The incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says Attorney General nominee William Barr has confidence in special counsel Robert Mueller (MUHL'-ur) and will let Mueller finish his Russia investigation.

Sen. Lindsey Graham says Barr has a "very, very high opinion" of Mueller.

The South Carolina Republican was among the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who met with Barr on Wednesday as Barr made the rounds on Capitol Hill before his confirmation hearing next week.

President Donald Trump pushed out Attorney General Jeff Sessions last year and nominated Barr to replace him.

Trump's critics have warned that Barr may try to curtail Mueller's investigation, given that the president has repeatedly called it a "witch hunt."

And Barr wrote an unsolicited memo to the Justice Department last year critiquing Mueller's investigation

Graham also commented on President Trump's speech Tuesday night from the Oval office.

"I thought the president did a good job of explaining the humanitarian problem," said Graham.

"I think the president is open minded to a deal, he's firm on the idea he needs border security money, including money for barriers, but I believe and hope he's open to a deal."

Washington DC - 9 January 2019

1. Cutaway of Attorney General nominee William Barr walking down the hall and into Sen. Lindsey Graham's office

++SILENT++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"I think the main thing people want to know is what's his view of the Mueller investigation. And I can assure you based on what I've heard, that he has a high opinion of Mr. Mueller, believes that Mr. Mueller is doing a professional job, will do a professional job. Be fair to the president of the country as a whole and has no reason for Mr. Mueller to stop doing his job and is commited to allowing Mr. Mueller to finish."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"As to President I ask him, he said some pretty tough things. Mr. Barr said he's the one on the receiving end of this, he is sort of the accused and from the president's point of view, I think he believes it is a witch hunt and doesn't believe he did anything wrong and I can remember the Clinton days, when Ken Starr was part of a right-wing conspiracy. That is just sort of the way these things go."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"He had absolutely no indication he was going to tell Bob Mueller what to do, or how to do it. He is confident that Mr. Mueller will pursue the facts and the law."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"The memo, that was his opinion about the slippery slope of obstruction of justice charges against a president who wants to terminate a political appointee. He has got to believe that is a dangerous precedent to set and his memo was shared

with other people, he wanted their input. And we will share with the committee all the folks that Mr. Barr talked to and shared the memo with and we will give you an explanation to the committee as why he wrote it."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"He has a high opinion of Rod, they talked. Mr. Rosenstein mentioned him when they first met, I think that two years would probably be enough. He has some ideas of a deputy. I told him to pick somebody you are comfortable with and the president can approve and I trust his judgment to find a worthy successor to Mr. Rosenstein."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"I thought the president did a good job of explaining the humanitarian problem on both sides, those who are coming here, the abuse that women go through, the children to get to the country, what happens when the criminal illegal immigrants are allowed to come back time and time again. And I thought it was a pretty persuasive case that we need to secure our border and we need to realize illegal immigration is a human tragedy at multiple levels."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"To my Democratic colleagues I don't believe you're going to get much traction that the president is manufacturing a crisis because all of you, including me have voted for billions of dollars to secure the border very much like the president is proposing."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"Toward the end of the week, there'll be some ideas emerging from the Senate that would have some bipartisan buy-in. But here's what the Democrats are going to ask, this is a good question - will the president sign it? And I think the president is open minded to a deal, he's firm on the idea he needs border security money, including money for barriers, but I believe and hope he's open to a deal on the wall."

10). Cutaway of Graham and Barr in his office ++SILENT++

The incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says Attorney General nominee William Barr has confidence in special counsel Robert Mueller (MUHL'-ur) and will let Mueller finish his Russia investigation.

Sen. Lindsey Graham says Barr has a "very, very high opinion" of Mueller.

The South Carolina Republican was among the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who met with Barr on Wednesday as Barr made the rounds on Capitol Hill before his confirmation hearing next week.

President Donald Trump pushed out Attorney General Jeff Sessions last year and nominated Barr to replace him.

Trump's critics have warned that Barr may try to curtail Mueller's investigation, given that the president has repeatedly called it a "witch hunt."

And Barr wrote an unsolicited memo to the Justice Department last year critiquing Mueller's investigation

Graham also commented on President Trump's speech Tuesday night from the Oval office.

"I thought the president did a good job of explaining the humanitarian problem," said Graham.

"I think the president is open minded to a deal, he's firm on the idea he needs border security money, including money for barriers, but I believe and hope he's open to a deal."

