Thirteen Russians and three Russian entities were charged Friday with an elaborate plot to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, federal prosecutors announced Friday.

The indictment, brought by the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, alleges that Russians used bogus social media postings and advertisements fraudulently purchased in the name of Americans to sway political opinion during the race between Republican Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent.

The charges are the most direct allegation to date of illegal Russian meddling in the election.

The goal, the indictment says, was to "sow discord in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 presidential election."

Charges include conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The charges arise from Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the election and whether there was improper coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

Before Friday, four people, including Trump's former national security adviser and former campaign chairman, had been charged in Mueller's investigation.

The White House had no immediate response to the indictment.

Washington DC - 16 February 2018

1. Wide, Rosenstein walking into news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General:

"A grand jury in the District of Columbia today returned an indictment presented by the special counsel's office. The indictment charges 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies for committing federal crimes while seeking to interfere in the United States political system including the 2016 presidential election. The defendants allegedly conducted what they called information warfare against the United States with the stated goal of spreading distrust toward the candidates and the political system in general. According to the allegations in the indictment 12 of the individual defendants worked at various times for a company called Internet Research Agency LLC, a Russian company based in St. Petersburg. The other individual defendant Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin funded the conspiracy through companies known as Concord Management and Consulting LLC, Concord catering and many affiliates and subsidiaries.

3. Cutaway reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General:

"Two of the defendants allegedly traveled to the United States in 2014 to collect intelligence for their American influence operations. In order to hide the Russian origins of their activities, the defendants allegedly purchased space on computer servers located here in the United States in order to set up a virtual private network. The defendants allegedly use that infrastructure to establish hundreds of accounts on social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, making it appear that those accounts were controlled by persons located in the United States."

5. Wide, Rosenstein speaking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General:

"The indictment includes eight criminal counts. Count one alleges a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States by all of the defendants. The defendants allegedly conspired to defraud America by impairing the lawful functions of the Federal Election Commission, the United States Department of Justice and the Department of State. Those organizations of the U.S. government are responsible for administering federal requirements for disclosure of foreign involvement in certain domestic activities. Count two charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud by Internet Research Agency and two of the individual defendants. Counts three through eight charge aggravated identity theft by Internet Research Agency and four individuals. Now there is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity. There is no allegation in the indictment that the charge conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election. I want to caution you that everyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. At trial prosecutors must introduce credible evidence that is sufficient to prove each defendant guilty beyond any reasonable doubt to a unanimous jury. Special Counsel's investigation is ongoing. There will be no comments from the special counsel at this time. "

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General

"This indictment serves as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the Internet. The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed. The Department of Justice will continue to work cooperatively with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies and with the Congress to defend our nation against similar current and future efforts."

9. Mid, Rosenstein walking out

Thirteen Russians and three Russian entities were charged Friday with an elaborate plot to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, federal prosecutors announced Friday.

The indictment, brought by the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, alleges that Russians used bogus social media postings and advertisements fraudulently purchased in the name of Americans to sway political opinion during the race between Republican Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent.

The charges are the most direct allegation to date of illegal Russian meddling in the election.

The goal, the indictment says, was to "sow discord in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 presidential election."

Charges include conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The charges arise from Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the election and whether there was improper coordination between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.

Before Friday, four people, including Trump's former national security adviser and former campaign chairman, had been charged in Mueller's investigation.

The White House had no immediate response to the indictment.

Washington - 16 February 2018

1. Wide, Rosenstein walking into news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General:

"A grand jury in the District of Columbia today returned an indictment presented by the special counsel's office. The indictment charges 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies for committing federal crimes while seeking to interfere in the United States political system including the 2016 presidential election. The defendants allegedly conducted what they called information warfare against the United States with the stated goal of spreading distrust toward the candidates and the political system in general. According to the allegations in the indictment 12 of the individual defendants worked at various times for a company called Internet Research Agency LLC, a Russian company based in St. Petersburg. The other individual defendant Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin funded the conspiracy through companies known as Concord Management and Consulting LLC, Concord catering and many affiliates and subsidiaries.

