Special counsel Robert Mueller says President Donald Trump's efforts to influence the Russia investigation "were mostly unsuccessful," but that was because the people surrounding the president "declined to carry out orders to accede to his requests."

AP reporter Chad Day gives an initial review in this AP debrief of the two-volume report that exceeds 400 pages.

"The first volume that deals with Russian election interference and the actions of the Trump campaign is a couple of hundred pages long and goes into exhaustive detail about the information that they've gathered," he says.

"Interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing more than twenty eight hundred subpoenas, and putting together probably the most complete picture of what happened during the 2016 election involving the Trump campaign and Russia."

Mueller's report details instances by several officials, including former FBI Director James Comey, former White House counsel Don McGahn and former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, ignoring or refusing Trump's requests to interfere in the investigation.

"But some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors," Day says.

Washington, DC - 18 April 2019

1. STILL: Redacted report of Special Council Robert Mueller

Washington, D.C. - 18 April 2019

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press +++PARTIALLY COVERED WITH STILL IMAGE+++

"So the headline today is that Mueller has made two big conclusions out of his report. Number one is that he did not establish that there was a criminal conspiracy between the Russian government and the Trump campaign to interfere in the 2016 election. The other is that he did not exonerate the president on the question of whether he obstructed justice, or tried to influence the Russia probe and crossed over into criminal conduct.

Washington, DC - 15 April 2010

3. FILE: Still of Robert Mueller on Capitol Hill

Washington, DC - 18 April 2019

4. STILL: Redacted report of Special Council Robert Mueller

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press +++PARTIALLY COVERED WITH STILL IMAGES+++

"In particular on the question of obstruction, Mueller examined 10 different episodes in which he was looking at the president's conduct to determine whether or not it crossed over into criminal conduct. Some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation, try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors."

6. STILL: President Trump speaks at Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride at White House

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press +++PARTIALLY COVERED WITH STILL IMAGES+++

"In particular, there's one episode that's related involving his personal attorney of his who is trying to gather information from former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Now, this is going back in time a little bit, but Flynn had just cut off contact with the Trump legal team, ahead of his pleading guilty and cooperating with the government. The report says that one of Trump's attorneys then reached out and tried to remind them that the president had warm feelings for Flynn and ask him to see if there was any information that he knew that could implicate the president. Whenever Flynn's attorneys rebuffed that effort, the attorney then said that he would remind the president that that Flynn's actions showed hostility towards the president. So, what they're showing is that they're painting a picture here of a president and people around him who are trying to shape and gather information about the probe but also to in some cases you know take control of it and influence the direction of where it's going."

Washington, DC - 18 December 2018

8. FILE: Still of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn arrives at federal courthouse

9. FILE: Still of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn at federal courthouse

Washington, DC - 18 April 2019

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press +++PARTIALLY COVERED WITH STILL IMAGES+++

"The report also details what happened in the months right after Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed in May of 2017. In particular, it shows that the president ordered his then White House counsel Don McGhan to try to have a special counsel Robert Mueller removed. Now McGahn rebuffed this effort but it shows how the president and the report quotes him saw the probe as possible end to his presidency, and something that would threaten his power. And at that point was trying to take efforts to take control of the investigation by having Mueller removed."

Washington, DC -- 15 April 2010

11. FILE: Still of Robert Mueller testifies on Capitol Hill

National Harbor, Maryland - 22 February 2018

12. FILE: Still of White House Counsel Don McGhan speaking at conservative gathering

Washington, DC - 18 April 2019

Redacted report on Russian interference on 2016 presidential election

Special counsel Robert Mueller says President Donald Trump's efforts to influence the Russia investigation "were mostly unsuccessful," but that was because the people surrounding the president "declined to carry out orders to accede to his requests."

AP reporter Chad Day gives an initial review of the two-volume report that exceeds 400 pages.

