RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington - 2 May 2018

1. SOUNDBITE (English): Chad Day, Associated Press Writer:

"What we've now learned is that in March, during a meeting between special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors and President Donald Trump's lawyers, the Muellar team actually kind of floated or broached the subject of possibly subpoena--subpoenaing the president and compelling him to testify as part of the Russian probe."

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Bejing - 30 January 2008

2. FILE: Former FBI Director Robert Mueller at news conference (partly coves soundbite)

POOL - AP CLIENTS ONLY

++NIGHT SHOT++

Washington - 28 April 2018

3. US President Donald Trump walking across White House lawn (partly coves soundbite)

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington - 2 May 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English): Chad Day, Associated Press Writer:

"So these have been ongoing negotiations where they're trying to secure an interview with the president where they can question him about a number of different topics. And this is all part of, not only an investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with the Trump campaign but also whether or not the President obstructed justice in any way through his firing of Jim Comey and some of the conversations that and actions that he took regarding the firing of Michael Flynn. And then also pressure that he exerted on Attorney General Jeff Sessions."

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

New York - 29 April 2011

5. Various STILLS former Trump attorney John Dowd (partly covers soundbite)

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington - 2 May 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English): Chad Day, Associated Press Writer:

"So John Dowd is actually President Donald Trump's former personal attorney. He was on his legal team and leading the legal team. He was the key person in the negotiations between the president's legal team and an Muller's team. But then he resigned last month. Now what we're learning though is that a meeting that occurred in earlier in March when he was still leading this legal team, that's what this whole subpoena issue came up where there was a conversation where they were trying to negotiate the terms of the interview and Mueller's team basically said well you know we could at some point try to compel the President's testimony."

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

New York - 12 January 2017

7. Rudy Giuliani talks to reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower (partly coves soundbite)

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington - 2 May 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English): Chad Day, Associated Press Writer:

"Right now we're in a little bit of a reset on President Donald Trump's legal team because recently you know Dowd left and they brought in Rudy Giuliani they also brought in two really seasoned former federal prosecutors, Marty and Jane Raskin out of Florida. And so, we're not it's not exactly clear what this kind of what kind of impact this would have on the negotiations currently. I think what why this is important is that any time something like this becomes public it really fires up the president and as we've seen over the last few days and few weeks he has really upped his attacks on the special counsel and the Justice Department at large."

9. SOUNDBITE (English): Chad Day, Associated Press Writer:

"Even if there was a subpoena issued, that doesn't necessarily mean that Trump would actually have to do, to answer any questions. What what would happen is that either they would try to go to court to get the subpoena quashed or they could go into the grand jury room and basically take the Fifth the entire time. Everybody has the Fifth Amendment protection against self incrimination and they cannot compel you to testify against yourself."

POOL - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan - 28 April 2018

10. Trump steps off Air Force One, waves (partly coves soundbite)

STORYLINE:

The special counsel leading the Russia investigation raised the prospect in March of issuing a grand jury subpoena for President Donald Trump, his former attorney said, confirming that investigators have floated the extraordinary idea of forcing a sitting president to testify under oath.

Attorney John Dowd told The Associated Press on Tuesday that special counsel Robert Mueller's team broached the subject during a meeting with Trump's legal team while they were negotiating the terms of a possible interview with the president.

AP reporter Chad Day says Trump's legal team is in the midst of a reset.

"We're not it's not exactly clear what this kind of what kind of impact this would have on the negotiations currently. I think what why this is important is that any time something like this becomes public it really fires up the president and as we've seen over the last few days and few weeks he has really upped his attacks on the special counsel and the Justice Department at large," Day said.

It was not immediately clear in what context the possibility of a subpoena was raised or how serious Mueller's prosecutors were about the move. Mueller is probing not only Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates but possible obstruction of justice by Trump.

Trump lashed out against the investigation in a familiar fashion Wednesday, saying on Twitter: "There was no Collusion (it is a Hoax) and there is no Obstruction of Justice (that is a setup & trap)."

Even if Mueller's team decided to subpoena Trump as part of the investigation, he could still fight it in court or refuse to answer questions by invoking his Fifth Amendment protection from self-incrimination.

===========================================================

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House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler said his committee is filing a court petition Friday in an effort to obtain secret grand jury material underlying former special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

The panel is also expected to file a lawsuit next week to try to enforce a subpoena against former White House counsel Donald McGahn, a key Mueller witness, if he doesn't comply before then.

That suit is expected to challenge the White House's claim that former White House employees have "absolute immunity" from testifying before Congress.

The move comes after Mueller's testimony Wednesday to Congress saying he had not "exculpated" President Donald Trump. Democrats are trying to focus public attention on Mueller's words and on his 448-page report's contents, including several episodes in which Trump sought to influence the special counsel's investigation into Russia election interference.

Mueller concluded that he could not exonerate Trump on obstruction of justice. He also concluded that there was no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia.

The panel has struggled to bring in witnesses like McGahn who spoke extensively to Mueller because the White House has directed them to refuse to testify. Trump has said he will fight "all of the subpoenas."

Nadler said the committee is still negotiating with McGahn for documents and testimony, and the committee will file the lawsuit "in very short order" if he does not comply.

The court battles are beginning as the House leaves for a six-week recess and Democrats are debating whether to impeach the Republican president. More than 90 House Democrats have said they favor starting the impeachment process, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she wants to build the strongest case possible before making that decision, including by going to court to force witnesses to comply.

Nadler said the court filing will include a line saying that the materials are necessary "to determine whether the committee should recommend articles of impeachment."

Washington, DC - 26 July 2019

1. Wide, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler walks into briefing room, along with members of committee

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"Before he (Robert Mueller) ever stepped into our hearing room, the director had rendered our country a great and necessary public service. He showed through his report and his indictments that the United States was attacked and remains under siege by a foreign adversary. He showed that the Trump campaign both welcomed and benefited from this attack on our country. And he showed that the president repeatedly lied to cover it up. And if that were not enough. Director Mueller's testimony removed all doubt. He told us that Donald Trump obstructed justice and abused his office by tampering with witnesses, attempting to block the investigation and attempting to fire the special counsel. He told us that Donald Trump lied to the public about the Trump Tower meeting in New York. Lied to the public about his plans for Trump Tower in Moscow and lied in his written responses to the special counsel. He told us in a remarkable exchange with Mr. (Ted) Lieu that but for the Department of Justice policy from prohibiting, prohibiting from doing so, he would have indicted President Trump."

3. Wide, news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"We will continue to seek testimony from key fact witnesses.  As many of you know the committee has authorized several additional subpoenas. Our work will continue into the August recess and we will use those subpoenas, if we must. We will also continue to seek important documents from the Department of Justice and the White House. We have made some progress on this front. There appears to be compelling evidence of the President's misconduct outside of the four corners of the redacted version of the Mueller Report. And we will work to uncover that evidence as well. Finally, today we are filing an application for the grand jury material underlying the Mueller report. That information is critically important for our ability to examine witnesses including former White House counsel Don McGahn and to investigate the president's misconduct. I will not comment on reports of our ongoing negotiations with Mr. McGahn but unless he complies with our accommodation efforts in very short order we expect to file an additional suit to enforce a subpoena for his testimony and that would be next week or earlier next week."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Democrat - Pennsylvania:

"The court filings today are the next step and we'll continue down that road to see whether we have the strong case that is needed to put to the American people."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eric Swalwell, Democrat - California:

"Well if you shut up expecting a Broadway show sure you may have been disappointed but if you listened to what he said he said that the Russians attacked us they had a preference for Donald Trump. The Trump campaign welcomed it and planned around it and when the police investigated it they took great lengths to cover it up including the president and the president is the only person in America who would be shielded from being held accountable because of what they did. That is pretty cut and dry. And what you've seen is not members who have called for impeachment saying take me off of that call in light of what Mr. Mueller have said. Six members since have come forward and have said add me to that call for impeachment."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Madeleine Dean, Democrat - Pennsylvania:

"And what I believe we really should be focused on is not the performance of Mr. Mueller but the performance or behaviors of this president, obstructing justice. That's the performance you need to be examining. The performance of the Trump administration welcoming, wallowing in interference by Russia. The performance of Russia interfering with our elections in massive and sweeping ways that will continue. And a Senate yesterday that did nothing, in fact blocked attempts, to take care of or protect our elections."