3. Cutaway reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General:

"Two of the defendants allegedly traveled to the United States in 2014 to collect intelligence for their American influence operations. In order to hide the Russian origins of their activities, the defendants allegedly purchased space on computer servers located here in the United States in order to set up a virtual private network. The defendants allegedly use that infrastructure to establish hundreds of accounts on social media networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, making it appear that those accounts were controlled by persons located in the United States."

5. Wide, Rosenstein speaking

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General:

"The indictment includes eight criminal counts. Count one alleges a criminal conspiracy to defraud the United States by all of the defendants. The defendants allegedly conspired to defraud America by impairing the lawful functions of the Federal Election Commission, the United States Department of Justice and the Department of State. Those organizations of the U.S. government are responsible for administering federal requirements for disclosure of foreign involvement in certain domestic activities. Count two charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud by Internet Research Agency and two of the individual defendants. Counts three through eight charge aggravated identity theft by Internet Research Agency and four individuals. Now there is no allegation in this indictment that any American was a knowing participant in this illegal activity. There is no allegation in the indictment that the charge conduct altered the outcome of the 2016 election. I want to caution you that everyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. At trial prosecutors must introduce credible evidence that is sufficient to prove each defendant guilty beyond any reasonable doubt to a unanimous jury. Special Counsel's investigation is ongoing. There will be no comments from the special counsel at this time. "

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rod Rosenstein, Deputy Attorney General

"This indictment serves as a reminder that people are not always who they appear to be on the Internet. The indictment alleges that the Russian conspirators want to promote discord in the United States and undermine public confidence in democracy. We must not allow them to succeed. The Department of Justice will continue to work cooperatively with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies and with the Congress to defend our nation against similar current and future efforts."

9. Mid, Rosenstein walking out

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 chairman of the House Judiciary Committee suggested on Wednesday that former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker may have had conversations with President Donald Trump about Michael Cohen's legal troubles, saying that Whitaker "did not deny" the conversations during a private meeting on Capitol Hill.

Representative Jerrold Nadler did not get into the specifics of what Whitaker said when he met with Nadler and the top Republican on the panel, Georgia Representative Doug Collins.

Collins said he heard Whitaker's comments differently and maintained that Whitaker said he "had not talked with the president about Mr. Cohen at all." Two Republican staff members in the room backed up Collins' version. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential meeting.

There was no transcript taken at the meeting, according to the Republican aides, so it wasn't clear exactly what Whitaker said, and it may never be clear.

But the dispute could have high stakes, as Democrats have voiced concerns that Whitaker was a Trump loyalist whose appointment, they suspect, was aimed at suppressing investigations of the Republican president.

Whitaker returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after Democrats said they wanted him to clarify his open testimony before the Judiciary panel in February.

One thing that Nadler said he had questions about was whether Trump had "lashed out" at Whitaker after Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and lying to Congress.

News reports said Trump did lash out at Whitaker, but Whitaker said in the hearing that he did not.

In a letter to Whitaker asking for him to return and clarify his comments, Nadler said that the committee "has identified several individuals with direct knowledge of the phone calls you denied receiving" from the White House.

After Wednesday's meeting, Nadler said that "unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss the Michael Cohen case".

Nadler also said after the meeting that Whitaker was "directly involved" in conversations about whether to fire "one or more" US attorneys - he did not say which ones - and that he was "involved in conversations" about the Southern District of New York's case against Cohen and whether it might have gone too far. Nadler did not give details on those conversations.

Collins said that Whitaker suggested the conversations about district attorneys were normal personnel issues, and to characterize those comments otherwise were "an overreach and a stretch." Collins added that Whitaker said he hadn't had any conversations with officials in the Southern District of New York.

According to the Republican aides, Whitaker said that those conversations were among other Justice Department staff and that Whitaker said he thought some of the claims in the campaign finance case were "specious" from a legal standpoint.

At the February hearing, which was held while Whitaker was still acting attorney general, Democrats confronted him on his past criticism of special counsel Robert Mueller's work and his refusal to recuse himself from overseeing it, attacked him over his prior business dealings, and challenged his credentials as the country's chief law enforcement officer.