Washington DC - 9 January 2019

1. Cutaway of Attorney General nominee William Barr walking down the hall and into Sen. Lindsey Graham's office

++SILENT++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"I think the main thing people want to know is what's his view of the Mueller investigation. And I can assure you based on what I've heard, that he has a high opinion of Mr. Mueller, believes that Mr. Mueller is doing a professional job, will do a professional job. Be fair to the president of the country as a whole and has no reason for Mr. Mueller to stop doing his job and is commited to allowing Mr. Mueller to finish."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"As to President I ask him, he said some pretty tough things. Mr. Barr said he's the one on the receiving end of this, he is sort of the accused and from the president's point of view, I think he believes it is a witch hunt and doesn't believe he did anything wrong and I can remember the Clinton days, when Ken Starr was part of a right-wing conspiracy. That is just sort of the way these things go."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"He had absolutely no indication he was going to tell Bob Mueller what to do, or how to do it. He is confident that Mr. Mueller will pursue the facts and the law."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"The memo, that was his opinion about the slippery slope of obstruction of justice charges against a president who wants to terminate a political appointee. He has got to believe that is a dangerous precedent to set and his memo was shared

with other people, he wanted their input. And we will share with the committee all the folks that Mr. Barr talked to and shared the memo with and we will give you an explanation to the committee as why he wrote it."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"He has a high opinion of Rod, they talked. Mr. Rosenstein mentioned him when they first met, I think that two years would probably be enough. He has some ideas of a deputy. I told him to pick somebody you are comfortable with and the president can approve and I trust his judgment to find a worthy successor to Mr. Rosenstein."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"I thought the president did a good job of explaining the humanitarian problem on both sides, those who are coming here, the abuse that women go through, the children to get to the country, what happens when the criminal illegal immigrants are allowed to come back time and time again. And I thought it was a pretty persuasive case that we need to secure our border and we need to realize illegal immigration is a human tragedy at multiple levels."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"To my Democratic colleagues I don't believe you're going to get much traction that the president is manufacturing a crisis because all of you, including me have voted for billions of dollars to secure the border very much like the president is proposing."

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"Toward the end of the week, there'll be some ideas emerging from the Senate that would have some bipartisan buy-in. But here's what the Democrats are going to ask, this is a good question - will the president sign it? And I think the president is open minded to a deal, he's firm on the idea he needs border security money, including money for barriers, but I believe and hope he's open to a deal on the wall."

10). Cutaway of Graham and Barr in his office ++SILENT++

President Donald Trump said Friday he is "not reversing course" in Syria with the decision to authorize about 200 U.S. troops to remain there.

In December, Trump announced he was pulling all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, but European allies insisted on some U.S. forces remaining on the ground.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with the Chinese trade delegation, Trump reiterated his claim that 100 percent of the Islamic State group's caliphate has been defeated and said his administration has "did more in the last three or four weeks than people have done in years."

He said the two-thousand-plus troops that have been stationed in Syria will now go to "different parts of the world," including Iraq.

Asked if he has spoken to Attorney General Robert Barr about Robert Mueller's special counsel report that many believe will be released soon, Trump said he has not, adding that the entire investigation is "one of the greatest hoaxes ever perpetrated on" the U.S.

Trump also pledged a veto if Congress passes a resolution blocking his use of a national emergency declaration to fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump told reporters he would "100 percent" veto the resolution introduced by House Democrats earlier in the day.

The Democratic-controlled House is sure to pass the measure, and the GOP-run Senate may adopt it as well despite Trump's opposition.

Any Trump veto would likely be sustained, but the upcoming battle will test Republican support for Trump's move.

Asked about Amazon's recent decision to drop its plans for a new headquarters in New York, the president called it "a big loss" for the city.

He also blamed what he's calling "radical left" thinking, which he says isn't good for jobs or the economy.

Amazon abruptly dropped plans last week to build one of its new headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, which could have delivered 25,000 jobs.

On his summit next week with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam, Trump said he expects a successful meeting, saying the U.S. and Pyongyang have "such a great relationship."

Trump said if he were note elected president, "you would have been in a war with North Korea. We now have a situation where the relationships are good."

Washington, DC - 22 February 2019

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

"Reporter question: What about the charges against (New England Patriots owner) Bob Kraft? He's a friend of yours.

Trump: Well it's very sad. I was very surprised to see it. He's proclaimed his innocence, totally, but I'm very surprised to see it.

Reporter question: Have you spoken to (Attorney General) Bill Barr about the release of the Mueller report? Have you spoken to him about that?

Trump: No. I have not.

Reporter: Do you expect to?

Trump: At some point, I guess I'll be talking about it. But you know the nice part? There was no collusion. There was no obstruction. There was no anything. So that's the nice part. There was no phone calls, no nothing. We have a, I won the race. You want to know why I won the race because I was a better candidate than she was and it had nothing to do with Russia. And everybody knows it's a hoax. It's one of the greatest hoaxes ever perpetrated on this country. So I look forward to seeing the report. If it's an honest report it will say that. If it's not an honest report it won't."

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

"Reporter question: Mr. President, on troops in Syria, why are you reversing course?

