President Donald Trump's lead lawyer in the special counsel's Russia investigation resigned Thursday, shaking up the legal team just as the president intensifies his attacks on a probe he calls nothing more than a witch hunt.

Associated Press Justice Department reporter Eric Tucker said the resignation might have something to do with clashes between John Dowd and Trump in the Mueller investigation.

"Trump came out and said I'm very eager to speak under oath to Mueller, but Dowd has been much more cautious and apprehensive," Tucker said, "So obviously you have a client attorney division there."

The departure of attorney John Dowd removes the primary negotiator and legal strategist who had been molding Trump's defense. It also comes just days after the Trump legal team added a new lawyer, former U.S. attorney Joseph diGenova, who has alleged on television that FBI officials were involved in a "brazen plot" to exonerate Hillary Clinton in the email investigation and to "frame" Trump for nonexistent crimes.

Dowd confirmed his decision in an email to The Associated Press, saying, "I love the President and wish him well." Dowd said he made the decision voluntarily and he denied reports that his departure had to do with Trump ignoring his legal advice. He said he formally resigned Thursday morning.

It already was a delicate time in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation as Trump's attorneys, including Dowd, have been negotiating with Mueller over the scope and terms of an interview of the president. Trump has told reporters that he was eager to speak with Mueller, but Dowd has been far more apprehensive, and the lawyers have not publicly committed to making Trump available for questioning.

Asked Thursday whether he still wants to speak with Mueller's team, Trump told reporters, "Yes, I would like to."

Dowd's exit nearly a year into Mueller's investigation threatens to undo the cooperation between prosecutors and Trump's lawyers and may herald a stark shift in strategy as the probe reaches closer into the White House and the president's inner circle.

Over the weekend, Dowd issued a statement calling for an end to special counsel's investigation. The White House and later Dowd had to clarify the statement, saying the president's legal team wasn't calling for Mueller to be fired.

But Trump has upped his public attacks on Mueller.

In a series of tweets since last week, the president has said that the probe never should have started, that it was based on "fraudulent activities," that it was a "WITCH HUNT" and that it is being led by "13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 10 May 2011

1. STILL Attorney John Dowd leaves building with his client co-founder of Galleon hedge fund group Raj Rajaratnam

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 29 April 2011

2. STILL Dowd and Rajaratnam entering federal court

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 22 March 2018

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Justice Department Reporter:

"So John Dowd is the lead defense lawyer on Donald Trump's legal team. And we learned today that he has resigned effective immediately from that team, so he's no longer going to be representing the president."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 23 May 2007

4. STILL Various Dowd with client White House liaison Monica Goodling

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 22 March 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Justice Department Reporter:

"So this is really significant because we are now 10 months into Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. There have been a lot of negotiations back and forth led by John Dowd as to whether or not the president will sit down for interview with Mueller and his team. And so now it's unclear what the next step is going to be, because basically the point person and lead negotiator and point of contact for Mueller's team is no longer calling the shots."

DONALD TRUMP TWITTER FEED/@realDonaldTrump

Internet - 18 March 2018

6. SCREENGRAB of Donald Trump homepage on Twitter

7. SCREENGRAB of tweet reading (English): "Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Democrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans? Another Dem recently added...does anyone think this is fair? And yet, there is NO COLLUSION!"

DONALD TRUMP TWITTER FEED/@realDonaldTrump

Internet - 17 March 2018

8. SCREENGRAB of tweet reading (English): "The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime. It was based on fraudulent activities and a Fake Dossier paid for by Crooked Hillary and the DNC, and improperly used in FISA COURT for surveillance of my campaign. WITCH HUNT!"

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 22 March 2018

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Justice Department Reporter:

"Last weekend we noticed a real notable shift in the way the president and his legal team has been talking about Special Counsel Robert Mueller. So in the past there's been lots of public overtures and gestures of cooperation. They've spoken warmly about the special counsel in his work. And this time, for the first time, this weekend for the first time we saw John Dowd basically call on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to shut down the investigation. He had initially said he was speaking for the president, he later said he was not. And the White House on Sunday had to clarify that there were no plans to try to terminate the investigation."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 22 March 2018

10. Donald Trump walks into White House Treaty Room

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 22 March 2018

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Justice Department Reporter:

"So I think there's been a degree of consternation back and forth within the legal community over certain decisions and actions from Dowd and the legal team. There's been obviously a divide as to whether or not the president is gonna speak with Mueller. So you'll remember that in January, Trump came out and said I'm very eager to speak under oath to Mueller, but Dowd has been much more cautious and apprehensive, and his lawyers, Trump's lawyers have not publicly committed in any way to any sort of interview. They say those are ongoing negotiations. So obviously you have a client attorney division there."

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington, D.C. - 22 March 2018

12. President Donald Trump walks out of Treaty Room as reporters shout questions

13. UPSOUND: Reporter:

"Mr. President, would you still like to testify to special counsel Robert Mueller, sir?"

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Yes, I would like to..."

