Good evening, and its great to have you with us here on a thursday night, and we begin tonight with the head of the fbi under the microscope. The Justice DepartmentInspector General revealing whether the actions before the president ial election broke policy and protocol. You remember him going public reigniting the email investigation involving Hillary Clinton only to then reveal there was nothing. Critics say there is no question it affected the election, and heres abcs senior justice correspondent, Pierre Thomas tonight. Reporter tonight, the fbi director james comey under new, intense scrutiny. A new Inspector General investigation asking the critical question, did comeys actions in the clinton email probe violate Justice Department policies and protocol . Something critics have maintained severely hurt clintons chance at the presidency. Just 11 days before the election, clinton and her team huddled on her plane. Learning only upon landing, that james comey had just publicly reignited the email investigation. Secretary clinton. What do you have the say about the fbi investigation . I need to open with a very critical breaking news announcement. They have discovered new emails. Reporter tonight, the department of justice wants to know whether comeys public move was appropriate. Announcing just two days before the election there was nothing there. Critics argue the damage was done. You may have heard about a letter that the fbi director sent out yesterday. [ boos ] its pretty strange to put Something Like that out with such Little Information right before an election. Reporter though the actions fair so close to the election. Sdplu dont do it close to an election. You dont want anybody to think that the department is acting to influence an election. Reporter also under scrutiny, his decision in july to hold a conference saying charges would not be put against clinton after criticizing her. They were extremely careless in their handling of classified information. Reporter but then saying. No reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case. Rarely does a prosecutor go into length like comey did. Reporter wrestling with the need for transimportantsy, but the clinton team saying the move was devastating. If this election had been held ten days earlier, Hillary Clinton would be the 45th president of the united states. Reporter and just this week, comey was asked if the fbi is investigating whether president elect trumps team had contact with the russians during the campaign. I would never comment on investigations whether we have one or not in an open forum like this. Reporter he was pressed again. You didnt say one way or another. Correct. I dont especially in a public forum, we never confirm nor deny a pending investigation. The irony of your making that statement here, i cannot avoid. Reporter was there a double standard . Was protocol ignored . The Inspector General signaling tonight they will investigate. Were you comfortable in the role you played in the election . Pierre with us live, and the director of the fbi weigh ig in on this late today . Reporter david, he said hell fully cooperate. He has nothing to hide and he wants to be transparent. Thank you. Of course, president elect donald trump taking aim at u. S. Intelligence after that leaked document with unconfirmed allegations that russia has gathered material on mr. Trump. He called the leak disgraceful. Well, tonight, the former spy at the center of the storm now in hiding, and this evening right here, new video of him. Heres our chief investigative correspondent, brian ross. Reporter the former british spy at the center of the unsubstantiated trump allegations, is identified by the bbc tonight as this impeccably dressed, 52yearold man at the society, christopher steele, who colleagues tell abc news has gone into hiding. Today in washington, vicepresident joe biden confirmed he and the president were briefed by intelligence officials. We feel obliged to tell you, mr. President , because you may hear about it. We cant say its not true. We cant say it is true. Reporter the russians and trump have angrily denounced the allegations as completely false, including the unverified claim that trump was secretly recorded when he visited moscow. Trump says he knows better than to let that happen. You have cameras in the strangest places. Cameras that are so small with modern technology, you cant see them, and you wont know. Reporter but spies for the former kgb are famous for just that kind of blackmail tactic against foreign visitors. U. S. Officials say the russians posted this video of an american diplomat with an alleged prostitute, complete with background music, after the diplomat refused to become a double agent. The cold war ended, but the russian intelligence operations in hotels in moscow, targeted against americans, has never stopped. Reporter not to mention, Hacking Computers and bugging phones. When i talked reporter three years ago, the russians intercepted the very undiplomatic phone conversation of a top american diplomat, victoria nuland, and posted it online. Have the un help glue it. And, you know, [ bleep ] the eu. Reporter trump said wednesday the russians have nothing on him, and hes prepared to get tough with vladimir putin. If needed. Do you honestly believe that hillary would be tougher on putin than me . Does anybody in this room really believe that . Give me a break. Reporter