"The first volume that deals with Russian election interference and the actions of the Trump campaign is a couple of hundred pages long and goes into exhaustive detail about the information that they've gathered," he says.

"Interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing more than twenty eight hundred subpoenas, and putting together probably the most complete picture of what happened during the 2016 election involving the Trump campaign and Russia."

Mueller's report details instances by several officials, including former FBI Director James Comey, former White House counsel Don McGahn and former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, ignoring or refusing Trump's requests to interfere in the investigation.

"But some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors," Day says.

Washington, D.C. - 17 April 2019

+++STARTS AND ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE+++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"So the headline today is that Mueller has made two big conclusions out of his report. Number one is that he did not establish that there was a criminal conspiracy between the Russian government and the Trump campaign to interfere in the 2016 election. The other is that he did not exonerate the president on the question of whether he obstructed justice, or tried to influence the Russia probe and crossed over into criminal conduct. Now, it's a 448 page report and portions of it are redacted. We're still kind of gathering the information right now to determine how much has been withheld. We know that the attorney general said that he withheld information about ongoing investigations, grand jury material, information that could be derogatory about uncharged people, and other information that he saw fit to withhold."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"So in particular on the question of obstruction, Mueller examined 10 different episodes in which he was looking at the president's conduct to determine whether or not it crossed over into criminal conduct. Now again, he did not determine, didn't answer the question of whether it was criminal obstruction. But some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"In particular, there's one episode that's related involving his personal attorney of his who is trying to gather information from former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Now, this is going back in time a little bit, but Flynn had just cut off contact with the Trump legal team, ahead of his pleading guilty and cooperating with the government. The report says that one of Trump's attorneys then reached out and tried to remind them that the president had warm feelings for Flynn and ask him to see if there was any information that he knew that could implicate the president. Whenever Flynn's attorneys rebuffed that effort, the attorney then said that he would remind the president that that Flynn's actions showed hostility towards the president. So, what they're showing is that they're painting a picture here of a president and people around him who are trying to shape and gather information about the probe but also to in some cases you know take control of it and influence the direction of where it's going."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"The report also details what happened in the months right after Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed in May of 2017. In particular, it shows that the president ordered his then White House counsel Don McGahn to try to have a special counsel Robert Mueller removed. Now McGahn rebuffed this effort but it shows how the president and the report quotes him saw the probe as possible into his presidency, and something that would threaten his power. And at that point was trying to take efforts to take control of the investigation by having Mueller removed."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"I think the level of detail in the report is one of the most important take-aways from it. The first volume that deals with Russian election interference and the actions of the Trump campaign is a couple of hundred pages long and goes into exhaustive detail about the information that they've gathered interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing more than 2,800 subpoenas, and putting together probably the most complete picture of what happened during the 2016 election involving the Trump campaign and Russia. The other thing is how much the special counsel grappled with whether or not the president had crossed over the legal line into criminal obstruction. As you see in the second volume of the report. He details these 10 episodes, and also then discusses you know what the law is and how it applies to a president ultimately deciding that they could not answer the question because there are difficult legal issues at play, and leaving that kind of open. As we know after the report was turned in weeks ago, the attorney general then stepped in and decided that the president had not obstructed justice. And today you saw him reflect that in his news conference announcing the report."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"Immediately after the report was announced by the attorney general this morning, Trump and his legal team claimed victory, with Trump kind of touting his usual refrain of 'no collusion.' That there was 'no obstruction' and saying it was a 'total exoneration.' Now, as we know, the report did not exonerate him on the question of obstruction of justice. But his legal team did issue a statement saying that they see this as a victory, and that what it appears is now going to be the president's strategy is to go and try to turn the tables and attack the investigators who carried out the Russia investigation.

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"Also what we will have after this report drops is that Barr will go to to the Hill to testify. Democrats are also calling for him to release the full report and say that they may go to court for that. Barr is scheduled to testify in early May. We also have seen Democrats say that they want to hear from Special Counsel Robert Mueller himself, and Barr said that he wouldn't object to that during his news conference."