8. Wide

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Veronica Escobar, Democrat - Texas:

"We're crossing a threshold. Absolutely. When you think about the, the, the mode that we were operating under before it really was an oversight function. We're now crossing a threshold with the filing of this, of this, with this filing and we are now officially entering into an examination of whether or not to recommend the articles of impeachment. So it's we have crossed a threshold. I just wanted to make that real clear."

10. Pan as members walk away

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler said his committee is filing a court petition Friday in an effort to obtain secret grand jury material underlying former special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

The panel is also expected to file a lawsuit next week to try to enforce a subpoena against former White House counsel Donald McGahn, a key Mueller witness, if he doesn't comply before then.

That suit is expected to challenge the White House's claim that former White House employees have "absolute immunity" from testifying before Congress.

The move comes after Mueller's testimony Wednesday to Congress saying he had not "exculpated" President Donald Trump. Democrats are trying to focus public attention on Mueller's words and on his 448-page report's contents, including several episodes in which Trump sought to influence the special counsel's investigation into Russia election interference.

Mueller concluded that he could not exonerate Trump on obstruction of justice. He also concluded that there was no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia.

The panel has struggled to bring in witnesses like McGahn who spoke extensively to Mueller because the White House has directed them to refuse to testify. Trump has said he will fight "all of the subpoenas."

Nadler said the committee is still negotiating with McGahn for documents and testimony, and the committee will file the lawsuit "in very short order" if he does not comply.

The court battles are beginning as the House leaves for a six-week recess and Democrats are debating whether to impeach the Republican president. More than 90 House Democrats have said they favor starting the impeachment process, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she wants to build the strongest case possible before making that decision, including by going to court to force witnesses to comply.

Nadler said the court filing will include a line saying that the materials are necessary "to determine whether the committee should recommend articles of impeachment."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 26 July 2019

1. Wide, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler walks into briefing room, along with members of committee

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"Before he (Robert Mueller) ever stepped into our hearing room, the director had rendered our country a great and necessary public service. He showed through his report and his indictments that the United States was attacked and remains under siege by a foreign adversary. He showed that the Trump campaign both welcomed and benefited from this attack on our country. And he showed that the president repeatedly lied to cover it up. And if that were not enough. Director Mueller's testimony removed all doubt. He told us that Donald Trump obstructed justice and abused his office by tampering with witnesses, attempting to block the investigation and attempting to fire the special counsel. He told us that Donald Trump lied to the public about the Trump Tower meeting in New York. Lied to the public about his plans for Trump Tower in Moscow and lied in his written responses to the special counsel. He told us in a remarkable exchange with Mr. (Ted) Lieu that but for the Department of Justice policy from prohibiting, prohibiting from doing so, he would have indicted President Trump."

3. Wide, news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"We will continue to seek testimony from key fact witnesses.  As many of you know the committee has authorized several additional subpoenas. Our work will continue into the August recess and we will use those subpoenas, if we must. We will also continue to seek important documents from the Department of Justice and the White House. We have made some progress on this front. There appears to be compelling evidence of the President's misconduct outside of the four corners of the redacted version of the Mueller Report. And we will work to uncover that evidence as well. Finally, today we are filing an application for the grand jury material underlying the Mueller report. That information is critically important for our ability to examine witnesses including former White House counsel Don McGahn and to investigate the president's misconduct. I will not comment on reports of our ongoing negotiations with Mr. McGahn but unless he complies with our accommodation efforts in very short order we expect to file an additional suit to enforce a subpoena for his testimony and that would be next week or earlier next week."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, Democrat - Pennsylvania:

"The court filings today are the next step and we'll continue down that road to see whether we have the strong case that is needed to put to the American people."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Eric Swalwell, Democrat - California:

"Well if you shut up expecting a Broadway show sure you may have been disappointed but if you listened to what he said he said that the Russians attacked us they had a preference for Donald Trump. The Trump campaign welcomed it and planned around it and when the police investigated it they took great lengths to cover it up including the president and the president is the only person in America who would be shielded from being held accountable because of what they did. That is pretty cut and dry. And what you've seen is not members who have called for impeachment saying take me off of that call in light of what Mr. Mueller have said. Six members since have come forward and have said add me to that call for impeachment."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Madeleine Dean, Democrat - Pennsylvania:

"And what I believe we really should be focused on is not the performance of Mr. Mueller but the performance or behaviors of this president, obstructing justice. That's the performance you need to be examining. The performance of the Trump administration welcoming, wallowing in interference by Russia. The performance of Russia interfering with our elections in massive and sweeping ways that will continue. And a Senate yesterday that did nothing, in fact blocked attempts, to take care of or protect our elections."

8. Wide

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Veronica Escobar, Democrat - Texas:

"We're crossing a threshold. Absolutely. When you think about the, the, the mode that we were operating under before it really was an oversight function. We're now crossing a threshold with the filing of this, of this, with this filing and we are now officially entering into an examination of whether or not to recommend the articles of impeachment. So it's we have crossed a threshold. I just wanted to make that real clear."

10. Pan as members walk away

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus121022

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler said his committee is filing a court petition Friday in an effort to obtain secret grand jury material underlying former special counsel Robert Mueller's report.

The panel is also expected to file a lawsuit next week to try to enforce a subpoena against former White House counsel Donald McGahn, a key Mueller witness, if he doesn't comply before then.

That suit is expected to challenge the White House's claim that former White House employees have "absolute immunity" from testifying before Congress.

The move comes after Mueller's testimony Wednesday to Congress saying he had not "exculpated" President Donald Trump. Democrats are trying to focus public attention on Mueller's words and on his 448-page report's contents, including several episodes in which Trump sought to influence the special counsel's investigation into Russia election interference.

Mueller concluded that he could not exonerate Trump on obstruction of justice. He also concluded that there was no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia.

The panel has struggled to bring in witnesses like McGahn who spoke extensively to Mueller because the White House has directed them to refuse to testify. Trump has said he will fight "all of the subpoenas."

Nadler said the committee is still negotiating with McGahn for documents and testimony, and the committee will file the lawsuit "in very short order" if he does not comply.

The court battles are beginning as the House leaves for a six-week recess and Democrats are debating whether to impeach the Republican president. More than 90 House Democrats have said they favor starting the impeachment process, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she wants to build the strongest case possible before making that decision, including by going to court to force witnesses to comply.

Nadler said the court filing will include a line saying that the materials are necessary "to determine whether the committee should recommend articles of impeachment."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 26 July 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman: ++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAID++

"Before he (Robert Mueller) ever stepped into our hearing room, the director had rendered our country a great and necessary public service. He showed through his report and his indictments that the United States was attacked and remains under siege by a foreign adversary. He showed that the Trump campaign both welcomed and benefited from this attack on our country. And he showed that the president repeatedly lied to cover it up."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

POOL

Washington - 24 July 2019

2. Various Robert Mueller testifying

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 26 July 2019

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"We will continue to seek testimony from key fact witnesses.  As many of you know the committee has authorized several additional subpoenas. Our work will continue into the August recess and we will use those subpoenas, if we must. We will also continue to seek important documents from the Department of Justice and the White House. We have made some progress on this front. There appears to be compelling evidence of the President's misconduct outside of the four corners of the redacted version of the Mueller Report. And we will work to uncover that evidence as well. Finally, today we are filing an application for the grand jury material underlying the Mueller report. That information is critically important for our ability to examine witnesses including former White House counsel Don McGahn and to investigate the president's misconduct. I will not comment on reports of our ongoing negotiations with Mr. McGahn but unless he complies with our accommodation efforts in very short order we expect to file an additional suit to enforce a subpoena for his testimony and that would be next week or earlier next week."

The House Judiciary Committee questioned former White House counsel Don McGahn behind closed doors on Friday, two years after House Democrats originally sought his testimony as part of investigations into former President Donald Trump.

The long-awaited interview is the result of an agreement reached last month in federal court, and a transcript will be publicly released within a week.