15. Trump walks out of room

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 22 March 2018

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Justice Department Reporter:

"One other thing that I would note is that the Trump legal team has been looking to try to add to its ranks. So they have reached out to a very prominent Washington lawyer, a litigator by the name of Ted Olson who argued the Bush v. Gore case 2000 before the U.S. Supreme Court. And he's argued the California gay rights case, same sex marriage case. He turned them down. And so I would not be surprised if there is another attorney who they try to reach out to."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 28 September 2017

17. STILL Various Former United States Solicitor General Ted Olson at the installation ceremony for FBI director Chris Wray

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 20 June 2013

18. STILL Olson with plaintiffs in the California Proposition 8 case

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 22 March 2018

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Justice Department Reporter:

"They did hire on Monday a former United States attorney named Joe diGenova who's going to be working on the Trump legal team. And one thing that diGenova is notable for is an interview with Fox News from January in which he basically said the FBI officials were part of a brazen plot to exonerate Hillary Clinton and frame Donald Trump for a fictional, nonexistent crime. So that gives you a flavor of where the defense legal strategy might be going."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 22 March 2018

20. Various Trump speaking in the House Treaty Room about imposing tariffs on Chinese imports

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler says the responsibility to look into US President Donald Trump's "crimes, lies and other wrongdoing" falls on Congress, and he has vowed to finish the work Special Counsel Robert Mueller has done.

Nadler made the comments in New York Wednesday in response to the special counsel's earlier remarks about the investigation - Mueller's first public statement since his redacted report was made public in April.

"Although Department of Justice policy prevented the special counsel from bringing criminal charges against the president, the special counsel has clearly demonstrated that President Trump is lying. He is lying about the special counsel's findings, lying about the testimony of key witnesses in the special counsel's report, and above all, lying in saying that the special counsel found no obstruction and no collusion," Nadler said.

"Unfortunately, Special Counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the president because Department of Justice policy prevents a sitting president from being prosecuted. That policy, in my opinion, is wrong but it prevented a special counsel from pursuing justice to the fullest extent possible. Therefore, as Mueller again highlighted this morning, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies, and other wrongdoing of President Trump," he added.

"We will do so. Make no mistake: No one, not even the president of the United States, is above the law."

Mueller's first public statement on the Russia investigation is fuelling fresh calls on Capitol Hill to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump, a step that Democratic leaders have so far resisted.

Surprising Washington with his first public statement on the Russia investigation, Mueller indicated Wednesday that it's up to Congress to decide what to do with his findings.

The special counsel said he was bound by Justice Department policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted, but stressed he could not exonerate Trump.

Instead, he said, "the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system."

And he made clear that the process won't include him, announcing the special counsel's office is closing — and that his testimony to Congress, should he be forced to deliver it, will not go beyond what his report already says.

New York - 29 May 2019

1. Wide of Rep. Jerrold Nadler making his way to podium  ++SHOT CONTINUES INTO NEXT++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) New York:

"Good afternoon. First, I want to thank Special Counsel Robert Mueller for his service to our nation over the past two years. Mr. Mueller and his team of prosecutors and investigators worked tirelessly to follow the facts and pursue justice to the furthest extent allowed. Although Department of Justice policy prevented the special counsel from bringing criminal charges against the president, the special counsel has clearly demonstrated that President Trump is lying. He is lying about the special counsel's findings, lying about the testimony of key witnesses in the special counsel's report, and above all, lying in saying that the special counsel found no obstruction and no collusion. In a statement this morning, special counsel Mueller reaffirmed his report: It found substantial evidence that Russia attacked our political system, that the Trump campaign benefited from Russian interference, that Trump and those around him repeatedly welcomed Russia's support, and that throughout the subsequent investigation, Trump sought to obstruct Mueller time and time again. Special Counsel Mueller today repeated three central points, which are critical for the American people. One, the special counsel did not exonerate the president of the United States of obstruction of justice. Two, obstruction of justice of which Special Counsel Muller found substantial evidence, is a serious crime that strikes at the core of our justice system. Three, the constitution points to Congress to take action to hold the president accountable for his misconduct. Unfortunately, Special Counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the president because Department of Justice policy prevents a sitting president from being prosecuted. That policy, in my opinion, is wrong but it prevented special counsel from pursuing justice to the fullest extent possible. Therefore, as Mueller again highlighted this morning, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies, and other wrongdoing of President Trump. We will do so. Make no mistake: No one, not even the president of the United States, is above the law."

++EDIT ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler says the responsibility to look into US President Donald Trump's "crimes, lies and other wrongdoing" falls on Congress, and he has vowed to finish the work Special Counsel Robert Mueller has done.

Nadler made the comments in New York Wednesday in response to the special counsel's earlier remarks about the investigation - Mueller's first public statement since his redacted report was made public in April.

"Although Department of Justice policy prevented the special counsel from bringing criminal charges against the president, the special counsel has clearly demonstrated that President Trump is lying. He is lying about the special counsel's findings, lying about the testimony of key witnesses in the special counsel's report, and above all, lying in saying that the special counsel found no obstruction and no collusion," Nadler said.

"Unfortunately, Special Counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the president because Department of Justice policy prevents a sitting president from being prosecuted. That policy, in my opinion, is wrong but it prevented a special counsel from pursuing justice to the fullest extent possible. Therefore, as Mueller again highlighted this morning, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies, and other wrongdoing of President Trump," he added.

"We will do so. Make no mistake: No one, not even the president of the United States, is above the law."

Mueller's first public statement on the Russia investigation is fuelling fresh calls on Capitol Hill to begin impeachment proceedings against Trump, a step that Democratic leaders have so far resisted.

Surprising Washington with his first public statement on the Russia investigation, Mueller indicated Wednesday that it's up to Congress to decide what to do with his findings.

The special counsel said he was bound by Justice Department policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted, but stressed he could not exonerate Trump.

Instead, he said, "the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system."

And he made clear that the process won't include him, announcing the special counsel's office is closing — and that his testimony to Congress, should he be forced to deliver it, will not go beyond what his report already says.