Nadler said after the public testimony that his answers were "unsatisfactory, incomplete or contradicted by other evidence."

In the letter sent to the Justice Department, Nadler said Whitaker didn't offer clear responses about his communications with the White House and was inconsistent about what questions he refused to answer.

Whitaker left the Justice Department after Attorney General William Barr was confirmed on 14 February.

Washington, DC - 13 March 2019

1. Former acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker walking down hall, gives reporters thumbs up, walks away

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

"We were concerned about some of the Attorney General, former Attorney General Whittaker's testimony at the hearing, and I think there were three main takeaways, that we take away, from today. One, unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president (Donald Trump) called him to discuss Michael Cohen (Trump's former personal lawyer), the Michael Cohen case and personnel decisions in the southern district. Two, while he was acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was directly involved in conversations about whether to fire one or more US attorneys. And three, while he was attorney general, acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was involved in conversations about the scope of the Southern District of New York US Attorney Berman's recusal, and whether the southern district went too far in pursuing the campaign finance case in which the president was listed as individual number one. Those are the three takeaways from today."

(Reporter: "What do you mean, he did not deny the president's involvement?"

Nadler: "Just what I said, he did not deny it, unlike in the hearing."

(Reporter: "So that means that he had conversations with the president about Michael Cohen?")

Nadler: "He would not say no."

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Representative Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee (Asked about charges against Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort filed by New York state prosecutors):

"Mr. Manafort cannot be pardoned by the president if he is convicted of crimes against  the state of New York. What that means is, he lied to investigators so whether this means he'll stop doing that, I don't know."

++BLACK FRAMES++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Representative Jerrold Nadler, (D) Chairman, House Judiciary Committee (Asked if President Trump would pardon Manafort):

"Well I would certainly hope the president would not pardon people because they don't testify truthfully. The president has made very clear that if someone cooperates with law enforcement he's a rat, and if he doesn't, he's a stand-up guy. That's the position of a mobster, not a President of the United States."

++BLACK FRAMES++

5. Nadler leaving

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus113691

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee suggested on Wednesday that former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker may have had conversations with President Donald Trump about Michael Cohen's legal troubles, saying that Whitaker "did not deny" the conversations during a private meeting on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., did not get into the specifics of what Whitaker said when he met with Nadler and the top Republican on the panel, Georgia Rep. Doug Collins. Collins said he heard Whitaker's comments differently and maintained that Whitaker said he "had not talked with the president about Mr. Cohen at all." Two Republican staff members in the room backed up Collins' version. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential meeting.

There was no transcript taken at the meeting, according to the Republican aides, so it wasn't clear exactly what Whitaker said, and it may never be clear. But the dispute could have high stakes, as Democrats have voiced concerns that Whitaker was a Trump loyalist whose appointment, they suspect, was aimed at suppressing investigations of the Republican president.

Whitaker returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after Democrats said they wanted him to clarify his open testimony before the Judiciary panel in February. One thing that Nadler said he had questions about was whether Trump had "lashed out" at Whitaker after Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and lying to Congress.

News reports said Trump did lash out at Whitaker, but Whitaker said in the hearing that he did not. In a letter to Whitaker asking for him to return and clarify his comments, Nadler said that the committee "has identified several individuals with direct knowledge of the phone calls you denied receiving" from the White House.

After Wednesday's meeting, Nadler said that "unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss the Michael Cohen case."

Nadler also said after the meeting that Whitaker was "directly involved" in conversations about whether to fire "one or more" U.S. attorneys - he did not say which ones - and that he was "involved in conversations" about the Southern District of New York's case against Cohen and whether it might have gone too far. Nadler did not give details on those conversations.

Collins said that Whitaker suggested the conversations about district attorneys were normal personnel issues, and to characterize those comments otherwise were "an overreach and a stretch." Collins added that Whitaker said he hadn't had any conversations with officials in the Southern District of New York.