House Democrats - then investigating whether Trump tried to obstruct the Justice Department's probes into his presidential campaign's ties to Russia - originally sued after McGahn defied an April 2019 subpoena on Trump's orders.

That same month, the Justice Department released a redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller's report on the matter.

In the report, Mueller pointedly did not exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice but also did not recommend prosecuting him, citing Justice Department policy against indicting a sitting president.

Mueller's report quoted extensively from interviews with McGahn, who described the Republican president's efforts to stifle the investigation.

While the Judiciary panel eventually won its fight for McGahn's testimony, the court agreement placed limits on it.

The two sides agreed that McGahn would be questioned privately and will only be compelled to answer questions about publicly available portions of Mueller's report.

House Democrats kept the case going, even past Trump's presidency, and are moving forward with the interview to make an example of the former White House counsel after dozens of Trump administration officials refused to answer questions from Congress on various matters.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said the agreement for McGahn's testimony was a good-faith compromise that "vindicates the congressional subpoena."

It is unclear what House Democrats will do with the testimony, which they sought before twice impeaching Trump. The Senate acquitted Trump of impeachment charges both times.

At a break during the interview, Nadler said McGahn is being "somewhat difficult" at times during the interview, but did not characterize what he had said.

Nadler said there were a handful of Democrats and Republican lawmakers in the room in addition to staff who were leading the questioning.

As White House counsel, McGahn had an insider's view of many of the episodes Mueller and his team examined for potential obstruction of justice during the Russia investigation.

McGahn proved a pivotal - and damning - witness against Trump, with his name mentioned hundreds of times in the text of the Mueller report and its footnotes.

McGahn described to investigators the president's repeated efforts to choke off the probe and directives he said he received from the president that unnerved him.

He recounted how Trump had demanded that he contact then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to order him to unrecuse himself from the Russia investigation.

He also said Trump had implored him to tell the deputy attorney general at the time, Rod Rosenstein, to remove Mueller from his position because of perceived conflicts of interest - and, after that episode was reported in the media, to publicly and falsely deny that demand had ever been made.

McGahn also described the circumstances leading up to Trump's firing of James Comey as FBI director, including the president's insistence on including in the termination letter the fact that Comey had reassured Trump that he was not personally under investigation.

And he was present for a critical conversation early in the Trump administration, when Sally Yates, just before she was fired as acting attorney general as a holdover Obama appointee, relayed concerns to McGahn about new national security adviser Michael Flynn.

She raised the possibility that Flynn's conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak - and his subsequent interview by the FBI - left him vulnerable to blackmail.

Trump's Justice Department fought efforts to have McGahn testify even after District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson in 2019 rejected arguments that Trump's close advisers were immune from congressional subpoena.

President Joe Biden's administration helped negotiate the final agreement.

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 June 2021

1. Tracking shot of Rep. Jerry Nadler walking to reporters

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerrold Nadler, (D) House Judiciary Committee Chairman:

"Well, it vindicates the congressional subpoena rights. That's the main one.

3. Tracking shot of Nadler walking into committee room, UPSOUND (English)" And we'll see what comes out of that."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jim Jordan, (R) of the House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member:

"Mr. McGahn already testified for 30 some hours and of course, we have the Mueller report, we've had it for two years. We've had (Special Counsel) Bob Muller testify in front of this very committee. And you yet the Democrats there doing a five, six hour deposition."  

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Matt Gaetz, (R) Florida:

"We've learned nothing new. The expectation was that Don McGahn would be some sort of essential witness, bringing new information worthy of years of litigation and countless taxpayer dollars spent on this endeavour. And my perception of the events is that Mr. McGahn is unable to identify any unlawful conduct on the part of the president or any other member of the president's administration, and that the four corners of the Mueller report largely reflect what Mr. McGahn has remembered."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D) Texas:

"I will say, as I started out this morning, it was crucial that Don McGahn come before the Judiciary Committee as one of the central witnesses of the report. I believe we have been vindicated in terms of the intimacy of his involvement and, of course, the ultimate conclusions of the Mueller report."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D) Texas:  

"All that we can see and hear is that there was certainly a continuing problem in the former administration. And as the Judiciary Committee and the work that has already been done in impeachment proceedings and unfortunately, impeachment occurred, but conviction did not occur. I obviously believe there should have been a conviction. But at this point, I think the main point I want to render here is three equal branches of government have to be able to be respected and the Congress has to be respected with a subpoena and oversight responsibilities in compliance with executive privilege and constitutional parameters."

++BLACK FRAMES++

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Madeleine Dean, (D) House Judiciary Committee Vice Chairman:

"This was a good day for democracy. We were able to finally enforce after more than two years, our subpoena power as a coequal branch of government, doing our duty of oversight. You saw that the previous administration put up something like blanket immunity and other false legal concepts to do everything that they possibly could not to come before a coequal branch of government."

++BLACK FRAMES++

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Madeleine Dean, (D) House Judiciary Committee Vice Chairman:

"Mr. McGahn really brought to life volume two of the Mueller report and the chaos that must have been going on in that White House. You can read it in the report yourself. It's still the redacted version. But he literally brought to life that what was going on, the pressure that he was under, the pressure that other aides were under by the president to direct Rod Rosenstein to oust Special Counsel Mueller. The president being very upset over the investigation of Russian interference in the election, Russian connection to his campaign, as well as, of course, the possible obstruction of justice by a sitting president."

++EDIT ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of an investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, a person familiar with the probe said Thursday.

The use of a grand jury, a standard prosecution tool in criminal investigations, suggests that Mueller and his team of investigators are likely to hear from witnesses and demand documents in the coming weeks and months. The person who confirmed to The Associated Press that Mueller had turned to a grand jury was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the use of a grand jury.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records and to present evidence, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near or will necessarily be sought. It was not immediately clear how or whether the Washington grand jury was connected to the work of a separate one in Alexandria, Virginia. That panel has been used to gather information on Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser.

A spokesman for Mueller's team did not return an email seeking comment.

Mueller's reliance on a grand jury is the "logical next step in this investigation" given that it's the traditional method for prosecutors to gather evidence, said Washington defense lawyer Jacob Frenkel.

Meanwhile, lawyers for President Donald Trump said they were unaware of the existence of a grand jury and had no information to suggest the president himself was under federal investigation.

"With respect to the news of the federal grand jury, I have no reason to believe that the president is under investigation," defense attorney John Dowd told the AP.

Ty Cobb, special counsel to the president, said he wasn't aware Mueller had started using a new grand jury.

"Grand jury matters are typically secret," Cobb said. "The White House favors anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly. ... The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr. Mueller."

It was not clear what witnesses might appear before the grand jury or what evidence it might be accumulating or presented with.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May by the Justice Department following the firing by Trump of FBI Director James Comey. He has since assembled a team of more than a dozen investigators, including current and former Justice Department prosecutors with experience in international bribery, organized crime and financial fraud.

That team has been working at an undisclosed location in Washington, so presenting evidence inside a federal courthouse in the city could be more convenient for the group of investigators than working out of Alexandria. Mueller also worked as a prosecutor in Washington before becoming FBI director, a job he held for 12 years.

A grand jury "increases the power of the prosecutors," said David Levine, law professor at the University of California Hastings College of Law. "Instead of asking for people to provide testimony, they can demand testimony under the penalty of perjury and under risk of contempt of court. And with respect to documents, instead of asking people for documents, they can demand documents. And so for example the tax returns, a subpoena can unlock those tax returns," he said.

News of the grand jury came as senators introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at protecting Mueller from being fired by Trump, with both parties signaling resistance to any White House effort to derail the investigation into Russian meddling in last year's election.

Trump's defense team has been looking into potential conflicts of interest among members of Mueller's team, such as past political contributions to Democrats including Hillary Clinton, and Trump has warned that any effort by Mueller to look into his finances would fall outside the scope of Mueller's appointment.

Under the regulations, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is the government official empowered to fire Mueller under limited circumstances, such as conflict of interest and dereliction of duty. Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, has publicly said he has seen no basis for firing him.

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

1. David Levine looks at news story on phone

2. Screen showing news story about grand jury in Russia probe

3. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

++ covered by video ++ "What we've learned is that special counsel Mueller and the lawyers working with him ++ are using a grand jury to further their investigation into the questions about Russian collusion and related areas such as financial transactions and other matters."