++CLIENTS PLEASE NOTE: CORRECTED SPELLING OF FIRST NAME OF JERROLD NADLER++

New York - 29 May 2019

1. Wide of Rep. Jerrold Nadler making his way to podium ++SHOT CONTINUES INTO NEXT++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, New York Representative (Democrat):

"Good afternoon. First, I want to thank Special Counsel Robert Mueller for his service to our nation over the past two years. Mr. Mueller and his team of prosecutors and investigators worked tirelessly to follow the facts and pursue justice to the furthest extent allowed. Although Department of Justice policy prevented the special counsel from bringing criminal charges against the president, the special counsel has clearly demonstrated that President Trump is lying. He is lying about the special counsel's findings, lying about the testimony of key witnesses in the special counsel's report, and above all, lying in saying that the special counsel found no obstruction and no collusion. In a statement this morning, special counsel Mueller reaffirmed his report: It found substantial evidence that Russia attacked our political system, that the Trump campaign benefited from Russian interference, that Trump and those around him repeatedly welcomed Russia's support, and that throughout the subsequent investigation, Trump sought to obstruct Mueller time and time again. Special Counsel Mueller today repeated three central points, which are critical for the American people. One, the special counsel did not exonerate the president of the United States of obstruction of justice. Two, obstruction of justice of which Special Counsel Muller found substantial evidence, is a serious crime that strikes at the core of our justice system. Three, the constitution points to Congress to take action to hold the president accountable for his misconduct. Unfortunately, Special Counsel Mueller was unable to pursue criminal charges against the president because Department of Justice policy prevents a sitting president from being prosecuted. That policy, in my opinion, is wrong but it prevented special counsel from pursuing justice to the fullest extent possible. Therefore, as Mueller again highlighted this morning, it falls to Congress to respond to the crimes, lies, and other wrongdoing of President Trump. We will do so. Make no mistake: No one, not even the president of the United States, is above the law."

++EDIT ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

Special counsel Robert Mueller is set to give the first public insight into how much information President Donald Trump's former national security adviser has shared with prosecutors in the Russia investigation.

The special counsel is facing a Tuesday deadline in Michael Flynn's case to file a memorandum recommending a sentence and providing a federal judge with a description of how valuable the retired U.S. Army lieutenant general has been to the probe.

The deadline comes ahead of Flynn's Dec. 18 sentencing and more than a year after he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about reaching out to Russian government officials on Trump's behalf.

Federal sentencing guidelines recommend between zero and six months in prison for Flynn, leaving open the possibility of probation.

The detailing of at least some of Flynn's cooperation also comes as Trump has increasingly vented his anger at the probe - and at one of his former confidantes who cooperated with it.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 10 July 2018

1. Mid pan, Michael Flynn exits SUV enters courthouse

2. Close-up pan, Michael Flynn exits courthouse as protesters shout

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, D.C. - 1 December 2017

3 . Mid, pan Michael Flynn exits court and gets into car, car drives away as protesters shout (English) "Lock him up. Lock him up. Lock him up. Convicted criminal. Criminal. Lock him up. Lock him up. "

4. Side view, Flynn exiting court

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 1 February 2017

5 . Various of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn at lectern

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Flynn, National Security Advisor

US POOL

Washington, DC - 20 January, 2017

7. Michael Flynn arrives at inauguration

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 1 December, 2016

8. Michael Flynn walks into Trump Tower with Robert Gates, U.S. Defense Secretary under President George W. Bush and Barack Obama

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate deal in Russia.

Cohen made a surprise appearance Thursday in a New York courtroom.

He admitted to making false statements in 2017 to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.

In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to other federal charges involving his taxi businesses, bank fraud and his campaign work for Trump.

One of the prosecutors working with Special Counsel Robert Mueller was present in the courtroom.

Cohen's lawyer told the judge the plea deal involved cooperation with Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the U.S. election.

New York - 29 November 2018

1. Michael Cohen walks out of courthouse with lawyer, sits in car

2. Car drives away

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate deal in Russia.

Cohen made a surprise appearance Thursday in a New York courtroom at around 9 a.m.

He admitted to making false statements in 2017 to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.

In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to other federal charges involving his taxi businesses, bank fraud and his campaign work for Trump.

One of the prosecutors working with Special Counsel Robert Mueller was present in the courtroom.

Cohen's lawyer told the judge the plea deal involved cooperation with Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the U.S. election.

New York - 29 November 2018

1. Michael Cohen walks out of courthouse with lawyer, sits in car

2. Car drives away

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate deal in Russia.

Cohen made a surprise appearance Thursday in a New York courtroom at around 9 a.m.

He admitted to making false statements in 2017 to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.

In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to other federal charges involving his taxi businesses, bank fraud and his campaign work for Trump.

One of the prosecutors working with Special Counsel Robert Mueller was present in the courtroom.

Cohen's lawyer told the judge the plea deal involved cooperation with Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the U.S. election.

New York - 29 November 2018

1. Michael Cohen walks out of courthouse with lawyer, sits in car

2. Car drives away

A legal fight over what should happen to records the FBI seized from US President Donald Trump's personal attorney took a surprise twist Monday when the lawyer, Michael Cohen, was forced to reveal a secret _ that he had also done legal work for Fox News host Sean Hannity.

The disclosure came as a New York judge disappointed a lawyer for Trump by letting prosecutors proceed with the cataloguing of evidence including multiple electronic devices that were seized in raids while a system is set up to ensure they are protected by attorney-client privilege.