According to the Republican aides, Whitaker said that those conversations were among other Justice Department staff and that Whitaker said he thought some of the claims in the campaign finance case were "specious" from a legal standpoint.

At the February hearing, which was held while Whitaker was still acting attorney general, Democrats confronted him on his past criticism of special counsel Robert Mueller's work and his refusal to recuse himself from overseeing it, attacked him over his prior business dealings and challenged his credentials as the country's chief law enforcement officer.

Nadler said after the public testimony that his answers were "unsatisfactory, incomplete or contradicted by other evidence." In the letter sent to the Justice Department, Nadler said Whitaker didn't offer clear responses about his communications with the White House and was inconsistent about what questions he refused to answer.

Whitaker left the Justice Department after Attorney General William Barr was confirmed Feb. 14.

Washington, DC. - 13 March 2019

1. Former acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker walks down hall, gives reporters thumbs up

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

"We were concerned about some of the Attorney General, former Attorney General Whittaker's testimony at the hearing, and I think there were three main takeaways from today. One, unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss Michael Cohen, the Michael Cohen case. And personnel decisions in the southern district. Two, while he was acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was directly involved in conversations about whether to fire one or more U.S. attorneys. Three, while he was attorney general, acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was involved in conversations about the scope of the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Berman's recusal. And. Whether the southern district went too far in pursuing the campaign finance case in which the president was listed as individual number one. Those are the three takeaways from our, from today."

(Reporter: "What do you mean, did not deny the President's involvement? Cannot deny the President's involvement?")

Nadler: "Just what I said, he did not deny it, unlike in the hearing."

(Reporter: "So that means he had conversations with the president about Cohen?")

Nadler: "He would not say no."

++BLACK FRAMES BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

(Asked about charges against Paul Manafort filed by New York state prosecutors)

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

"Mr. Manafort cannot be pardoned by the president if he is convicted of crimes against  the state of New York. What that means is, he lied to investigators so whether this means he'll stop doing that, I don't know."

++BLACK FRAMES BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

(Asked if President Trump would pardon Paul Manafort)

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

"Well I would certainly hope the president would not pardon people because they don't testify truthfully. The president has made very clear that if someone cooperates with law enforcement he's a rat, and if he doesn't, he's a stand-up guy. That's the position of a mobster, not a President of the United States."

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee suggested on Wednesday that former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker may have had conversations with President Donald Trump about Michael Cohen's legal troubles, saying that Whitaker "did not deny" the conversations during a private meeting on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., did not get into the specifics of what Whitaker said when he met with Nadler and the top Republican on the panel, Georgia Rep. Doug Collins. Collins said he heard Whitaker's comments differently and maintained that Whitaker said he "had not talked with the president about Mr. Cohen at all." Two Republican staff members in the room backed up Collins' version. The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential meeting.

There was no transcript taken at the meeting, according to the Republican aides, so it wasn't clear exactly what Whitaker said, and it may never be clear. But the dispute could have high stakes, as Democrats have voiced concerns that Whitaker was a Trump loyalist whose appointment, they suspect, was aimed at suppressing investigations of the Republican president.

Whitaker returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after Democrats said they wanted him to clarify his open testimony before the Judiciary panel in February. One thing that Nadler said he had questions about was whether Trump had "lashed out" at Whitaker after Cohen, Trump's former personal lawyer, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and lying to Congress.

News reports said Trump did lash out at Whitaker, but Whitaker said in the hearing that he did not. In a letter to Whitaker asking for him to return and clarify his comments, Nadler said that the committee "has identified several individuals with direct knowledge of the phone calls you denied receiving" from the White House.

After Wednesday's meeting, Nadler said that "unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss the Michael Cohen case."

Nadler also said after the meeting that Whitaker was "directly involved" in conversations about whether to fire "one or more" U.S. attorneys - he did not say which ones - and that he was "involved in conversations" about the Southern District of New York's case against Cohen and whether it might have gone too far. Nadler did not give details on those conversations.