Trump: I'm not reversing course. I have done something that nobody else has been able to do. In another short period of time like hours, you'll be hearing, hours and days, you'll be hearing about the caliphate. It's 100 percent defeated. Nobody's been able to say that that. That doesn't mean there aren't some very bad people walking around and strapping on bombs and all of these things. But we've done a job that nobody else has been able to do. I heard Lindsey Graham this morning congratulating me on having defeated the, you know the caliphate. And frankly, I'm getting a lot of congratulations. At the same time, we can leave a small force along with others in the force, whether it's NATO troops or whoever it might be so that it doesn't start up again and I'm okay. It's a very small tiny fraction of the people we have. And a lot of people like that idea and I'm open to ideas. But the 2,500 people that we've had there will be going to different parts of the world. They may be going over to Iraq where we have a very powerful base, a base that cost billions of dollars to build frankly and that we'll be using. But we have had tremendous success in defeating the caliphate and now everybody's admitting I did more in the last three or four weeks than people have done in years and it's been very successful. But we want to make sure it stays that way."

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

"Reporter: Will you veto that resolution that was introduced today that would block the national emergency if it passes?"

Trump: On the wall? Will I veto it? 100 percent. 100 percent. And I don't think it survives a veto. We have too many smart people that want border security so I can't imagine it could survive a veto. But I will veto it. Yes."

4. Cutaway of Chinese delegation and Cabinet officials

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

"Reporter: We haven't gotten your response yet to Amazon pulling out of New York City, your home city, your home state...

Trump: I think it's a tremendous loss to New York City. I think it's a big loss. I think it's, if you look at the deal, the deal was not a great deal from the standpoint of they could have made a better deal than that, a much better deal. But still, I think it's a loss for New York City. And the three billion dollars wasn't a check, it was a form of taxes over a period of time that now they'll never see because you know, they were going to take in a lot of jobs, they were going to take in a lot of taxes. So I think it's a big loss for New York City. It's the kind of thinking that our country is going to on the left, on the radical left, but ultimately it's not good for jobs and it's not good for the economy but it was a big loss for New York City. I come from New York City, I love New York City. I think it was a big loss for New York City."

6. Wide shot of Trump listening to reporter question

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

"Reporter: On North Korea, your own administration officials say that Kim Jong Un has not actually decided yet whether he wants to denuclearize. So how can you meet with him if he doesn't even want to...

Trump: "We have had such a great relationship and China has helped us a lot with North Korea and with Kim Jong Un since I got to office. If I were not elected president, you would have been in a war with North Korea. We now have a situation where the relationships are good, where there's been no nuclear testing, no missiles, no rockets. We got our hostages back. We have many of the remains back and coming back rapidly, the remains of our great warriors from many, many years ago and the families are so thrilled and so happy. We've had a great relationship. The Singapore was a tremendous success. Only the fake news likes to portray it otherwise. We would have gone, we would have been, we would have literally been in a war with North Korea in my opinion had I not been elected."

8. Wide shot of Trump ending spray

President Donald Trump said Friday he is "not reversing course" in Syria with the decision to authorize about 200 U.S. troops to remain there.

In December, Trump announced he was pulling all 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria, but European allies insisted on some U.S. forces remaining on the ground.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with the Chinese trade delegation, Trump reiterated his claim that 100 percent of the Islamic State group's caliphate has been defeated and said his administration has "did more in the last three or four weeks than people have done in years."

He said the two-thousand-plus troops that have been stationed in Syria will now go to "different parts of the world," including Iraq.

Asked if he has spoken to Attorney General Robert Barr about Robert Mueller's special counsel report that many believe will be released soon, Trump said he has not, adding that the entire investigation is "one of the greatest hoaxes ever perpetrated on" the U.S.

Trump also pledged a veto if Congress passes a resolution blocking his use of a national emergency declaration to fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump told reporters he would "100 percent" veto the resolution introduced by House Democrats earlier in the day.

The Democratic-controlled House is sure to pass the measure, and the GOP-run Senate may adopt it as well despite Trump's opposition.

Any Trump veto would likely be sustained, but the upcoming battle will test Republican support for Trump's move.

Asked about Amazon's recent decision to drop its plans for a new headquarters in New York, the president called it "a big loss" for the city.

He also blamed what he's calling "radical left" thinking, which he says isn't good for jobs or the economy.

Amazon abruptly dropped plans last week to build one of its new headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, which could have delivered 25,000 jobs.

On his summit next week with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam, Trump said he expects a successful meeting, saying the U.S. and Pyongyang have "such a great relationship."

Trump said if he were note elected president, "you would have been in a war with North Korea. We now have a situation where the relationships are good."

Washington, DC - 22 February 2019

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

"Reporter question: What about the charges against (New England Patriots owner) Bob Kraft? He's a friend of yours.

Trump: Well it's very sad. I was very surprised to see it. He's proclaimed his innocence, totally, but I'm very surprised to see it.

