President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general continued efforts to distance himself from the president Tuesday as he testified before Senators at his confirmation hearing.

Under questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee, William Barr said he would not "not carry out" any order to fire special counsel Robert Mueller without cause.

The comments were in response to a question from Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.

Mueller's team is examining potential ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign. Barr said repeatedly Tuesday he wants Mueller to finish the investigation.

Trump's nominee was also asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is a friend or a foe to the United States.

Barr said while Russia is a "potent rival" of the U.S. with foreign policy objectives "usually at direct contrary," he minimized the threat from Moscow and said China, not Russia is the "primary rival" of the United States.

Throughout his testimony, Barr acknowledged Russian attempts to meddle in the 2016 election but said Russia "is half the size it was was" during the Cold War with an economy nowhere near the size of China's.

And he said he's concerned "that the fixation on Russia not obscure the danger from China."

On a separate topic, Barr told the committee he can't rule out jailing reporters for doing their jobs.

In  response to a question from Sen. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, Barr said that there are certain situations where a reporter could be held in contempt "as a last resort."

Barr said the situations he was envisioning would involve news organizations "putting out stuff that is hurting the country."

POOL

Washington, DC - 15 January 2019

1. Wide shot of William Barr sitting before the Senate Judiciary Committee as it returns from break

2. Wide cutaway of committee

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chris Coons, Democrat, Delaware:

"So most famously when directed by President Nixon to fire the special counsel the prosecutor investigating Watergate, Richardson refused and resigned instead as we all well know. If the president directed you to change those regulations and then fire Mueller or simply directly fire Mueller, would you follow Richardson's example and resign instead?"

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

"Assuming there was no good cause?

(Coons: Assuming no good cause.)

I would not carry out that instruction."

5. Cutaway of Coons

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

"As I said, I'm going to carry out those regulations and I want him to finish this investigation."

7. Wide shot of hearing

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

"Well I don't hold myself out as a foreign policy expert but I think that he is, I think the Russians are a potent rival of our country and his foreign policy objectives are usually at directly contrary to our goals. I think he wants to weaken the American alliances in Europe and he also wants to become a player in the Middle East, more of a player in the Middle East. A lot of his foreign policy objectives are are at odds with ours. At the same time, I think the primary rival of the United States is China. I think, you know, Russia is half the size it was when we were facing them at the peak of the Cold War. Their economy is, long term prognosis, is nowhere near China's. But I'm concerned that the fixation on Russia not obscure the danger from China."

9. Wide shot of hearing

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Democrat, Minnesota:

"If you're confirmed, will the Justice Department jail reporters for doing their jobs?"

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

"I think that, you know, there are guidelines in place and I can conceive of situations where you know, as a last resort and where a news organization has run through a red flag or something like that, knows that they're putting out stuff that will hurt the country, there might be, there could be a situation where someone would be held in contempt."

12. Wide shot of hearing

President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general continued efforts to distance himself from the president Tuesday as he testified before Senators at his confirmation hearing.

Under questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee, William Barr said he would not "not carry out" any order to fire special counsel Robert Mueller without cause.

The comments were in response to a question from Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.

Mueller's team is examining potential ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign. Barr said repeatedly Tuesday he wants Mueller to finish the investigation.

Trump's nominee was also asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is a friend or a foe to the United States.

Barr said while Russia is a "potent rival" of the U.S. with foreign policy objectives "usually at direct contrary," he minimized the threat from Moscow and said China, not Russia is the "primary rival" of the United States.

Throughout his testimony, Barr acknowledged Russian attempts to meddle in the 2016 election but said Russia "is half the size it was was" during the Cold War with an economy nowhere near the size of China's.

And he said he's concerned "that the fixation on Russia not obscure the danger from China."

On a separate topic, Barr told the committee he can't rule out jailing reporters for doing their jobs.

In  response to a question from Sen. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, Barr said that there are certain situations where a reporter could be held in contempt "as a last resort."

Barr said the situations he was envisioning would involve news organizations "putting out stuff that is hurting the country."

POOL

Washington, DC - 15 January 2019

1. Wide shot of William Barr sitting before the Senate Judiciary Committee as it returns from break

2. Wide cutaway of committee

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chris Coons, Democrat, Delaware:

"So most famously when directed by President Nixon to fire the special counsel the prosecutor investigating Watergate, Richardson refused and resigned instead as we all well know. If the president directed you to change those regulations and then fire Mueller or simply directly fire Mueller, would you follow Richardson's example and resign instead?"

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

"Assuming there was no good cause?

(Coons: Assuming no good cause.)

I would not carry out that instruction."

5. Cutaway of Coons

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

"As I said, I'm going to carry out those regulations and I want him to finish this investigation."

7. Wide shot of hearing

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

"Well I don't hold myself out as a foreign policy expert but I think that he is, I think the Russians are a potent rival of our country and his foreign policy objectives are usually at directly contrary to our goals. I think he wants to weaken the American alliances in Europe and he also wants to become a player in the Middle East, more of a player in the Middle East. A lot of his foreign policy objectives are are at odds with ours. At the same time, I think the primary rival of the United States is China. I think, you know, Russia is half the size it was when we were facing them at the peak of the Cold War. Their economy is, long term prognosis, is nowhere near China's. But I'm concerned that the fixation on Russia not obscure the danger from China."