+++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE+++

Special counsel Robert Mueller says President Donald Trump's efforts to influence the Russia investigation "were mostly unsuccessful," but that was because the people surrounding the president "declined to carry out orders to accede to his requests."

AP reporter Chad Day gives an initial review of the two-volume report that exceeds 400 pages.

"The first volume that deals with Russian election interference and the actions of the Trump campaign is a couple of hundred pages long and goes into exhaustive detail about the information that they've gathered," he says.

"Interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing more than twenty eight hundred subpoenas, and putting together probably the most complete picture of what happened during the 2016 election involving the Trump campaign and Russia."

Mueller's report details instances by several officials, including former FBI Director James Comey, former White House counsel Don McGahn and former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, ignoring or refusing Trump's requests to interfere in the investigation.

"But some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors," Day says.

Washington, D.C. - 17 April 2019

+++STARTS AND ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE+++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"So the headline today is that Mueller has made two big conclusions out of his report. Number one is that he did not establish that there was a criminal conspiracy between the Russian government and the Trump campaign to interfere in the 2016 election. The other is that he did not exonerate the president on the question of whether he obstructed justice, or tried to influence the Russia probe and crossed over into criminal conduct. Now, it's a 448 page report and portions of it are redacted. We're still kind of gathering the information right now to determine how much has been withheld. We know that the attorney general said that he withheld information about ongoing investigations, grand jury material, information that could be derogatory about uncharged people, and other information that he saw fit to withhold."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"So in particular on the question of obstruction, Mueller examined 10 different episodes in which he was looking at the president's conduct to determine whether or not it crossed over into criminal conduct. Now again, he did not determine, didn't answer the question of whether it was criminal obstruction. But some of those episodes show that Trump made several attempts to seize control of the investigation try to have Special Counsel Robert Mueller removed from the probe, or that his attorneys were trying to gather information about what people who were cooperating with the investigation were telling prosecutors."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"In particular, there's one episode that's related involving his personal attorney of his who is trying to gather information from former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Now, this is going back in time a little bit, but Flynn had just cut off contact with the Trump legal team, ahead of his pleading guilty and cooperating with the government. The report says that one of Trump's attorneys then reached out and tried to remind them that the president had warm feelings for Flynn and ask him to see if there was any information that he knew that could implicate the president. Whenever Flynn's attorneys rebuffed that effort, the attorney then said that he would remind the president that that Flynn's actions showed hostility towards the president. So, what they're showing is that they're painting a picture here of a president and people around him who are trying to shape and gather information about the probe but also to in some cases you know take control of it and influence the direction of where it's going."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"The report also details what happened in the months right after Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed in May of 2017. In particular, it shows that the president ordered his then White House counsel Don McGahn to try to have a special counsel Robert Mueller removed. Now McGahn rebuffed this effort but it shows how the president and the report quotes him saw the probe as possible into his presidency, and something that would threaten his power. And at that point was trying to take efforts to take control of the investigation by having Mueller removed."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"I think the level of detail in the report is one of the most important take-aways from it. The first volume that deals with Russian election interference and the actions of the Trump campaign is a couple of hundred pages long and goes into exhaustive detail about the information that they've gathered interviewing 500 witnesses, issuing more than 2,800 subpoenas, and putting together probably the most complete picture of what happened during the 2016 election involving the Trump campaign and Russia. The other thing is how much the special counsel grappled with whether or not the president had crossed over the legal line into criminal obstruction. As you see in the second volume of the report. He details these 10 episodes, and also then discusses you know what the law is and how it applies to a president ultimately deciding that they could not answer the question because there are difficult legal issues at play, and leaving that kind of open. As we know after the report was turned in weeks ago, the attorney general then stepped in and decided that the president had not obstructed justice. And today you saw him reflect that in his news conference announcing the report."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"Immediately after the report was announced by the attorney general this morning, Trump and his legal team claimed victory, with Trump kind of touting his usual refrain of 'no collusion.' That there was 'no obstruction' and saying it was a 'total exoneration.' Now, as we know, the report did not exonerate him on the question of obstruction of justice. But his legal team did issue a statement saying that they see this as a victory, and that what it appears is now going to be the president's strategy is to go and try to turn the tables and attack the investigators who carried out the Russia investigation.