Lawyers for Cohen and prosecutors had reason to claim success after three hours of arguments left U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood saying she may appoint a special master to help decide how much of the materials are subject to the privilege.

The only disappointed party seemed to be Trump's attorney, Joanna Hendon, who said she was objecting to any plan by prosecutors to search for how many times Trump's name appears in documents as they try to decide how many might be subject to attorney-client privilege.

Prosecutors promised not to study the contents of the materials while the process of protecting privileged materials is resolved.

Wood also denied Hendon's request that lawyers for Trump and Cohen get the first crack at designating documents and other evidence that might be subject to the privilege.

The Hannity revelation came after Wood required Cohen to divulge the names of the clients he's worked with since the 2016 election.

One, of course, was Trump himself.

Another was Elliot Broidy, a Trump fundraiser who resigned from the Republican National Committee on Friday after it was revealed that he paid $1.6 million to a Playboy Playmate with whom he had an extramarital affair. The Playmate became pregnant and elected to have an abortion.

With Cohen by their side on Monday, lawyers initially resisted revealing the name of the third client for privacy reasons, saying it would be embarrassing for the client and that the client had asked that they immediately appeal any request to divulge his name.

But Wood pressed on.

When the name was announced, there were gasps and some laughter in a courtroom packed with journalists. A few of them raced from the courtroom.

Cohen's lawyers did not detail the type of legal work he did for Hannity.

On his radio show, Hannity said Cohen was never involved in any matter between him and any third party.

Hannity, an outspoken supporter of Trump, has been a fierce critic of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Monday's hearing began with an appearance by porn actress Stormy Daniels, who was swarmed by photographers and nearly fell as she was hustled into the courthouse, a scene that captured the sensational atmosphere around the case.

The last to enter court, she was among the first to leave.

While in court, she smiled several times as she observed the proceedings from a folding chair near the back of the room.

Outside afterward, she said Cohen has acted like he's above the law and that she and her lawyer are committed to making sure everyone learns the truth.

The April 9 raid on Cohen sought information on a variety of matters, including a $130,000 payment made to Daniels, who alleges she had sex with a married Trump in 2006.

New York – 16 April 2018

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"Prosecutors were saying that lawyers for Michael Cohen and President Donald Trump were just trying to delay proceedings by asking for a process where they would look at all the evidence that was seized last week first, and then decide what was not violated by attorney-client privilege, and what prosecutors could use in their criminal investigation. Prosecutors say that's not the way to do it. They want a process whereby attorneys for Donald... President Donald Trump and Michael Cohen have a role in the process but aren't able to control the process. The judge seems eager, she said, to make whatever occurs not to...not slow up the process so that the government can do what it needs to do in its investigation, and yet, the attorney-client privilege is protected."

++BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"The judge did say that she may, and this is something that Michael Cohen's lawyers were requesting, that she may appoint a special master to at least have a limited role in deciding how the evidence is viewed and how they ultimately decide what is subject to attorney-client privilege. But she seemed also to be giving the government what it wants in letting the prosecutors, the special taint team they have –not their criminal prosecutors—get a look at all the evidence of putting it together so that they can hand it over to the attorneys for Michael Cohen and President Donald Trump to look at and for them to flag whatever they think should be subject to attorney-client privilege."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"Prosecutors revealed that when they did the raids on Michael Cohen's residence and his office, that they had numerous electronic devices, including telephones, and that for what they could, the computer devices, they actually took images. So, his lawyers, they say, already have much of the evidence and know what's there."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"The surprise moment in court came when the lawyers for Michael Cohen did not want to divulge one client who had asked to remain anonymous, saying that it could be embarrassing being associated with someone who's under criminal investigation. The judge forced them to divulge the name, it turned out to be Sean Hannity, a Fox News personality. And as soon as that name was announced, there was an audible gasp in the courtroom that's largely crowded with journalists, and some journalists immediately ran outside court, and you could see Stormy Daniels smiling on the side of the courtroom in the back, a little bit after this happened."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"Stormy Daniels has a role in this because Michael Cohen played a part in ultimately a payoff that she got to remain silent after what she says was an affair with the president."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"So, I think, ultimately, she has a role in the investigation because the settlement that was paid out to her. Michael Cohen says he paid her the money and he did it out of a home equity loan. So that's presumed to be part of the government's investigation."

++EDIT ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

The chairman of the US House Judiciary Committee says the attorney general is "taking unprecedented steps to spin" the special counsel's Russia investigation.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, said Wednesday that Attorney General William Barr "appears to be waging a media campaign" on behalf of President Donald Trump.

He says the attorney general's decision to hold a Thursday morning news conference, before releasing a redacted version of Robert Mueller's report to Congress, will "again result in the report being presented through his own words."

He warns that if the report is heavily redacted, the committee will issue subpoenas "in short order."

Nadler says he will "probably find it useful" to call Mueller and members of his team to testify after reading the version of the report Barr releases.