Washington, D.C. - June 21, 2017

4. AP Photo of former FBI director Robert Mueller arriving for meeting at Capitol Hill

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

++ covered by video ++ "It increases the power of the prosecutors. ++ Instead of asking for people to provide testimony, they can demand testimony under the penalty of perjury and under risk of contempt of court. And with respect to documents, instead of asking people for documents, they can demand documents. And so for example the tax returns, a subpoena can unlock those tax returns."

Huntington, West Virginia - Aug. 3, 2017

6. AP Photo of President Donald Trump speaking at rally

Washington, D.C. - Dec. 11, 1998

7. AP Photo of President Bill Clinton walking to Rose Garden to deliver statement on impeachment

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

8. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

++ covered by video ++ "If it's somebody in the United States, they are subject to subpoena. And that would include the president of the United States. Famously President Bill Clinton appeared before a grand jury. It turned out not very well for him."

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

9. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"We're probably months and months away before we hear formally ++ covered by video ++ from Mr. Mueller as to whether and who might be indicted and for what." ++

Washington, D.C. - June 21, 2017

10. AP Photo of former FBI director Robert Mueller arriving for meeting at Capitol Hill

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of an investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, a person familiar with the probe said Thursday.

The use of a grand jury, a standard prosecution tool in criminal investigations, suggests that Mueller and his team of investigators are likely to hear from witnesses and demand documents in the coming weeks and months. The person who confirmed to The Associated Press that Mueller had turned to a grand jury was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the use of a grand jury.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records and to present evidence, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near or will necessarily be sought. It was not immediately clear how or whether the Washington grand jury was connected to the work of a separate one in Alexandria, Virginia. That panel has been used to gather information on Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser.

A spokesman for Mueller's team did not return an email seeking comment.

Mueller's reliance on a grand jury is the "logical next step in this investigation" given that it's the traditional method for prosecutors to gather evidence, said Washington defense lawyer Jacob Frenkel.

Meanwhile, lawyers for President Donald Trump said they were unaware of the existence of a grand jury and had no information to suggest the president himself was under federal investigation.

"With respect to the news of the federal grand jury, I have no reason to believe that the president is under investigation," defense attorney John Dowd told the AP.

Ty Cobb, special counsel to the president, said he wasn't aware Mueller had started using a new grand jury.

"Grand jury matters are typically secret," Cobb said. "The White House favors anything that accelerates the conclusion of his work fairly. ... The White House is committed to fully cooperating with Mr. Mueller."

It was not clear what witnesses might appear before the grand jury or what evidence it might be accumulating or presented with.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May by the Justice Department following the firing by Trump of FBI Director James Comey. He has since assembled a team of more than a dozen investigators, including current and former Justice Department prosecutors with experience in international bribery, organized crime and financial fraud.

That team has been working at an undisclosed location in Washington, so presenting evidence inside a federal courthouse in the city could be more convenient for the group of investigators than working out of Alexandria. Mueller also worked as a prosecutor in Washington before becoming FBI director, a job he held for 12 years.

A grand jury "increases the power of the prosecutors," said David Levine, law professor at the University of California Hastings College of Law. "Instead of asking for people to provide testimony, they can demand testimony under the penalty of perjury and under risk of contempt of court. And with respect to documents, instead of asking people for documents, they can demand documents. And so for example the tax returns, a subpoena can unlock those tax returns," he said.

News of the grand jury came as senators introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at protecting Mueller from being fired by Trump, with both parties signaling resistance to any White House effort to derail the investigation into Russian meddling in last year's election.

Trump's defense team has been looking into potential conflicts of interest among members of Mueller's team, such as past political contributions to Democrats including Hillary Clinton, and Trump has warned that any effort by Mueller to look into his finances would fall outside the scope of Mueller's appointment.

Under the regulations, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is the government official empowered to fire Mueller under limited circumstances, such as conflict of interest and dereliction of duty. Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller, has publicly said he has seen no basis for firing him.

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

1. David Levine looks at news story on phone

2. Screen showing news story about grand jury in Russia probe

3. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"What we've learned is that special counsel Mueller and the lawyers working with him are using a grand jury to further their investigation into the questions about Russian collusion and related areas such as financial transactions and other matters."

Washington, D.C. - June 21, 2017

4. AP Photo of former FBI director Robert Mueller arriving for meeting at Capitol Hill

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

5. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"It increases the power of the prosecutors. Instead of asking for people to provide testimony, they can demand testimony under the penalty of perjury and under risk of contempt of court. And with respect to documents, instead of asking people for documents, they can demand documents. And so for example the tax returns, a subpoena can unlock those tax returns."

Huntington, West Virginia - Aug. 3, 2017

6. AP Photo of President Donald Trump speaking at rally

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

7. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"If it's somebody in the United States, they are subject to subpoena. And that would include the president of the United States. Famously President Bill Clinton appeared before a grand jury. It turned out not very well for him."

Washington, D.C. - Dec. 11, 1998

8. AP Photo of President Bill Clinton walking to Rose Garden to deliver statement on impeachment

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

9. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"If I was in the White House, I would be concerned that the investigation has gone up a notch or appears to have gone up another notch. In short order probably people who are in the administration or former members of the administration or former members of the campaign will be getting subpoenas to testify and provide documents."

Washington, D.C. - June 21, 2017

10. AP Photo of former FBI director Robert Mueller arriving for meeting at Capitol Hill

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

11. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"And as the word gets around in the White House as to who is getting subpoenas and what is being asked, at least some members of the administration will obviously be getting more more nervous. This is why so many of them already have - the parlance is they've lawyered up. So many of those senior officials each have their own lawyer or series of lawyers because of their concerns of where this may lead."

Huntington, West Virginia - Aug. 3, 2017

12. AP Photo of President Donald Trump speaking at rally

Oakland, California - Aug. 3, 2017

13. SOUNDBITE (English) David Levine, law professor, University of California, Hastings College of the Law

"We're probably months and months away before we hear formally from Mr. Mueller as to whether and who might be indicted and for what."

14. David Levine looking at phone

The vice dean of Emory University School of Law, Robert Ahdieh, spoke to the Associated Press Friday on issues surrounding the naming of a special prosecutor to lead an independent federal Trump-Russia investigation.

The Justice Department this week hired former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to lead the investigation.

Ahdieh says Mueller will have "full legal authority to bring, to conduct investigations, to direct the FBI to gather information, to issue subpoenas for information, and ultimately to bring an indictment".

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed a special counsel to investigate allegations that Donald Trump's presidential campaign collaborated with Russia.

The announcement, the latest in the shock-a-day Washington saga, was made a day ahead of Rosenstein's scheduled closed-door appearance Thursday afternoon before the Senate.

Democratic senators had been prepared to press him to appoint a special prosecutor, and his decision defused their complaints, leading to praise instead.

Atlanta, Georgia - 19 May 2017

1. Robert Ahdieh, vice dean, Emory University School of Law, walking

2. Emory School of Law building entrance

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Ahdieh, Vice Dean, Emory University School of Law:

"So, the former FBI director Robert Mueller is now functioning in essence as a equivalent of a US attorney. He is an employee of the Department of Justice with full legal authority to bring, to conduct investigations, to direct the FBI to gather information, to issue subpoenas for information, and ultimately to bring an indictment. So, in that sense he functions as, in some ways, a surrogate for the Attorney General, just as a US attorney does. He has the full ambit of authority that goes with that. That extends as far as, and we think of this in some ways as the outer-bound of prosecutorial authority, to investigating the president directly, including going so far as seeking testimony from and even perhaps compelling testimony from the president."

4. Emory School of Law 100 year anniversary banner

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Ahdieh, Vice Dean, Emory University School of Law:

"So as in any criminal case, a prosecutor has to seek an indictment from a grand jury. The very famously, of course, there is the expression that, 'a good prosecutor can get an indictment against a ham sandwich.' So how much of a barrier that will present to Robert Mueller is unclear. But he is required to go through that process, and again, he has all the full powers of impaneling a grand jury, seeking indictment from a grand jury, bringing witness and testimony and other evidence before the grand jury and the like."