9. Wide shot of hearing

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Democrat, Minnesota:

"If you're confirmed, will the Justice Department jail reporters for doing their jobs?"

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

"I think that, you know, there are guidelines in place and I can conceive of situations where you know, as a last resort and where a news organization has run through a red flag or something like that, knows that they're putting out stuff that will hurt the country, there might be, there could be a situation where someone would be held in contempt."

12. Wide shot of hearing

Seeking a bipartisan compromise to avoid a government shutdown, President Donald Trump suggested on January 9th 2018 that an immigration deal could be reached in two phases - first by addressing young immigrants and border security with what he called a "bill of love," then by making comprehensive changes that have long eluded Congress.

Trump held a lengthy meeting with Republican and Democratic lawmakers seeking a solution for hundreds of thousands of young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children.

In 2017 Trump ended the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which shielded more than 700,000 people from deportation and gave then the right to work legally in the country. He gave Congress until March to find a fix.

The president, congressional Republicans and Democrats expressed optimism for a deal just 10 days before a government shutdown deadline. Trump expressed a willingness to be flexible in finding an agreement.

Trump told the bipartisan group of 20 lawmakers that if they reach a deal, he will sign it.

A group of journalists observed the meandering meeting for an extraordinary length of time - about 55 minutes - that involved Trump seeking input from Democrats and Republicans alike in a freewheeling exchange on the contentious issue.

The president said he would insist on construction of a border security wall as part of an agreement involving young immigrants, but he said Congress could then pursue a comprehensive immigration overhaul in the second phase.

House Republicans said they planned to soon introduce legislation to address border security and the young immigrants. Trump said, "it should be a bill of love."

***

President Donald Trump denied January 12th via Twitter that he said anything "derogatory about Haitians" during an immigration meeting at the White House on Thursday, as the country and the world continued to express outrage over his reported comments.

Trump was in a closed meeting with members of Congress to discuss immigration on January 11th when he reportedly questioned why the U.S. would accept more people from Haiti and "shithole countries" in Africa, rather than places like Norway.

At first the White House did not deny that the remark was made. On Friday the president tweeted that his language was "tough" but insisted he did not say anything derogatory about Haitians aside from noting it's a poor country.

Associated Press White House reporter Jonathan Lemire said no one at the White House denied "that he used these vulgar terms to describe these immigrants."

on January 12th Trump took to Twitter to say the language he used at the meeting "was tough," but insisted the words being reported "was not the language used."

He also denied saying "anything derogatory about Haitians other than" that Haiti is "a very poor and troubled country."

***

After President Trump made disparaging remarks about immigrants, some members of the Haitian communities in New York and Florida said they were offended and believed his comments were racist.

President Donald Trump on January 12th questioned why the U.S. would accept more immigrants from "shithole countries" after senators discussed revamping rules affecting those from Africa and Haiti, according to people briefed on the conversation.

Haitians in New York and South Florida reacted negatively to the remarks.

"His comment is divisive. It's un-American. It's extremely offensive. I was reading the Daily News earlier this morning. Actually they could not have said it any better," said Gerald Cajust, referring to a crude depiction of the President on the front page of the New York Daily News.

In North Miami Beach, Florida, hosts at a Haitian-American radio studio, said although they were disappointed in Trump's comments, they believed Haitian leaders were also to blame for the country's economic situation.

Fabiola Charles, a Haitian radio personality with WSRF AM, said "we're looking at ourselves as well and saying you know what, if we took time to actually take care of our people, the president wouldn't have to say something like this about us. So, we also put the blame on us."

***

US President Donald Trump said on January 14th he is not a racist, just days after making controversial comments about Haiti and African countries.

Trump has been accused of using a vulgar word to describe African countries during an Oval Office meeting the previous week with a bipartisan group of six senators.

People briefed on the conversation say that during the meeting the president also questioned the need to admit more Haitians to the US.

The individuals spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to describe the meeting publicly.

Trump addressed the issue briefly on Sunday as he arrived for dinner at one of his Florida golf clubs with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California.

Asked what he thinks about people who think he's racist, Trump said: "I am not a racist". He told reporters: "I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed. That I can tell you."

He also praised authorities in Hawaii for taking responsibility for the blunder that caused more than a million people to fear that they were about to be struck by a nuclear missile.

***

Haitians showed their anger over vulgar comments made against their country and Africa by US President Donald Trump with a protest January 18th outside the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince.

Demonstrators gathered outside the gates of the embassy complex chanting slogans and waving signs denouncing Trump over his remarks and a move to end a program that gave temporary legal status to thousands of Haitians in the US.

Signs and Creole chants by the protesters criticised remarks by the president last week in which he is said to have profanely disparaged African countries and asked why the US would want more Haitians.

The protest by fewer than 100 demonstrators was peaceful and ended without incident.

Another demonstration was planned for next week.

The Haitian government said it was shocked by the remarks, which came on the eve of the anniversary of the country's devastating January 2010 earthquake.

The Trump administration has said that about 60,000 Haitians who have been allowed to stay and work in the US since the earthquake must leave the country in July 2019.

***

A former top adviser to President Donald Trump's election campaign pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and false statements charges February 23rd in the special counsel's Russia investigation.

The plea by Rick Gates is a strong indication that he is planning to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation as it continues to probe the Trump campaign, Russian election interference and Gates' longtime business associate, Paul Manafort.

