Once Special Counsel Robert Mueller completes his Trump-Russia investigation, he will hand a report over to the Attorney General.

All the details may not be uncovered, at least not right away, but here's what can be expected:

Mueller has to turn in a report of some kind. It could be pretty bare-bones. Justice Department regulations require only that Mueller give the attorney general a confidential report that explains the decisions to pursue or decline prosecutions. That could be as simple as a bullet point list or as fulsome as a report running hundreds of pages.

Barr indicated that he expects to use his report to share the results of Mueller's investigation with the public, which the regulations allow him to do. But he hedged on specifics and said his plans could change after speaking with Mueller and Rosenstein.

It is unclear whether Trump will ask to see the report and under what circumstances he or his attorneys might be able to view it, especially because the document is meant to be confidential for Justice Department leadership. Mueller reports to the Justice Department, not the White House.

Barr said at his confirmation hearing that he would not permit White House interference in the investigation. But he also has voiced an expansive view of executive power in which the president functions as the country's chief law enforcement officer and has wide latitude in giving directives to the FBI and Justice Department.

While delivery of the report to the Attorney General marks the end of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, for many who cover Washington politics, the work continues.

"There's going to be ongoing clashes on Capitol Hill as to how much information can be released and what to do with that information," says Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker.

He adds there will also be questions about the Justice Department and "the politicization of law enforcement."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

1. Exterior of Department of Justice, zooms into fifth floor window

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

"I am Eric Tucker of The Associated Press and I am standing outside the Justice Department building in Washington D.C. Up on the fifth floor of the Attorney General William Barr is responsible for receiving a confidential report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller that marks the end of his investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. He then is responsible for advising individual members of Congress that he has received that report and he has pledged to make public as much as he can under the law of Mueller's findings."

POOL

Archive: Washington - 15 January 2019

3. Various of William Barr during his confirmation hearing for Attorney General

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"There are just a couple things that the attorney general has to provide to Congress. One is notification that Mueller's investigation has concluded. He also has to advise him of something else that's really specific and interesting and that is any moment in which an investigative step or action that was proposed by the special counsel was rejected or turned down by the Justice Department. So that's something he's actually required under the regulations to provide. And that's it. But what he committed to do in his confirmation hearing was to make as much of the information from Mueller's report and as much of his findings public as possible, as permitted, under the law."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 14 March 2019

5. President Donald Trump outside US Capitol with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"It's hard to think of any directly comparable example that's entirely on point with what's happening now under this regulation with the special counsel that's controlled by the Justice Department, supervised by the Justice Department, which falls within the executive branch investigating the president of the United States himself. And so there are equities on both sides that are likely to clash."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Archive: Washington DC - Date Unknown

7. Exteriors of U.S. Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"It is not clear that the underlying Mueller report, from page to page, will ever be seen by the public because what the attorney general is committed to doing is taking that report and basically editing it to sanction out or or delete from public view any sort of classified information that he thinks is not ready to be seen by the public. However, there is a scenario in which Congress could attempt to subpoena the document itself or subpoena the special counsel to say, 'We want you to come to Capitol Hill and we want to ask you exactly what you found. And we want you to tell us.'

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Archive: Washington DC - Date Unknown

9. Exteriors of U.S. Capitol at night

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"One thing that the attorney general said in his confirmation hearing -- he was asked specifically about this idea of will you let the president's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, receive and edit any report that is transmitted before it's publicly released and he said unequivolcally no. But that's a distinction though an important difference because the White House, the actual White House attorneys, the White House Counsel's Office, they might very well attempt to legally invoke some sort of privilege to say that there's certain information that's contained, or is likely contained, in this document report that should not be released because it reflects executive privilege."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 12 March 2018

11. STILL: Special Counsel Robert Mueller walks through Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"The Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation is ending. For many in Washington who cover it closely like myself, in many ways, the work continues, just as it did before, because there's going to be ongoing clashes on Capitol Hill as to how much information can be released and what to do with that information. There are going to be continuing stories about the substance of the Special Counsel's nearly nearly two year long investigation -- what he found, what he didn't find and what impact that has on the Trump administration and the remainder of the Trump presidency. And for the Justice Department itself and its role in Washington and the government, I think there are going to be ongoing questions about the politicization of law enforcement."

13. Tucker walking outside DOJ

14. Various exteriors of DOJ

Once Special Counsel Robert Mueller completes his Trump-Russia investigation, he will hand a report over to the Attorney General.

All the details may not be uncovered, at least not right away, but here's what can be expected:

Mueller has to turn in a report of some kind. It could be pretty bare-bones. Justice Department regulations require only that Mueller give the attorney general a confidential report that explains the decisions to pursue or decline prosecutions. That could be as simple as a bullet point list or as fulsome as a report running hundreds of pages.

Barr indicated that he expects to use his report to share the results of Mueller's investigation with the public, which the regulations allow him to do. But he hedged on specifics and said his plans could change after speaking with Mueller and Rosenstein.

It is unclear whether Trump will ask to see the report and under what circumstances he or his attorneys might be able to view it, especially because the document is meant to be confidential for Justice Department leadership. Mueller reports to the Justice Department, not the White House.

Barr said at his confirmation hearing that he would not permit White House interference in the investigation. But he also has voiced an expansive view of executive power in which the president functions as the country's chief law enforcement officer and has wide latitude in giving directives to the FBI and Justice Department.

While delivery of the report to the Attorney General marks the end of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, for many who cover Washington politics, the work continues.

"There's going to be ongoing clashes on Capitol Hill as to how much information can be released and what to do with that information," says Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker.

He adds there will also be questions about the Justice Department and "the politicization of law enforcement."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

1. Exterior of Department of Justice, zooms into fifth floor window

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

"I am Eric Tucker of The Associated Press and I am standing outside the Justice Department building in Washington D.C. Up on the fifth floor of the Attorney General William Barr is responsible for receiving a confidential report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller that marks the end of his investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. He then is responsible for advising individual members of Congress that he has received that report and he has pledged to make public as much as he can under the law of Mueller's findings."