6. Emory School of Law signage

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Ahdieh, Vice Dean, Emory University School of Law:

"You know, there's the famous adage that it's not the crime it's the cover-up. That may have great application here in the sense that there appears to be indication that some individuals with some authority engaged in some contact that was likely at least unwise if not impermissible, if not illegal. The question is what happened after that, and to what extent does the administration now cooperate with the investigation that identifies any wrongdoing and pursues addressing that wrongdoing. The structure now having a special counsel means there is no way to avoid that. There's no dodging that, there's no rallies and political pressure, and demands from members of Congress are not going to deter Robert Mueller. He's going to pursue this where it should be pursued, and no further I suspect. But in that sense it's serious that it will be impossible for this to not reach a conclusion because of politics. And if in fact the conclusion it reaches is problematic, if there is evidence of active collusion of some sort of the Trump campaign with Russia in some fashion, that obviously will be very serious for our democracy and for our political order."

8. Ahdieh at his desk working

A person familiar with an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign says Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of the probe.

The person was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Wall Street Journal first reported the grand jury.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May following the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press has also learned that President Trump's former national security adviser is now detailing previously undisclosed paid speaking engagements, business positions and income from the presidential transition that he left off his public financial disclosure.

A person close to Michael Flynn tells the AP the filing shows Flynn entered into a consulting agreement with the British parent company of data firm Cambridge Analytica, which aided the Trump campaign.

The person says Flynn didn't perform work or accept payment under the agreement. He terminated it after Trump's election victory.

Flynn reports earning about $28,000 from the transition and more than $5,000 as a consultant to an aborted plan to build nuclear power plants across the Middle East.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

1. Donald Trump walking across the White House South Lawn, waves

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So what we're learning tonight is that special counsel Robert Mueller is using a Washington, DC-based grand jury as part of his probe into Russia's meddling in the election and any possible ties of collusion between Trump associates. And why this is important, this is kind of a procedural step really in the grand scheme of things, because he's going to use this grand jury to issue subpoenas and call witnesses as he continues his investigation."

3. Various shots of the federal courthouse where the grand jury will convene

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I would caution anybody to think this is a very substantial you know move in this investigation. This isn't a sign that indictments are imminent or that they settled on charges or that they know specifically that someone is in trouble criminally. What this is is just showing that, you know, Robert Muller is in a position now where he can take some of the evidence that he's gathered or just what he has so far to a grand jury to have subpoenas issued and to compel people to testify potentially as he furthers the investigation."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

5. FILE of Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"You can't read too much into this. I think everybody should kind of take a deep breath about it. But it is a sign that this is a serious inquiry and that Mueller has kind of gotten to that point where people are going to have to talk to him or give him some documents."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

7. FILE of Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Separately, we are reporting tonight, the AP is reporting that Michael Flynn is amending his public financial disclosure which is a form that people who come into the government have to fill out that discloses all of their finances, that discloses their debt and things like this. And the whole point of that is to head off or give the public an idea of any potential conflicts of interest that they may have when they're in their government roles. For Flynn, it's a little different because he's coming back after he's left the government and was, you know, fired, ousted, really, back in February. What he's doing, a person that we've discussed the details of this filing with is saying that they're doing this to be transparent and to make sure that the filing is accurate. Kind of going back and reporting some things that they had left off the form previously."

POOL

Washington, DC - 20 January 2016

9. Michael Flynn walking through US Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 1 February 2017

10. STILL photo of Michael Flynn standing in the briefing room of the White House

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Flynn was heavily involved in the Trump campaign and some of the things that we're learning from this new filing are that he had entered into an agreement with a data firm, or a company that's related to this data firm - Cambridge Analytica - that had done some work for the Trump campaign. And this has, on Capitol Hill, this has attracted a lot of scrutiny because part of the Russia probe is looking at the campaign's data operation and whether there was any you know, use of it in furtherance of fake news or other elements of this Russia meddling.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York, NY - 17 November 2016

12. STILL photo of Michael Flynn talking to media in Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York, NY - 3 January 2016

13. STILL photo of Michael Flynn walking into Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I should note that Flynn says you know, or what we know about this is that there wasn't any money that changed hands, it was a very preliminary agreement and that he actually terminated it pretty quickly after the election."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

A person familiar with an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign says Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of the probe.

The person was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Wall Street Journal first reported the grand jury.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May following the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press has also learned that President Trump's former national security adviser is now detailing previously undisclosed paid speaking engagements, business positions and income from the presidential transition that he left off his public financial disclosure.

A person close to Michael Flynn tells the AP the filing shows Flynn entered into a consulting agreement with the British parent company of data firm Cambridge Analytica, which aided the Trump campaign.

The person says Flynn didn't perform work or accept payment under the agreement. He terminated it after Trump's election victory.

Flynn reports earning about $28,000 from the transition and more than $5,000 as a consultant to an aborted plan to build nuclear power plants across the Middle East.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

1. Donald Trump walking across the White House South Lawn, waves

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So what we're learning tonight is that special counsel Robert Mueller is using a Washington, DC based grand jury as part of his probe into Russia's meddling in the election and any possible ties of collusion between Trump associates. And why this is important, this is kind of a procedural step really in the grand scheme of things, because he's going to use this grand jury to issue subpoenas and call witnesses as he continues his investigation."

3. Various shots of the federal courthouse where the grand jury will convene

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I would caution anybody to think this is a very substantial you know move in this investigation. This isn't a sign that indictments are imminent or that they settled on charges or that they know specifically that someone is in trouble criminally. What this is is just showing that, you know, Robert Muller is in a position now where he can take some of the evidence that he's gathered or just what he has so far to a grand jury to have subpoenas issued and to compel people to testify potentially as he furthers the investigation."

POOL

Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

5. FILE of Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"You can't read too much into this. I think everybody should kind of take a deep breath about it. But it is a sign that this is a serious inquiry and that Mueller has kind of gotten to that point where people are going to have to talk to him or give him some documents."

POOL

Washington, DC - 20 January 2016

7. Michael Flynn walking through US Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Separately, we are reporting tonight, the AP is reporting that Michael Flynn is amending his public financial disclosure which is a form that people who come into the government have to fill out that discloses all of their finances, that discloses their debt and things like this. And the whole point of that is to head off or give the public an idea of any potential conflicts of interest that they may have when they're in their government roles. For Flynn, it's a little different because he's coming back after he's left the government and was, you know, fired, ousted, really, back in February. What he's doing, a person that we've discussed the details of this filing with is saying that they're doing this to be transparent and to make sure that the filing is accurate. Kind of going back and reporting some things that they had left off the form previously."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 1 February 2017

9. STILL photo of Michael Flynn standing in the briefing room of the White House

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York, NY - 17 November 2016

10. STILL photo of Michael Flynn talking to media in Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York, NY - 3 January 2016

11. STILL photo of Michael Flynn walking into Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Flynn was heavily involved in the Trump campaign and some of the things that we're learning from this new filing are that he had entered into an agreement with a data firm, or a company that's related to this data firm - Cambridge Analytica - that had done some work for the Trump campaign. And this has, on Capitol Hill, this has attracted a lot of scrutiny because part of the Russia probe is looking at the campaign's data operation and whether there was any you know, use of it in furtherance of fake news or other elements of this Russia meddling.

++WHITE FLASH BETWEEN BITES++

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I should note that Flynn says you know, or what we know about this is that there wasn't any money that changed hands, it was a very preliminary agreement and that he actually terminated it pretty quickly after the election."

A person familiar with an investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign said on Thursday that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is using a grand jury in Washington as part of the probe.

The person was not authorised to discuss the ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the grand jury.

Mueller was appointed special counsel in May following the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Grand juries are common vehicles to subpoena witnesses and records, though they do not suggest any criminal charges are near.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press has also learned that President Trump's former national security adviser is now detailing previously undisclosed paid speaking engagements, business positions and income from the presidential transition that he left off his public financial disclosure.

A person close to Michael Flynn tells the AP the filing shows Flynn entered into a consulting agreement with the British parent company of data firm Cambridge Analytica, which aided the Trump campaign.

The person says Flynn didn't perform work or accept payment under the agreement. He terminated it after Trump's election victory.