Gates, 45, of Richmond, Virginia, appeared at the federal courthouse in Washington for his plea agreement hearing.

A court filing shows Gates has agreed to plead to charges accusing him of conspiring against the U.S. government related to fraud and unregistered foreign lobbying as well as lying to federal authorities in a recent interview.

Gates' decision to admit to the crimes comes a day after a federal grand jury in Virginia returned a 32-count indictment against him and Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, accusing them of tax evasion and bank fraud.

The indictment in Virginia was the second round of charges against Gates and against Manafort, who has denied any wrongdoing. The two men were initially charged last October with unregistered lobbying and conspiring to launder millions of dollars they earned while working on behalf of a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party.

Gates' decision marks the fifth publicly known guilty plea in the special counsel probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin during the 2016 campaign.

***

America's top diplomat is one of any White House's highest-level cabinet members, often seated at the right hand of the president.

As a newcomer to Washington politics, former Exxon Mobile CEO Rex Tillerson was tasked with steering the ship of state with no foreign policy experience and needed to navigate a turbulent, frequently contradictory White House.

As he stepped into the State Department for the first time, Secretary of State Tillerson appealed for unity.

"I know this was a hotly-contested election and we do not all feel the same way about the outcome, " he said, adding "we cannot let our personal convictions overwhelm our ability to work as one team."

But as Tillerson neared the six-month mark on the job, he was forced to knock down a flurry of speculation that he was unhappy and may quit.

At the time, Washington was buzzing with rumors that he would leave due to frustration with the White House.

In his first appearance in the State Department briefing room, Tillerson reiterated that he had a good relationship with the president.

While Tillerson was redefining foreign strategy under the Trump administration's overarching police of "America First", his efforts to craft coherent policy were frequently upended by a tweeting boss.

By October 2017, Tillerson was forced in an unscheduled news conference held at the State Department to defend remarks he made in the Pentagon earlier that President Trump was, "a moron."

In response, Trump said in an interview published in Forbes magazine that if Rex Tillerson did call him a moron, the two should "compare IQ tests."

The White House later said that Trump was joking when he appeared to question his secretary of state's intelligence.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that the president "never implied that the secretary of state was not incredibly intelligent."

She says: "He made a joke, no more than that."

From the start of his tenure, Tillerson's selection raised potential conflict-of-interest issues, as Exxon's business interests around the globe, included Russia.

As an oil executive, Tillerson had argued against sanctions that the U.S. and European allies imposed on Russia after it annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.

***

President Donald Trump says he has "total confidence" in Mike Pompeo, his new pick for Secretary of State.

Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on March 13th, saying he would nominate CIA Director Mike Pompeo to replace him.

It's a major staff reshuffle just as Trump dives into high-stakes talks with North Korea.

Trump announced the change in a tweet early on March 13th just four hours after Tillerson returned to Washington from a trip to Africa.

He stopped to take questions from reporters at the South Lawn of the White House about his decision to oust Tillerson and replace him with Pompeo.

Trump said he and Tillerson "disagreed on things" like the Iran deal.

"We were not really thinking the same," Trump said about Tillerson. "With Mike Pompeo, we have a very similar thought process. I think it's going to go very well."

***

CBS says it will air its interview with porn actress Stormy Daniels on March 25th's episode of "60 Minutes."

Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex with Donald Trump before he became president. She has been trying to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election so she can discuss her relationship with Trump, which she said began in 2006 and continued for about a year.

CNN anchor and "60 Minutes" correspondent Anderson Cooper recorded the interview with Clifford earlier this month.

Clifford's attorney, Michael Avenatti, told The Associated Press on March 21st that more details of the affair would come out on "60 Minutes," and said his office was checking out similar claims from six women who had come forward.

"This is about this woman wanting to be able to tell her story to the American people, tell her version of the facts" said Avenatti.

00:00:00

Trump wants immigration deal to be 'bill of love'

4134075

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington DC - 9 January 2018

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

" This should be a bill of love, truly it should be a bill of love. And we can do that. But it also has to be a bill where we're able to secure our border. Drugs are pouring into our country at a record pace. "

00:13:18

Trump Pushes Back on Vulgar Comments About Haiti

4134641

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Port au Prince, Haiti - 21 November, 2017

2. Shots of people walking, traffic in Haitian street

Johannesburg - 12 January 2018

3. Shot of people walking on the street in Johannesburg

00:23:03

Haitians In US offended by comments attributed to Trump

4134647

ASSOCIATED PRESS

New York - January 12, 2018

4. Wide of Haitian American advocacy group storefront

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Herold Dasque, Haitian Americans United for Progress

"It's beyond racism. Of course he's a racist. He's going to say 'no I'm not racist.' What kind of statement is that? 'I don't need Haitians.' Economically they are the one working in the garden. "

6. Interior of barber shop

00:40:21

President Trump: "I'm Not a Racist"

4134855

POOL

West Palm Beach - 14 January 2018

++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"No, no, I'm not a racist. I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed, that I can tell you."

00:47:21

Protesters in Haiti condemn Trump remarks

4135616

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Port-au-Prince - 18 January 2018

8. People protesting vulgar comments on Haiti and Africa by US President Donald Trump outside US embassy

9. Sign reading (English) "The U.S. has always been racist! Trump just said it out loud"

10. People holding signs during protest, one reading (English) "Donald Trump's racism is the true face of U.S. foreign policy."