POOL

Archive: Washington - 15 January 2019

3. Various of William Barr during his confirmation hearing for Attorney General

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"There are just a couple things that the attorney general has to provide to Congress. One is notification that Mueller's investigation has concluded. He also has to advise him of something else that's really specific and interesting and that is any moment in which an investigative step or action that was proposed by the special counsel was rejected or turned down by the Justice Department. So that's something he's actually required under the regulations to provide. And that's it. But what he committed to do in his confirmation hearing was to make as much of the information from Mueller's report and as much of his findings public as possible, as permitted, under the law."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 14 March 2019

5. President Donald Trump outside US Capitol with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"It's hard to think of any directly comparable example that's entirely on point with what's happening now under this regulation with the special counsel that's controlled by the Justice Department, supervised by the Justice Department, which falls within the executive branch investigating the president of the United States himself. And so there are equities on both sides that are likely to clash."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Archive: Washington DC - Date Unknown

7. Exteriors of U.S. Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"It is not clear that the underlying Mueller report, from page to page, will ever be seen by the public because what the attorney general is committed to doing is taking that report and basically editing it to sanction out or or delete from public view any sort of classified information that he thinks is not ready to be seen by the public. However, there is a scenario in which Congress could attempt to subpoena the document itself or subpoena the special counsel to say, 'We want you to come to Capitol Hill and we want to ask you exactly what you found. And we want you to tell us.'

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Archive: Washington DC - Date Unknown

9. Exteriors of U.S. Capitol at night

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"One thing that the attorney general said in his confirmation hearing -- he was asked specifically about this idea of will you let the president's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, receive and edit any report that is transmitted before it's publicly released and he said unequivolcally no. But that's a distinction though an important difference because the White House, the actual White House attorneys, the White House Counsel's Office, they might very well attempt to legally invoke some sort of privilege to say that there's certain information that's contained, or is likely contained, in this document report that should not be released because it reflects executive privilege."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 12 March 2018

11. STILL: Special Counsel Robert Mueller walks through Capitol

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"The Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation is ending. For many in Washington who cover it closely like myself, in many ways, the work continues, just as it did before, because there's going to be ongoing clashes on Capitol Hill as to how much information can be released and what to do with that information. There are going to be continuing stories about the substance of the Special Counsel's nearly nearly two year long investigation -- what he found, what he didn't find and what impact that has on the Trump administration and the remainder of the Trump presidency. And for the Justice Department itself and its role in Washington and the government, I think there are going to be ongoing questions about the politicization of law enforcement."

13. Tucker walking outside DOJ

14. Various exteriors of DOJ

Once Special Counsel Robert Mueller completes his Trump-Russia investigation, he will hand a report over to the Attorney General. We may not get all the details uncovered, at least not right away, but here's what we can expect:

Mueller has to turn in a report of some kind. It could be pretty bare-bones. Justice Department regulations require only that Mueller give the attorney general a confidential report that explains the decisions to pursue or decline prosecutions. That could be as simple as a bullet point list or as fulsome as a report running hundreds of pages.

Barr indicated that he expects to use his report to share the results of Mueller's investigation with the public, which the regulations allow him to do. But he hedged on specifics and said his plans could change after speaking with Mueller and Rosenstein.

It is unclear whether Trump will ask to see the report and under what circumstances he or his attorneys might be able to view it, especially because the document is meant to be confidential for Justice Department leadership. Mueller reports to the Justice Department, not the White House.

Barr said at his confirmation hearing that he would not permit White House interference in the investigation. But he also has voiced an expansive view of executive power in which the president functions as the country's chief law enforcement officer and has wide latitude in giving directives to the FBI and Justice Department.

While delivery of the report to the Attorney General marks the end of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, for many who cover Washington politics, the work continues.

"There's going to be ongoing clashes on Capitol Hill as to how much information can be released and what to do with that information," says Associated Press reporter Eric Tucker.

He adds there will also be questions about the Justice Department and "the politicization of law enforcement."

Washington, DC - 21 August 2013

1. FILE: Still of Robert Mueller speaking during interview at FBI headquarters

Washington - 19 March 2019

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Justice Department Reporter: +++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED BY VARIOUS STILLS+++

"The Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation is ending. For many in Washington who cover it closely like myself, in many ways, the work continues, just as it did before, because there's going to be ongoing clashes on Capitol Hill as to how much information can be released and what to do with that information. There are going to be continuing stories about the substance of the Special Counsel's nearly nearly two year long investigation -- what he found, what he didn't find and what impact that has on the Trump administration and the remainder of the Trump presidency."

Washington, DC - 8 February  2019

3. GOP Rep. Doug Collins expresses exasperation during Judiciary Committee hearing

Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

4. FILE: Still of Robert Mueller testifies at House Judiciary Committee hearing

Washington, DC - 17 March 2019

5. FILE: Still of President Trump and First Lady walk to motorcade after church

Washington - 19 March 2019

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Justice Department Reporter: +++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED BY STILLS+++

"There are just a couple things that the attorney general has to provide to Congress. One is notification that Mueller's investigation has concluded. He also has to advise him of something else that's really specific and interesting and that is any moment in which an investigative step or action that was proposed by the special counsel was rejected or turned down by the Justice Department. So that's something he's actually required under the regulations to provide. And that's it. But what he committed to do in his confirmation hearing was to make as much of the information from Mueller's report and as much of his findings public as possible, as permitted, under the law."

Washington, DC - 15 January 2019

7. William Barr testifying at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on confirmation

Washington, DC - 13 June 2013

8. FILE: Still of Robert Mueller testifies at House Judiciary Committee hearing

Washington, DC - 15 January 2019

9. Various of William Barr taking oath at Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing

Washington - 19 March 2019

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Eric Tucker, Associated Press Justice Department Reporter: +++SOT PARTIALLY COVERED BY STILLS+++

"It is not clear that the underlying Mueller report, from page to page, will ever be seen by the public because what the attorney general is committed to doing is taking that report and basically editing it to sanction out or or delete from public view any sort of classified information that he thinks is not ready to be seen by the public. However, there is a scenario in which Congress could attempt to subpoena the document itself or subpoena the special counsel to say, 'We want you to come to Capitol Hill and we want to ask you exactly what you found. And we want you to tell us."

Washington, DC - January 2019

11. William Barr testifying at Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing

Washington, DC - 8 February 2019

12. FILE: Still of House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler holding hearing

Washington, DC - 6 February 2019

13. FILE: Still of House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff speaks with reporters

Washington - 19 March 2019

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

"One thing that the attorney general said in his confirmation hearing -- he was asked specifically about this idea of will you let the president's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, receive and edit any report that is transmitted before it's publicly released and he said unequivolcally no. But that's a distinction though an important difference because the White House, the actual White House attorneys, the White House Counsel's Office, they might very well attempt to legally invoke some sort of privilege to say that there's certain information that's contained, or is likely contained, in this documenreport that should not be released because it reflects executive privilege."