New York - 17 April 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) New York

"The attorney general appears to be waging a media campaign on behalf of President Trump, the very subject of the investigation at the heart of the Mueller Report. Rather than letting the facts of the report speak for themselves, the attorney general has taken unprecedented steps to spin Mueller's nearly two year investigation. One: he summarized the report and cherry picked findings in his March 24th letter to Congress. Two: He withheld summaries written by the special counsel that were intended for public consumption. Three: He has briefed the White House on the report before providing Congress a copy which has helped them prepare a rebuttal response for the president. And now, the evening before the report's scheduled release, the Department of Justice has informed the committee that it will receive a copy between 11:00a.m. and noon. Well after the attorney general's 930a.m. press conference. This is wrong. It is contrary to the attorney general's own words to the committee. Quote 'I do not believe it would be in the public's interest for me to attempt to summarize the full report or to release it in serial or piecemeal fashion.' Close quote. It now appears the attorney general intends to, once again, put his own spin on the investigative work completed by the special counsel and his team. The fact that the attorney general is not releasing even the redacted report to Congress until after his press conference will again result in the report being presented through his own words rather than through the words of Special Counsel Mueller."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) New York

"The central concern here is that the attorney general Barr is not allowing the facts of the Mueller Report to speak for themselves but is trying to bake in the narrative about the report to the benefit of the White House. And of course he's doing this just before the holiday weekend so it's extraordinarily difficult for anybody to react. This is wrong. It is not the proper role of the attorney general."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) New York

"We'll have to take the time over the next couple of days to carefully read the redacted report so that we don't find out that in fact that there's very little left out. But on the assumption that it's heavily redacted, we will most certainly issue the subpoenas in very short order."

The chairman of the US House Judiciary Committee says the attorney general is "taking unprecedented steps to spin" the special counsel's Russia investigation.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, said Wednesday that Attorney General William Barr "appears to be waging a media campaign" on behalf of President Donald Trump.

He says the attorney general's decision to hold a Thursday morning news conference, before releasing a redacted version of Robert Mueller's report to Congress, will "again result in the report being presented through his own words."

He warns that if the report is heavily redacted, the committee will issue subpoenas "in short order."

Nadler says he will "probably find it useful" to call Mueller and members of his team to testify after reading the version of the report Barr releases.

New York - April 17, 2019

1. Nadler enters

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) New York

"The attorney general appears to be waging a media campaign on behalf of President Trump, the very subject of the investigation at the heart of the Mueller Report. Rather than letting the facts of the report speak for themselves, the attorney general has taken unprecedented steps to spin Mueller's nearly two year investigation. One: he summarized the report and cherry picked findings in his March 24th letter to Congress. Two: He withheld summaries written by the special counsel that were intended for public consumption. Three: He has briefed the White House on the report before providing Congress a copy which has helped them prepare a rebuttal response for the president. And now, the evening before the report's scheduled release, the Department of Justice has informed the committee that it will receive a copy between 11:00a.m. and noon. Well after the attorney general's 930a.m. press conference. This is wrong. It is contrary to the attorney general's own words to the committee. Quote 'I do not believe it would be in the public's interest for me to attempt to summarize the full report or to release it in serial or piecemeal fashion.' Close quote. It now appears the attorney general intends to, once again, put his own spin on the investigative work completed by the special counsel and his team. The fact that the attorney general is not releasing even the redacted report to Congress until after his press conference will again result in the report being presented through his own words rather than through the words of Special Counsel Mueller."

3. Wide of presser

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) New York

"The central concern here is that the attorney general Barr is not allowing the facts of the Mueller Report to speak for themselves but is trying to bake in the narrative about the report to the benefit of the White House. And of course he's doing this just before the holiday weekend so it's extraordinarily difficult for anybody to react. This is wrong. It is not the proper role of the attorney general."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) New York

"We'll have to take the time over the next couple of days to carefully read the redacted report so that we don't find out that in fact that there's very little left out. But on the assumption that it's heavily redacted, we will most certainly issue the subpoenas in very short order."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) New York

"We probably, I assume we'll probably find it useful to ask Mueller to testify and I assume we may ask members of his team to testify, but we'll have to make those decisions after reading what we get, as as inadequate as that may be. Thank you."

7. Various of Nadler after presser

The chairman of the US House Judiciary Committee says the US Attorney General is "taking unprecedented steps to spin" the special counsel's Russia investigation.

Representative Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, said on Wednesday that US Attorney General William Barr "appears to be waging a media campaign" on behalf of US President Donald Trump.

He says the Attorney General's decision to hold a Thursday morning news conference, before releasing a redacted version of Robert Mueller's report to Congress, will "again result in the report being presented through his own words".

He warns that if the report is heavily redacted, the committee will issue subpoenas "in short order".

Nadler says he will "probably find it useful" to call Mueller and members of his team to testify after reading the version of the report Barr releases.

New York - 17 April 2019

1. US Representative Jerrold Nadler enters

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, US Democrat Representative:

"The Attorney General appears to be waging a media campaign on behalf of President Trump, the very subject of the investigation at the heart of the Mueller Report. Rather than letting the facts of the report speak for themselves, the attorney general has taken unprecedented steps to spin Mueller's nearly two year investigation. One: he summarized the report and cherry picked findings in his March 24th letter to Congress. Two: He withheld summaries written by the special counsel that were intended for public consumption. Three: He has briefed the White House on the report before providing Congress a copy which has helped them prepare a rebuttal response for the president. And now, the evening before the report's scheduled release, the Department of Justice has informed the committee that it will receive a copy between 11:00a.m. and noon. Well after the attorney general's 930a.m. press conference. This is wrong. It is contrary to the attorney general's own words to the committee. Quote 'I do not believe it would be in the public's interest for me to attempt to summarize the full report or to release it in serial or piecemeal fashion.' Close quote. It now appears the attorney general intends to, once again, put his own spin on the investigative work completed by the special counsel and his team. The fact that the attorney general is not releasing even the redacted report to Congress until after his press conference will again result in the report being presented through his own words rather than through the words of Special Counsel Mueller."

