>>> HERE IS SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON TOMORROW MORNING.
BEFORE THE SECOND CIRCUIT COURT
OF APPEALS IN NEW YORK, THERE
WILL BE ORAL ARGUMENTS IN THE
CASE OF DONALD TRUMP AND DONALD
TRUMP JUNIOR VERSUS THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES.
THIS IS THE PRESIDENT TRYING TO
BLOCK DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE
FROM GETTING HIS FINANCIAL
RECORDS.
RECORDS. IN APRIL, TWO COMMITTEES IN THE
HOUSE SUBPOENAED CAPITAL ONE AND
DEUTSCHE BANK TO GAIN ACCESS TO
FINANCIAL RECORDS RELATED TO THE
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIED THAT THE
TESTIFY INFLATED HIS ASSETS AND
LIED ABOUT THE VALUE OF THINGS
THAT HE WAS IN CONTROL OF IN
ORDER TO SECURE BANK LOANS OR
FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES.
THE WAY MICHAEL COHEN DESCRIBED
IT, HE SAID THOSE THINGS COULD
AMOUNT TO CRIMINAL BANK KRAUDFRA
COHEN’S TESTIMONY LED TO THE
SUBPOENAED BY HOUSE DEMOCRATS TO
PRY LOOSE THE PRESIDENT’S
FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO SEE IF
DOCUMENTS FROM THE INSTITUTIONS
MIGHT CORROBORATE HIS
ALLEGATIONS.
ALLEGATIONS. SINCE THEN, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE
ALLEGATIONS OF THAT KIND.
HE SAID IN HIS AMERICAN PUBLIC
FILINGS THAT THOSE PROPERTIES
WERE WORTH MORE THAN $50
MILLION.
MILLION. AT THE SAME TIME, HE TOLD
AUTHORITIES IN THE UK THAT THE
PROPERTIES WEREN’T WORTH
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THEY WERE $65 MILLION IN DEBT.
THEY COULD BE EITHER.
BUT THEY CAN’T BE BOTH.
WHAT’S LURKING IN THE
PRESIDENT’S FINANCIAL AND
BUSINESS RECORDS THAT CONGRESS
HAS BEEN WORKING SO HARD TO GET?
THAT FIGHT IS ON.
THIS IS A RED HOT FIGHT WAGED IN
LARGE PART BY THE PRESIDENT TO
KEEP ANYBODY FROM KNOWING WHAT’S
IN HIS TAXES OR FINANCIAL
RECORDS.
RECORDS. WE WILL SEE ORAL ARGUMENTS
TOMORROW AT 10:00 A.M. OVER
WHETHER CONGRESS WILL BE GET
TRUMP’S BANK RECORDS.
THAT’S ONE OF THE LAWSUITS THE
PRESIDENT ENGAGED IN TO TRY TO
STOP CONGRESS FROM GETTING HIS
FINANCIAL RECORDS.
FINANCIAL RECORDS. THERE’S A BUNCH OF THEM.
WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH ALL OF
THOSE FEDERAL CASES AND HIS
FIGHTS WITH CONGRESS, PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAS ANOTHER THING WHEN IT
COMES TO A DIFFERENT ADVERSARY.
THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY
GENERAL.
GENERAL. IN MARCH, SHE SUBPOENAED
DEUTSCHE BANK FOR THE TRUMP
ORGANIZATION’S FINANCIAL
ORGANIZATION’S FINANCIAL RECORDS, INCLUDING THOSE RELATED
TO THE SCHEMES THAT MICHAEL
COHEN DESCRIBED.
COHEN DESCRIBED. SHE’S LEADING AN INCREDIBLY
POTENT INVESTIGATION RIGHT NOW
INTO A KEY TRUMP POLITICAL ALLY,
THE NRA.
THE NRA. THAT’S AN INVESTIGATION THAT HAS
ALREADY PLAINLY MANAGED TO FREAK
OUT THE NRA AND ITS LEADERSHIP.
JUST THIS WEEK, SHE LAUFRPNCHED
NEW LAWSUIT OVER THE
ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION
ADMINISTRATION’S IMMIGRATION POLICY.
POLICY. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH
YOURSELF THIS SUMMER?
JOINING US IS TISH JAMES.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THAT SUMMARIZES A TINY PIECE
OF WHAT AND YOUR OFFICE ARE
DOING RIGHT NOW.
THAT’S SOME OF THE STUFF I HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH.