but u. S. Officials believe that, saying they think putin ordered the hacking of the democratic party, in part, because he feared clinton would be tougher than trump to deal with. As for that former british spy, authorities tell abc news tonight he is considered a trusted source who has been helpful with past fbi investigations, with both the kremlin and russian organized crime. While i have you, i want to show a curious moment on cspan. This is mac seen waters, and then it switches to russia today. Thats the Russian Propaganda Network playing. Whats going on here . It went on for about ten minutes, and they think for the moment, it was a routing issue, and it raises a lot of questions. Brian ross with us. Thank you. It was 24 hours ago here, president elect trump saying that document would turn up nothing, saying there is nothing there, blaming the Intel Community for leaking the report. Tonight, we learned that just hours later after his criticism, he received a phone call from the director of National Intelligence, james clapper. Tonight, Abcs Jonathan Karl on what was said. Reporter tensions between donald trump and the intelligence agencies flared again today following the president elects unprecedented attack. That the intelligence agencies allowed any information that turned out to be so false and fake, out. I think its a disgrace, and i say that and i say that. Thats something that nazi germany would have done and did do. Reporter hours later director of National Intelligence james clapper, called trump himself and took the rare step of releasing this public statement. I expressed my profound dismay at the leaks that have been appearing in the press, and we both agreed that they are extremely corrosive and damaging to our national security. I do not believe the leaks came from the National Intelligence community. Reporter still fuming, this morning, trump tweeted. James clapper called me yesterday to denounce the false and fictitious report that was illegally circulated. Made up, phony facts. Too bad but in his statement, clapper didnt quite call the reports false and fictitious, instead saying he had not determined yet whether they were reliable. On capitol hill, mike pompeo, trumps choice to be the director of the cia, was asked directly about whether he would continue to investigate one of those unsubstantiated and unproven allegations, that the trump team was in contact with russia. If confirmed, will you commit to exploring those questions, and if you find there is validity to those allegations refer the information that you discovered to the fbi . I want to make clear that i share your view these are unsubstantiated allegations. I emphasized that. I want to make sure these are very serious allegations. But to your question more directly, i promise ill pursue the facts wherever they take us. Reporter trump is fine with the investigation. Thats their job. Jon karl with us live from the white house. This riff between the president and the Intelligence Community, this appears to be growing wide. How much concern are you hearing from your sources within the Intelligence Community tonight . Reporter there is concern there has been lasting damage done this this relationship. I expect trumps choice to be director and head of the cia will be confirmed. Shortly after he is sworn in as president , he will have his own people at the top of the leadership Intelligence Community. That can make a difference. Thank you. Last night, president elect trump was saying russia was behind the hacking and adding it could be someone else. Today, his picks for the pentagon and the cia made it very clear on the hill where they stand on russia. Abcs mary bruce up on capitol hill again tonight. Reporter tonight, two men donald trump nominated to help keep america safe, breaking with the president elect on russia and vladimir putin. If putin likes donald trump, i consider that an asset, not a liability. Because we have a horrible relationship with russia. Reporter but today, a very different tone from trumps pick for secretary of defense. Mad dog mattis reporter retired general james mattis declaring russia is a threat. Im all for engagement. But we also have to recognize reality and what russia is up to. Reporter mattis insisting putin wants to break up nato, and america must defend itself. Theres a decreasing number of areas where we can engage cooperatively and an increasing number of areas where were going to have to confront russia. Reporter the generals words welcomed by senator john mccain. I appreciate him expressing his candid views to the committee. Do you think the president elect will take his advice . Do you hope he takes his advice . Im supposed to answer that . Reporter just one floor up, testifying at his confirmation hearing for cia director, congressman mike pompeo, also drawing a harder line on russia than the president elect. On the dnc hacking trump finally conceding it was russia. As far as hacking, i think it was russia. Reporter but then he said trump you know what, could have been others also. Reporter from pompeo today, no hesitation. Its pretty clear about what took place here about russia involvement in efforts to hack information and to have an impact on american democracy. Reporter some republicans concerned about the conflicting signals coming out of the new administration. We live in very dangerous times. The last thing i want to do