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

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."

US President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared together at an unscheduled Rose Garden news conference on Monday, insisting their relationship is "outstanding" and they are "closer now than ever before".

Trump, who spent August attacking McConnell for failing to pass legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, pledged to work closely with the Majority Leader on health care and overhauling federal taxes.

McConnell, seconded the president's latest views.

The two took questions at length from a quickly assembled White House press corps that stood bunched together on the lawn since there wasn't even time to set up chairs.

Trump defended his former top adviser, Steve Bannon, who is now threatening all-out political war on McConnell and establishment Republicans, including incumbent senators.

But the president also suggested he might try to talk Bannon out of some of his threats against Senate Republicans whom McConnell pledged to defend.

It was not clear what led to the impromptu question-and-answer session, which followed lunch between the two men at the White House.

It comes at a critical time, with the Senate poised to take a crucial vote this week on a budget that would set the stage for tax legislation that many Republicans view as make-or-break following the failure on health care.

Asked about special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, Trump said: "The whole Russia thing was an excuse for the Democrats losing the election."

He added: "There has been absolutely no collusion. It's been stated they have no collusion."

Washington, DC - 16 October 2017

1. US President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walking out of White House

++CONTINUATION INTO SHOT 2; NO CUT++

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

"Thank you very much. I just want to say that we just spent quite a bit of time inside with the Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell who has been a friend of mine for a long time, long before my world of politics, early into his world of politics I think. But we've been friends for a long time. We are probably now, despite what we read, we're probably now, I think at least as far as I'm concerned, closer than ever before and the relationship is very good. We're fighting for the same thing. We're fighting for lower taxes, big tax cuts, the biggest tax cuts in the history of our nation."

3. Cutaway of media

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

"My relationship with this gentleman is outstanding, has been outstanding. We are working very hard to get the tax cuts, we will continue to work hard to get the health care completed."

5. Cutaway of media

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader:

++SOUNDBITE STARTS ON WIDE SHOT++

"I want to underscore what the president said. We have the same agenda. We've been friends and acquaintances for a long time. We talk frequently, we don't give you a read-out every time we have a conversation but frequently we talk on the weekends about the issues that are before us. Obviously, passing the budget, which enables tax reform and tax reduction comes next, then the supplemental to take adequate care of those who've been harmed by the natural disasters we've been afflicted with lately."

7. Cutaway of media

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

"Well, I have a very good relationship as you know with Steve Bannon. Steve's been a friend of mine for a long time. I like Steve a lot. Steve is doing what Steve thinks is the right thing. Some of the people that he may be looking at, I'm going to see if we talk him out of that, because frankly they're great people. What Mitch will tell you is that maybe with the exception of a few, and that is a very small few, I have a fantastic relationship with the people in the Senate and with the people in Congress. I mean, I have, with our House of Representatives, I have a great relationship with political people. If you read the papers you think it's like I'm on one island and they're like on the other, well it's not the way it is."

9. Cutaway of reporters shouting questions

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

"The whole Russia thing was an excuse for the Democrats losing the election. And it turns out to be just one excuse. I mean, today Hillary blamed Nigel Farage (former leader of the UK Independence Party). That one came out of nowhere. So that was just an excuse for the Democrats losing an election that frankly they have a big advantage in the Electoral College. They should always be able to win in the Electoral College but they were unable to do it. So, there has been absolutely no collusion. It's been stated that they have no collusion. They ought to get to the end of it because I think the American public is sick of it. Go ahead."

11. Cutaway of reporter asking question about special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign

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

"(Reporter question: Are you considering firing Robert Mueller?)

No, not at all."

13. Cutaway of reporter asking question about Hillary Clinton running in the 2020 presidential election

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

"Oh I hope Hillary runs. Is she going to run? I hope. Hillary please run again."