Washington, DC - January 2019

15. FILE: Still of William Barr testifying at Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing

Washington - 19 March 2019

16. Still of President Donald Trump walks toward Rose Garden at the White House

Washington - 14 March 2019

17 FILE: Still of President Donald Trump seated in Oval Office

President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general says he doesn't believe special counsel Robert Mueller (MUHL'-ur) "would be involved in a witch hunt."

Barr made the comment Tuesday at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Trump has repeatedly decried the special counsel's investigation as a "witch hunt" and has suggested he is being targeted by the Justice Department.

Mueller is investigating potential ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.

Barr also says it would be an "abuse of power" for Trump to intervene in an investigation he "has a stake in."

William Barr said Tuesday at his confirmation hearing he believes such an action would be a breach of the president's constitutional duties and could violate federal law depending upon the circumstances.

Barr was responding to questions from California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (FYN'-styn), the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, in light of a memo he wrote criticizing special counsel Robert Mueller's obstruction-of-justice investigation.

Barr has said the memo was intended to be narrowly focused on one of Mueller's reported interpretations of obstruction. Barr also says his memo was based solely on public reporting and not any confidential information.

POOL

Washington - 15 January 2018

1. Wide of hearing

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

"Are you familiar with the January 11th New York Times article about FBI open inquiry into whether Trump was secretly working on behalf of Russians."

3. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee (off camera):

"Yes Mr. Chairman."

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

"Would you promise me and this committee to look into this and tell us whether or not, in the appropriate way, a counterintelligence investigation was opened up by somebody at the FBI slash Department of Justice against President Trump."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"Yes, Mr. Chairman. I think there were a number of investigations as I understand it going on in the department."

6.  SOUNDBITE (English) Sen Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina (off camera):

"You ever heard of such a thing in all the time you've been associated with the Department of Justice."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"I have never heard of that."

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

"Are there rules about how you can do counterintelligence investigations?"

9. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"I believe there are Mr. Chairman."

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina (off camera):

"So if you want to open up one against the president. are there any checks and balances?"

11. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"Not outside the FBI."

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina (off camera):

"OK well we need to look at that."

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

"Mueller. You say you've known Mueller a long time. Would you say you have a close relationship with Mr. Mueller?"

14. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"I would say we were good friends."

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina (off camera):

"Would you say that you understand him to be a fair minded person?."

16. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"Absolutely."

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina (off camera):

"Do you trust him to be fair to the president and the country as a whole?"

18. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"Yes."

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina (off camera):

"When his report comes to you, will you share with us as much as possible?"

20. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"Consistent with the regulations and the law, yes."

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

"Do you believe Mr. Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt against anybody?"

22. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"I don't I don't believe Mr. Mueller would would be involved in a witch hunt."

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"Will you commit to no interference with the scope of the special counsel's investigation?"

24. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"I will--the scope of the special counsel's investigation is set by his charter and by the regulations and I will ensure that those are maintained."

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California (off camera):

"Will you commit to providing Mr. Muller with the resources, funds and time needed to complete his investigation?"

26. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"Yes."

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California (off camera):

"Will you commit to ensuring that Special Counsel Mueller is not terminated without good cause, consistent with department regulations?"

28. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"Absolutely."

29. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California (off camera):

"If special counsel Mueller makes any request, for instance, about the scope of his investigation or resources for his investigation will you commit to notifying Congress if you deny that request?"

30. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"I think the regulations require notification of Congress if there's a disagreement."

31. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"Will you commit to making any report Mueller produces at the conclusion of his investigation available to Congress and to the public?"

32. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"As I said in my statement I am going to make as much information available as I can, consistent with the rules and regulations that are part of the special counsel regulations."

33. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California (off camera):

"Will you commit to making any report on the obstruction of justice public?"

34. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"That's the same answer."

35. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (D) California:

"Your 2018 memo, in it, you stated and I quote 'the framers plan contemplates that the president's law enforcement powers extend to all matters including those in which he had a personal stake' end quote. Please explain what you base this conclusion on."

36. SOUNDBITE (English) William Barr, Attorney General Nominee:

"Here's the Department of Justice right here and within the Department of Justice, enforcement decisions are being made. The president's over here. And I think of it as there are two categories of potential communications. One would be on a case that the president wants to communicate about that he has no personal interest in no political interest in. Let's say the president is concerned about Chinese stealing trade secrets and say I want you to go after this company that's being, you know, that may be stealing trade secrets. That's perfectly appropriate for him to do, to communicate that, but whether it's bona fide or not, as I said in my statement, the Department of Justice's obligation and the attorney general's obligation is not to take any action unless we reach, we, the Department of Justice and the attorney general, reach their own, independent conclusion that it is justified under the law. And, regardless of the instruction and that's my quote that everyone is saying you know siccing you know it's OK for the president to direct things. All I said was it's not per se improper for the president to call on the department for doing something, especially if he has no personal or political interest in it. The other category of cases and let's pick a you know an easy bad example would be if a member of the president's family or a business associate or something was under investigation and he tries to intervene. He--he's the chief law enforcement officer and you could say well he has the power. But that would be a breach of his obligation under the Constitution to faithfully execute the laws. So in my opinion if he attempts, if a president attempts to intervene in a matter that he has a stake in to try to protect himself that should first be looked at as a breach of his constitutional duties whether it also violates a statute depending on what statute comes into play and what all the facts are."

AP Reporter Lisa Mascaro says the first day of a Senate hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was filled with opposition and chaos.

"There were Democratic senators calling for the session to be postponed. And there were protests coming from many people in the audience," Mascaro, who was inside the courtroom, said.

Democrats raised objections from the moment Chairman Chuck Grassley gaveled the committee to order. One by one, Democrats, including Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, all potential presidential contenders, demanded that Republicans delay the hearing. They railed against the unusual vetting process by Republicans that failed to include documents from three years Kavanaugh worked in the Bush administration, and 100,000 more pages withheld by the Trump White House. Some 42,000 pages were released to senators only, not the public, on the evening before the hearing.

In his statement, Kavanaugh touted the importance of an independent judiciary as his confirmation hearings began with strident Democratic criticism that he would be President Donald Trump's man on the high court.

On Wednesday, Kavanaugh can expect to spend most of the day in the hot seat, sparring with Democratic senators over abortion, guns, executive power and other high-profile issues.