Collins said that Whitaker suggested the conversations about district attorneys were normal personnel issues, and to characterize those comments otherwise were "an overreach and a stretch." Collins added that Whitaker said he hadn't had any conversations with officials in the Southern District of New York.

According to the Republican aides, Whitaker said that those conversations were among other Justice Department staff and that Whitaker said he thought some of the claims in the campaign finance case were "specious" from a legal standpoint.

At the February hearing, which was held while Whitaker was still acting attorney general, Democrats confronted him on his past criticism of special counsel Robert Mueller's work and his refusal to recuse himself from overseeing it, attacked him over his prior business dealings and challenged his credentials as the country's chief law enforcement officer.

Nadler said after the public testimony that his answers were "unsatisfactory, incomplete or contradicted by other evidence." In the letter sent to the Justice Department, Nadler said Whitaker didn't offer clear responses about his communications with the White House and was inconsistent about what questions he refused to answer.

Whitaker left the Justice Department after Attorney General William Barr was confirmed Feb. 14.

Washington, DC. - 13 March 2019

1. Former acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker walks down hall, gives reporters thumbs up

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

"We were concerned about some of the Attorney General, former Attorney General Whittaker's testimony at the hearing, and I think there were three main takeaways from today. One, unlike in the hearing room, Mr. Whitaker did not deny that the president called him to discuss Michael Cohen, the Michael Cohen case. And personnel decisions in the southern district. Two, while he was acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was directly involved in conversations about whether to fire one or more U.S. attorneys. Three, while he was attorney general, acting attorney general, Mr. Whitaker was involved in conversations about the scope of the Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Berman's recusal. And. Whether the southern district went too far in pursuing the campaign finance case in which the president was listed as individual number one. Those are the three takeaways from our, from today."

(Reporter: "What do you mean, did not deny the President's involvement? Cannot deny the President's involvement?")

Nadler: "Just what I said, he did not deny it, unlike in the hearing."

(Reporter: "So that means he had conversations with the president about Cohen?")

Nadler: "He would not say no."

++BLACK FRAMES BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

(Asked about charges against Paul Manafort filed by New York state prosecutors)

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

"Mr. Manafort cannot be pardoned by the president if he is convicted of crimes against  the state of New York. What that means is, he lied to investigators so whether this means he'll stop doing that, I don't know."

++BLACK FRAMES BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

(Asked if President Trump would pardon Paul Manafort)

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

"Well I would certainly hope the president would not pardon people because they don't testify truthfully. The president has made very clear that if someone cooperates with law enforcement he's a rat, and if he doesn't, he's a stand-up guy. That's the position of a mobster, not a President of the United States."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One, of course, was Trump himself.

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

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

But Wood pressed on.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New York – 16 April 2018

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++EDIT ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

The sentencing hearing for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is underway at a Washington, DC federal courthouse.

This is Manafort's second sentencing hearing in as many weeks, with a judge expected to tack on additional prison time beyond the roughly four-year punishment he has already received.

Manafort, 69, faces up to 10 additional years in prison Wednesday in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

A judge in Virginia last week sentenced Manafort to 47 months in prison, far below sentencing guidelines that allowed for more than two decades in prison, prompting national debate about disparities in how rich and poor defendants are treated by the criminal justice system.

As U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in Washington decides whether the sentences should run consecutively or at the same time, she is likely to take into account allegations by prosecutors that Manafort tampered with witnesses after he was charged and that he lied to investigators even after he pleaded guilty and pledged to cooperate.

Washington, DC - 13 March 2019

1. Attorney for Paul Manafort, Kevin Downing, walks toward and into courthouse for sentencing

2. Thomas Zehnle, another of Manafort's defense attorneys, walks into courthouse

3. Pan over to exterior of courthouse

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn has arrived at the federal courthouse in Washington ahead of his sentencing hearing.

Flynn is to be sentenced at 11 a.m. on Tuesday for lying to the FBI about contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

He'll be the first White House official punished in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller's office are not seeking any prison time for Flynn, citing extensive cooperation that has included 19 meetings with investigators.

The sentencing decision will be up to U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan.