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press

"Also what we will have after this report drops is that Barr will go to to the Hill to testify. Democrats are also calling for him to release the full report and say that they may go to court for that. Barr is scheduled to testify in early May. We also have seen Democrats say that they want to hear from Special Counsel Robert Mueller himself, and Barr said that he wouldn't object to that during his news conference."

+++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE+++

The first impeachment hearing held by House Democrats Tuesday quickly turned hostile as their sole witness, former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, stonewalled many of their questions and declared they were "focusing on petty and personal politics."

Lewandowski, a devoted friend and supporter of President Donald Trump, was following White House orders not to discuss conversations with the president beyond what was already public in former special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

Trump was cheering him along as he testified, tweeting that his opening statement was "beautiful."

The hearing underscores what has been a central dilemma for the House Judiciary Committee all year as they investigate - and potentially try to impeach - Trump.

Many of the Democrats' base supporters want them to move quickly to try to remove Trump from office.

But the White House has blocked their oversight requests at most every turn, declining to provide new documents or allow aides and associates to testify.

On Tuesday, Lewandowski, who is considering a run for Senate in New Hampshire, made clear he wouldn't make life easy for the Democrats.

He demanded that they provide him a copy of the Mueller report, sending Democratic staff scrambling to find one.

He read directly from report and asked Democrats to read passages to him, showing that he wouldn't say much beyond what Mueller wrote.

Republicans on the panel forced a series of procedural votes, immediately sending the hearing into disarray.

Lewandowski eventually began to answer some questions - he told the committee that he doesn't think Trump "asked me to do anything illegal" - but still stuck mostly to what was already in the report, giving Democrats little new information to go on.

Under questioning later by Georgia Democrat Hank Johnson, Lewandowski confirmed as "accurate" that Trump had asked him to deliver the message.

Asked why, according to the Mueller report, he never delivered the message to Sessions as instructed, Lewandowski answered that he had taken his children to the beach.

Lewandowski never worked for Trump in the White House, but remained a confidant.

POOL

Washington - 17 September 2019

1. US Representative Steve Cohen questioning witness

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, (D) Tennessee:++CAMERA SHOT CHANGES DURING SOUNDBITE++

"And you were a policeman at one time. So you know something about the law and about following the law. Didn't you think was a little strange that the president would sit down with you one on one and ask you to do something that you knew was against the law. Did that strike you as strange?"

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"I disagree with the premise of your question Congressman."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, (D) Tennessee:

"You weren't a policeman?"

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"I didn't. I didn't think the president asked me to do anything illegal."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, (D) Tennessee:++

"You didn't think he would have it illegal for you to ask Mr. Sessions to drop the investigation and just go on to future presidents and omit everything with this president and go ollie ollie in free? We're going to start with the next one about colluding with Russia. You didn't think that was illegal to obstruct justice?"

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"Congressman the president didn't ask me to do anything illegal."

8. Side wide cutaway of Rep. Hank Johnson questioning witness

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Hank Johnson, (D) Georgia: ++CAMERA SHOT MONITOR AND LEWANDOWSKI DURING SOUNDBITE++

"It says 'I know that I recused myself from certain things having to do with specific areas but our POTUS is being treated very unfairly.' That's what he told you to write down and that's what you wrote down. And I'll continue. He said, 'he shouldn't have a special prosecutor counsel because he hasn't done anything wrong.' Now that's what he wanted you to deliver to Attorney General Jeff Sessions correct?"