3. Wide of presser

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, US Democrat Representative:

"The central concern here is that the attorney general Barr is not allowing the facts of the Mueller Report to speak for themselves but is trying to bake in the narrative about the report to the benefit of the White House. And of course he's doing this just before the holiday weekend so it's extraordinarily difficult for anybody to react. This is wrong. It is not the proper role of the attorney general."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, US Democrat Representative:

"We'll have to take the time over the next couple of days to carefully read the redacted report so that we don't find out that in fact that there's very little left out. But on the assumption that it's heavily redacted, we will most certainly issue the subpoenas in very short order."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, US Democrat Representative:

"We probably, I assume we'll probably find it useful to ask Mueller to testify and I assume we may ask members of his team to testify, but we'll have to make those decisions after reading what we get, as as inadequate as that may be. Thank you."

7. Various of Nadler after presser

Michael Avenatti, the attorney for porn actress Stormy Daniels, says audio recordings made by President Trump's attorney Michael Cohen will "pose a host of problems for Michael Cohen and for the president."

Avenatti's comments came after a New York judge set a June 15 deadline for lawyers for Trump's personal lawyer and Trump to make attorney-client privilege claims over data seized in April raids, saying it was important not to delay the criminal investigation.

U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood said a special taint team of prosecutors will make determinations after that date.

Wood presided over a hearing at which a prosecutor revealed that the contents of a shredder and two Blackberry devices were all that remained to be turned over to a court-appointed special master screening evidence for attorney-client privilege.

Avenatti says the data does involve Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Daniels has said she had sex once with Trump in 2006. Trump denies it.  

Also reviewing the materials are lawyers for Cohen, the president and the Trump Organization.

Cohen's lawyers asked to be allowed to review materials from the April 9 raids of Cohen's office and home until mid-July, but Wood said she had to balance their needs to protect their client with the need of prosecutors to pursue their criminal fraud case against Cohen.

Stephen Ryan, an attorney for Cohen, argued that Avenatti had acted outrageously by releasing banking information related to Cohen publicly and by criticizing Cohen in dozens of television appearances.

Avenatti defended his actions to reporters outside the court.

Wood noted that Avenatti would have to stop making comments about his perception of what he believed was wrongdoing by Cohen if he wanted to formally intervene in Cohen's efforts to protect materials seized from violations of attorney-client privilege.

After the hearing, Avenatti formally withdrew his request to appear in the case.

The raids on Cohen were triggered in part by a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who separately is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

New York - 30 May 2018

1. Tilt down Federal court exterior

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"It is clear from today's proceedings that Mr. Cohen and his attorneys are hell bent on continuing to hide the truth from the American people. As a result of our efforts there was a shocking admission that was made in court today. Namely, that just like the Nixon tapes years ago, we now have what I will refer to as 'The Trump Tapes.' Mr. Ryan admitted that there are audio recordings that Michael Cohen was taking for years and that those recordings are, to quote him, 'not only do they exist, but they are under lock and key' and some of them relate to my client and her attorney-client privilege communications."

3. Michael Cohen, US President Donald Trump's attorney, exits federal court

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels:

(Reporter: "Are you disappointed by what went down?")

"No, I'm not disappointed at all. In fact, I think that today will become a seminal moment in our nation's modern history because we have an admission that the attorney for the president of the United States was recording conversations for years on end and those recordings were seized by the FBI and they presently exist. And I think that when those recordings are disclosed, they're going to pose a host of problems for Michael Cohen and for the president."

5. Camera crews

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels:

(Reporter: "Why do you think the tapes that are under lock and key just pertain to your client?")

"No, we know they don't pertain just to my client because Mr. Ryan by his comments, if you to go back, I was listening very carefully, he made it clear that there's multiple tapes and some of them relate to my client, not all of them, but some of them and our understanding is that there's many, many audio recordings that for whatever reason Michael Cohen created and then kept and ultimately they will be his downfall and they may be the downfall of this president."

7. Avenatti walking, surrounded by media

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"We've done nothing wrong relating to the release of information. We're not under any investigation. Any claim to the contrary is a bunch of nonsense and is brought by people that don't want the information released to each of you and don't want information released to the American people. We live in a democracy, we live in a free society where people have an expectation of receiving information timely and accurately. This isn't Russia."

9. Federal court exterior

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels:

"No, I don't think she put a gag order on me. I think that she's trying to balance various interests and look, my job is to protect my client, advocate for my client and my client's all about the disclosure of truth, speaking truth to power and disclosing evidence to the American people and we're going to keep doing what we do."

11. Avenatti walking, surrounded by media

Special counsel Robert Mueller did not find evidence that President Donald Trump's campaign "conspired or coordinated" with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election but reached no conclusion on whether Trump obstructed justice, Attorney General William Barr declared Sunday.

That brought a hearty claim of vindication from Trump but set the stage for new rounds of political and legal fighting.

House Judiciary Committee chairman Congressman Jerrold Nadler said Sunday night that Congress needs to hear from Attorney General Barr about his decision and see "all the underlying evidence."

Mueller clearly and explicitly is not exonerating the president, said Nadler but Barr is telling the American people that while the president is not exonerated, there will be no action by DOJ.

"I would hope that it would not be necessary to use subpoena power to get the attorney general to appear before the committee," Nadler told reporters at a news conference in New York.

"We also want to see the full report and if necessary we'll use subpoena power to get that too."