Washington - 18 December 2018

1. Michael Flynn walks through crowd and into courthouse

2. Protesters outside courthouse

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn has arrived at the federal courthouse in Washington ahead of his sentencing hearing.

Flynn is to be sentenced at 11 a.m. on Tuesday for lying to the FBI about contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

He'll be the first White House official punished in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller's office are not seeking any prison time for Flynn, citing extensive cooperation that has included 19 meetings with investigators.

The sentencing decision will be up to U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan.

Washington - 18 December 2018

1. Michael Flynn walks through crowd and into courthouse

2. Protesters outside courthouse

Former national security adviser Michael Flynn has arrived at the federal courthouse in Washington ahead of his sentencing hearing.

Flynn is to be sentenced at 11 a.m. on Tuesday for lying to the FBI about contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States.

He'll be the first White House official punished in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.

Prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller's office are not seeking any prison time for Flynn, citing extensive cooperation that has included 19 meetings with investigators.

The sentencing decision will be up to U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan.

Washington - 18 December 2018

1. Michael Flynn walks through crowd and into courthouse

2. Protesters outside courthouse

A Dutch attorney who lied to federal agents investigating former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days in prison in the first punishment handed down in special counsel's Russia investigation. He was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.

Alex van der Zwaan's sentence could set a guidepost for what other defendants charged with lying in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation may receive when their cases are resolved. Among them are a former White House national security adviser and a Trump campaign foreign policy aide.

Van der Zwaan had faced zero to six months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, and his attorneys had pushed for him to pay a fine and leave the country. But U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, citing the need to deter others from lying in an investigation of international importance, said incarceration was necessary.

The criminal case against van der Zwaan is not directly related to Russian election interference, the main focus of Mueller's probe. But it has revealed new details about the government's case against Manafort as well as previously undisclosed connections between senior Trump campaign aides, including Rick Gates, and Russia. The allegations have also opened a window into the intersecting universes of international law, foreign consulting work and politics.

AP reporter Chad Day explains that this case "this is actually a very small part of the investigation," but that in some ways it "operates as kind of a guidepost" going forward.

Van der Zwaan admitted in February to lying to federal agents about his contacts with Gates and a person prosecutors have since revealed has been assessed to have ties to Russian intelligence. Though prosecutors did not take a position on whether he should be locked up, they stressed that he had lied "repeatedly" to investigators.

Van der Zwaan's attorneys argued that he had suffered enough already, saying his life had already been destroyed by his "terrible decision" to lie to federal authorities.

The attorneys also pushed Jackson to allow van der Zwaan to return to London as soon as possible where he lives with his wife, who is pregnant with their first child.

Washington DC - 3 April 2018

1. Alex van der Zwaan getting out of SUV and walking into court, while man with sign yells at him to lock him up

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Alexander Van der Swaan, a 33 year old Dutch attorney was sentenced to 30 days in prison by a federal judge here. This is the first prison time or sentence that's been handed down in the special counsel's Russia probe or the investigation into Russian election interference and whether or not there was any possible collusion with Trump associates."

3. Van de Zwaan being checked by security ++MUTE++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"It was unclear coming into this hearing whether he would actually go to prison for any kind of significant amount of time. During the hearing, the Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that she had considered imposing a fine, but didn't think that that would be enough to be able to deter other people, to send the right message about that they can't lie to the FBI or lie to the special counsel's office. So in this case, you know he had pushed for a fine and she did impose a twenty thousand dollar fine, but she also said you're going to need to serve 30 days in prison."

5. STILL photo of van der Zwaan walking into court

6 . SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Right, so you know this is kind of the first case that we've seen come to this point ,the sentencing phase and there are a number of other defendants who have pleaded to similar charges which is lying to the FBI making false statements. And so this kind of operates as kind of a guidepost that what we can expect, kind of going forward."

Washington DC - 8 March 2018

7. Pan of Paul Manafort walking

Washington DC - 3 April 2018

8 . SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Right, so he's now you know, he has a prison term to serve. And so the judge did allow him to voluntarily surrender. But I think they're going to do that as soon as possible. One of the things that the defense had been pushing for was an expedited schedule in this case, because he wants to return to London where he lives in time for his first child to be born which I believe is in August."