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"I believe that's an accurate representation."

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Hank Johnson, (D) Georgia:++CAMERA SHOT of LEWANDOWSKI DURING SOUNDBITE++

"And he wanted you to deliver it to Jeff so that Jeff could say it to the people, right?"

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"I believe so."

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Hank Johnson, (D) Georgia:++CAMERA SHOT OF LEWANDOWSKI DURING SOUNDBITE++

"And you felt kind of squeamish like go like that fish that you are trying to be right now being scaled. You felt a little squeamish about delivering that message correctly?"

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"No, sir."

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Hank Johnson, (D) Georgia:++CAMERA SHOT OF LEWANDOWSKI DURING SOUNDBITE++

"Well, why didn't you -- why did it take you so long? And you'd never even delivered it."

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"Correct. I never delivered a message."

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Hank Johnson, (D) Georgia:++CAMERA SHOT OF LEWANDOWSKI DURING SOUNDBITE++

"Yea, you chicken out."

18. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"I went on vacation."

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Hank Johnson, (D) Georgia:++CAMERA SHOT OF LEWANDOWSKI DURING SOUNDBITE++

"You went on vacation? (Laughter) And so you put the message in the safe, in your safe in your home for safekeeping. Correct? Before you went on vacation?"

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Andy Biggs, (R) Arizona:

"The meeting you had with the president regarding Jeff Sessions and some note that was dictated to you. That was after Special Counsel Mueller was appointed. Wasn't it?"

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"I believe it was yes."

22. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Andy Biggs, (R) Arizona:

"Did the president ask you to stop Mr. Mueller? Or to encourage Mr. Sessions to stop the Mueller investigation at any point?"

23.SOUNDBITE (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Campaign Manager of Donald Trump's 2016 Campaign for President:

"President --Congressman, I can't speak to or disclose the substantive discussions with the president or his advisers to protect executive branch confidentiality."

24. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Andy Biggs, (R) Arizona:

"I appreciate that. But I would tell you in going through this report there is no in evidence no indicia that the president ever. Asked that you or Mr. Sessions stop the murder investigation, in fact, the Mueller investigation went on unimpeded."

25. Side wide cutaway of hearing

President Donald Trump is fuming after federal agents raided his attorney Michael Cohen's office in New York on Monday. Agents seized records on topics including a $130,000 payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels.

Trump said on Twitter Tuesday that "Attorney-client privilege is dead!" He added: "A TOTAL WITCH HUNT!!!"  

Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker says that so far, there is no evidence that investigators violated attorney-client privilege in their investigation. The privilege is not absolute, it does not apply to every conversation between a lawyer and his client, and it can't be invoked when the discussion was part of an effort to commit a crime.

The raid was overseen by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan and was based in part on a referral from special counsel Mueller, said Cohen's lawyer, Stephen Ryan.

It's an indication the Mueller is being careful to stick to the mandate of his investigation by referring what could be evidence of separate criminal conduct to an outside prosecutor.

Trump raged over the raid Monday, calling it a "disgrace." He also called Mueller's investigation "an attack on our country," prompting new speculation that he might seek the removal of the Justice Department's special counsel.

Some GOP members have been reluctant to weigh in on Trump's comments.

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was spotted outside Cohen's temporary residence at a Manhattan hotel, which investigators also raided.

Lewandowski avoided comment, saying "That's a question for the FBI."

On Monday, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham voiced support for Mueller and the investigation saying, "He's doing his job, in my view, professionally. We'll see what he comes up with."

FILE: Washington - September 19, 2017

1. Michael Cohen speaks to reporters after meeting with Senate Intelligence Committee

Washington - April 10, 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"Yesterday morning the FBI raided the office and hotel room of Michael Cohen who is President Donald Trump's personal lawyer. They were looking for information related, in part, to the payment given to Stormy Daniels, the porn actress."

