Get ready to see the Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the hot seat
we will see Republicans this morning pressing for answers on James commis handling of the Clinton email and
Investigation no that story is not over folks and we will likely see Democrats won answers on
Russia's we say good morning get ready for this I'm Bill Hemmer live here in America's newsroom off. We get running here Sandra
Good morning. Good morning to you Bill and Sandra Smith the Attorney
General's first Capitol Hill appearance since June comes amid the discovery of new FBI
Documents that prove former director James Comey had begun drafting his exoneration of Hillary Clinton before the email
Investigation had wrapped up president Trump's seizing on that news tweeting Wow
FBI confirms report that James Comey drafted letter
Exonerating crooked Hillary Clinton long before an investigation was complete many people not interviewed including
Clinton herself Comey stated under oath that he didn't do this
obviously a fix where is
Justice Department how about that first set up all this happening as we learn more about not that now infamous meeting on the tarmac in
Arizona between Loretta Lynch and Bill Clinton and all of it raising new questions about commis account of his own timeline
Here's the House Oversight Committee Chair trey Gowdy. He's saying that he needs more answers on all of that
The chronology does not add up his answers have been all over the map
To both the Intelligence Committee and the clip you just played from oversight, so we need to talk to him again
Well chief intelligence correspondent Catherine Harridge monitoring that hearing beginning our coverage live in Washington and Catherine good morning there
Well, thank you Bill and good morning
This is the first time the Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been on Capitol Hill since that summer
Testimony where he said in his opening statement that he did not have conversations with the Russians
Coordinate with the Russians or in any way collude with the Russians in an effort to help then-candidate Trump during the 2016
Election you can see the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing room
No one's there at the moment
But we expect them to start filling those seats in the next half hour for that hearing that will be game with an hour's time
The central district committee has a number of questions for the Attorney General
specifically on the Russia investigation
there's a certain amount of frustration with the Justice Department and particularly with the FBI about its unwillingness to
Provide records to Congress that really outlined the relationship the FBI had with the company that was behind
The Trump dossier fusion GPS we put this issue to senator Feinstein the ranking Democrat on the committee recently
We're in a little log jam right now that I hope we can break it and get what we need
Which are subpoenas to get some documents right now?
In addition some of the things you should be looking for this morning include questions
About the travel ban as well as daca bill there have been some developments now in the house side
What can you tell us about that part of this story?
Well buildest part of the story has been moving very rapidly since really last evening what we understand is that?
two members of the firm fusion GPS this is the opposition research firm that commits
Commissioned the anti-trump unverified dossier will be appearing before the House Intelligence Committee in a closed session
About an hour from now you can see there, Glenn Simpson. He is the leader of fusion GPS
We're expecting two of his colleagues Peter fridge as well as Thomas Kattan to take the fifth before the House Intelligence Committee
They told the committee at the end of last week in a 17 page letter that they would exercise
Their Fifth Amendment rights if they were forced to appear today, and they did receive a subpoena to appear
But this raises a host of questions about why they're resisting providing information to Congress
About a document, which really was one of the catalysts to the Russia investigation last year bill all right
No shortage of information to follow Katherine, thank you back in touch with you next hour Katherine
Pressing forward on tax reform a number of key senators including John McCain
Now backing a crucial budget resolution needed to get that ball rolling
President Trump looking to seize on that momentum while speaking at the Heritage Foundation last night
To save Americans precious time and money we're also simplifying the tax code
Under our framework the vast majority of families will be able to file their taxes on a single sheet of paper
The other pillar of our tax plan is reducing our crushing
Business tax so that we can restore
America's competitive edge. It's a
Tremendous reduction from what it is and I will tell you it's the biggest reduction in
Taxes in the history of this country
Peter Doocy is live on Capitol Hill Peter does the GOP have the votes to pass a budget so that they can move?
forward and move on to tax reform
They're closer now Sandra since Senator thad Cochran has returned to
Washington after battling an illness back home in Mississippi and now that Senator John McCain says that he plans to vote yes
Of course nobody really knew what McCain was going to do
He was the critical null vote the last time that the GOP tried to overhaul the health care system, but there is a problem
right now in Senator Rand Paul
he says that he is a know for now because
He thinks McCain and Senator Lindsey Graham are asking for too big an increase in military spending
Lindsey Graham wouldn't know a conservative him at if he met one alright. He's never been a conservative
He's probably a big part of why we have such a massive debt in this country
because he is unwilling and unable to
Be restrained at all on the money. He throws at the military
it's a very strong charge that Senator Graham says he strongly disagrees with I
Think Senator Paul was trying to find a way to vote no
And he always does the president wants to spend more on defense I want to spend more on defense
Every military leader says we need to build up the Defense Department to the threats we face
But while Republicans are fighting amongst themselves?