A long day of questioning awaits the 53-year-old appellate judge, whom Trump nominated in July to fill the seat of retired Justice Anthony Kennedy. The change could make the court more conservative on a range of issues.

Barring a surprise, Republicans appear on track to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, perhaps in time for the new term on Oct. 1 and little more than a month before congressional elections.

However, the first of at least four days of hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee began with partisan quarreling over the nomination and persistent protests from members of the audience, followed by their arrests.

Strong Democratic opposition to Trump's nominee reflects the political stakes for both parties in advance of the November elections, Robert Mueller's investigation of Trump's 2016 campaign and the potentially pivotal role Kavanaugh could play in moving the court to the right.

Democrats, including several senators poised for 2020 presidential bids, tried to block the proceedings in a dispute over Kavanaugh records withheld by the White House. Republicans in turn accused the Democrats of turning the hearing into a circus.

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

1. Various of Brett Kavanaugh Senate hearing

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"This is President Trump's second nominee to the court. And what was just really remarkable today was the outpouring of opposition. No sooner than the chairman of the committee, Senator Chuck Grassley, he gaveled in the session and the session just completely erupted in chaos. There were Democratic senators calling for the session to be postponed. And there were protests coming from many people in the audience."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

3. Various of hearing, protesters

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"One of the main things at issue has been the process here. Democrats are really complaining about the lack of documents from Kavanaugh's past service in the Bush White House. They are concerned that a number of documents have not been turned over as part of the vetting process. Now Chuck Grassley, the chairman, says you know, hundreds of thousands of documents have been made available to the committee, and that's true. But these are being made available on an unusual basis where they're coming directly from the Bush archives and separate from the traditional archive process. And many of those documents are being held back on a confidential basis. Either the committee is holding them back, or in one case, we saw just a few days ago the Trump administration, the White House held back 100,000 documents. Democrats are crying foul and saying this is just no way to vet somebody who will be having a lifetime confirmation on the court."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chris Coons, (D) Delaware:

"To ranking member Feinstein's request, which she tried to craft with you to be identical to the request for records from Justice Kagan. We should not be proceeding until we have the full documents that allow us to review the judge's records."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"Kavanaugh really showed, you know, why a lot of people like him. He was a very personable, optimistic-looking person. He talked about his belief in the independence of the judiciary. And he really tried to tell the senators that he would be an independent broker here."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

7. Wide, Kavanaugh at desk

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court nominee:

"A judge must be independent and must interpret the law, not make the law."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"The judge in the past has talked about his view that any investigation of a sitting president is disruptive to the executive branch and should wait until after the president is out of office. He has experience here, Judge Kavanaugh had served on the team, Kenneth Starr's team, that was investigating former President Bill Clinton. And at the end of that, he really had sort of some second thoughts about investigating a sitting president. That of course is important now because President Trump and his team are under a lot of scrutiny from Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the Russia probe. And so senators will be asking a lot of questions about the judge's views of executive power and whether he believes a sitting president can be investigated, can be forced to testify, or even if whether an indictment could be brought."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

10. Wide of hearing

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Illinois:

"And it's that president who's decided you are his man. You're the person he wants on the Supreme Court, you are his personal choice. So are people nervous about this? Are they concerned about it? Of course they are."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"The Senate Republicans have the majority here and they are eager to have Judge Kavanaugh confirmed in time for the start of the new Supreme Court session which begins October 1st. So they're looking to have the Senate finish up its work in the next couple weeks here and then have a confirmation vote on the floor of the Senate possibly by the end of September."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

13. Mid, Kavanaugh at desk

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court nominee:

"If confirmed to the Supreme Court, I will keep an open mind in every case. I will do equal right to the poor and to the rich. I will always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American Rule of Law."

15. Wide of hearing

AP Reporter Lisa Mascaro says the first day of a Senate hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was filled with opposition and chaos.

"There were Democratic senators calling for the session to be postponed. And there were protests coming from many people in the audience," Mascaro, who was inside the courtroom, said.

Democrats raised objections from the moment Chairman Chuck Grassley gaveled the committee to order. One by one, Democrats, including Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, all potential presidential contenders, demanded that Republicans delay the hearing. They railed against the unusual vetting process by Republicans that failed to include documents from three years Kavanaugh worked in the Bush administration, and 100,000 more pages withheld by the Trump White House. Some 42,000 pages were released to senators only, not the public, on the evening before the hearing.

In his statement, Kavanaugh touted the importance of an independent judiciary as his confirmation hearings began with strident Democratic criticism that he would be President Donald Trump's man on the high court.

On Wednesday, Kavanaugh can expect to spend most of the day in the hot seat, sparring with Democratic senators over abortion, guns, executive power and other high-profile issues.

A long day of questioning awaits the 53-year-old appellate judge, whom Trump nominated in July to fill the seat of retired Justice Anthony Kennedy. The change could make the court more conservative on a range of issues.

Barring a surprise, Republicans appear on track to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, perhaps in time for the new term on Oct. 1 and little more than a month before congressional elections.

However, the first of at least four days of hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee began with partisan quarreling over the nomination and persistent protests from members of the audience, followed by their arrests.

Strong Democratic opposition to Trump's nominee reflects the political stakes for both parties in advance of the November elections, Robert Mueller's investigation of Trump's 2016 campaign and the potentially pivotal role Kavanaugh could play in moving the court to the right.

Democrats, including several senators poised for 2020 presidential bids, tried to block the proceedings in a dispute over Kavanaugh records withheld by the White House. Republicans in turn accused the Democrats of turning the hearing into a circus.

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

1. Various of Brett Kavanaugh Senate hearing

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"This is President Trump's second nominee to the court. And what was just really remarkable today was the outpouring of opposition. No sooner than the chairman of the committee, Senator Chuck Grassley, he gaveled in the session and the session just completely erupted in chaos. There were Democratic senators calling for the session to be postponed. And there were protests coming from many people in the audience."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

3. Various of hearing, protesters

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"One of the main things at issue has been the process here. Democrats are really complaining about the lack of documents from Kavanaugh's past service in the Bush White House. They are concerned that a number of documents have not been turned over as part of the vetting process. Now Chuck Grassley, the chairman, says you know, hundreds of thousands of documents have been made available to the committee, and that's true. But these are being made available on an unusual basis where they're coming directly from the Bush archives and separate from the traditional archive process. And many of those documents are being held back on a confidential basis. Either the committee is holding them back, or in one case, we saw just a few days ago the Trump administration, the White House held back 100,000 documents. Democrats are crying foul and saying this is just no way to vet somebody who will be having a lifetime confirmation on the court."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chris Coons, (D) Delaware:

"To ranking member Feinstein's request, which she tried to craft with you to be identical to the request for records from Justice Kagan. We should not be proceeding until we have the full documents that allow us to review the judge's records."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"Kavanaugh really showed, you know, why a lot of people like him. He was a very personable, optimistic-looking person. He talked about his belief in the independence of the judiciary. And he really tried to tell the senators that he would be an independent broker here."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

7. Wide, Kavanaugh at desk

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court nominee:

"A judge must be independent and must interpret the law, not make the law."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"The judge in the past has talked about his view that any investigation of a sitting president is disruptive to the executive branch and should wait until after the president is out of office. He has experience here, Judge Kavanaugh had served on the team, Kenneth Starr's team, that was investigating former President Bill Clinton. And at the end of that, he really had sort of some second thoughts about investigating a sitting president. That of course is important now because President Trump and his team are under a lot of scrutiny from Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the Russia probe. And so senators will be asking a lot of questions about the judge's views of executive power and whether he believes a sitting president can be investigated, can be forced to testify, or even if whether an indictment could be brought."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

10. Wide of hearing

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Illinois:

"And it's that president who's decided you are his man. You're the person he wants on the Supreme Court, you are his personal choice. So are people nervous about this? Are they concerned about it? Of course they are."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"The Senate Republicans have the majority here and they are eager to have Judge Kavanaugh confirmed in time for the start of the new Supreme Court session which begins October 1st. So they're looking to have the Senate finish up its work in the next couple weeks here and then have a confirmation vote on the floor of the Senate possibly by the end of September."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

13. Mid, Kavanaugh at desk

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court nominee:

"If confirmed to the Supreme Court, I will keep an open mind in every case. I will do equal right to the poor and to the rich. I will always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American Rule of Law."

15. Wide of hearing

AP Reporter Lisa Mascaro says the first day of a Senate hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh was filled with opposition and chaos.

"There were Democratic senators calling for the session to be postponed. And there were protests coming from many people in the audience," Mascaro, who was inside the courtroom, said.

Democrats raised objections from the moment Chairman Chuck Grassley gaveled the committee to order. One by one, Democrats, including Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, all potential presidential contenders, demanded that Republicans delay the hearing. They railed against the unusual vetting process by Republicans that failed to include documents from three years Kavanaugh worked in the Bush administration, and 100,000 more pages withheld by the Trump White House. Some 42,000 pages were released to senators only, not the public, on the evening before the hearing.

In his statement, Kavanaugh touted the importance of an independent judiciary as his confirmation hearings began with strident Democratic criticism that he would be President Donald Trump's man on the high court.

On Wednesday, Kavanaugh can expect to spend most of the day in the hot seat, sparring with Democratic senators over abortion, guns, executive power and other high-profile issues.

A long day of questioning awaits the 53-year-old appellate judge, whom Trump nominated in July to fill the seat of retired Justice Anthony Kennedy. The change could make the court more conservative on a range of issues.

Barring a surprise, Republicans appear on track to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, perhaps in time for the new term on October 1 and little more than a month before congressional elections.

However, the first of at least four days of hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee began with partisan quarreling over the nomination and persistent protests from members of the audience, followed by their arrests.

Strong Democratic opposition to Trump's nominee reflects the political stakes for both parties in advance of the November elections, Robert Mueller's investigation of Trump's 2016 campaign and the potentially pivotal role Kavanaugh could play in moving the court to the right.

Democrats, including several senators poised for 2020 presidential bids, tried to block the proceedings in a dispute over Kavanaugh records withheld by the White House. Republicans in turn accused the Democrats of turning the hearing into a circus.

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

1. Various of Brett Kavanaugh Senate hearing

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"This is President Trump's second nominee to the court. And what was just really remarkable today was the outpouring of opposition. No sooner than the chairman of the committee, Senator Chuck Grassley, he gaveled in the session and the session just completely erupted in chaos. There were Democratic senators calling for the session to be postponed. And there were protests coming from many people in the audience."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

3. Various of hearing, protesters

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"One of the main things at issue has been the process here. Democrats are really complaining about the lack of documents from Kavanaugh's past service in the Bush White House. They are concerned that a number of documents have not been turned over as part of the vetting process. Now Chuck Grassley, the chairman, says you know, hundreds of thousands of documents have been made available to the committee, and that's true. But these are being made available on an unusual basis where they're coming directly from the Bush archives and separate from the traditional archive process. And many of those documents are being held back on a confidential basis. Either the committee is holding them back, or in one case, we saw just a few days ago the Trump administration, the White House held back 100,000 documents. Democrats are crying foul and saying this is just no way to vet somebody who will be having a lifetime confirmation on the court."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chris Coons, (D) Delaware:

"To ranking member Feinstein's request, which she tried to craft with you to be identical to the request for records from Justice Kagan. We should not be proceeding until we have the full documents that allow us to review the judge's records."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"Kavanaugh really showed, you know, why a lot of people like him. He was a very personable, optimistic-looking person. He talked about his belief in the independence of the judiciary. And he really tried to tell the senators that he would be an independent broker here."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

7. Wide, Kavanaugh at desk

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court nominee:

"A judge must be independent and must interpret the law, not make the law."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"The judge in the past has talked about his view that any investigation of a sitting president is disruptive to the executive branch and should wait until after the president is out of office. He has experience here, Judge Kavanaugh had served on the team, Kenneth Starr's team, that was investigating former President Bill Clinton. And at the end of that, he really had sort of some second thoughts about investigating a sitting president. That of course is important now because President Trump and his team are under a lot of scrutiny from Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the Russia probe. And so senators will be asking a lot of questions about the judge's views of executive power and whether he believes a sitting president can be investigated, can be forced to testify, or even if whether an indictment could be brought."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

10. Wide of hearing

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Dick Durbin, (D) Illinois:

"And it's that president who's decided you are his man. You're the person he wants on the Supreme Court, you are his personal choice. So are people nervous about this? Are they concerned about it? Of course they are."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Reporter:

"The Senate Republicans have the majority here and they are eager to have Judge Kavanaugh confirmed in time for the start of the new Supreme Court session which begins October 1st. So they're looking to have the Senate finish up its work in the next couple of weeks here and then have a confirmation vote on the floor of the Senate possibly by the end of September."