00:57:20

Ex-Trump Aide Pleads Guilty in Russia Probe

4141338

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 February 2018

11. Wide shot of Rick Gates walking into US District Court

12. STILL PHOTO of Gates walking into court

13. Rick Gates and attorney walking out of court and getting into vehicle

01:10:17

Rex Tillerson: Businessman turned Trump diplomat out at the White House

4144029

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Various - Various

Washington, D.C. - 31 July 2017

14. Various, Cabinet Room meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson seated right of President Donald Trump

Washington, D.C. - 1 February 2017

15. Mid, Rex Tillerson being sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence

01:34:09

Trump: Pompeo Will be a Great Secretary of State

4144042

ASSOCIATED PRESS, POOL

Washington - 13 March 2018

16. President Donald Trump stops to speak with reporters on White House South Lawn

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) President Donald Trump:

"I've worked with Mike Pompeo now for quite some time -- tremendous energy, tremendous intellect. We're always on the same wavelength.

18. Wide of Trump

19. SOUNDBITE: (English) President Donald Trump:

"Rex and I've been talking about this for a long time. We've got a long actually quite well but we disagreed on things. When you look at the Iran deal: I think it's terrible. I guess he thought it was OK.

02:00:11

Lawyer: Trump should take Stormy Daniels very seriously

4145439

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Various - 19/21 March 2018/FILE

FILE: Los Angeles - 11 February 2007

20. STILL: Stormy Daniels

FILE: New Orleans, Louisiana - 6 May 2009

21. STILL of Stormy Daniels

22. SOUNDBITE (English): Michael Avenatti, Attorney for Stormy Daniels

"I don't know how serious they are taking us at this point. I think they're probably taking us more seriously today than they were a couple weeks ago. I'll say that. I'll say that they should be taking us very seriously."

The top Democrat on the US House of Representatives' intelligence committee says Russian interference "unquestionably" had an influence on the 2016 US presidential election.

California congressman Adam Schiff made the remark in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Schiff also commented on a former foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump's campaign who has acknowledged in testimony to Congress that he had contact with a high-level Russian official while on a trip to Russia last year.

The congressman also urged Republican and Democrat leaders to support special counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation.

Washington DC - 7 November 2017

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Schiff, Democratic member of the US House of Representatives and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee: ++VARIOUS ANGLES++

"I think unquestionably it had an influence on the election. It influenced the election by millions and millions of Americans seeing Russian content on social media pushed out by the Kremlin. It had an effect in that the Russians were dumping emails that forced Hillary Clinton on a daily basis to have to defend herself and the campaign, and it changed the topic of the conversation on the campaign trail. But again the very best proof that the Trump campaign viewed the Russian interference as influential is the fact that the president used it as a central part of his campaign speeches on a daily basis."

2. Cutaway of audience

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Schiff, Democratic member of the US House of Representatives and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee:

"And the single greatest impediment to getting to that consensus is the President of the United States, who refuses to admit it even happened, who to this day calls it a hoax and a witchhunt. So he is I think quite deliberately for his own reasons preventing the country from coming together around a defence to further Russian meddling."

5. Wide of Schiff and AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Schiff, Democratic member of the US House of Representatives and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee: ++VARIOUS ANGLES++

"First, it was apparent right from the very beginning of the hearing that what Carter Page (foreign policy adviser to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign) had been saying publicly was completely at odds with what he would later testify to. And the documentary evidence that we were already in possession of so publicly even to up to two days before coming before Congress he was saying that when he went to Russia it was as a private citizen, he had no meetings of any consequence. It was basically talking to your man on the street, but as now has been revealed when we released the transcript, he met with people as high as the deputy prime minister of Russia."

(AP Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace: "Which he's denied previously.")

"Which he denied previously, even at the very beginning of his interview I asked him: 'Did you have any private conversations any private meetings with Russian government officials?' (His response was) 'No, absolutely not.' But he sends a memo back to the campaign - which in itself is significant, because he was claiming this was a private trip - sends a memo saying that in a private conversation, basically, that I had with the deputy prime minister and others in the presidential administration and members of the Duma I gained important insight and outreach that I want to share with the campaign. Completely at odds with what you have been saying publicly."

7. Wide of Schiff and Pace

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Schiff, Democratic member of the US House of Representatives and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee: ++VARIOUS ANGLES++

"The most important thing I think that we can do right now is speak out on a very bipartisan basis that the President needs to leave (special counsel) Bob Mueller alone and finish this work, and I think that's the most important because we don't want to wait till there's a constitutional crisis. We need the White House to get the message now that that there will be a dramatic pushback should he try to fire Bob Mueller."

9. Audience member asking question

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Schiff, Democratic member of the US House of Representatives and ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee:

"Probably the lowest hanging fruit is we're going to require that the tech companies, when they do political advertising, carry the same kind of disclaimer that other media are required to carry. So a paid ad on Facebook is going to need to disclose that it was paid for by what campaign then the candidate endorses the message. They were a carve out. They're not going to be carved out anymore."

11. Schiff and Pace

Robert Mueller paused. He refused to speculate. He made constant references to his report — but wasn't sure of a number of things in it.

