NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL. AND MY FRIEND AN OP-ED COLUMNIST
FOR "THE NEW YORK TIMES."
WELCOME TO YOU ALL.
JEREMY, TO YOU FIRST, JONATHAN
ALLEN, MY COLLEAGUE HERE, ARGUES
THERE’S NOT BEEN A DARKER MOMENT
FOR THE PRESIDENT.
OR THE PRESIDENCY, SINCE RICHARD
NIXON RESIGNED ON THE VERGE OF
IMPEACHMENT IN 1974.
THOSE ARE SOME HEAVY WORDS.
WOULD YOU AGREE?
BECAUSE LAST I CHECKED, RICHARD
NIXON WASN’T HOLDING A RALLY
LIKE THAT, AND THERE PRESIDENT
TRUMP WAS AT A RALLY WITH ARDENT
SUPPORTERS WHO THINK THAT
YESTERDAY WAS NONSENSE.
>> THAT’S THE KEY DIFFERENCE,
STEPHANIE, HOW THE ELECTORATE
PROCESSES ALL OF THIS NEWS, IF
THEY’RE PROCESSING IT REALLY AT
ALL.
ALL. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY NOW HAVE BEEN JUST SO
INUNDATED THAT THEY CAN’T REALLY
DIFFERENTIATE ONE SCANDAL FROM
ANOTHER.
ANOTHER. THAT SAID, WITH THE ECHOES OF
WATERGATE HERE AND THE UN
UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR, THIS
IS GOING TO FOCUS TO BE THE
SHIFT GOING INTO THE MIDTERMS.
AND REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE
KNOCKED BACK ON THEIR HEELS.
AND EVEN IN GRAVER DANGER OF
LOSING THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT
TRUMP’S LEGAL TROUBLES, BUT I’M
HEARING A LOT OF CONCERN THAT
ALL OF THE ETHICAL ISSUES
CLOUDING CONGRESSIONAL
CLOUDING CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW.
YOU HAVE TWO SITTING MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS REPUBLICANS WHO ARE
UNDER INDICTMENT.
UNDER INDICTMENT. YOU HAVE THIS WHIFF OF
CORRUPTION AROUND THE
PRESIDENCY.
PRESIDENCY. DEMOCRATS ARE ALREADY EXPLOITING
THIS IN THEIR TELEVISION ADS.
LET’S REMEMBER, THE 2006
ELECTIONS WHICH WASHED
REPUBLICANS OUT OF POWER, ALSO
TALKS ABOUT CORRUPTION.
EVERYONE ATTRIBUTED THE IRAQ WAR
AND VOTER FATIGUE OVER GEORGE W.
BUSH.
BUSH. YOU HAVE THE ABRAMOFF AND
SCOOTER LIBBY AND THE HOUSE
PAGES AND EXPLICIT MESSAGES
SENT.
SENT. AND THIS JUST ALL CAME CRUSHING
DOWN ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
AND I THINK THAT YOU’RE LOOKING
AT A SITUATION THAT IS, IF NOT
AS SERIOUS, EVEN MORE SERIOUS
THAN THAT.
THAN THAT. >> ALL RIGHT, WULELL THEN, THAT’
NOT A BHIFWHIFF, THAT’S A STINK.
PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST TWEETED
AGAIN.
AGAIN. I FEEL VERY BADLY FOR PAUL
MANAFORT AND HIS WONDERFUL
FAMILY.
FAMILY. JUSTICE TOOK A 12-YEAR-OLD TAX
CASE AMONG OTHER THINGS APPLIED
TREMENDOUS PRESSURE ON HIM.
HE REFUSED TO BREAK MAKE UP
STORIES IN ORDER TO GET A DEAL.
SUCH RESPECT FOR A BRAVE MAN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> LOOK, THE PRESIDENT HIRED AS
HIS CHIEF CAMPAIGN ADVISER, A
MAN WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN
SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUSSIAN BLACKMAIL
BLACKMAIL, HAD HE NOT BEEN
EXPOSED BY "THE NEW YORK TIMES"
IN JULY OR AUGUST OF 2016.
THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE OUGHT TO
UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE DANGER THAT
MANAFORT POSED.
MANAFORT POSED. NOT THAT HE WAS JUST IN OFFICE
FOR WITH THE CAMPAIGN A FEW
MONTHS OR THAT THESE CHARGES GO
WAY BACK.
WAY BACK. IT MEANS HAD HE REMAINED
INFLUENTIAL IN THE TRUMP
CAMPAIGN YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A
MAN POSSIBLY IN HIGH POSITION OF
THE ADMINISTRATION WHO WOULD
HAVE BEEN LIABLE TO A RUSSIAN
OPERATION.
OPERATION. WHAT I FIND REALLY STRIKING,
THOUGH, IS THE REFUSAL TO COME
TO GRIPS WITH THE REALLY BIG
NEWS OF THE DAY WHICH IS WHAT
HAPPENED WITH MICHAEL COHEN.
BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ABOUT
COLLUSION.
COLLUSION. THIS IS NOT ABOUT ROBERT
MUELLER.
MUELLER. THIS IS ABOUT THE WAY THE
PRESIDENT WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN
UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR IN
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. FELONIOUS VIOLATION OF CAMPAIGN
LAWS.
LAWS. WHICH SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING
WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT
FIRES MUELLER OR NOT.
>> TO BRETT’S POINT THIS IS A
PREAMBLE, TRUMP IS A TRUMP.
I WANT TO SHARE HOW OTHER
REPUBLICANS HAVE WEIGHED,
SENATORS JON CORNYN, LINDSEY
GRAHAM ABOUT THE CONVICTION OF
PAUL MANAFORT AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF A PARDON?
>> WOULD YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IF
THE PRESIDENT WERE TO PARDON
MANAFORT?
MANAFORT? >> TO WHAT?
>> TO PARDON PAUL MANAFORT.
>> THAT’S ABOVE MY PAY GRADE.
THAT’S THE PRESIDENT’S CHOICE.
BUT I THINK I’D LIKE TO SEE THE
CASE TAKE ITS COURSE.
>> I CAN’T THINK WHAT
MR. MANAFORT HAS DONE TO DESERVE
A PARDON.
A PARDON. HE ACTUALLY HASN’T GONE TO JAIL.
YOU HAVE TO SHOW THAT YOU
LEARNED YOUR LESSON.
>> BEN SASSE PUT OUT A
STATEMENT, PAUL MANAFORT IS THE
FORMER MEMBER OF THE D.C. SWAMP.
AND MICHAEL COHEN IS THE BOTTOM
THANK VERSION OF THE SAME.
NEITHER ONE OF THESE FELONS
SHOULD BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE
PRESIDENCY.
PRESIDENCY. >> I COULDN’T AGREE MORE.
THAT THEM BEING ABOVE SENATOR
CORNYN PAY GRADE BUT IT’S NOT
GOING TO BE ABOVE MINE IF I’M
FORTUNATE TO BE THE NEXT
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK.
NEW YORK. >> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK THAT
OFFICE IS SECOND TO ONLY ROBERT
MUELLER AS HOLDING THE PRESIDENT
ACCOUNTABLE.
ACCOUNTABLE. HE RESIDES IN NEW YORK.
MOST OF HIS ASSETS ARE IN
NEW YORK.
NEW YORK. AND NOW WE KNOW THAT HIS
CRIMINAL ASSOCIATES OF WHICH
MICHAEL COHEN IS ONE ALSO CALL
NEW YORK HOME.
AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE
PRESIDENT MAY DO IN TERMS OF
POTENTIALLY PARDONING MANAFORT
OR ANYONE ELSE.