POOL

Washington, DC - 4 September 2018

13. Mid, Kavanaugh at desk

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Brett Kavanaugh, Supreme Court nominee:

"If confirmed to the Supreme Court, I will keep an open mind in every case. I will do equal right to the poor and to the rich. I will always strive to preserve the Constitution of the United States and the American Rule of Law."

15. Wide of hearing

The mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school _ which killed 17 students and staff, and sparked nationwide student-led marches for gun control _ is the top news story of 2018 in The Associated Press' annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors.

The No. 2 story is the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into whether Donald Trump's election campaign coordinated with Russia.

Here are 2018's top 10 stories, in order:

1. Parkland school shooting: It happened on Valentine's Day _ an act of senseless hate by a gunman with a semi-automatic rifle who killed 15 students and two staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Previous mass shootings had prompted passionate calls for tighter gun-control laws, but this time was different. A group of student survivors at the school, soon joined by allies nationwide, launched the March for Our Lives movement that organized massive walkouts and peaceful protests at schools across the country. The movement remains active, and has helped energize the broader campaign for tougher gun laws.

2. Trump-Russia probe: Throughout 2018, Mueller's team investigated whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia ahead of the 2016 election and whether the president obstructed the investigation. The evidence so far shows a broad range of Trump associates had Russia-related contacts during the campaign and transition period; some former Trump aides have been indicted for lying. In a separate case in New York, prosecutors say Trump directed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to make illegal hush money payments to two women in a bid to quash potential sex scandals during the campaign.

3. MeToo: The #MeToo movement, which surfaced late in 2017, maintained its momentum throughout 2018 as many more powerful men were forced to account for past instances of sexual assault and misconduct. Once-revered comedian Bill Cosby was sentenced to prison; so was Larry Nassar, the former Michigan State and USA Gymnastics sports doctor convicted of molesting hundreds of young women. Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein was charged with rape. And Les Moonves was ousted as top executive at CBS after a dozen women accused him of sexual misconduct.

4. Mass shootings: When a Marine combat veteran shot dead 12 people at country music bar in California in November, it was a grim "Not again" moment for many Americans _ the fifth mass shooting of the year in the U.S. that produced nationwide shock and sorrow. In May, two months after the Parkland shooting, eight students and two teachers were killed at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas. In June, a gunman shot dead five employees at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. And in October, 11 people were killed at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh during Shabbat morning services.

5. US Midterm elections: With Donald Trump on the minds of many voters, Democrats managed to flip about 40 seats in the House of Representatives to seize control of that chamber from Republicans. Democrats also flipped several governorships around the country. But the GOP boosted its slim majority in the Senate and will have a 53-47 edge in the next session of Congress.

6. US Immigration: Events along the US-Mexico border produced yearlong drama and controversy. At the height of the midterm election campaign, President Trump deployed thousands of Army troops to the border, warning of threats from a caravan of migrants who'd journeyed from Central America. Earlier, a zero-tolerance order from Trump resulted in more than 2,500 migrant children being separated from their families. The practice sparked global outrage from politicians, humanitarians and religious groups; images of weeping children and anguished parents were splashed across newspapers and television.

7. Kavanaugh hearings: Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh was narrowly confirmed to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court after explosive Senate hearings on allegations of sexual harassment and assault stemming from his high school and college years. While millions of Americans watched on TV, senators heard testimony from Kavanaugh, who denied any wrongdoing, and accuser Christine Blasey Ford, who said he attempted to rape her during a party when they were in high school. Kavanaugh's presence on the high court gives its conservative bloc a 5-4 majority.

8. California wildfires: The most populous state endured an epic year for wildfires, culminating with devastating November fires occurring simultaneously 450 miles apart. The Camp Fire in Northern California swept through the city of Paradise, killing at least 86 people _ the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century. Nearly 14,000 homes and hundreds of businesses were destroyed. In Southern California, three people died and 1,500 structures were destroyed by the Woolsey Fire. The two fires and a third smaller blaze produced $9 billion in initial insurance claims; debris cleanup is pegged at $3 billion.

9. Climate change: Worsening natural disasters around the world intensified the focus on climate change; delegates at a global summit in Poland negotiated an agreement on the next steps to minimize harm. In the U.S., a government report warned of devastating impact, prompting pushback by President Trump.

10. Khashoggi killing: For weeks, Saudi authorities issued a variety of denials. But eventually it became clear that Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, a native of Saudi Arabia fiercely critical of its royal regime, was killed on Oct. 2 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The murder has had major diplomatic repercussions, in part because of widespread belief that Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was involved. The U.S. Senate passed a measure blaming the crown prince for the death, a move opposed by President Trump as he tries to preserve close U.S.-Saudi ties.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Parkland, Florida - 14 February 2018

1. Various, police activity at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 19 December 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) David Crary, Associated Press National Writer:

"The top story this horrible thing that happened back on Valentine's Day in February at the high school in Parkland Florida. A gunman with a semiautomatic rifle charged in killed 15 students, two staff members before he was apprehended."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Parkland, Florida - 14 February 2018

3. Various, police activity at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 19 December 2018

SOUNDBITE (English) David Crary, Associated Press National Writer:

4. "What was striking about this story was not just the sad death toll but what happened afterwards. It kind of differentiated itself from other mass shootings. We have several of the students who survived at the school organized very quickly basically saying we're not going to let this thing die here, stop here, and organized nationally with other students and some adults."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Parkland, Florida - 27 February 2018

5. Various, memorial in front of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 19 December 2018

6. SOUNDBITE (English) David Crary, Associated Press National Writer:

"It was a movement that we'd never seen before in the U.S. Got a huge response. Sort of revitalize the movement for gun control in the U.S. It's still going on. Students are still active. It's been pretty remarkable follow up to the horrible shooting there."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Parkland, Florida - 27 February 2018

7.Sign on fence at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - March 24, 2018

8. March for Our Lives stage UPSOUND chants "Vote them out"

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Parkland, Florida - 30 March 2018

9. Parkland school shooting ribbon on shirt

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 19 December 2018

10. SOUNDBITE (English) David Crary, Associated Press National Writer:

"Well, it varies from year to year. In some instances it's simply the drama sometimes the tragedy of a disaster natural disaster, a mass shooting, an act of terrorism. So it's just that the visceral impact of those kind of stories."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 13 June 2013

11. US Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifies on Capitol Hill

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 16 November 2018

12. President Trump in the Oval office

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 19 December 2018

13. SOUNDBITE (English) David Crary, Associated Press National Writer:

"So, the number two story was the Trump Mueller probe the investigation of various aspects of Trump's 2016 campaign and its fallout. Number three was the continuation of the #MeToo movement. More powerful men being called to account for sexual misconduct. Number four was the omnibus mass shooting entry with the various prominent mass shootings of 2018"