>> 17 CASES SINCE I TOOK OFFICE.
ONE EVERY TWO WEEKS.
>> TELL ME ABOUT THE FINANCIAL
PIECE OF THIS.
IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO ME TO
WATCH THE PRESIDENT FIGHT TOOTH
AND NAIL.
AND NAIL. HE HIRED A NEW RAFT OF LAWYERS
THAT ARE ONLY TRYING TO KEEP HIM
TAXES AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION
SECRET.
SECRET. HE HAS A BEAR OF A FIGHT OVER
THAT ON HIS TAXES AND FINANCIAL
DOCUMENTS WITH MULTIPLE
COMMITTEES IN CONGRESS.
HE HAS A FIGHT WITH YOU ON THAT.
TELL US ABOUT THE PROGRESS.
>> BEFORE I GET INTO THE
LITIGATION, LET ME TELL YOU
ABOUT WHO I AM.
LET ME SET THE TABLE.
WE ARE A COUNTRY OF LAWS AND
RULES.
RULES. IT’S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE ADHERE TO THOSE.
WHAT GUIDES ME IS I BELIEVE IN
EQUALITY AND I BELIEVE THAT THE
LAW SHOULD APPLY TO ALL OF US
AND NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
THOSE ARE SIMPLE CONCEPTS THAT I
BELIEVE IN.
BELIEVE IN. I BELIEVE THAT AS THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF THE GREAT STATE OF
NEW YORK, THAT I CANNOT SIT BY
AND ALLOW SOMEONE TO BASICALLY
SUBVERT THE UNITED STATES
CONSTITUTION OR THE CONSTITUTION
OF NEW YORK.
THAT EXPLAINS ALL OF THE
LITIGATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN.
INVOLVED IN. WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WHICH UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN
ENGAGED IN RETRENCHMENT.
A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH IS
CLOSED.
CLOSED. ALL OF THESE LAWSUITS ARE
DEFENDING THE RIGHTS OF
IMMIGRANT, THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN,
THE DISABLED, THE RIGHTS OF
INDIVIDUALS THAT AND THEIR
HEALTH CARE, THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
IF WE AGAIN ARE TO CONTINUE THE
PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE IN THIS
NATION, IF WE ARE TO BELIEVE IN
THE SIMPLE CONCEPTS OF EQUALITY
FOR ALL AND JUSTICE FOR ALL,
THEN YOU HAVE TO FIGHT BACK AND
YOU HAVE TO STAND UP.
YOU HAVE TO USE THE LAW AS A
SWORD AND AS A SHIELD.
GETTING TO YOUR QUESTION, THERE
ARE A NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS
GOING ON IN OUR OFFICE AS A
RESULT OF THE TESTIMONY OF
MICHAEL COHEN.
MICHAEL COHEN. THEY RAISE SOME LEGITIMATE
CONCERNS.
CONCERNS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES HAS BEEN COMPLAINED I’M
ENGAGING IN SOME SORT OF
POLITICAL WITCH HUNT, I HAVE
PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST HIM, I
CAMPAIGNED AGAINST HIM.
THAT IS NOT TRUE.
I HAVE NOT POLITICIZED THE
OFFICE.
OFFICE. MR. COHEN RAISED QUESTIONS AND
ISSUES THAT I AM ONLYBLIGATED AS
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PURSUE.
WE ARE FOLLOWING THE FACTS AND
THE EVIDENCE.
THE EVIDENCE. SOME OF THE CASES UNFORTUNATELY
I CANNOT DIVULGE, GIVE YOU AN
UPDATE WHERE THEY ARE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE OFFICE
OF ATTORNEY GENERAL IS STANDING
UP FOR THE LAW.
AGAIN, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW,
INCLUDING THE MOST POWERFUL
INDIVIDUAL IN THIS COUNTRY, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> THE FINANCIAL ISSUES IN
PARTICULAR, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE CAN WATCH IN THOSE
FEDERAL COURT FIGHTS HAPPENING
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES IS THAT
WE CAN SEE HOW THE PRESIDENT
FILING INDIVIDUAL LAWSUITS, THE
PRESIDENT EMPLOYING THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT IN SOME CASES TO COME
IN ON HIS SIDE IN THE LAWSUITS
AGAINST CONGRESS AND THEM TRYING
TO ACT.
TO ACT. WE CAN SEE HOW HIS LEGAL
STRATEGY HAS STOPPED THOSE
INQUIRIES OR SLOWED THEM DOWN.
