a bedrock principle of the department of justice and our nation s commitment to the rule of law sets a an example for the world. we have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone. applying those laws, collecting facts, that s what determines the outcome of an investigation. nothing more, nothing less. the words of rachel math maddow, stunningly simple words in both the indictment and from behind the podium. it was the first time we as an american public have ever heard from the special counsel notably he praised the fbi and the prosecutors on his team. rachel pointed out they have already come under vicious attack by the indicted ex-president. he encouraged all of us to read the indictment itself, an endeavor we re taking seriously. it s known as a speaking indictment, meaning it is straight forward and, frankly, gripping and dramatic. it lays out the alleged crimes trump faces. 31 counts have to do with the espionage act. we re going to unpack all of them.
presidential records act wasn t intended as criminal statute. it s not true. it was an emergency piece of legislation passed by congress because richard nixon is about to destroy evidence of his own criminality. there s an emergency passage of this law to stop him from doing that that will come challenged at the supreme court and become the actual presidential act signed by jimmy carter. in the moment it s passed it s because richard nixon is incapable of making a distinction between the office of the presidency and his thirst for power. here we are now 30 years later in the exact same situation with a law passed exactly to stop this which is the irrigation of the people s property. let me bring rachel back in