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 11 October 2018

14. Harvey Weinstein leaving courthouse with his attorney Benjamin Brafman

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 6 November 2018

15. Voters at the polls during the midterm elections

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 19 December 2018

16. SOUNDBITE (English) David Crary, Associated Press National Writer:

"Number five was the midterm elections highlighted by the switch over power in the U.S. House of Representatives. Number six the long running saga of immigration at the U.S. Mexico border."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mexico City - 12 November 2018

17. Migrants from caravan arriving in Mexico

POOL

Washington - 27 September 2018

18. Brett Kavanaugh testifying during a Senate confirmation hearing

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 19 December 2018

19. SOUNDBITE (English) David Crary, Associated Press National Writer:

"Number Seven was the Kavanaugh hearings. Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court and those explosive hearings as to whether he had or hadn't committed sexual assault when he was in high school. Number eight was the California wildfires."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Paradise - 9 November 2018

20. Firefighters battling house fire

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - 19 December 2018

21. SOUNDBITE (English) David Crary, Associated Press National Writer:

"Number nine was climate change. Various aspects of that issue that got attention this year. Attempt to get diplomats together at the end of the year to come up with next steps. And number 10 was the murder of Jamal Khashoggi the Saudi dissident who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Katowice - 14 December 2018

22. Teenage activists holding climate change sign

ARAB CENTER WASHINGTON DC - MANDATORY ON-SCREEN CREDIT

WASHINGTON DC - 17 NOVEMEBR 2017

23. Jamal Khoshoggi speking at an Arab Center event

U.S. President Donald Trump's pick to head the FBI says the White House should not be playing a role prosecutorial decisions.

At the Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday, nominee Christopher Wray insisted his commitment was to 'follow the facts wherever they may lead'.

"There isn't a person on this who's lobbying or influence could convince me to just drop or abandon a properly predicated and meritorious investigation," said Wray.

Trump has repeatedly derided as a "hoax" and a "witch hunt" an ongoing investigation by the FBI and Robert Mueller, the former FBI director selected in May as the special counsel to oversee the probe.

Christopher Wray, the former high-ranking Justice Department official whom Trump nominated last month, also told senators at his confirmation hearing that he would never let politics get in the way of the bureau's mission.

Wray, selected for the FBI job last month after Trump fired James Comey, made clear that he disagreed with the characterization.

POOL

Washington - 12 July 2017

1. Hearing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Benjamin Sasse (R) Nebraska:

"When would it be appropriate and when would it be inappropriate for main justice and beyond, I mean particularly the White House, to be providing direction about FBI priorities and mind share and budget investments?"

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"Well I don't think the White House should be playing a role in prosecutorial decisions, period."

4. Hearing

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"You can't do a job like this without being prepared to quit or be fired at a moment's notice if you're asked to do something or confronted with something that is either illegal, unconstitutional, or even morally repugnant."

6. Hearing

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"My commitment is to the rule of law, to the Constitution, to follow the facts, wherever they may lead, and there isn't a person on this planet who's lobbying or influence could convince me to just drop or abandon a properly predicated and meritorious investigation."

8. Hearing

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Al Franken, (D) Minnesota:

"And you don't think Director Comey is a nut job right?'

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"That's never been my experience with him."

(Sen. Al Franken, (D) Minnesota off camera): "Okay. I'm glad to hear that."

11. Hearing

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has declined to answer a question about whether special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation is a "witch hunt."

President Donald Trump has repeatedly called the Russia probe a "witch hunt."

Asked by both Democratic Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen and Georgia Democrat Hank Johnson, if he also thought it was, Whitaker declined to answer, citing the ongoing investigation.

Asked by Cohen if he would stop a "witch hunt," Whitaker said it would be "inappropriate" to answer that question.

Whitaker oversees the Mueller probe.

The hearing before the House Judiciary Committee was the first, and likely only, chance for newly empowered Democrats in the majority to grill an attorney general they perceive as a Donald Trump loyalist and whose appointment they suspect was aimed at suppressing investigations of the Republican president.

Republicans made clear they viewed the hearing as pointless political grandstanding especially since Whitaker may have less than a week left as the country's chief law enforcement officer.

POOL

Washington - 8 February 2019

1. Mid, Whitaker walking back into hearing room and sitting at witness table after recess

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee, Democrat - Texas:

"This is the first oversight hearing we have had in the Justice Department in almost 15 months. You did not have a confirmation hearing and you have not yet appeared for an oversight hearing, yes or no? Yes or no?"

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General:

"Congresswoman, I'm the acting ..."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee, Democrat - Texas:

"Yes or no? Have you appeared before an oversight hearing in the Congress?

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General:

"Congresswoman. I have not ...

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

"The witness will answer the question, as asked please."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Doug Collins, Republican - Georgia:

"If he feels that a yes or no is appropriate, he'll answer yes or no. If he does not feel is appropriate he should be able to answer in the appropriate way, as many Democrat administration officials have done before this committee before."

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

"Mr. Attorney General, we're not joking here and your humor is not acceptable. Now you are here because we have a constitutional duty to ask questions and the Congress has the right to establish government rules. The rules are that you are here. So I need to ask the question, and I need to have my time restored, so that you can behave appropriately I will behave appropriately as a member of the Judiciary Committee. I've asked a question, did you have a confirmation hearing and have you not yet appeared for an oversight hearing?"

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"Congresswoman, I am an acting attorney general. I have been appointed according to the Vacancies Reform Act and I have never appeared in front of Congress for any hearing even when I was United States attorney."

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, Democrat - Tennessee:

"Let me ask you this, there has been a conviction in the special counsel investigation of Mr. Manafort. jury trial, conviction. There have been guilty pleas from Flynn, Manafort, Gates, Papadopoulos and Michael Cohen and dozens of indictments, including thirteen Russian nationals, three Russian companies and Roger Stone. Would you say the special counsel's investigation is a witch hunt? Are you overseeing a witch hunt?"

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"Congressman, as I've mentioned previously, the special counsel's investigation is an ongoing investigation. And so I think it would be inappropriate for me to ... "

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, Democrat - Tennessee:

"But you wouldn't oversee a witch hunt, would you? You'd stop a witch hunt wouldn't you?"

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"Congressman, it would be inappropriate for me to talk about an ongoing investigation."