15. Cutaway of reporters

16. Trump and McConnell walking back up the steps toward the White House

President Donald Trump is rejecting a proposed bipartisan immigration bill.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the legislation brought forth by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jeff Flake of Arizona and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is "unacceptable" to Trump.

Sanders adds that the legislation should be "declared dead on arrival" and does not meet White House requirements on border security.

The failure to reach an immigration deal earlier this month was the driving force behind the recent, brief federal government shutdown.

The White House had indicated that it would not re-open negotiations on immigration until the shutdown ended.

Sanders also talked about the special counsel's Russia investigation, headed by Robert Mueller.

Washington DC - 23 January 2018

1. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders walks in to press briefing room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"I'd like to leave no doubt, no doubt where the White House stands on the Flake, Graham and Durbin agreement on immigration reform. In a bipartisan meeting here at the White House two weeks ago, we outlined a path forward on four issues, serious border security an end to chain migration, the cancellation of the outdated and unsafe visa lottery and a permanent solution to DACA. Unfortunately, the Flake, Graham, Durbin agreement does not meet these benchmarks. In fact, it would not secure our border encourage more illegal immigration, increase chain migration and retain the visa lottery system."

3. Cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"In short, it's totally unacceptable to the president and should be declared dead on arrival. The president has been extraordinarily consistent on the immigration and what his priorities are. His views are shared by the vast majority of the American people and have bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives."

5. Cutaway

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"We certainly think that there are a lot of things that we agree on and I think if we focus on what we agree on, a lot more than what we disagree on, we can have a lot of progress and hopefully get to something that helps everybody and solves a big problem."

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"Look, I think the president has stated what he would like to see happen and at this point the president is willing to sign something to find a permanent solution for DACA and he has placed the responsibility, which the Constitution has placed and he has reminded Congress that it is their job to actually get that legislation passed and send it to him. Again, he's going to play a big role in the process, but it's on Congress to get that legislation through the two bodies and hit the president's desk."

9. Cutaway

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"But you can't fix the problem if you just tinker with the immigration in a small way. We want to make sure that we're not having this problem and this conversation and this fight in two years and three years and four years. We want to address making a permanent solution to DACA, but at the same time closing the loopholes so we don't have to continue having this battle, but we also want to put some things in place with border security, because if you don't you're not actually solving the problem, you're just extending it and making us have to deal with it in a later time."

11. Cutaway

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"As we've said it probably just about every day this year since we've been here, that we're going to be fully cooperative with the special counsel and we're going to continue to do that throughout the process. But we're also not going to comment on who may or may not or could be interviewed at any point but we're going to continue to be fully cooperative with the process."

13. Cutaway

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"We want to see this come to a complete and full conclusion. I think we all know what everybody in this room would do if the president did that and I don't think that's helpful to the process. The president wants to see this end and he wants to see them finally come to the same conclusion that I think most everyone in America has, that there is nothing to this. They've spent the better part, most of you've spent the better part of a year looking, digging, obsessing over trying to find something and I have yet to find anything."

15. Sanders leaves briefing room

President Donald Trump is rejecting a proposed bipartisan immigration bill.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the legislation brought forth by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jeff Flake of Arizona and Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is "unacceptable" to Trump.

Sanders adds that the legislation should be "declared dead on arrival" and does not meet White House requirements on border security.

The failure to reach an immigration deal earlier this month was the driving force behind the recent, brief federal government shutdown.

The White House had indicated that it would not re-open negotiations on immigration until the shutdown ended.

Sanders also talked about  the special counsel's Russia investigation, headed by Robert Mueller.

Washington DC - 23 January 2018

1. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders walks in to press briefing room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"I'd like to leave no doubt, no doubt where the White House stands on the Flake, Graham and Durbin agreement on immigration reform. In a bipartisan meeting here at the White House two weeks ago, we outlined a path forward on four issues, serious border security an end to chain migration, the cancellation of the outdated and unsafe visa lottery and a permanent solution to DACA. Unfortunately, the Flake, Graham, Durbin agreement does not meet these benchmarks. In fact, it would not secure our border encourage more illegal immigration, increase chain migration and retain the visa lottery system."