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, I WOULD DO
MY UTMOST AND AGGRESSIVELY
PROSECUTE --
PROSECUTE -- >> CAN THAT --
>> THE PRESIDENT ONLY HAS THE
POWER TO PARDON FOR CONVICTIONS
OF FEDERAL CRIMES, HE HAS NO
AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER TO PARDON
FOR CONVICTIONS OF STATE CRIMES.
NOW, STATE LAW IN NEW YORK NEEDS
TO BE STRENGTHENED.
AND I IMPLORE GOVERNOR CUOMO TO
CALL THE LEGISLATURE BACK IN
RIGHT AWAY TO STRENGTHEN STATE
LAW BUT RIGHT NOW, THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF
NEW YORK CAN PROSECUTE ANY
PERSON SHE CHOOSES WHO HAS
VIOLATED STATE LAW.
IT MAKES IT UNNECESSARILY
CHALLENGING TO DO SO BUT IT’S
NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
NOT IMPOSSIBLE. I HOPE ON JANUARY 1, I WITHOUT
QUESTION WILL HOLD ANY PERSON
WHO HAS VIOLATED STATE LAW
ACCOUNTABLE, REGARDLESS IF
THEY’VE RECEIVED A PARDON FROM
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
STATES. >> HEAVENS, MR. MANAFORT AND
MR. CORNER,HEN, ARE YOU WATCHING
THAT?
THAT? >> FIRST OF ALL, YOU MISSED A
STEP WHICH IS THE SOUTHERN
DISTRICT OF NEW YORK.
YOU CAN’T GET HIM ON FEDERAL
CRIMES AS THE STATE ATTORNEY
GENERAL.
GENERAL. BUT MY TAKE IS THIS IS A REALLY,
REALLY SAD SITUATION.
>> FOR WHOM?
>> FOR THE COUNTRY.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES IS AN UNINDICTED
CO-CONSPIRATOR ON TWO COUNTS OF
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT ELECTION
FRAUD.
FRAUD. DID YOU NOTICE HOW SUBDUED HE
WAS?
WAS? I HAVE NEVER SEEN DONALD TRUMP
AT A RALLY LOOKING SO MOROUS.
>> THOSE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE
WHO HAVE JUST WATCHED FOX NEWS,
THEY’RE GOING TO SUPPORT THE
PRESIDENT NO MATTER WHAT.
>> YES, SO, THAT’S TRUE.
BUT THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, I
THINK HE’S STARTING TO GRAPPLE
WITH WHAT’S GOING ON.
HE SEEMED TO BE DOWN.
HE KNEW -- MICHAEL COHEN WHO IS
ON THE INSIDE OF INSIDE OF HIS
INNER CIRCLE FOR YEARS HAS NOW
FLIPPED ON HIM.
HE IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
DEAL WITH THIS.
HE’S GOING TO BE BACKED INTO THE
CORNER.
CORNER. AND THAT’S WHY YOU SEE THE
PREAMBLE THAT BRETT TALKED
ABOUT.
ABOUT. WE’VE GOT BOB WOODWARD’S BOOK
"FEAR," IMAGINE HOW HE REACTS TO
THAT.
THAT. BOB WOODWARD IS CREDIBLE, UNLIKE
OMAROSA.
OMAROSA. AND THE BASE USING THE TRAGEDY
OF MOLLIE TIBBETTS AND WHAT
HAPPENED TO HER.
IT’S HORRIFIC.
IT’S HORRIFIC. BUT REPUBLICANS ARE IGNORING
WHAT’S HAPPENING AND THEY’RE NOT
HOLDING HIM ACCOUNTABLE.
JON CORNYN SAYING IT’S ABOVE HIS
PAY GRADE, NO, HIS PAY GRADE IS
TO BE CHECKS AND BALANCE ON THE
EXECUTIVE.
EXECUTIVE. >> YOU’VE BEEN SAYING IT’S SAD
FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
JEREMY PETERS, SAYING IT’S SAD,
YOU’RE DOWN THERE ON THE HILL,
DO YOU ACTUALLY THINK YOU’RE
GOING TO GET ANY?