Flynn reports earning about 28,000 US dollars from the transition and more than 5,000 dollars as a consultant to an aborted plan to build nuclear power plants across the Middle East.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

1. Donald Trump walking across the White House South Lawn, waves

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So what we're learning tonight is that special counsel Robert Mueller is using a Washington, DC-based grand jury as part of his probe into Russia's meddling in the election and any possible ties of collusion between Trump associates. And why this is important, this is kind of a procedural step really in the grand scheme of things, because he's going to use this grand jury to issue subpoenas and call witnesses as he continues his investigation."

3. Various shots of the federal courthouse where the grand jury will convene

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I would caution anybody to think this is a very substantial move in this investigation. This isn't a sign that indictments are imminent or that they settled on charges or that they know specifically that someone is in trouble criminally. What this is is just showing that, you know, Robert Mueller is in a position now where he can take some of the evidence that he's gathered or just what he has so far to a grand jury to have subpoenas issued and to compel people to testify potentially as he furthers the investigation."

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

5. Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"You can't read too much into this. I think everybody should kind of take a deep breath about it. But it is a sign that this is a serious inquiry and that Mueller has kind of gotten to that point where people are going to have to talk to him or give him some documents."

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

7. FILE of Robert Mueller testifying before Congress

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Separately, we are reporting tonight, the AP is reporting that Michael Flynn is amending his public financial disclosure which is a form that people who come into the government have to fill out that discloses all of their finances, that discloses their debt and things like this. And the whole point of that is to head off or give the public an idea of any potential conflicts of interest that they may have when they're in their government roles. For Flynn, it's a little different because he's coming back after he's left the government and was, you know, fired, ousted, really, back in February. What he's doing, a person that we've discussed the details of this filing with is saying that they're doing this to be transparent and to make sure that the filing is accurate, kind of going back and reporting some things that they had left off the form previously."

POOL

FILE: Washington, DC - 20 January 2016

9. Michael Flynn walking through US Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: Washington, DC - 1 February 2017

10. STILL photo of Michael Flynn standing in the briefing room of the White House

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Flynn was heavily involved in the Trump campaign and some of the things that we're learning from this new filing are that he had entered into an agreement with a data firm, or a company that's related to this data firm - Cambridge Analytica - that had done some work for the Trump campaign. And this has, on Capitol Hill, this has attracted a lot of scrutiny because part of the Russia probe is looking at the campaign's data operation and whether there was any you know, use of it in furtherance of fake news or other elements of this Russia meddling."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: New York - 17 November 2016

12. STILL photo of Michael Flynn talking to media in Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE: New York - 3 January 2016

13. STILL photo of Michael Flynn walking into Trump Tower

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 3 August 2017

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"I should note that Flynn says you know, or what we know about this is that there wasn't any money that changed hands, it was a very preliminary agreement and that he actually terminated it pretty quickly after the election."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

Robert Ahdieh, Emory University School of Law vice dean and K.H. Gyr professor of Private International Law, and director of the Center on Federalism and Intersystemic Governance, spoke to the Associated Press Friday on issues surrounding the naming of a special prosecutor to lead an independent federal Trump-Russia investigation.

The Justice Department this week hired former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to lead the investigation.

Ahdieh says Mueller will have 'full legal authority to bring, to conduct investigations, to direct the FBI to gather information, to issue subpoenas for information, and ultimately to bring an indictment.'

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed a special counsel to investigate allegations the Trump campaign collaborated with Russia.

The announcement, the latest in the shock-a-day Washington saga, was made a day ahead of Rosenstein's scheduled closed-door appearance Thursday afternoon before the Senate. Democratic senators had been prepared to press him to appoint a special prosecutor, and his decision defused their complaints, leading to praise instead.

Atlanta, Georgia - May 19, 2017

1. Setup shot of Robert Ahdieh, vice dean, Emory University School of Law

2. Emory School of Law building entrance

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Ahdieh, Vice Dean, Emory University School of Law:

"So, the former FBI director Robert Mueller is now functioning in essence as a equivalent of a U.S. attorney. He is an employee of the Department of Justice with full legal authority to bring, to conduct investigations, to direct the FBI to gather information, to issue subpoenas for information, and ultimately to bring an indictment. So, in that sense he functions as, in some ways, a surrogate for the attorney general, just as a U.S attorney does. He has the full ambit of authority that goes with that. That extends as far as, and we think of this in some ways as the outer-bound of prosecutorial authority, to investigating the president directly, including going so far as seeking testimony from and even perhaps compelling testimony from the president."

4. Emory School of Law 100 year anniversary banner

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Ahdieh, Vice Dean, Emory University School of Law:

"So as in any criminal case, a prosecutor has to seek an indictment from a grand jury. The very famously, of course, in the expression, 'a good prosecutor can get an indictment against a ham sandwich.' So how much of a barrier that will present to Robert Mueller is unclear. But he is required to go through that process, and again, he has all the full powers of impaneling a grand jury, seeking indictment from a grand jury, bringing witness and testimony and other evidence before the grand jury and the like."

6. Emory School of Law signage

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert Ahdieh, Vice Dean, Emory University School of Law:

"You know, there's the famous adage that it's not the crime it's the cover-up. That may have great application here in the sense that there appears to be indication that some individuals with some authority engaged in some contact that was likely at least unwise if not impermissible, if not illegal. The question is what happened after that, and to what extent does the administration now cooperate with the investigation that identifies any wrongdoing and pursues addressing that wrongdoing. The structure now having a special counsel means there is no way to avoid that. There's no dodging that, there's no rallies and political pressure, and demands from members of Congress are not going to deter Robert Mueller. He's going to pursue this where it should be pursued and no further I suspect. But in that sense it's serious that it will be impossible for this to not reach a conclusion because of politics. And if in fact the conclusion it reaches is problematic, if there is evidence of active collusion of some sort of the Trump campaign with Russia of some fashion, that obviously will be very serious for democracy and for our political order."

8. Robert Ahdieh at his desk working

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

POOL - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington, DC - 21 May 2019

+++CAMERA SWITCHED AT SOURCE+++

1. Wide of House Judiciary Committee before start of hearing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York / Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"More than a year ago, White House counsel Don McGahn sat for the first of several interviews with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Over the course of those interviews, he described how the president directed him to have the special counsel fired. He described how the president ordered him to lie about it. He described several other obstructive incidents outlined in the special counsel's report.  The president, in contrast, refused to be interviewed by the special counsel, or even to answer written questions about his attempts to obstruct the investigation."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York/ Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"In short the president took it upon himself to intimidate a witness who has a legal obligation to be here today. This conduct is not remotely acceptable."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York / Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"When this committee issues a subpoena even to a senior presidential adviser, the witness must show up. Our subpoenas are not optional. Mr. McGahn has a legal obligation to be here for this scheduled appearance. If he does not immediately correct his mistake, this committee will have no choice but to enforce the subpoena against him. Mr. McGahn did not appear today because the president prevented it. Just as the president has said that he would quote fight all subpoenas closed quote issued by Congress as part of his broader efforts to cover up his misconduct."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York / Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"But for the Department of Justice's policy of refusing to indict any sitting president, I believe the president would have been indicted and charged with these crimes. I am not alone in this belief. Over 900 former federal prosecutors from across the political spectrum whose job was to determine when the elements of a crime have been satisfied have stated, have agreed that the President committed crimes that would have been charged if he were not the sitting president."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York / Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"The president has declared out loud his intention to cover up this misconduct. He told Mr. McGahn to commit crimes in his behalf. He told Mr. McGahn to lie about it. After the report came out, the president claimed that Mr. McGahn lied to the special counsel about what happened. Then he directed Mr. McGahn not to come here today so that the public would not hear his testimony. And so that we could not question him. President Trump may think he can hide behind his lawyers as he launches a series of bases legal arguments designed to obstruct our work. He cannot think these legal arguments will prevail in court but he can think he can slow us down and run out the clock on the American people. Let me be clear, this committee will hear Mr. McGahn's testimony even if we have to go to court to secure it. We will not allow the president to prevent the American people from hearing from this witness. We will not allow the president to block congressional subpoenas, putting himself and his allies above the law. We will not allow the president to stop this investigation and nothing in these unjustified and unjustifiable legal attacks will stop us from pressing forward with our work on behalf of the American people. We will hold this president accountable one way or the other."

