Carried political and potentially legal peril. The strategy, the advisers agreed, should be for donald trump jr. To release a statement to get ahead of the story. They wanted to be truthful, so their account Couldnt Be Repudiated later if the full details emerged. But within hours, at the president s direction, the plan changed. Flying home from germany on july 8th aboard air force one, trump personally dictated a statement in which trump jr. Said he and the russian lawyer had primarily discussed a program about the adoption of russian children. When they met in june 2016, according to multiple people, with knowledge of the deliberations, the statement, issued to the New York Times, as it prepared a story, emphasized that the subject of the meeting was, quote, not a Campaign Issue at the time. The claims were later shown to be misleading. Further down in the washingtwa post story, quote, as special Counsel Robert Mueller investigates potential obstruction as part of his broader probe o
Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. Continues to engage in malign influence operations to this day. This is a threat we need to take extremely seriously and to tackle and respond to with fierce determination and focus. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee sanders told nbc news today that President Trump instructed his team to speak at todays news conference. Asked when the president made the request, sanders didnt respond. And its important to point out, just last friday the president met with his National Security council on Election Security for less than one hour. After the meeting, the white house released a statement that said the administration would not tolerate foreign interference in elections. But it did not mention russia by name. Lets bring in our leadoff panel. Jeremy bash, former Chief Of Staff at the cia and the pentagon
Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. You need a recount. If that is correct and get what it is, the other thing we know is they have apparently under state law until august 24th to certify this election. Were sitting here on august 7th, weve got 17 days, more than two weeks until this has to be certified. If you have that tenday waiting period and then it comes under 0. 5, you know, youre short of that certification. So the law isnt putting a real lot of pressure on them here to get this certified. The law as we understand it is saying its going to be ten days before they can open these. Again, if im a betting man, if you come out here and say, kornacki, your life is on the line, who is going to win this thing, i would tell you balderson, he looks in much better position than oconnor to win this thing. Are you telling me are you sure hes going to win it by more than 0. 45 points and therefore avoid a recount, oh, no, i wouldnt tell
And they all know that The 11th Hour with Brian Williams starts right now. New tonight, raging against the media. Donald trumps pennsylvania barn burner. He claims hes being riddenered hindered by the russian hoax. Meanwhile, back at the white house, the president s top intel and Law Enforcement officials show a united front and say what trump wont, that russia poses a threat to our upcoming elections. Also new tonight, Robert Mueller is looking to speak to another person with ties to that Trump Tower Meeting. And ivanka trump, off message, on her white house low point and a break from her dad on a popular talking point. The 11th hour on a thursday night begins now. Good evening once again from our nbc headquarters here in new york. Im Nicolle Wallace in for brian tonight. Hell be back tomorrow. Its day 560 of the trump administration. And President Trump just wrapped up a rally in pennsylvania where he ramped up his attacks on the
media. Just hours earlier, the president s Top Nationa
Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. Washington post also reports tonight the white house is preparing an Executive Order that authorizes the president to punish foreign interference in u. S. Elections. The post writes, quote, the eightpage draft order appears to be an effort to stave off aggressive legislation, including a bill introduced in congress this month and to quell criticism that trump seems to give more credence to russian president Vladimir Putins denials of interference than to u. S. Intelligence agencies conclusion to the kremlin sought to undermine the 2016 election. That comes to us as Florida Democratic senator bill nelson, whose running in a tough reelection fight, tells the tampa bay times, quote, russian operatives have penetrated some of floridas Election Systems ahead of the 2018 mid terms. He said any further information is classified. Today the white house actually did impose new sanctions on
russia, but not