here in the upper chamber one Liberal
Democratic senator sherrod Brown from Ohio just came out a few hours ago to say that he may vote YES on a
Potential tax reform package if it helps working families, and if it keeps American companies acting patriotically
Well, I want to see I mean. I don't know what's gonna exactly be in it, but those are the tooth
Those are the two major things that would get I think a bunch of Democrats to vote yes
But if this is going to be sort of Mitch
McConnell writing this bill in the backroom in trying to jam it through with 50 votes. That's not how we should legislate
That's not what the country wants
The plan is to try to pass this budget, which then lets them move on to tax reform tomorrow, Sandra
Howard Republicans planning to sell the New Deal Peter to extend Obamacare subsidies
One Republican senator that I've spoken to Sandra says that if they want to sell this allama care extension
They have to stress that it is just temporary it is not forever that the feds are gonna keep paying certain insurance companies to offer
Certain Obama care plans on the exchanges, but if they do not stress that it is temporary
Only this extension of these payments then it's gonna be a tough sell not only in the Senate, but in the house as well
A day there indeed Peter Doocy. Thank you for more on all this now Daniel hopper contributing editor, Washington free beacon Daniel
How you doing good morning to you? I'm thinking Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul need to play golf together
Perhaps, that's what brings us together Rand Paul responding to some of the the back and forth. He said the following
the budget vote to me is a symbol and a
Guidepost as to what we are as a party and what we stand for and the people
Like McCain and Graham who parade as conservatives that are not really conservative
They need to be called out because they are bankrupting our country. Where's this going Daniel well
We're at this really amazing moment right Republicans have the presidency obviously they have they have the House of Representatives
And they have the Senate and yet they can't get anything done
They're too busy at war with each other and not able to get anything done. We saw this on Obamacare
We've seen the on
Since President Trump has taken office really and the question is is can they come together for tax cuts can they come together for tax?
Reform, or will they fight to the death until they just get can't get anything that is the essential question isn't it?
Can you govern with a majority?
That answer has not been complete yet, Daniel right and so far the answer is no
They haven't been able to and and you know really so really
You know of course Rand Paul's grievances are what they are and so are
Lindsey Graham's and John McCain's and can they come together and actually do something constructive can they not can they let the imperfect
You know are they gonna continue to let the imperfect be the enemy of the good and not get anything done
That's I think the key question here, and it remains to be seen really, but I think the president Trump
I think is trying to say hey listen
We can fight about this at an other times there will be an election 2018
We can determine
Who to support later on but for now let's try to come together and do something?
And I think that's a different approach than we've seen in the past and perhaps that would yield different well Rand Paul is gonna make
The case you had to spend less money
Overseas and John McCain's gonna say you have to spend more in defense spending when you consider the outlays of the military now
With regard to Jeff Sessions the Attorney General at 10:00 a.m.. Fifty minutes from now 5-0
Does he move the ball on any of these issues the?
Samantha power
question the James Comey question
The Russia question any of that Daniel so I would expect him to say you know in the past
He's that he's recused himself so therefore he's not going to be talking about issues related to the campaign
I expect him to use that line frequently today. There will be some push to try to get him to go further
I don't I don't really see it. I see from his point of view
It makes sense to just stay out let the let the processes take them you know take over and and
Conclude on their own as they would naturally instead of getting involved. You don't really see what he asked kiddies
Can he sidestep every question on Russia because he's recused himself
I think he can do the majority of them and listen he's he of course has been under a lot of pressure
Himself for some meetings that he failed to disclose so he doesn't I don't think want to get bogged down on this this
An issue that the president has been upset with him about
For other issues that Democrats have been upset about so I think for him
He'd rather talk about anything else, but this I don't think it really helps him in his place
Daniel Thank You Daniel Harper's setting the table first they were in Washington. Thank you sir, thanks Bill
I kind of liked the idea of Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham playing golf sounds good
It's a precedent
Established here sander and maybe yeah, and because anything really get done on those golf courses. Bill. Oh
Lots of chatter at least a lot of fun too, all right well, we saw a vintage president Trump last night a
great American flag
Should be treated with reverence and respect
And that young Americans should be taught to love our country honor our anthem and proudly
recite the Pledge of Allegiance
Why the president went off-script?
When talking up the new tax plan and the economy also last we heard he had disappeared was set for five
national interviews they did not happen now the
Security guard of the center of the Vegas shooting has finally turned up and is now breaking his silence
What he's saying in his first
Interview and where that's happening Plus
Meanwhile we are waiting Attorney General just sessions on
Capitol Hill right now all this has a new report surfaces this morning that the FBI had
Uncovered a bribery plot right before the Obama
administration approved a controversial deal with Russia
those details straight ahead
We believe we should preserve our history not tear it down
Now they're even trying to destroy
statues of
Christopher Columbus, what's next no that wasn't prompt or not?