6. Wide of hearing

STORYLINE:

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler rebuked President Donald Trump and former White House Counsel Don McGahn for defying a subpoena for McGahn's testimony before the committee Tuesday.

President Donald Trump directed McGahn to ignore the committee's subpoena to testify. A lawyer for McGahn said he would follow the president's directive.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said the committee will vote to hold McGahn in contempt of Congress if he did not testify.

It is one of several actions against current and former members of the administration as Trump has said he will fight "all of the subpoenas."

McGahn was a key witness in the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller.

===========================================================

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RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

POOL - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington, DC - 21 May 2019

+++CAMERA SWITCHED AT SOURCE+++

1. Wide of House Judiciary Committee before start of hearing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York / Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"More than a year ago, White House counsel Don McGahn sat for the first of several interviews with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Over the course of those interviews, he described how the president directed him to have the special counsel fired. He described how the president ordered him to lie about it. He described several other obstructive incidents outlined in the special counsel's report.  The president, in contrast, refused to be interviewed by the special counsel, or even to answer written questions about his attempts to obstruct the investigation."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York/ Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"In short the president took it upon himself to intimidate a witness who has a legal obligation to be here today. This conduct is not remotely acceptable."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York / Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"When this committee issues a subpoena even to a senior presidential adviser, the witness must show up. Our subpoenas are not optional. Mr. McGahn has a legal obligation to be here for this scheduled appearance. If he does not immediately correct his mistake, this committee will have no choice but to enforce the subpoena against him. Mr. McGahn did not appear today because the president prevented it. Just as the president has said that he would quote fight all subpoenas closed quote issued by Congress as part of his broader efforts to cover up his misconduct."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York / Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"But for the Department of Justice's policy of refusing to indict any sitting president, I believe the president would have been indicted and charged with these crimes. I am not alone in this belief. Over 900 former federal prosecutors from across the political spectrum whose job was to determine when the elements of a crime have been satisfied have stated, have agreed that the President committed crimes that would have been charged if he were not the sitting president."

+++BLACK FRAMES+++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, (D) New York / Chairman, House Judiciary Committee:

"The president has declared out loud his intention to cover up this misconduct. He told Mr. McGahn to commit crimes in his behalf. He told Mr. McGahn to lie about it. After the report came out, the president claimed that Mr. McGahn lied to the special counsel about what happened. Then he directed Mr. McGahn not to come here today so that the public would not hear his testimony. And so that we could not question him. President Trump may think he can hide behind his lawyers as he launches a series of bases legal arguments designed to obstruct our work. He cannot think these legal arguments will prevail in court but he can think he can slow us down and run out the clock on the American people. Let me be clear, this committee will hear Mr. McGahn's testimony even if we have to go to court to secure it. We will not allow the president to prevent the American people from hearing from this witness. We will not allow the president to block congressional subpoenas, putting himself and his allies above the law. We will not allow the president to stop this investigation and nothing in these unjustified and unjustifiable legal attacks will stop us from pressing forward with our work on behalf of the American people. We will hold this president accountable one way or the other."

6. Wide of hearing

STORYLINE:

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler rebuked President Donald Trump and former White House Counsel Don McGahn for defying a subpoena for McGahn's testimony before the committee Tuesday.

President Donald Trump directed McGahn to ignore the committee's subpoena to testify. A lawyer for McGahn said he would follow the president's directive.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said the committee will vote to hold McGahn in contempt of Congress if he did not testify.

It is one of several actions against current and former members of the administration as Trump has said he will fight "all of the subpoenas."

McGahn was a key witness in the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller.

===========================================================

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The House committee investigating the Capitol insurrection issued subpoenas Tuesday to Rudy Giuliani and other members of Donald Trump’s post-election legal team who filed multiple lawsuits claiming election fraud that were roundly rejected by the courts but gave rise to the lie that Trump did not really lose the 2020 presidential contest.

The committee is continuing to widen its scope into Trump’s orbit, this time demanding information and testimony from Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell and Boris Epshteyn. All four publicly defended the president and his baseless voter fraud claims in the months after the election.

“The four individuals we’ve subpoenaed today advanced unsupported theories about election fraud, pushed efforts to overturn the election results, or were in direct contact with the former President about attempts to stop the counting of electoral votes,” Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, Democratic chairman of the panel, said in a statement.

The committee said it is seeking records and deposition testimony from Giuliani, the 76-year-old former New York City mayor once celebrated for his leadership after 9/11, in connection to his promotion of election fraud claims on behalf of Trump. The panel is also seeking information about Giuliani’s reported efforts to persuade state legislators to take steps to overturn the election results.

A lawyer for Giuliani did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

Giuliani took on a leading role in disputing the election results on Trump’s behalf after the 2020 presidential election, even visiting states like Michigan and Pennsylvania, where he claimed ballots “looked suspicious” and Biden’s electoral win was a fraud.

To this day, not a single court has found merit in the core legal claims made by Trump, Giuliani and the other three subpoenaed Tuesday.

The nine-member panel is also demanding information from Trump legal adviser Ellis, who the lawmakers say reportedly prepared and circulated two memos that analyzed the constitutional authority for then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject or delay counting the electoral votes from states that had submitted alternate slates of electors.

Besides Giuliani, Sidney Powell was the most public face of Trump’s attempts to contest the election, routinely making appearances on behalf of the president.

In numerous interviews and appearances post-election, Powell continued to make misleading statements about the voting process, unfurled unsupported and complex conspiracy theories involving communist regimes and vowed to “blow up” Georgia with a “biblical” court filing.

Ellis and Powell appeared with Giuliani at press conferences, pushing false claims of election fraud. Powell was eventually removed from the team after she said in an interview she was going to release “the kraken” of lawsuits that would prove the election had been stolen.

Powell did not immediately return an email seeking comment.

The last person subpoenaed Tuesday by the committee is Boris Epshteyn, a former Trump campaign strategic adviser, who reportedly attended meetings at the Willard Hotel in the days leading up to the insurrection. The committee said Epshteyn had a call with Trump on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, to discuss options to delay the certification of election results in the event of Pence’s unwillingness to deny or delay the process.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE: Washington, DC - 19 November 2020

1. Wide of Donald Trump's legal team walking up to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, Trump Attorney:

"This is not a single voter fraud in one state. This pattern repeats itself in a number of states, almost exactly the same pattern, which to any experienced investigator, prosecutor would suggest that there was a plan from a centralized place to execute these various acts of voter fraud, specifically focused on big cities."

3. Wide of Sidney Powell, a member of Trump's legal team, at podium

4. Powell speaking at news conference

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE: New York - 21 June 2021

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, former attorney for Donald Trump:

(Reporter: "Can we get a comment about the investigation?")

Giuliani: "Of who?"

(Reporter: "Of you.")

Giuliani: "Can I say bull on the? It's a bunch of garbage. A bunch of garbage."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE: Holmesburg, Pennsylvania - 7 November 2020

6. Rudy Giuliani walks to podium

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, attorney for US President Donald Trump:

"As you know from the very beginning, the mail-in ballots were a source of some degree of skepticism, if not a lot of skepticism, as being innately prone to fraud."

POOL

ARCHIVE: Washington - 31 May 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, attorney for US President Donald Trump:

"The public should have an explanation of what (Special Counsel Robert) Mueller has. I really want that because I don't think he has much."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE: Holmesburg, Pennsylvania - 7 November 2020

9. Rudy Giuliani leaves podium

The head of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Maxine Waters, says Congressional Democrats are prepared to fight President Donald Trump "tooth and nail" to gain access to information her and other House committees have requested.

Trump, his family and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to block congressional subpoenas seeking their banking and financial records.

The lawsuit by Trump, sons Donald Jr. and Eric and daughter Ivanka was filed Monday in federal court in New York. The Trump Organization and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust are among the other plaintiffs.

Two House committees subpoenaed Deutsche Bank and several other financial institutions earlier this month as part of investigations into the Republican president's finances.

The lawsuit comes as Trump is engaged in a struggle with House Democrats as they seek to investigate him and his administration on multiple fronts.