The former special counsel's long-awaited, heavily-negotiated testimony Wednesday was just what he'd promised: Relentlessly focused on his report issued in April on President Donald Trump, obstruction and Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

As members of the House Judiciary Committee strained to hear what he had to say, it became clear that the famously apolitical Mueller was not going to play their made-for-TV games.

"Robert Mueller did not go outside the four corners of the report and he stuck very, very closely to his answer that he wasn't comfortable discussing something that was outside the purview of his investigation or he would refer the questioner to the report," said Claire Finkelstein, a professor of law at Penn Law and a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

Finkelstein said, however, there were a few moments that Democrats may have found useful in their hopes the hearing might be a platform to begin impeachment proceedings.

"Number one, the fact that he was willing to say explicitly that he was not able to exonerate the president of obstruction," Finkelstein said.

She says going forward, Mueller's assertion that Trump could be open to prosecution for such crimes after he leaves office will be a subject of much discussion.

Philadelphia - July 24, 2019

++QUALITY AS INCOMING SKYPE INTERVIEW++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Claire Finkelstein, Professor of Law, Penn Law, senior fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute

"Robert Mueller did not go outside the four corners of the report and he stuck very, very closely to his answer that if he wasn't comfortable discussing something that was outside the purview of his investigation or he would refer the questioner to the report. The few surprises, the unusual moments were, number one, the fact that he was willing to say explicitly that he was not able to exonerate the president of obstruction. That, of course, we knew from his report. But the fact that he was willing to say so boldly and not just refer back to the report at that moment was something I think the Democrats were not certain that he was going to do. He also said that the president could be prosecuted for crimes after he leaves office, though he declined to say what he thought about the possibility of the statute of limitations running. He was very clear that Russia sought to assist the Trump campaign in its interference and wanted Trump to win. And he also admitted that the Trump campaign welcomed that interference. So amidst all of the moments in which he said that he could not answer the question or referred the questioner back to the report, he did make those striking straight up comments which ought not to be lost."

++BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Claire Finkelstein, Professor of Law, Penn Law, senior fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute

"(Congressman Mike) Quiggley asked him whether or not the fact that he was not indicting a sitting president because he was a sitting president meant that the statute of limitations would be told. And I think that's a question that's going to come up again. The argument would be that if the president is immune to prosecution because he's president, something that not everyone agrees with. But if you do think that and if you understand Robert Mueller is suggesting that then should that not suspend the running of the statute of limitations to preserve the claims against the president?"

++BLACK FRAMES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Claire Finkelstein, Professor of Law, Penn Law, senior fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute

"Well it's a very significant moment. The Democrats are, of course, hoping that it will catapult us into impeachment proceedings. Obviously, Nancy Pelosi has been unwilling to go in that direction. And I think what they are hoping is that there may be some Republicans who were swayed in the direction of supporting impeachment, both in the House and Senate, and there's more public support for it. And we know from Watergate history that that can happen. And that when the American public really understands the depth of presidential misdeeds that there can be a very sudden switch of opinion and you can suddenly find the politics going the other way. I doubt that will happen at this moment because I don't think that the admissions or the moments in which Mueller was willing to say that there were misdeeds on the part of Donald Trump or of his close associates would have resonated enough with viewers, is my guess."

U.S. Secretary of State nominee, the current CIA Director Mike Pompeo, confirmed that he met with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigate team.

His confirmation hearing began Thursday on Capitol Hill.

Pompeo won't say what he spoke about with Mueller's team.

He says he's cooperated with multiple investigations in the past and believes that when investigations are ongoing, it's best not to talk about it.

Pompeo also told lawmakers that if confirmed he will restore the State Department as the country's pre-eminent foreign policy agency and fill positions left vacant under Rex Tillerson.

Meanwhile, protesters interrupted the start of the hearing in the Senate, chanting "No Pompeo" and "No more war." One interrupted Republican Sen. Pat Roberts' opening statement.

Fellow Kansan, former Sen. Bob Dole made a rare appearance at the hearing.

The 94-year-old said Pompeo is "ready to go" in the job of Secretary of State.

POOL

Washington - 12 April 2018

1. Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo walks into hearing room, pan to "Code Pink" protester

2. Sen. Bob corker gavels hearing into session

3. Wide of witness table

4. "Code Pink" protester stands up and is removed by police officer

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Former Sen. Bob Dole, (R) Kansas:

"Mike Pompeo. I don't know, he just a brilliant guy. Top of his class at West Point and businessman, Congressman, father, husband and all those things added up, with the experience he has, he's ready to go and we thank you for holding this hearing."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Corker, (R) Tennessee:

"However, many strong voices have been terminated or resigned. That's why I think it's fair for our members to ask whether your relationship is rooted in a candid, healthy, give and take dynamic or whether it's based on deferential willingness to go along to get along."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:

"This is about Russia and so at the end of the day understanding how you responded. What you will do as we're looking at mandatory sanctions that the administration has yet to impose. Looking at how we're going to deal with a Russia that not only sought to affect our last elections, but is doing so even as we speak both here at home and across the world. Those are substantive questions."