IN TERMS OF THE WAY HE HAS
FOUGHT YOU, DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN STOPPED OR THAT YOU
HAVE BEEN DIVERTED FROM ANYTHING
THAT YOU ARE PURSUING?
>> BY NO MEANS.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES USES THE LAWSUITS, HE
HIDES THE LAW.
WHAT WE NEED IS ACCOUNTABILITY
AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND TRANSPARENCY. THE TRUST ACT WAS AN ACT PASSED
BY THE NEW YORK STATE
LEGISLATURE WHICH BASICALLY SAYS
THAT THE THREE COMMITTEES IN THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS CAN ASK
FOR THE PRESIDENT’S TAX RECORDS
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
HIS STATE TAXES.
SO WE ARE IN LITIGATION BECAUSE
THE PRESIDENT INDIVIDUALLY AND
PERSONALLY FILED A LAWSUIT
AGAINST ME, THE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS AS WELL AS
NEW YORK STATE TAXATION AND
FINANCE, BLOCKING HIS TAXES.
EVERY PRESIDENT HAS OFFERED UP
THEIR TAXES.
THEIR TAXES. STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES.
NOT THIS PRESIDENT.
WHY SHOULDN’T THE LAW APPLY TO
HIM?
HIM? WHY SHOULDN’T HE BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE?
ACCOUNTABLE? WHY SHOULDN’T HE PROVIDE
TRANSPARENCY TO INDIVIDUALS WHO
WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIS TAXES?
>> LET ME ASK YOU -- THIS IS A
NAIVE QUESTION.
NAIVE QUESTION. YOU CAN TELL ME I’M DUMB FOR
ASKING IT.
ASKING IT. >> I WOULD NEVER DO THAT.
>> I MIGHT DESERVE IT.
DON’T RULE IT OUT.
ON THAT LAST POINT THAT YOU WERE
MAKING ABOUT THIS NEW YORK STATE
LAW THAT SAYS UNDER CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES A PERSON’S
STATE -- THE PRESIDENT’S STATE
TAX RETURNS COULD BE HANDED OVER
TO THE APPROPRIATE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, IF THAT GETS TO THE
END OF THE LINE IN TERMS OF THE
PRESIDENT TRYING TO SUE YOU AND
TRYING TO BLOCK THAT IN COURT
AND TRYING TO FIGHT THAT OUT
THROUGH LITIGATION AND THE
PRESIDENT DECIDES, I’M GOING TO
FLOUT THAT LAW, WHAT IS NEW YORK
GOING TO DO, ARREST ME?
WHERE DOES THAT END IF THE
PRESIDENT DECIDES THAT’S A STATE
LAW AND HE DOESN’T FEEL BOUND BY
IT?
IT? >> THE REALITY IS, WE ARE
FIGHTING THIS CASE BECAUSE IT
WAS FILED IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
COLUMBIA. WE BELIEVE NEW YORK IS NOT
SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
HE IS ARGUING THAT THE TRUST
ACT, WHICH WOULD REVEAL HIS
STATE TAXES IN VIOLATION OF THE
FIRST AMENDMENT AND THAT WE ARE
RETALIATING AGAINST HIM BECAUSE
OF HIS POLITICAL VIEWS AND
NOTHING CAN BE FURTHER FROM THE
TRUTH.
TRUTH. IF HE LOSES AND RIGHT NOW THE
CASE IS BEING HELD UP UNTIL WE
RESOLVE THE JURISDICTION ISSUES.
IF WE WIN AND IF THE CHAIRMAN
REQUESTS HIS STATE TAXES IN
FURTHER
FURTHER FURTHERANCE OF CONGRESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY, WE WILL TURN
OVER THE TAXES.
THE CHAIRMAN HAS YET TO ASK US.
IT’S PREMATURE TO BRING IT
LAWSUIT.
LAWSUIT. I’M CONFIDENT HIS LAWSUIT
AGAINST ME, AGAINST TAXATION AND
FINANCE AND THE CHAIRMAN WILL BE
DISMISSED BECAUSE IT’S
PREMATURE.
PREMATURE. >> ONE OTHER MATTER I WANT TO
ASK YOU ABOUT.
WHEN WE COME BACK, YOU APPEAR TO
BE DRIVING THE NATIONAL RIFLE
ASSOCIATION TO DISTRACTION RIGHT
NOW WITH YOUR INVESTIGATION THAT