3. Cutaway

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"In short, it's totally unacceptable to the president and should be declared dead on arrival. The president has been extraordinarily consistent on the immigration and what his priorities are. His views are shared by the vast majority of the American people and have bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives."

5. Cutaway

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"We certainly think that there are a lot of things that we agree on and I think if we focus on what we agree on, a lot more than what we disagree on, we can have a lot of progress and hopefully get to something that helps everybody and solves a big problem."

7. Cutaway

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"Look, I think the president has stated what he would like to see happen and at this point the president is willing to sign something to find a permanent solution for DACA and he has placed the responsibility, which the Constitution has placed and he has reminded Congress that it is their job to actually get that legislation passed and send it to him. Again, he's going to play a big role in the process, but it's on Congress to get that legislation through the two bodies and hit the president's desk."

9. Cutaway

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"But you can't fix the problem if you just tinker with the immigration in a small way. We want to make sure that we're not having this problem and this conversation and this fight in two years and three years and four years. We want to address making a permanent solution to DACA, but at the same time closing the loopholes so we don't have to continue having this battle, but we also want to put some things in place with border security, because if you don't you're not actually solving the problem, you're just extending it and making us have to deal with it in a later time."

11. Cutaway

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"As we've said it probably just about every day this year since we've been here, that we're going to be fully cooperative with the special counsel and we're going to continue to do that throughout the process. But we're also not going to comment on who may or may not or could be interviewed at any point but we're going to continue to be fully cooperative with the process."

13. Cutaway

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary:

"We want to see this come to a complete and full conclusion. I think we all know what everybody in this room would do if the president did that and I don't think that's helpful to the process. The president wants to see this end and he wants to see them finally come to the same conclusion that I think most everyone in America has, that there is nothing to this. They've spent the better part, most of you've spent the better part of a year looking, digging, obsessing over trying to find something and I have yet to find anything."

15. Sanders leaves briefing room

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

California's top law enforcement official blasted his former congressional colleague, House Speaker Paul Ryan, on Friday for suggesting that a lack of political experience helps explain President Donald Trump's questionable interactions with James Comey when he was FBI director.

In an interview with The Associated Press, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra labeled Ryan an "accomplice" for defending what he termed Trump's incompetence or dereliction of his presidential duties. Becerra served in Congress prior to being appointed attorney general earlier this year.

"How dare you say it's a novice mistake?" Becerra said of comments by Ryan and others defending the president.

Becerra was referring to Trump's potentially illegal efforts to get Comey to drop the investigation into then-national security adviser Michael Flynn's interactions with Russian officials. Ryan said Thursday that Trump should be forgiven because he is "new at government" and "learning as he goes."

Becerra said ignorance of the law is not an acceptable excuse for Trump.

Ryan's spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, did not immediately respond to an email request seeking comment.

Becerra was appointed after former attorney general Kamala Harris, another vocal Trump critic, was elected to the U.S. Senate. He and other Democrats who control all major political offices in California have positioned the state as the front lines of resistance to many Trump administration policies.

Becerra said continued political theater in Washington won't stop California from enacting its own agenda on immigration, the environment and a host of other issues.

In a wide-ranging interview, Becerra also defended the death penalty, the state's cooperation with federal agents in fighting drugs and sex trafficking, and said he sees no sign yet of a federal crackdown on California's burgeoning recreational marijuana industry.

But he also promised to continue fighting Trump's agenda, bringing legal action and joining other states when necessary.

Becerra said he has tried to engage with the Trump administration without much success. His efforts to meet with Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly for more clarity on their plans to enforce federal immigration law have gone unmet despite multiple requests, Becerra said.