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, Democrat - Tennessee:

"You said that you're not interfering with the special counsel's investigation have you denied him any funds he's requested at all?"

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"Congressman, I can tell this is an important issue for you but ..."

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, Democrat - Tennessee:

"It's an important issue for the American public and for the whole world."

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Louie Gohmert, Republican - Texas:

"Acting Attorney General, thank you for being here today. (Whitaker: Good to see you again Congressman.) I'm amazed that you would be coming since your successor is going apparently be confirmed next week and you'll no longer be acting director. So I don't know what kind of suicide wish you had or whatever but it's good to see you."

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Hank Johnson, Democrat - Georgia:

"Do you agree with the president's statement that the Russian investigation is a witch hunt?"

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"As I mentioned previously, Congressman. I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment about an ongoing investigation."

18. Side view of hearing

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has declined to answer a question about whether special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation is a "witch hunt."

President Donald Trump has repeatedly called the Russia probe a "witch hunt."

Asked by both Democratic Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen and Georgia Democrat Hank Johnson, if he also thought it was, Whitaker declined to answer, citing the ongoing investigation.

Asked by Cohen if he would stop a "witch hunt," Whitaker said it would be "inappropriate" to answer that question.

Whitaker oversees the Mueller probe.

The hearing before the House Judiciary Committee was the first, and likely only, chance for newly empowered Democrats in the majority to grill an attorney general they perceive as a Donald Trump loyalist and whose appointment they suspect was aimed at suppressing investigations of the Republican president.

Republicans made clear they viewed the hearing as pointless political grandstanding especially since Whitaker may have less than a week left as the country's chief law enforcement officer.

POOL

Washington - 8 February 2019

1. Mid, Whitaker walking back into hearing room and sitting at witness table after recess  

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee, Democrat - Texas:

"This is the first oversight hearing we have had in the Justice Department in almost 15 months. You did not have a confirmation hearing and you have not yet appeared for an oversight hearing, yes or no? Yes or no?"

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General:

"Congresswoman, I'm the acting ..."

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee, Democrat - Texas:

"Yes or no? Have you appeared before an oversight hearing in the Congress?

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General:

"Congresswoman. I have not ...

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

"The witness will answer the question, as asked please."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Doug Collins, Republican - Georgia:

"If he feels that a yes or no is appropriate, he'll answer yes or no. If he does not feel is appropriate he should be able to answer in the appropriate way, as many Democrat administration officials have done before this committee before."

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

"Mr. Attorney General, we're not joking here and your humor is not acceptable. Now you are here because we have a constitutional duty to ask questions and the Congress has the right to establish government rules. The rules are that you are here. So I need to ask the question, and I need to have my time restored, so that you can behave appropriately I will behave appropriately as a member of the Judiciary Committee. I've asked a question, did you have a confirmation hearing and have you not yet appeared for an oversight hearing?"

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"Congresswoman, I am an acting attorney general. I have been appointed according to the Vacancies Reform Act and I have never appeared in front of Congress for any hearing even when I was United States attorney."

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, Democrat - Tennessee:

"Let me ask you this, there has been a conviction in the special counsel investigation of Mr. Manafort. jury trial, conviction. There have been guilty pleas from Flynn, Manafort, Gates, Papadopoulos and Michael Cohen and dozens of indictments, including thirteen Russian nationals, three Russian companies and Roger Stone. Would you say the special counsel's investigation is a witch hunt? Are you overseeing a witch hunt?"

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"Congressman, as I've mentioned previously, the special counsel's investigation is an ongoing investigation. And so I think it would be inappropriate for me to ... "

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, Democrat - Tennessee:

"But you wouldn't oversee a witch hunt, would you? You'd stop a witch hunt wouldn't you?"

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"Congressman, it would be inappropriate for me to talk about an ongoing investigation."

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, Democrat - Tennessee:

"You said that you're not interfering with the special counsel's investigation have you denied him any funds he's requested at all?"

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"Congressman, I can tell this is an important issue for you but ..."

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Steve Cohen, Democrat - Tennessee:

"It's an important issue for the American public and for the whole world."

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Louie Gohmert, Republican - Texas:

"Acting Attorney General, thank you for being here today. (Whitaker: Good to see you again Congressman.) I'm amazed that you would be coming since your successor is going apparently be confirmed next week and you'll no longer be acting director. So I don't know what kind of suicide wish you had or whatever but it's good to see you."

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Hank Johnson, Democrat - Georgia:

"Do you agree with the president's statement that the Russian investigation is a witch hunt?"

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Matthew Whitaker, acting Attorney General

"As I mentioned previously, Congressman. I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment about an ongoing investigation."

18. Side view of hearing

US President Donald Trump's pick to head the FBI says the White House should not be playing a role in prosecutorial decisions.

At the Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday, nominee Christopher Wray insisted his commitment was to "follow the facts wherever they may lead."

"There isn't a person on this who's lobbying or influence could convince me to just drop or abandon a properly predicated and meritorious investigation," said Wray.

Trump has repeatedly derided as a "hoax" and a "witch hunt" an ongoing investigation by the FBI and Robert Mueller, the former FBI director selected in May as the special counsel to oversee the probe.

Wray, the former high-ranking Justice Department official whom Trump nominated last month, also told senators at his confirmation hearing that he would never let politics get in the way of the bureau's mission.

Wray was selected for the FBI job last month after Trump fired James Comey.

POOL

Washington, D.C. - 12 July 2017

1. Hearing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Benjamin Sasse (R) Nebraska:

"When would it be appropriate and when would it be inappropriate for main justice and beyond, I mean particularly the White House, to be providing direction about FBI priorities and mind share and budget investments?"

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"Well I don't think the White House should be playing a role in prosecutorial decisions, period."

4. Hearing

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"You can't do a job like this without being prepared to quit or be fired at a moment's notice if you're asked to do something or confronted with something that is either illegal, unconstitutional, or even morally repugnant."

6. Hearing

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"My commitment is to the rule of law, to the constitution, to follow the facts, wherever they may lead, and there isn't a person on this planet who's lobbying or influence could convince me to just drop or abandon a properly predicated and meritorious investigation."

8. Hearing

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Al Franken, (D) Minnesota:

"And you don't think Director Comey is a nut job right?'

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Wray, FBI Director Nominee:

"That's never been my experience with him."

(Sen. Al Franken, (D) Minnesota off camera): "Okay. I'm glad to hear that."

11. Hearing