In many ways, House Democrats are trying to have it both ways - pursuing the investigations that could serve as a prelude to impeachment proceedings without taking the politically fraught step of calling it impeachment.

On Tuesday, some Democrats stopped short of calling for impeachment.

"I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

"I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

Washington - 30 April 2019

++EDIT STARTS AND ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The president of the United States continues in his resistance to any and all investigations. Yes, he's filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One and trying to prevent them from cooperating with us and giving us the documents that we have requested. You know whether it is refusing to sit down in an interview with Mueller or whether it is, you know, constantly obstructing justice by trying to stop testimonies and stop people from cooperating or whether it's filing a lawsuit, he obviously has something to hide. He is obviously afraid that we are going to learn more about his relationships with Deutsche Bank, more about his bankruptcies, perhaps, more about whether or not there is money laundering that's been involved in some ways. We have enough information. And we have enough to help us to guide us to moving forward with these subpoenas. ... We are prepared to fight tooth and nail. The president has cast a gauntlet. He's prepared to fight us tooth and nail. And we're prepared to fight him back."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

" I think that all of the information that we were able to unveil about the president will help Americans to come to a decision about whether or not you should be impeached."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The relationship with Deutsche Bank is unusual. Why would they lend him billions of dollars? He filed a lawsuit against them. No other bank would lend him money but they have done so. And why? Why is this happening? I think we need to find out."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D) Maryland:

"The president has escalated the conflict with Congress. The obstructionism that we read about in the Mueller report has come galloping off the pages and right on to our front door step. The president's refusing to cooperate with the Ways and Means Committee, with the Judiciary Committee, with Oversight Committee, with the Finance Committee and members are unhappy."

5. Raskin walks away

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D) Illinois: (responding to reporter question on whether Democrats are closer to deciding to move forward on impeachment)

"I don't think so. I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas? I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld the Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

The head of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Maxine Waters, says Congressional Democrats are prepared to fight President Donald Trump "tooth and nail" to gain access to information her and other House committees have requested.

Trump, his family and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to block congressional subpoenas seeking their banking and financial records.

The lawsuit by Trump, sons Donald Jr. and Eric and daughter Ivanka was filed Monday in federal court in New York. The Trump Organization and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust are among the other plaintiffs.

Two House committees subpoenaed Deutsche Bank and several other financial institutions earlier this month as part of investigations into the Republican president's finances.

The lawsuit comes as Trump is engaged in a struggle with House Democrats as they seek to investigate him and his adminstration on multiple fronts.

In many ways, House Democrats are trying to have it both ways - pursuing the investigations that could serve as a prelude to impeachment proceedings without taking the politically fraught step of calling it impeachment.

On Tuesday, some Democrats stopped short of calling for impeachment.

"I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi. "I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

Washington - 30 April 2019

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The president of the United States continues in his resistance to any and all investigations. Yes, he's filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One and trying to prevent them from cooperating with us and giving us the documents that we have requested. You know whether it is refusing to sit down in an interview with Mueller or whether it is, you know, constantly obstructing justice by trying to stop testimonies and stop people from cooperating or whether it's filing a lawsuit, he obviously has something to hide. He is obviously afraid that we are going to learn more about his relationships with Deutsche Bank, more about his bankruptcies, perhaps, more about whether or not there is money laundering that's been involved in some ways. We have enough information. And we have enough to help us to guide us to moving forward with these subpoenas. ... We are prepared to fight tooth and nail. The president has cast the gauntlet. He's prepared to fight us tooth and nail. And we're prepared to fight him back."

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D) Maryland:

"I think the president has escalated the conflict with Congress. The obstructionism that we read about in the Mueller report has come galloping off the pages and right on to our front door step. The president's refusing to cooperate with the Ways and Means Committee, with the Judiciary Committee, with Oversight Committee, with the Finance Committee and members are unhappy."

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D) Illinois: (responding to reporter question on whether Democrats are closer to deciding to move forward on impeachment)

"I don't think so. I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas. I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

The head of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Maxine Waters, says Congressional Democrats are prepared to fight President Donald Trump "tooth and nail" to gain access to information her and other House committees have requested.

Trump, his family and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One in an attempt to block congressional subpoenas seeking their banking and financial records.

The lawsuit by Trump, sons Donald Jr. and Eric and daughter Ivanka was filed Monday in federal court in New York. The Trump Organization and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust are among the other plaintiffs.

Two House committees subpoenaed Deutsche Bank and several other financial institutions earlier this month as part of investigations into the Republican president's finances.

The lawsuit comes as Trump is engaged in a struggle with House Democrats as they seek to investigate him and his administration on multiple fronts.

In many ways, House Democrats are trying to have it both ways - pursuing the investigations that could serve as a prelude to impeachment proceedings without taking the politically fraught step of calling it impeachment.

On Tuesday, some Democrats stopped short of calling for impeachment.

"I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.

"I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

Washington - 30 April 2019

++EDIT STARTS AND ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++

1. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The president of the United States continues in his resistance to any and all investigations. Yes, he's filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One and trying to prevent them from cooperating with us and giving us the documents that we have requested. You know whether it is refusing to sit down in an interview with Mueller or whether it is, you know, constantly obstructing justice by trying to stop testimonies and stop people from cooperating or whether it's filing a lawsuit, he obviously has something to hide. He is obviously afraid that we are going to learn more about his relationships with Deutsche Bank, more about his bankruptcies, perhaps, more about whether or not there is money laundering that's been involved in some ways. We have enough information. And we have enough to help us to guide us to moving forward with these subpoenas. ... We are prepared to fight tooth and nail. The president has cast a gauntlet. He's prepared to fight us tooth and nail. And we're prepared to fight him back."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

" I think that all of the information that we were able to unveil about the president will help Americans to come to a decision about whether or not you should be impeached."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Maxine Waters, (D) California:  

"The relationship with Deutsche Bank is unusual. Why would they lend him billions of dollars? He filed a lawsuit against them. No other bank would lend him money but they have done so. And why? Why is this happening? I think we need to find out."

++SOTS SEPARATED BY BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Jamie Raskin, (D) Maryland:

"The president has escalated the conflict with Congress. The obstructionism that we read about in the Mueller report has come galloping off the pages and right on to our front door step. The president's refusing to cooperate with the Ways and Means Committee, with the Judiciary Committee, with Oversight Committee, with the Finance Committee and members are unhappy."

5. Raskin walks away

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, (D) Illinois: (responding to reporter question on whether Democrats are closer to deciding to move forward on impeachment)

"I don't think so. I think that right now we're just staring at the challenge in front of our face, which is how do we enforce the subpoenas? I think the courts, including the Supreme Court, have upheld the Congress' right to investigate, issue subpoenas and hold people in contempt so if they want to litigate, we'll see them in court."

A former Trump campaign aide appeared for hours before a federal grand jury Friday, after he defiantly insisted in a series of news interviews just days earlier that he intended to defy a subpoena in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Sam Nunberg spent more than six hours inside the federal courthouse in Washington. He declined to speak with journalists on the way in or out of the building, and it was not immediately clear what testimony he offered to the grand jury or what documents he provided.

His appearance marked a turnabout from extraordinary public statements on Monday when Nunberg, in multiple interviews, balked at complying with a subpoena that sought his appearance before the grand jury as well as correspondence with multiple other campaign officials. In doing so, he became the first witness in the Mueller probe to openly threaten to defy a subpoena.

Washington - 9 March 2018

1. Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg leaving court where he testified in the Mueller probe

A former Trump campaign aide appeared for hours before a federal grand jury Friday, after he defiantly insisted in a series of news interviews just days earlier that he intended to defy a subpoena in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Sam Nunberg spent more than six hours inside the federal courthouse in Washington. He declined to speak with journalists on the way in or out of the building, and it was not immediately clear what testimony he offered to the grand jury or what documents he provided.

His appearance marked a turnabout from extraordinary public statements on Monday when Nunberg, in multiple interviews, balked at complying with a subpoena that sought his appearance before the grand jury as well as correspondence with multiple other campaign officials. In doing so, he became the first witness in the Mueller probe to openly threaten to defy a subpoena.

Washington - 9 March 2018

1. Former Trump aide Sam Nunberg leaving court where he testified in the Mueller probe