9. STILL photo of van der Zwaan leaving court with man holding up "Lock em up" sign

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Right, so this is actually a very small part of the investigation that's going on, that's being carried out by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Right now there's a trial that's set for next fall for Paul Manafort, which is where this Dutch attorney's case stems from. But there's also a whole host of other things that are going on with the investigation and namely among them is they're trying to secure an interview with the president over whether or not and ask him questions over whether or not he obstructed justice. And so you know this is one small part of what is a very large investigation. And as we learned in a court filing last night, there's a lot more that we just don't know that they're investigating until the special counsel is ready to tell us."

11. Various of Van der Zwaan leaving court and getting in SUV, then drives away

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus095037

A Dutch attorney who lied to federal agents investigating former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days in prison in the first punishment handed down in special counsel's Russia investigation. He was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.

Alex van der Zwaan's sentence could set a guidepost for what other defendants charged with lying in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation may receive when their cases are resolved. Among them are a former White House national security adviser and a Trump campaign foreign policy aide.

Van der Zwaan had faced zero to six months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, and his attorneys had pushed for him to pay a fine and leave the country. But U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, citing the need to deter others from lying in an investigation of international importance, said incarceration was necessary.

The criminal case against van der Zwaan is not directly related to Russian election interference, the main focus of Mueller's probe. But it has revealed new details about the government's case against Manafort as well as previously undisclosed connections between senior Trump campaign aides, including Rick Gates, and Russia. The allegations have also opened a window into the intersecting universes of international law, foreign consulting work and politics.

Van der Zwaan admitted in February to lying to federal agents about his contacts with Gates and a person prosecutors have since revealed has been assessed to have ties to Russian intelligence. Though prosecutors did not take a position on whether he should be locked up, they stressed that he had lied "repeatedly" to investigators.

Van der Zwaan's attorneys argued that he had suffered enough already, saying his life had already been destroyed by his "terrible decision" to lie to federal authorities. The attorneys also pushed Jackson to allow van der Zwaan to return to London as soon as possible where he lives with his wife, who is pregnant with their first child.

Washington DC - 3 April 2018

1. Alex van der Zwaan getting out of SUV and walking into court, while man with sign yells at him to lock him up

2. Van de Zwaan being checked by security

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter: (Partially covered)

"Alexander Van der Swaan, a 33 year old Dutch attorney, was sentenced to 30 days in prison by a federal judge here. This is the first prison time or sentence that's been handed down in the special counsel's Russia probe or the investigation into Russian election interference and whether or not there was any possible collusion with Trump associates. It was unclear coming into this hearing whether he would actually go to prison for any kind of significant amount of time. During the hearing, the Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that she had considered imposing a fine, but didn't think that that would be enough to be able to deter other people, to send the right message about that they can't lie to the FBI or lie to the special counsel's office. So in this case, you know he had pushed for a fine and she did impose a twenty thousand dollar fine, but she also said you're going to need to serve 30 days in prison."

4. STILL photo of van der Zwaan walking into court

5. STILL of van der Zwaal leaving court

Washington DC - 3 April 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Right, so you know this is kind of the first case that we've seen come to this point ,the sentencing phase and there are a number of other defendants who have pleaded to similar charges which is lying to the FBI making false statements. And so this kind of  operates as kind of a guidepost that what we can expect, kind of going forward."

FILE

Alexandria, Virginia - 8 March 2018

7. Pan of Paul Manafort walking

Washington DC - 3 April 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Right, so this is actually a very small part of the investigation that's going on, that's being carried out by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Right now there's a trial that's set for next fall for Paul Manafort, which is where this Dutch attorney's case stems from. But there's also a whole host of other things that are going on with the investigation and namely among them is they're trying to secure an interview with the president over whether or not and ask him questions over whether or not he obstructed justice. And so you know this is one small part of what is a very large investigation. And as we learned in a court filing last night, there's a lot more that we just don't know that they're investigating until the special counsel is ready to tell us."