FILE: Washington - September 19, 2017

3. Michael Cohen speaks to reporters after meeting with Senate Intelligence Committee

Washington - April 10, 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"This is a very aggressive tactic it's not unusual or uncommon to use a search warrant. But what it means is, generally, that there is concern that the person whose home or office is being searched might destroy evidence or concealed documents that the government wants. And so, generally, the Justice Department looks to use less intrusive methods such as a subpoena, where you serve somebody a subpoena, then you expect them to recover documents and return them to you. In this case, so they actually went into an office proactively, which is a big deal, it's an aggressive move for sure."

Twitter - April 10, 2018

5. Various STILL screenshots of Donald Trump tweets responding to raid of Michael Cohen

Washington - April 10, 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"So the president went on a Twitter attack about the question of attorney client privilege, and he is saying that attorney client privilege is now dead if the FBI was able to break into the office of his lawyer."

New York - April 10, 2018

7. Various exteriors of hotel where Michael Cohen is staying

Washington - April 10, 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"We don't have any evidence yet to see that the search warrant violated any kind of attorney client privilege. It is permissible under Justice Department protocol to serve a search warrant on an attorney, just like you would order on an additional person, but what the protocols actually mandate is that there is a specific team called a privilege team that goes in, separate from the investigative team, and reviews the documents to see if there's privileged information that should or should not be reviewed and turned over to the investigative team."

New York - April 9, 2018

9. Various exteriors of 30 Rockefeller Center where investigators raided Michael Cohen's office

Washington - April 10, 2018

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"So one inference that we can make is that Mueller seems to be following his mandate pretty carefully. And his mandate is to investigate potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, as well as ties between Trump associates and Russia. In this instance, though, what he appears to have done, based on what we know from Michael Cohen's lawyer, is referred this matter to federal prosecutors in Manhattan. That's actually part of what Mueller is supposed to do. If he identifies criminal conduct that he believes is not really within his purview, he is supposed to go to the Justice Department, make that known and then essentially farm it out to somebody who might have jurisdiction over that area and subject matter."

New York - April 9, 2018

11. Exterior of 30 Rockefeller Center where investigators raided Michael Cohen's office

New York - April 10, 2018

12. UPSOUND (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Trump Campaign Manager, exiting restaurant in hotel where Cohen is staying

Reporter: "What do you think about the FBI raid?"

Lewandowski: "I was just having a little breakfast. I have no idea. I have nothing to do with it."

Reporter: "Do you feel like its an overstep?"

Lewandowski: "That's a question for the FBI."

Reporter: "You just happened to be having breakfast at the same hotel as Michael Cohen?"

Lewandowski: "Well I happen to have breakfast."

Reporter: "At the same hotel? Do you know if he's staying there?"

Lewandowski: "I don't know anything about Michael. I have no idea."

++SHOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK++

Washington - April 9, 2018

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina

"I have no idea where that's going, I just want to let Mr. Mueller do his job without any political interference. I think he's a good choice as an independent counsel. He's doing his job, in my view, professionally. We'll see what he comes up with."

President Donald Trump is fuming after federal agents raided his attorney Michael Cohen's office in New York on Monday. Agents seized records on topics including a $130,000 payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels.

Trump said on Twitter Tuesday that "Attorney-client privilege is dead!" He added: "A TOTAL WITCH HUNT!!!"  

Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker says that so far, there is no evidence that investigators violated attorney-client privilege in their investigation. The privilege is not absolute, it does not apply to every conversation between a lawyer and his client, and it can't be invoked when the discussion was part of an effort to commit a crime.

The raid was overseen by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan and was based in part on a referral from special counsel Mueller, said Cohen's lawyer, Stephen Ryan.

It's an indication the Mueller is being careful to stick to the mandate of his investigation by referring what could be evidence of separate criminal conduct to an outside prosecutor.

