know if there are tapes, but there are only three in my view logical conclusion. There are tapes and they confirm what mr. Comey said. There are no tapes and so the president is misleading in his statement. Or there are tapes that refute comey. If that was the case, i think those tapes would be public already. So youre saying your conclusion is either theres no tapes or those tapes do not help the president s position. Because the president in that tweet weeks ago, he raised the possibility of tapes. He put the word tapes in quotes. Right. And that could be i think just simply a misstatement. Let me play this clip for you. This is comey during the testimony talking about the president s sort of hope. He use d the word hope. I hope you can walk away or leave the investigation to Michael Flynn, his fired National Security adviser alone. Listen to this. I dont think its for me to say whether the conversation i had with the president was an effort to obstruct. I took it as a very disturbing thing, very concerning. But thats a conclusion im sure the special counsel will work towards to try and understand what the intention was there and whether thats an offense. First of all, do you know if the special counsel is now investigating the president for obstruction of justice . Because thats the implication of what comey was saying yesterday. I have not had the opportunity to talk with the special counsel. His staff has indicated by the colleagues he will meet with senator warner and senator burr this week. My sense that this is all part of a very elaborate, intricate situation involving not only what he said to director comey but there have been reports and weve questioned admiral rogers of the nsa about reports that he in fact asked them to take steps that would either publicly exonerate him or in some way influence the fbi. So this is all these instances are suggesting not just one incident with comey, but a pattern of behavior which goes to the president s possible abuse of power by trying to stop a legitimate investigation. And you know that the attorney general Jeff Sessions will testify before the Senate Next Week on budget related issues, but you know there can be a lot of questions on all of this. Very loose budget related issues. The senators can ask whatever they want. I know you were part i assume you went to that closed door meeting after the open session yesterday. I was there for part of it. You saw the reports. Cnn reporting that comey suggested or there may have been a third undisclosed meeting with the Russian Ambassador that sessions had. Theyre still trying to figure that out. What can you tell us about that . Its not appropriate to comment on anything that took place in that closed door session. I grew up in the army. You dont talk about it. You dont want to talk about that. No, sir. I dont know if thats classified, but it was closed door. Without telling us any classified information, there was a bombshell that you learned during that one hour private meeting . Again, i would prefer not to. I think the best approach is there was an open session. I thought the director comey was incredibly candid. Responded to every question. Responded in a very thoughtful complete way. And then there were matters that should be considered behind closed doors regardless of whether theyre classified or not classified. I think going in that direction is not the appropriate manner. Someone is lying here, right . Someone is not accurate. Youre very diplomatic. Thank you. Senator jack reed of rhode island. Thanks for much for joining us. Coming up, were learning new details about the former fbi director. Comeys closed testimony. What he said and why the attorney general jeff suggestiosessions is pushing back. Plus why many are calling for the british Prime Minister theresa may to resign. Were going to london for the very latest. We, the tv loving people, want our whole house to be filled with entertainment. Roooooaaar easy boy. But we dont want annual contracts and hardware. You scoundrel ugh we just want to stream live tv. And we want it for 10 dollars a month. raspy wow. Id like that in my house. Its a very big house. Yeah, mine too. Look at us. Just two bros with sick houses. High five. Directv now. A big streaming deal for 10 dollars a month. Its entertainment your way. 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The most serious side effects are angioedema, low blood pressure. Kidney problems, or high potassium in your blood. Tomorrow, tomorrow i love ya, tomorrow ask your heart doctor about entresto. And help make tomorrow possible. Youre only a day away. Could be preventedrrent with the right steps. And take it from me, every step counts. A bayer aspirin regimen is one of those steps in helping prevent another stroke. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. Its been a roller coaster week for the attorney general of the United States. Jeff sessions earlier in the week, cnn reported that sessions had offered his resignation but was turned down by the president. He was clearly an important play ner the James Comey Testimony yesterday with comey explaining why fbi leadership decided to not loop sessions into all of their conversations. Listen. Our judgment as i recall was that he was very close to and inevitably going to recuse himself for a variety of reasons. We also were aware of facts that i cant discuss in an open setting that would make his continued engagement in a russiarelated investigation problematic. Here with us cnn legal analyst and former federal prosecutor laura coats. And cnn chief Political Correspondent dana bash inform the closed hearing that happened after the two and a half hour open hearing, they went behind closed doors for an hour with members of the Senate Intelligence committee. Apparently comey elaborated on sessions saying its possible there was a third undisclosed meeting h