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:

"So you talked about the important, policy issues. I'm happy to talk about this administration's work on Russia. I'm happy to talk about our work on sanctions if that's what you'd (Menendez) let me ask you this. Did President Trump ever discuss the FBI or special counsel, Russia's investigation with you? (Pompeo) Senator again I'm not going to talk about private conversations I've had with the president. (Menendez) So--so whenever you come, if you were to be confirmed in the future would want to try to talk about foreign policy and we ask you where is the president at or this or that you're not going to. (Pompeo). Senator. Senator. I'm happy to answer questions about our administration's policies, the work that we're doing. You're asking about conversations. You should know senator as well, I have provided, I spoke with special counsel Mueller, who interviewed me, requested an interview. I cooperated. Your colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee have asked for information from me and from the Central Intelligence Agency as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. I think the leaders of those two organizations in a bipartisan way that would say I've been cooperative and in matters of late (Menendez) You have spoken to Special Counsel Muller. (Pompeo) Yes that's right. (Menendez) And what was the subject of that conversation? (Pompeo) Senator I'm not going to speak to that. (Menendez) Did the special counsel tell you not to speak about these things? (Pompeo) Senator, I have cooperated with multiple investigations while the investigation continues. I think that's the appropriate way to approach it."

9. Sen. James Risch, (R) Idaho asking question

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:

"At State Department, there are too many holes, too many vacancies, too many unfilled positions. When that happens every one stretch then and the subject matter expertise that is needed to deliver America's diplomacy around the world, to conduct its mission, its humanitarian missions, its development missions. Each of the missions to which are entrusted to the State Department require talented people on station doing their part. Working alongside it."

11. Wide of hearing

U.S. Secretary of State nominee, the current CIA Director Mike Pompeo, confirmed that he met with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigate team.

His confirmation hearing began Thursday on Capitol Hill.

Pompeo won't say what he spoke about with Mueller's team.

He says he's cooperated with multiple investigations in the past and believes that when investigations are ongoing, it's best not to talk about it.

Pompeo also told lawmakers that if confirmed he will restore the State Department as the country's pre-eminent foreign policy agency and fill positions left vacant under Rex Tillerson.

Meanwhile, protesters interrupted the start of the hearing in the Senate, chanting "No Pompeo" and "No more war." One interrupted Republican Sen. Pat Roberts' opening statement.

Fellow Kansan, former Sen. Bob Dole made a rare appearance at the hearing.

The 94-year-old said Pompeo is "ready to go" in the job of Secretary of State.

POOL

Washington - 12 April 2018

1. Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo walks into hearing room, pan to "Code Pink" protester

2. Sen. Bob corker gavels hearing into session

3. Wide of witness table

4. "Code Pink" protester stands up and is removed by police officer

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Former Sen. Bob Dole, (R) Kansas:

"Mike Pompeo. I don't know, he just a brilliant guy. Top of his class at West Point and businessman, Congressman, father, husband and all those things added up, with the experience he has, he's ready to go and we thank you for holding this hearing."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Corker, (R) Tennessee:

"However, many strong voices have been terminated or resigned. That's why I think it's fair for our members to ask whether your relationship is rooted in a candid, healthy, give and take dynamic or whether it's based on deferential willingness to go along to get along."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:

"This is about Russia and so at the end of the day understanding how you responded. What you will do as we're looking at mandatory sanctions that the administration has yet to impose. Looking at how we're going to deal with a Russia that not only sought to affect our last elections, but is doing so even as we speak both here at home and across the world. Those are substantive questions."

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:

"So you talked about the important, policy issues. I'm happy to talk about this administration's work on Russia. I'm happy to talk about our work on sanctions if that's what you'd (Menendez) let me ask you this. Did President Trump ever discuss the FBI or special counsel, Russia's investigation with you? (Pompeo) Senator again I'm not going to talk about private conversations I've had with the president. (Menendez) So--so whenever you come, if you were to be confirmed in the future would want to try to talk about foreign policy and we ask you where is the president at or this or that you're not going to. (Pompeo). Senator. Senator. I'm happy to answer questions about our administration's policies, the work that we're doing. You're asking about conversations. You should know senator as well, I have provided, I spoke with special counsel Mueller, who interviewed me, requested an interview. I cooperated. Your colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee have asked for information from me and from the Central Intelligence Agency as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. I think the leaders of those two organizations in a bipartisan way that would say I've been cooperative and in matters of late (Menendez) You have spoken to Special Counsel Muller. (Pompeo) Yes that's right. (Menendez) And what was the subject of that conversation? (Pompeo) Senator I'm not going to speak to that. (Menendez) Did the special counsel tell you not to speak about these things? (Pompeo) Senator, I have cooperated with multiple investigations while the investigation continues. I think that's the appropriate way to approach it."

9. Sen. James Risch, (R) Idaho asking question

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:

"At State Department, there are too many holes, too many vacancies, too many unfilled positions. When that happens every one stretch then and the subject matter expertise that is needed to deliver America's diplomacy around the world, to conduct its mission, its humanitarian missions, its development missions. Each of the missions to which are entrusted to the State Department require talented people on station doing their part. Working alongside it."

11. Wide of hearing

U.S. Secretary of State nominee, the current CIA Director Mike Pompeo, confirmed that he met with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigate team.

His confirmation hearing began Thursday on Capitol Hill.

Pompeo won't say what he spoke about with Mueller's team.

He says he's co-operated with multiple investigations in the past and believes that when investigations are ongoing, it's best not to talk about it.