But that from the speech last night for the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington the president touching on taxes
but a lot of
cultural issues in the crowd loved it Brad Lightman former deputy assistant president george w bush to have a good friend former deputy staff
Secretary to President Bill Clinton gentlemen good day to both of you winning well
He is the anti PC presidents
And you saw this coming whether it was the primary season or the general election and now he had his chance
Last night to bring us back to the NFL
And is you're heard yes there Merry Christmas right while the left seeks to destroy?
Their traditional values of America Donald Trump is speaking up. It's not okay to kneel for the national anthem in a football game
It's not correct or right for the mob to rule in taking down statues our nation was founded by imperfect people
Seeking a more perfect union that you can be found in the preamble to our Constitution
We shouldn't be looking to rewrite or whitewash or expel history we should learn from history
And we should embrace our values. Yeah, David how effective is this?
When you consider the mayor of New York City is now
Considering taking down the Christopher Columbus statue don't know if he's gonna do it, but they're talking about it
Well, I of course disagree with my friend Brad Blakeman that we progressives are somehow against American culture
I love the First Amendment
And I think local communities and States should have the freedom to choose whatever they put in their public places
But I find what you asked me a very specific question bill
And I want to make sure I answered is this working well
Let's look at the background on your screen right now you see President Trump and behind him is the Heritage Foundation logo?
And what was he doing last night? He was talking to conservatives about tax reform
We know you just reported this a few minutes ago on Fox News
There are divisions among conservatives about whether or not?
Deficits should matter should tax cuts be paid for it's very controversial
But one thing that Donald Trump could say last night to that crowd that would get a cheer is let's say Mary Chris
He's trying to divert attention away from his failure, so
You're making the case if you don't get the legislation pass
I'm still communicating to people that I know where your head is and I know where your heart is. That's the case you're making?
I'm saying that Donald Trump has 35 to 39 percent approval rating he's sticking with his base
He's not doing anything to expand that base, but even within the Republican Party. He's having trouble keeping his troops in line
This is one way. He tries to throw red meat to the crowd and say hey we can all agree on this
Let's say Merry Christmas, okay
but show me how many jobs that create show me how many taxes that cut show me where the results are and the
Results are very important. You're right about that Brad respond to that in a moment here, but first
I mentioned Merry Christmas here was the clip on that from last night
You're gonna be saying Merry Christmas again. Okay, say Merry Christmas
We're gonna say it again. It's happening already. You know it
You know it's happening again
Yeah
Brad
Also on the NFL this tweet from this morning the NFL has decided that it will not force players to stand for the playing of
Our National Anthem total disrespect for our great country Brad come back to David's point and respond to that
Well first of all David he did talk about tax reform, and yes tax reform is is a generational change?
We haven't had tax reform since Ronald Reagan
31 years so yeah
You're gonna have division within our party about it you you was certainly not getting the kind of help we should from Democrats
Unleashing the power of the individual is not in the Democratic playbook
They want us to send money to the government to spend for us
And what Donald Trump is saying put more money in the American pocket and let us do our own?
Business and by the way you asked where the jobs are we're almost a full unemployment look at the stock market in
anticipation of what Trump is talking about with this generational change to the tax code and tax rates
We're going to unleash the power of the velocity of money money changing hands within
the population not the government spending for as of now so
We're gonna. We're going to be able to get tax reformed with or without Democrats
It would be nice to have them at 15 seconds David
But the original question was he is the anti PC president right how far does that take him I?
Think it gives him great Allegiance from his base
I think he has failed so far in his presidency to expand his popularity beyond his base
We'll see how that plays out with tax reform, and the midterm elections David Thank You Brad. Thank you genican civil
It must be Christmas
Very good all right congressman trey Gowdy now says he wants to see James Comey back on Capitol Hill
Answering questions as new details come to light about the Clinton email investigation. We're gonna take him up on his offer
We are going to talk to as president former colleagues may the second is when these memos these heavily redacted memos
Appear where they are discussing internally whether or not to make a charging decision
Did the former FBI director try to protect the presidential candidate?
President Trump thinks so we'll ask former congressman jason Chaffetz what he thinks plus president Trump says Isis is on the run
us-backed forces are driving militants out of their stronghold in Syria
Watch this race for Alabama's open Senate seat is neck in neck and our newest Fox poll showing a very close race
Republican Roy Moore Democrat Doug Jones fighting to fill the seat vacated by
AG Jeff Sessions the two right now are tied at 42 42
surprising shift deep red state present Trump won, Alabama by
28 points so keep an eye on that right now. I'm at the Democrats were to take that seat
It's a very competitive. Type. That would be an earthquake of that one, so we'll keep it on
No comments:
Post a Comment