In a statement, two other top Democrats, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, said Barr was "not a neutral observer" and they also urged the full release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

New York - 24 March 2019

1. Pan Rep. Jerrold Nadler walks to microphones

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Democrat - New York, House Judiciary Committee chairman:

"Good evening, earlier today I received a four-page letter from Attorney General Barr outlining his summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report while making a few questionable legal arguments of his own. I take from this letter, three points. First, President Trump is wrong. This report does not amount to a so-called total exoneration. Special Counsel Muller was clear that his report quote does not exonerate close quote the president. The special counsel spent 22 months uncovering evidence of obstruction and other misconduct. Attorney General Barr, who auditioned for his role with an open memorandum suggesting that the obstruction investigation was unconscionable and that a president and that it was almost impossible for any president to commit obstruction of justice since he is the head of the executive branch, made a decision about that evidence in under 48 hours. His conclusions raise more questions than they answer. Given the fact that Mueller uncovered evidence that in his own words does not exonerate the president.  It is unconscionable that President Trump would try to spin the special counsel counsel's findings as if his conduct was remotely acceptable. Second, given these questions it is imperative that the attorney general release the full report and the underlying evidence. The entire unfiltered report, as well as the evidence underlying that report, must be made available to Congress and to the American people. As much information can be as can be made public should be made public without delay. I intend to fight for that transparency. We will ask the attorney general to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. We will demand the release of the full report. The American people are entitled to a full accounting of the President's misconduct referenced by the special counsel. Third, the attorney general's comments make it clear that Congress must step in to get the truth and provide full transparency to the American people. The president has not been exonerated by the special counsel, yet the attorney general has decided not to go further or apparently to share those findings with the public. We cannot simply rely on what may be a hasty partisan interpretation of the facts. Earlier this month the House passed a resolution calling for a full and complete release of the special counsel's report by a vote of 420 to nothing. We now call on the attorney general to honor that request, to release the report and the underlying evidence and to appear before the Judiciary Committee to answer our questions without delay. "

3. Wide news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Democrat - New York, House Judiciary Committee chairman:

"Reporter: Would you be willing to use subpoena power if necessary?

Sure.  I would hope that it would not be necessary to use subpoena power to get the attorney general to appear before the committee. We also want to see the full report and if necessary we'll use subpoena power to get that too."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Democrat - New York, House Judiciary Committee chairman:

"Now, it is as far as I know unprecedented for a special prosecutor not to make that decision one way or another one way or the other and certainly unprecedented for an attorney general to arrogate himself that decision and certainly precedent for an attorney general who campaigned for the role by saying presidents can hardly ever commit obstruction of justice. All right. Thank you very much everybody."

6. Pan Nadler walks away

A legal fight over what should happen to records the FBI seized from US President Donald Trump's personal attorney took a surprise twist Monday when the lawyer, Michael Cohen, was forced to reveal a secret _ that he had also done legal work for Fox News host Sean Hannity.

The disclosure came as a New York judge disappointed a lawyer for Trump by letting prosecutors proceed with the cataloguing of evidence including multiple electronic devices that were seized in raids while a system is set up to ensure they are protected by attorney-client privilege.

Lawyers for Cohen and prosecutors had reason to claim success after three hours of arguments left U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood saying she may appoint a special master to help decide how much of the materials are subject to the privilege.

The only disappointed party seemed to be Trump's attorney, Joanna Hendon, who said she was objecting to any plan by prosecutors to search for how many times Trump's name appears in documents as they try to decide how many might be subject to attorney-client privilege.

Prosecutors promised not to study the contents of the materials while the process of protecting privileged materials is resolved.

Wood also denied Hendon's request that lawyers for Trump and Cohen get the first crack at designating documents and other evidence that might be subject to the privilege.

The Hannity revelation came after Wood required Cohen to divulge the names of the clients he's worked with since the 2016 election.

One, of course, was Trump himself.

Another was Elliot Broidy, a Trump fundraiser who resigned from the Republican National Committee on Friday after it was revealed that he paid $1.6 million to a Playboy Playmate with whom he had an extramarital affair. The Playmate became pregnant and elected to have an abortion.

With Cohen by their side on Monday, lawyers initially resisted revealing the name of the third client for privacy reasons, saying it would be embarrassing for the client and that the client had asked that they immediately appeal any request to divulge his name.

But Wood pressed on.

When the name was announced, there were gasps and some laughter in a courtroom packed with journalists. A few of them raced from the courtroom.

Cohen's lawyers did not detail the type of legal work he did for Hannity.

On his radio show, Hannity said Cohen was never involved in any matter between him and any third party.

Hannity, an outspoken supporter of Trump, has been a fierce critic of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Monday's hearing began with an appearance by porn actress Stormy Daniels, who was swarmed by photographers and nearly fell as she was hustled into the courthouse, a scene that captured the sensational atmosphere around the case.

The last to enter court, she was among the first to leave.

While in court, she smiled several times as she observed the proceedings from a folding chair near the back of the room.

Outside afterward, she said Cohen has acted like he's above the law and that she and her lawyer are committed to making sure everyone learns the truth.

The April 9 raid on Cohen sought information on a variety of matters, including a $130,000 payment made to Daniels, who alleges she had sex with a married Trump in 2006.