THUS FAR, WE HAVEN’T?
>> NOT YET, NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
>> STEVE BANNON SAID, THIS IS A
MOMENT, WE ALL NEED TO CHECK
OURSELVES AND GET IN LINE.
MEANING GET IN LINE BEHIND
TRUMP.
TRUMP. >> RIGHT, AND THAT’S
REPRESENTATIVE OF A HARDCORE
ELEMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
HERE AND DEFINITELY A LARGE
PERCENTAGE OF THE MEMBERS OF A
REPUBLICAN CONGRESS, TO BE
CLEAR.
CLEAR. BUT I DO THINK IF YOU’RE LOOKING
JUST AT MICHAEL COHEN, THIS IS
NOT A CLEAN HIT.
I MEAN, LET’S NOT FORGET,
MICHAEL COHEN IS A GUY WHO HAS
REPEATEDLY LIED ON THE
PRESIDENT’S BEHALF.
PRESIDENT’S BEHALF. >> UH-HUH.
>> UH-HUH. >> AND HE HAS BRAGGED ABOUT
THAT.
THAT. HE HAS SAID, ACTUALLY, THAT HE
DOESN’T KNOW OF ANY INSTANCES
THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS LIED.
HE’S ALSO THE WAY THAT SAID
THERE’S NO WAY FOR YOU TO RAPE
YOUR SPOUSE WHEN THERE WERE
THESE QUESTIONS THAT IVANA TRUMP
RAISED ABOUT AN INCIDENT
INVOLVING HER HUSBAND WHEN THEY
WERE MARRIED.
WERE MARRIED. SO, MICHAEL COHEN IS NOT A
CREDIBLE PERSON.
CREDIBLE PERSON. AND REPUBLICANS WILL DO
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO REMIND
PEOPLE OF THAT TO DISCREDIT HIM
AND HIS ALLEGATIONS.
AND THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE HEARING
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. NOT JUST FROM REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS.
LAWMAKERS. BUT ALSO IN THE CONSERVATIVE
MEDIA THAT SHAPED SO MUCH OF THE
PUBLIC OPINION.
PUBLIC OPINION. AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A CASE
WHERE FOR NOW AT LEAST, PEOPLE
DO WRITE OFF ALLEGATIONS AROUND
MICHAEL COHEN.
MICHAEL COHEN. NOW, WHERE THAT GOES FROM HERE,
WHAT ELSE HAS EVAN POINTED OUT
THAT COULD HAPPEN, THE
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT WE
COULD BE FIGHTING OVER IN A FEW
WEEKS IT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO EVEN
MORE PERCEPTIONS OF CHAOS.
YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE THIS
IS GOING.
IS GOING. >> YES, AND PAUL MANAFORT AND
CONSERVATIVE MEDIA WENT AFTER
RICK GATES AS A LIAR AND
ADULTERER.
ADULTERER. BUT A JURY FOUND PAUL MANAFORT
GUILTY ON EIGHT CHARGES.
I WANT TO BRING A MODERATOR ON
PBS.
PBS. YOU TWEETED YOU HAD BREAKFAST
WITH A, QUOTE, GOVERNMENT TRUMP
PLAYER.
PLAYER. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> IT MEANS PEOPLE AROUND THE
PRESIDENT, HIS LONGTIME
ASSOCIATES, ADVISERS AND FRIENDS
ARE KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON HIM
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. AND ONE OF THEM TOLD ME THIS
MORNING, THEY FEEL THIS MOMENT,
BECAUSE OF HOW EVERYTHING
HAPPENED YESTERDAY, IT ALMOST
FEELS LIKE WHEN THE SPECIAL
COUNSEL WAS APPOINTED FOLLOWING
THE FIRING OF JIM COMEY IN 2017
AT THE FBI, THE PRESIDENT AT
THAT POINT WAS SO TAKEN ABACK BY
THE QUICK TURN OF EVENTS HE
BEGAN TO UNLEASH EXPLETIVES.