Pompeo also told lawmakers that if confirmed he will restore the State Department as the country's pre-eminent foreign policy agency and fill positions left vacant under Rex Tillerson.

Meanwhile, protesters interrupted the start of the hearing in the Senate, chanting "No Pompeo" and "No more war." One interrupted Republican Sen. Pat Roberts' opening statement.

Fellow Kansan, former Sen. Bob Dole made a rare appearance at the hearing.

The 94-year-old said Pompeo is "ready to go" in the job of Secretary of State.

POOL

Washington - 12 April 2018

1. Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo walks into hearing room, pan to "Code Pink" protester

2. Sen. Bob corker gavels hearing into session

3. Wide of witness table

4. "Code Pink" protester stands up and is removed by police officer

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Former Sen. Bob Dole, (R) Kansas:

"Mike Pompeo. I don't know, he just a brilliant guy. Top of his class at West Point and businessman, Congressman, father, husband and all those things added up, with the experience he has, he's ready to go and we thank you for holding this hearing."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Corker, (R) Tennessee:

"However, many strong voices have been terminated or resigned. That's why I think it's fair for our members to ask whether your relationship is rooted in a candid, healthy, give and take dynamic or whether it's based on deferential willingness to go along to get along."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:

"This is about Russia and so at the end of the day understanding how you responded. What you will do as we're looking at mandatory sanctions that the administration has yet to impose. Looking at how we're going to deal with a Russia that not only sought to affect our last elections, but is doing so even as we speak both here at home and across the world. Those are substantive questions."

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:

"So you talked about the important, policy issues. I'm happy to talk about this administration's work on Russia. I'm happy to talk about our work on sanctions if that's what you'd

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:

"Let me ask you this. Did President Trump ever discuss the FBI or special counsel, Russia's investigation with you?"

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:

"Senator again I'm not going to talk about private conversations I've had with the president.

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:

"So--so whenever you come, if you were to be confirmed in the future would want to try to talk about foreign policy and we ask you where is the president at or this or that you're not going to."

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:

"Senator. Senator. I'm happy to answer questions about our administration's policies, the work that we're doing. You're asking about conversations. You should know senator as well, I have provided, I spoke with special counsel Mueller, who interviewed me, requested an interview. I co-operated. Your colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee have asked for information from me and from the Central Intelligence Agency as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. I think the leaders of those two organisations in a bipartisan way that would say I've been co-operative and in matters of late.

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:

"You have spoken to Special Counsel Muller. (Pompeo) Yes that's right. (Menendez) And what was the subject of that conversation?

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:

"Senator I'm not going to speak to that. (Menendez) Did the special counsel tell you not to speak about these things? (Pompeo) Senator, I have co-operated with multiple investigations while the investigation continues. I think that's the appropriate way to approach it."

15. Sen. James Risch, (R) Idaho asking question

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:

"At State Department, there are too many holes, too many vacancies, too many unfilled positions. When that happens every one stretch then and the subject matter expertise that is needed to deliver America's diplomacy around the world, to conduct its mission, its humanitarian missions, its development missions. Each of the missions to which are entrusted to the State Department require talented people on station doing their part. Working alongside it."

17. Wide of hearing

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions will announce that he is entering the race for his old U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, two Republicans with direct knowledge of his plans said Wednesday.

Sessions, 72, will be making a return to the political stage a year after stepping down as President Donald Trump's first attorney general when their relationship soured over his recusal from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

The two Republicans confirmed to The Associated Press that Sessions is expected to announce his candidacy Thursday.

They were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The two-decade senator's entry into the race upends the 2020 Republican primary, which has a crowded field competing to challenge Democratic Sen. Doug Jones for the once reliably red seat.

The decision comes after months of speculation that Sessions might seek a return to the Senate.

Sessions was the first U.S. senator to endorse Trump's 2016 campaign, and the two supported similar policies on immigration and law enforcement.

But Sessions' recusal from the Russia inquiry prompted blistering public criticism from Trump, who eventually asked him to resign.

Despite the repeated attacks, Sessions has remained a Trump loyalist who continues to back the president's policies.

In a speech last month at a Republican Party fundraiser in Huntsville, Sessions reiterated his support for Trump even as he joked about life after being "fired" from a job. Sessions praised Trump's effort on trade, immigration and foreign policy.

"That's why I supported him and why I still do support him," Sessions told the crowd of about 500. "He is relentlessly and actually honoring the promises he made to the American people."

Sessions, for years a popular figure among state Republicans, represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate from 1997 to 2017.

He will enter the race as a presumed front-runner, but the effect of Trump's online and verbal lashings remains unclear in Alabama, where the president remains popular.

Trump in June called his selection of Sessions as attorney general his "biggest mistake." ''I would say if I had one do-over, it would be, I would not have appointed Jeff Sessions to be attorney general," Trump said in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The Republican primary includes U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne; former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville; Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill; former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who lost to Jones in a special election two years ago; and others.

Some of Sessions' primary rivals have already signaled they will use the Trump feud in the campaign.

Tuberville said in a statement last month that Sessions "had a chance to stand and defend the President and he failed."

POOL

Washington – 30 July 2018

1. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions walks up to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeff Sessions, U.S. Attorney General:

"There can be no doubt that we are stronger as a nation because of the contribution of religious people. Everyday across America, they feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, educate our young people, care for the sick. They do so not because the government tells them to, but because they want to. They do these things because of their faith."