9. Various of Van der Zwaan leaving court and getting in SUV, then drives away

A Dutch attorney who lied to federal agents investigating former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days in prison in the first punishment handed down in special counsel's Russia investigation. He was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine.

Alex van der Zwaan's sentence could set a guidepost for what other defendants charged with lying in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation may receive when their cases are resolved. Among them are a former White House national security adviser and a Trump campaign foreign policy aide.

Van der Zwaan had faced zero to six months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines, and his attorneys had pushed for him to pay a fine and leave the country. But U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, citing the need to deter others from lying in an investigation of international importance, said incarceration was necessary.

The criminal case against van der Zwaan is not directly related to Russian election interference, the main focus of Mueller's probe. But it has revealed new details about the government's case against Manafort as well as previously undisclosed connections between senior Trump campaign aides, including Rick Gates, and Russia. The allegations have also opened a window into the intersecting universes of international law, foreign consulting work and politics.

AP reporter Chad Day explains that this case "this is actually a very small part of the investigation," but that in some ways it "operates as kind of a guidepost" going forward.

Van der Zwaan admitted in February to lying to federal agents about his contacts with Gates and a person prosecutors have since revealed has been assessed to have ties to Russian intelligence. Though prosecutors did not take a position on whether he should be locked up, they stressed that he had lied "repeatedly" to investigators.

Van der Zwaan's attorneys argued that he had suffered enough already, saying his life had already been destroyed by his "terrible decision" to lie to federal authorities.

The attorneys also pushed Jackson to allow van der Zwaan to return to London as soon as possible where he lives with his wife, who is pregnant with their first child.

Washington DC - 3 April 2018

1. Alex van der Zwaan getting out of SUV and walking into court, while man with sign yells at him to lock him up

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Alexander Van der Swaan, a 33 year old Dutch attorney was sentenced to 30 days in prison by a federal judge here. This is the first prison time or sentence that's been handed down in the special counsel's Russia probe or the investigation into Russian election interference and whether or not there was any possible collusion with Trump associates."

3. Van de Zwaan being checked by security ++MUTE++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"It was unclear coming into this hearing whether he would actually go to prison for any kind of significant amount of time. During the hearing, the Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that she had considered imposing a fine, but didn't think that that would be enough to be able to deter other people, to send the right message about that they can't lie to the FBI or lie to the special counsel's office. So in this case, you know he had pushed for a fine and she did impose a twenty thousand dollar fine, but she also said you're going to need to serve 30 days in prison."

5. STILL photo photo of van der Zwaan walking into court

6 . SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Right, so you know this is kind of the first case that we've seen come to this point ,the sentencing phase and there are a number of other defendants who have pleaded to similar charges which is lying to the FBI making false statements. And so this kind of operates as kind of a guidepost that what we can expect, kind of going forward."

Washington DC - 8 March 2018

7. Pan of Paul Manafort walking

Washington DC - 3 April 2018

8 . SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Right, so he's now you know, he has a prison term to serve. And so the judge did allow him to voluntarily surrender. But I think they're going to do that as soon as possible. One of the things that the defense had been pushing for was an expedited schedule in this case, because he wants to return to London where he lives in time for his first child to be born which I believe is in August."

9. STILL photo of van der Zwaan leaving court with man holding up "Lock em up" sign

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, AP Reporter:

"Right, so this is actually a very small part of the investigation that's going on, that's being carried out by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Right now there's a trial that's set for next fall for Paul Manafort, which is where this Dutch attorney's case stems from. But there's also a whole host of other things that are going on with the investigation and namely among them is they're trying to secure an interview with the president over whether or not and ask him questions over whether or not he obstructed justice. And so you know this is one small part of what is a very large investigation. And as we learned in a court filing last night, there's a lot more that we just don't know that they're investigating until the special counsel is ready to tell us."

11. Various of Van der Zwaan leaving court and getting in SUV, then drives away

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One, of course, was Trump himself.

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

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

But Wood pressed on.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New York – 16 April 2018

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

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

++EDIT ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

The 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."