is send a mixed message to putin. Reporter the president elect has signaled he is not likely to take grahams advice. Lindsey graham, i have been competing with him for a long time. He is going to crack that 1 barrier one day. I didnt realize Lindsey Graham still had it. And mary braus produce with us. Senator graham continuing today raising concerns about russia, and also about the secretary of state nominee, Rex Tillerson . Reporter graham is one of at least three republican senators that say they are undecided on tillerson. He has described his relationship with putin as very close, and today, graham told us tillerson has to be able to punch russia in the face, david. Mary bruce live on capitol hill for us again. Thank you, mary. One more headline from washington tonight. The republican push to repeal and replace obamacare. Covering more than 20 million americans. The Senate Taking the first major step approving a resolution allowing them to begin the process of repealing with a simple majority vote. They say they will vote on that measure tomorrow. President elect trump saying they should repeal and replace quickly afterward, saying americans will be very proud of the new plan. Next tonight here, we are tracking a major ice storm across the midwest oklahoma, in fact, declaring a state of emergency. In chicago, stuck . Place because of the layers of the ice there. Lets get right to ginger zee tracking the storm tonight. Hey, ginger. Reporter hey, david. Trees, power lines and roads. Beware of up to an inch of ice about to fall in parts of the plains. We have this set up plenty of moisture from the gulf. It will hit that stationary front up and over and hit the cold air, and along that jet stream and a low pressure system. You will see some ice drop. Its really rain that drops into that freezing layer and you have the warnings from oklahoma to missouri along the stationary front. That starts tonight and goes through sunday morning for most folks. Not the entire time, you you can see accumulations and bigtime impact in the zones highlighted. Well see you tomorrow morning, ginger. A major auto maker in the headlines after reporting volkswagen will pay more than 4 billion for cheating emissions tests, and fiat doing the same thing. Including 2014 and 2016 pickups and suvs with diesel engines. They are denying intentionally breaking the law. Much more ahead, and this school bus. Several students on board when the engine ignites. Much more on this after the break. Also the family tragedy. The inferno inside this home. So many children lost, and fire officials are on the scene. The investigation coming up. And it is hard to pull off a surprise at the white house today, but the Vice President had no idea why he was really standing there next to the president. You have to see this when we come back. Iabetic nerve pain, these feet kicked off a lot of high school games. Built a life for my family. And liked to help others in need. But i couldnt bear my diabetic nerve pain any longer. So i talked to my doctor and he prescribed lyrica. Nerve damage from diabetes causes diabetic nerve pain. Lyrica is fdaapproved to treat this pain. Lyrica may cause serious allergic reactions or suicidal thoughts or actions. Tell your doctor right away if you have these, new or worsening depression, or unusual changes in mood or behavior. 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Next tonight, fire investigators on the scene at a house fire tragedy in baltimore. A mother and her nine children were inside when the home went up in flames. Abcs Gloria Riviera is there. Reporter tonight, a city in utter devastation, the intense fire engulfing the baltimore home in mere minutes. Theres a fire on the first, second and through the roof. Reporter the mother and her nine children caught inside when the fire broke out just after midnight. Nine children inside, nine children inside reporter kate malone, and three of her children, getting out. Her 8yearold daughter leading the way. She actually rescued her two siblings. She brought the two siblings out with her. Reporter but six of the children, the youngest a 9monthold baby boy didnt make it. Their mother watching in agony. She made them aware that there were other children inside. The mother told your team . Told our team that there were other children inside. Reporter investigators digging through the rubble by hand. The mother of nine, in critical condition. Her boss congressman Elijah Cummings showing support. Um, its a very difficult time for our office. Reporter tonight investigators trying to determine the cause. David, the father was at work when the fire broke out, he told officials there was a working Smoke Detector and he had just replaced the batteries. David. All right, gloria. Thank you. When we come back here, the fire of a school bus in texas reports students on board. And the sustain coming in from seattle tonight. The drone colliding with the famous space needle. You will see it after the break. Tell your doctor about your medicines, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sex. Do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, or adempas® for pulmonary hypertension, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Do not drink alcohol in excess. To avoid longterm injury, get medical help right away for an erection lasting more than four hours. 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