Meanwhile, California's Legislature is considering making California a "sanctuary state" by limiting how much state and local law enforcement officers may collaborate with the federal government's immigration enforcement efforts, as well as bills to make it harder for immigration authorities to raid businesses.

But even as state legislators work to resist federal enforcement, Becerra suggested there's room for collaboration between state officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, from sex trafficking to cracking down on illegal drug flow.

"I'm not trying to thwart ICE from doing its work, they're doing some really important stuff and we're doing some really important stuff with them," Becerra said. "And so it just helps to have some clarity and predictability."

On other topics, Becerra said:

— California could file climate-related lawsuits, but it will depend on what actions the Trump administration takes.

"We're going to continue to do what we've been doing," he said. "If someone wants to try to stop us, then they're probably going to run into me."

He pointed to his efforts to defend California's energy efficiency and emissions standards.

He said he has received no response from the Freedom of Information Act request he filed two months ago seeking documents he said could show conflicts of interest and ethics violations by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt.

Pruitt had sued his new agency multiple times while he was attorney general of Oklahoma.

— Becerra defended the death penalty as constitutional, but stressed that officials need to be "cautious." There are "too many cases" of people wrongfully sentenced to death row, he said.

— Becerra said he doesn't think the federal government will make a "comprehensive effort" to crack down on recreational marijuana industries in states like California that have legalized the drug.

"My sense is that they know that if they try to do something on a large scale then they're going to run into a real juggernaut against them," he said.

He added that he would defend California's marijuana industry if the federal government does try to crack down.

Sacramento - June 9, 2017

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Xavier Becerra, California Attorney General

"I would let prosecutors who dealt with this day in and day out pontificate on that. I will tell you to hear the director of the FBI with some pretty definitive clarity say that the president either lied or misrepresented what had gone on that takes you into an area that you rarely see, certainly from communications and activities involving the president. When you also find out that the actions by the president have consequences, not just for the investigation on the role that Russia played, but also in a potential cover-up -- you're in obstruction of justice territory. Can you prove all the elements of the obstruction of justice charge? We are only at the beginning of this investigation and already this much information has come out. Would anyone have said weeks into this investigation of Watergate that we would have discovered as much as we ultimately did? My sense was that this was a deep pool and Mueller hasn't even jumped into the water yet."

REPORTER: "What do you make of Speaker Ryan's response was essentially along the lines of 'well he's new at this.' The president's new at this he didn't really know what he was doing'? I wonder just what your take is ont he response."

"My immediate reaction was... hmm... is this the guy who's got his finger on the nuclear button as well and is that an excuse you said you would give to someone who runs for president who would have his hand on the nuclear button that he's still a new guy. Cut him some slack. I don't get it. I think it speaks volumes more about those who are defending Donald Trump more than Donald Trump. How dare you say that 'ah it's a novice mistake'? You are the president of the United States. This is not one of those those things where you can just say 'oops. I forgot to pay the bill, or sorry hundreds... thousands of kids aren't going to get their head start, oops I didn't realize that we're not supposed to interfere in some other country's affairs.' You go through the whole process of the campaign and you're ready to be president of the United States. For someone to try to defend the -- not incompetence -- than the dereliction of the president, in my book you're an accomplice."

REPORTER: "What would it take... you said a couple weeks ago at the convention that you were near impeachment territory. What do you think it would take for Speaker Ryan, your former Republican colleague in Congress to get there themselves?"

"Well, after yesterday's comments by Speaker Ryan, himself, I'm not sure if he's willing to excuse the potential for obstruction of justice, what else might they be willing to excuse? High crimes and misdemeanors can mean many things. I would belive that obstruction of justice would fit into that category. There are a lot of other things that would fit within that category as well. As Republicans demonstrated, they were willing to go that route in the late 1990's. If you did someone for not being totally candid about their definition of 'is' and what you did in terms of their personal life, then you should be willing to want to investigate what someone did with potential collusion with Russia and someone trying to potentially undermine our democratic elections."