5. Jeff Sessions leaves podium

POOL

Washington – 28 June 2018

1. Officials walk into room

2. Jeff Sessions speaking

3 . SOUNDBITE (English): Jeff Sessions, U.S. Attorney General:

"Today I'm announcing we are breaking records again. The Department of Justice in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing the largest health care fraud takedown in American history. This year we are charging 601 defendants, including 76 doctors, 23 pharmacists, 19 nurses and other medical personnel with more than two billion dollars in health care fraud. Much of this fraud is related to our ongoing opioid crisis, which is tremendously dangerous for America. It's the deadliest drug epidemic in the history of this country. We've never seen anything like it."

3. Wide of news conference

ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Diego, California – 7 May 2018

1. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions walks in for news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeff Sessions. U.S. Attorney General:

"That's why the Department of Homeland Security is now referring 100-percent of the illegal southwest border crossings to the Department of Justice for prosecution and the Department of Justice will take up these cases. I have put in place a zero tolerance policy for illegal entry on our southwest border. If you cross the border unlawfully then we will prosecute you. It's that simple. If you smuggle illegal aliens across our border then we will prosecute you. If you are smuggling a child then we will prosecute you and that child may be separated from you as required by law. If you make false statements to an immigration officer or file a fraudulent asylum claim, that's a felony. If you help others do so that's a felony also, you're going to the jail. So if you're going to come to this country - come here legally don't come here illegally."

5 . Jeff Sessions leaves news conference

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions will announce that he is entering the race for his old U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, two Republicans with direct knowledge of his plans said Wednesday.

Sessions, 72, will be making a return to the political stage a year after stepping down as President Donald Trump's first attorney general when their relationship soured over his recusal from special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

The two Republicans confirmed to The Associated Press that Sessions is expected to announce his candidacy Thursday.

They were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The two-decade senator's entry into the race upends the 2020 Republican primary, which has a crowded field competing to challenge Democratic Sen. Doug Jones for the once reliably red seat.

The decision comes after months of speculation that Sessions might seek a return to the Senate.

Sessions was the first U.S. senator to endorse Trump's 2016 campaign, and the two supported similar policies on immigration and law enforcement.

But Sessions' recusal from the Russia inquiry prompted blistering public criticism from Trump, who eventually asked him to resign.

Despite the repeated attacks, Sessions has remained a Trump loyalist who continues to back the president's policies.

In a speech last month at a Republican Party fundraiser in Huntsville, Sessions reiterated his support for Trump even as he joked about life after being "fired" from a job. Sessions praised Trump's effort on trade, immigration and foreign policy.

"That's why I supported him and why I still do support him," Sessions told the crowd of about 500. "He is relentlessly and actually honoring the promises he made to the American people."

Sessions, for years a popular figure among state Republicans, represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate from 1997 to 2017.

He will enter the race as a presumed front-runner, but the effect of Trump's online and verbal lashings remains unclear in Alabama, where the president remains popular.

Trump in June called his selection of Sessions as attorney general his "biggest mistake." ''I would say if I had one do-over, it would be, I would not have appointed Jeff Sessions to be attorney general," Trump said in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press."

The Republican primary includes U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne; former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville; Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill; former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who lost to Jones in a special election two years ago; and others.

Some of Sessions' primary rivals have already signaled they will use the Trump feud in the campaign.

Tuberville said in a statement last month that Sessions "had a chance to stand and defend the President and he failed."

POOL

Washington – 30 July 2018

1. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions walks up to podium

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeff Sessions, U.S. Attorney General:

"There can be no doubt that we are stronger as a nation because of the contribution of religious people. Everyday across America, they feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, educate our young people, care for the sick. They do so not because the government tells them to, but because they want to. They do these things because of their faith."

5. Jeff Sessions leaves podium

POOL

Washington – 28 June 2018

1. Officials walk into room

2. Jeff Sessions speaking

3 . SOUNDBITE (English): Jeff Sessions, U.S. Attorney General:

"Today I'm announcing we are breaking records again. The Department of Justice in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing the largest health care fraud takedown in American history. This year we are charging 601 defendants, including 76 doctors, 23 pharmacists, 19 nurses and other medical personnel with more than two billion dollars in health care fraud. Much of this fraud is related to our ongoing opioid crisis, which is tremendously dangerous for America. It's the deadliest drug epidemic in the history of this country. We've never seen anything like it."

3. Wide of news conference

ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Diego, California – 7 May 2018

1. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions walks in for news conference

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeff Sessions. U.S. Attorney General:

"That's why the Department of Homeland Security is now referring 100-percent of the illegal southwest border crossings to the Department of Justice for prosecution and the Department of Justice will take up these cases. I have put in place a zero tolerance policy for illegal entry on our southwest border. If you cross the border unlawfully then we will prosecute you. It's that simple. If you smuggle illegal aliens across our border then we will prosecute you. If you are smuggling a child then we will prosecute you and that child may be separated from you as required by law. If you make false statements to an immigration officer or file a fraudulent asylum claim, that's a felony. If you help others do so that's a felony also, you're going to the jail. So if you're going to come to this country - come here legally don't come here illegally."

5 . Jeff Sessions leaves news conference