Trump raged over the raid Monday, calling it a "disgrace." He also called Mueller's investigation "an attack on our country," prompting new speculation that he might seek the removal of the Justice Department's special counsel.

Some GOP members have been reluctant to weigh in on Trump's comments.

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was spotted outside Cohen's temporary residence at a Manhattan hotel, which investigators also raided.

Lewandowski avoided comment, saying "That's a question for the FBI."

On Monday, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham voiced support for Mueller and the investigation saying, "He's doing his job, in my view, professionally. We'll see what he comes up with."

FILE: Washington - September 19, 2017

1. Michael Cohen speaks to reporters after meeting with Senate Intelligence Committee

Washington - April 10, 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"Yesterday morning the FBI raided the office and hotel room of Michael Cohen who is President Donald Trump's personal lawyer. They were looking for information related, in part, to the payment given to Stormy Daniels, the porn actress."

FILE: Washington - September 19, 2017

3. Michael Cohen speaks to reporters after meeting with Senate Intelligence Committee

Washington - April 10, 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"This is a very aggressive tactic it's not unusual or uncommon to use a search warrant. But what it means is, generally, that there is concern that the person whose home or office is being searched might destroy evidence or concealed documents that the government wants. And so, generally, the Justice Department looks to use less intrusive methods such as a subpoena, where you serve somebody a subpoena, then you expect them to recover documents and return them to you. In this case, so they actually went into an office proactively, which is a big deal, it's an aggressive move for sure."

Twitter - April 10, 2018

5. Various STILL screenshots of Donald Trump tweets responding to raid of Michael Cohen

Washington - April 10, 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"So the president went on a Twitter attack about the question of attorney client privilege, and he is saying that attorney client privilege is now dead if the FBI was able to break into the office of his lawyer."

New York - April 10, 2018

7. Various exteriors of hotel where Michael Cohen is staying

Washington - April 10, 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"We don't have any evidence yet to see that the search warrant violated any kind of attorney client privilege. It is permissible under Justice Department protocol to serve a search warrant on an attorney, just like you would order on an additional person, but what the protocols actually mandate is that there is a specific team called a privilege team that goes in, separate from the investigative team, and reviews the documents to see if there's privileged information that should or should not be reviewed and turned over to the investigative team."

New York - April 9, 2018

9. Various exteriors of 30 Rockefeller Center where investigators raided Michael Cohen's office

Washington - April 10, 2018

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Reporter

"So one inference that we can make is that Mueller seems to be following his mandate pretty carefully. And his mandate is to investigate potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, as well as ties between Trump associates and Russia. In this instance, though, what he appears to have done, based on what we know from Michael Cohen's lawyer, is referred this matter to federal prosecutors in Manhattan. That's actually part of what Mueller is supposed to do. If he identifies criminal conduct that he believes is not really within his purview, he is supposed to go to the Justice Department, make that known and then essentially farm it out to somebody who might have jurisdiction over that area and subject matter."

New York - April 9, 2018

11. Exterior of 30 Rockefeller Center where investigators raided Michael Cohen's office

New York - April 10, 2018

12. UPSOUND (English) Corey Lewandowski, Former Trump Campaign Manager, exiting restaurant in hotel where Cohen is staying

Reporter: "What do you think about the FBI raid?"

Lewandowski: "I was just having a little breakfast. I have no idea. I have nothing to do with it."

Reporter: "Do you feel like its an overstep?"

Lewandowski: "That's a question for the FBI."

Reporter: "You just happened to be having breakfast at the same hotel as Michael Cohen?"

Lewandowski: "Well I happen to have breakfast."

Reporter: "At the same hotel? Do you know if he's staying there?"

Lewandowski: "I don't know anything about Michael. I have no idea."

++SHOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK++

Washington - April 9, 2018

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina

"I have no idea where that's going, I just want to let Mr. Mueller do his job without any political interference. I think he's a good choice as an independent counsel. He's doing his job, in my view, professionally. We'll see what he comes up with."