New York – 16 April 2018

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"Prosecutors were saying that lawyers for Michael Cohen and President Donald Trump were just trying to delay proceedings by asking for a process where they would look at all the evidence that was seized last week first, and then decide what was not violated by attorney-client privilege, and what prosecutors could use in their criminal investigation. Prosecutors say that's not the way to do it. They want a process whereby attorneys for Donald... President Donald Trump and Michael Cohen have a role in the process but aren't able to control the process. The judge seems eager, she said, to make whatever occurs not to...not slow up the process so that the government can do what it needs to do in its investigation, and yet, the attorney-client privilege is protected."

++BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"The judge did say that she may, and this is something that Michael Cohen's lawyers were requesting, that she may appoint a special master to at least have a limited role in deciding how the evidence is viewed and how they ultimately decide what is subject to attorney-client privilege. But she seemed also to be giving the government what it wants in letting the prosecutors, the special taint team they have –not their criminal prosecutors—get a look at all the evidence of putting it together so that they can hand it over to the attorneys for Michael Cohen and President Donald Trump to look at and for them to flag whatever they think should be subject to attorney-client privilege."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"Prosecutors revealed that when they did the raids on Michael Cohen's residence and his office, that they had numerous electronic devices, including telephones, and that for what they could, the computer devices, they actually took images. So, his lawyers, they say, already have much of the evidence and know what's there."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"The surprise moment in court came when the lawyers for Michael Cohen did not want to divulge one client who had asked to remain anonymous, saying that it could be embarrassing being associated with someone who's under criminal investigation. The judge forced them to divulge the name, it turned out to be Sean Hannity, a Fox News personality. And as soon as that name was announced, there was an audible gasp in the courtroom that's largely crowded with journalists, and some journalists immediately ran outside court, and you could see Stormy Daniels smiling on the side of the courtroom in the back, a little bit after this happened."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"Stormy Daniels has a role in this because Michael Cohen played a part in ultimately a payoff that she got to remain silent after what she says was an affair with the president."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Larry Neumeister, Associated Press Reporter:

"So, I think, ultimately, she has a role in the investigation because the settlement that was paid out to her. Michael Cohen says he paid her the money and he did it out of a home equity loan. So that's presumed to be part of the government's investigation."

++EDIT ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

Special counsel Robert Mueller did not find evidence that President Donald Trump's campaign "conspired or coordinated" with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election but reached no conclusion on whether Trump obstructed justice, Attorney General William Barr declared Sunday.

That brought a hearty claim of vindication from Trump but set the stage for new rounds of political and legal fighting.

House Judiciary Committee chairman Congressman Jerrold Nadler said Sunday night that Congress needs to hear from Attorney General Barr about his decision and see "all the underlying evidence."

Mueller clearly and explicitly is not exonerating the president, said Nadler but Barr is telling the American people that while the president is not exonerated, there will be no action by the Department of Justice.

"I would hope that it would not be necessary to use subpoena power to get the attorney general to appear before the committee," Nadler told reporters at a news conference in New York.

"We also want to see the full report and if necessary we'll use subpoena power to get that too."

In a statement, two other top Democrats, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, said Barr was "not a neutral observer" and they also urged the full release of special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

New York - 24 March 2019

1. Pan Rep. Jerrold Nadler walks to microphones

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Democrat - New York, House Judiciary Committee chairman:

"Good evening, earlier today I received a four-page letter from Attorney General Barr outlining his summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report while making a few questionable legal arguments of his own. I take from this letter, three points. First, President Trump is wrong. This report does not amount to a so-called total exoneration. Special Counsel Muller was clear that his report quote "does not exonerate" close quote, the president. The special counsel spent 22 months uncovering evidence of obstruction and other misconduct. Attorney General Barr, who auditioned for his role with an open memorandum suggesting that the obstruction investigation was unconscionable, and that a president - and that it was almost impossible for any president to commit obstruction of justice since he is the head of the executive branch - made a decision about that evidence in under 48 hours. His conclusions raise more questions than they answer, given the fact that Mueller uncovered evidence that in his own words does not exonerate the president.  It is unconscionable that President Trump would try to spin the special counsel counsel's findings as if his conduct was remotely acceptable. Second, given these questions it is imperative that the attorney general release the full report and the underlying evidence. The entire unfiltered report, as well as the evidence underlying that report, must be made available to Congress and to the American people. As much information can be as can be made public should be made public without delay. I intend to fight for that transparency. We will ask the attorney general to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. We will demand the release of the full report. The American people are entitled to a full accounting of the President's misconduct referenced by the special counsel. Third, the attorney general's comments make it clear that Congress must step in to get the truth and provide full transparency to the American people. The president has not been exonerated by the special counsel, yet the attorney general has decided not to go further or apparently to share those findings with the public. We cannot simply rely on what may be a hasty partisan interpretation of the facts. Earlier this month the House passed a resolution calling for a full and complete release of the special counsel's report by a vote of 420 to nothing. We now call on the attorney general to honor that request, to release the report and the underlying evidence and to appear before the Judiciary Committee to answer our questions without delay. "

3. Wide news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Democrat - New York, House Judiciary Committee chairman:

Reporter: "Would you be willing to use subpoena power if necessary?

Sure. I would hope that it would not be necessary to use subpoena power to get the attorney general to appear before the committee. We also want to see the full report and if necessary we'll use subpoena power to get that too."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Democrat - New York, House Judiciary Committee chairman:

"Now, it is as far as I know unprecedented for a special prosecutor not to make that decision one way or another one way or the other and certainly unprecedented for an attorney general to arrogate himself that decision and certainly precedent for an attorney general who campaigned for the role by saying presidents can hardly ever commit obstruction of justice. All right. Thank you very much everybody."

6. Pan Nadler walks away