>> HERE’S WHY I DON’T BELIEVE
THAT.
THAT. FRIDAY NIGHT, ONE OF TRUMP’S
OLDEST FRIENDS OUT IN NEW YORK
THROWS A FUND-RAISER FOR THE
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. WHO ARE THE ATTENDEES, NOT
TRUMP’S BASE, FORGOTTEN
AMERICANS, VERY SMART,
WELL-EDUCATED PEOPLE WHO ARE
TOASTING THE PRESIDENT AND HIS
TAX CUTS.
TAX CUTS. SO, HERE’S WHY I DON’T BELIEVE
THAT.
THAT. >> WELL, THE PRESIDENT -- YOU’RE
GETTING AT AN IMPORTANT POINT,
STEPHANIE, AND THAT’S THE
PRESIDENT BELIEVES THAT HE’S
UNDERSTAND SIEGE, AND NO ONE
UNDERSTANDS HIS OWN SUCCESS.
SO, HE FEELS THE DOUBLE-BARREL
STORIES OF MANAFORT AND MICHAEL
COHEN DON’T REALLY GET AT THE
REALITY OF HIS PRESIDENCY.
AND HE’S REPEATING IT AT
FUND-RAISERS AND TO AIDES ON AIR
FORCE ONE AS HE FLIES.
BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT THIS
ISN’T A PRESIDENT WHO WATCHES
FOX NEWS CONSTANTLY.
>> I LITIGATED IN FEDERAL
COURTS, FROM WESTERN DISTRICT OF
NEW YORK TO SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
NEW YORK.
NEW YORK. I DID NOT SAY I’D BE PROSECUTING
FOR FEDERAL CRIMES WHAT I SAID
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, THAT I HAVE
THE POWER ON JANUARY 1, TO
PROSECUTE ANY PERSON, PARDON OR
NOT, FOR VIOLATIONS OF STATE
LAW.
LAW. VIOLATIONS OF STATE LAW.
I DIDN’T MISS A BEAT.
AND I JUST WANTED TO CORRECT THE
RECORD FOR YOUR VIEWERS,
STEPHANIE.
STEPHANIE. >> ONE THING THAT’S IMPORTANT,
THE PRESIDENT CAN IN EXTREMEIS
FIRE --
FIRE -- >> YOU MUST SKILL IT AT
SCRABBLE.
SCRABBLE. FELONIOUS, EXTREMIS.
FELONIOUS, EXTREMIS. >> THIS IS WHY THIS IS
IMPORTANT, THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL
CHANGE IN THE MOMENTUM OF THE
STORY.
STORY. PEOPLE UNDERSTAND PAYING HUSH
MONEY TO A FORMER "PLAYBOY"
MODEL AND PORN ACTRESS JUST
REEKS AHEAD OF AN ELECTION THAT
WAS DECIDED ON 40,000 VOTES.
SOMEONE SHOULD REMIND LINDSEY
GRAHAM AND EVERY OTHER
REPUBLICAN OFFICEHOLDER IN
CONGRESS IN 1998 --
>> McCONNELL IS HARD TO GET TO
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >> I THINK IT’S CONSISTENT ON
CONSERVATIVES AND REPUBLICANS TO
SUPPORT THE SAME FOR PRESIDENT
TRUMP NOW, NOW GIVEN THAT
CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS ARE
MUCH GRAVER AND FELONIOUS.
>> IF WE’RE LOOKING FOR
CONSISTED ATTENTION, WE’RE
TALKING ABOUT POLITICS.
>> I KNOW, I KNOW.
NONETHELESS, CONGRESS HAS AN
OBLIGATION, THAT’S WHY DEMOCRATS
SHOULD BE PUT IN OFFICE IN
NOVEMBER.
NOVEMBER. >> THERE’S ONE MORE THING
PLAYING OUT, ESPECIALLY IN
MIDTERMS YOU’RE SEEING VOTERS,
POLL AFTER POLL, WANTS CONGRESS