Reporter question: Have you spoken to (Attorney General) Bill Barr about the release of the Mueller report? Have you spoken to him about that?

Trump: No. I have not.

Reporter: Do you expect to?

Trump: At some point, I guess I'll be talking about it. But you know the nice part? There was no collusion. There was no obstruction. There was no anything. So that's the nice part. There was no phone calls, no nothing. We have a, I won the race. You want to know why I won the race because I was a better candidate than she was and it had nothing to do with Russia. And everybody knows it's a hoax. It's one of the greatest hoaxes ever perpetrated on this country. So I look forward to seeing the report. If it's an honest report it will say that. If it's not an honest report it won't."

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

"Reporter question: Mr. President, on troops in Syria, why are you reversing course?

Trump: I'm not reversing course. I have done something that nobody else has been able to do. In another short period of time like hours, you'll be hearing, hours and days, you'll be hearing about the caliphate. It's 100 percent defeated. Nobody's been able to say that that. That doesn't mean there aren't some very bad people walking around and strapping on bombs and all of these things. But we've done a job that nobody else has been able to do. I heard Lindsey Graham this morning congratulating me on having defeated the, you know the caliphate. And frankly, I'm getting a lot of congratulations. At the same time, we can leave a small force along with others in the force, whether it's NATO troops or whoever it might be so that it doesn't start up again and I'm okay. It's a very small tiny fraction of the people we have. And a lot of people like that idea and I'm open to ideas. But the 2,500 people that we've had there will be going to different parts of the world. They may be going over to Iraq where we have a very powerful base, a base that cost billions of dollars to build frankly and that we'll be using. But we have had tremendous success in defeating the caliphate and now everybody's admitting I did more in the last three or four weeks than people have done in years and it's been very successful. But we want to make sure it stays that way."

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

"Reporter: Will you veto that resolution that was introduced today that would block the national emergency if it passes?"

Trump: On the wall? Will I veto it? 100 percent. 100 percent. And I don't think it survives a veto. We have too many smart people that want border security so I can't imagine it could survive a veto. But I will veto it. Yes."

4. Cutaway of Chinese delegation and Cabinet officials

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

"Reporter: We haven't gotten your response yet to Amazon pulling out of New York City, your home city, your home state...

Trump: I think it's a tremendous loss to New York City. I think it's a big loss. I think it's, if you look at the deal, the deal was not a great deal from the standpoint of they could have made a better deal than that, a much better deal. But still, I think it's a loss for New York City. And the three billion dollars wasn't a check, it was a form of taxes over a period of time that now they'll never see because you know, they were going to take in a lot of jobs, they were going to take in a lot of taxes. So I think it's a big loss for New York City. It's the kind of thinking that our country is going to on the left, on the radical left, but ultimately it's not good for jobs and it's not good for the economy but it was a big loss for New York City. I come from New York City, I love New York City. I think it was a big loss for New York City."

6. Wide shot of Trump listening to reporter question

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

"Reporter: On North Korea, your own administration officials say that Kim Jong Un has not actually decided yet whether he wants to denuclearize. So how can you meet with him if he doesn't even want to...

Trump: "We have had such a great relationship and China has helped us a lot with North Korea and with Kim Jong Un since I got to office. If I were not elected president, you would have been in a war with North Korea. We now have a situation where the relationships are good, where there's been no nuclear testing, no missiles, no rockets. We got our hostages back. We have many of the remains back and coming back rapidly, the remains of our great warriors from many, many years ago and the families are so thrilled and so happy. We've had a great relationship. The Singapore was a tremendous success. Only the fake news likes to portray it otherwise. We would have gone, we would have been, we would have literally been in a war with North Korea in my opinion had I not been elected."

8. Wide shot of Trump ending spray

US Attorney General William Barr is defending his handling of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation report.

Barr was testifying on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

His appearance comes hours after it was revealed that Mueller had sent the Justice Department a letter objecting to the way his findings were portrayed.

Mueller told Barr that Barr's summary of the Russia probe's findings caused "public confusion about critical aspects" of the investigation.

A copy of Mueller's letter to Barr was released on Wednesday.

Mueller's letter is likely to be a central focus at Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Barr.

Barr's prepared testimony shows he plans to defend his handling of Mueller's report.

++NOTE GRAPHIC LANGUAGE IN SOUNDBITE #4++

POOL

Washington DC - 1 May 2019

1. Various of US Attorney General William Barr entering the hearing room and taking seat

2. SOUNDBITE: (English) Senator Lindsey Graham, Chairman Judiciary Committee:

"But the Attorney General will be testifying here in a bit about the Mueller Report and I want to thank him for coming to the committee and giving us an explanation as to the actions he took and why he took them regarding the Mueller report and here is the good news.  Here is the Mueller report.  You can read it for yourself.  It is about 400 and something pages.  Can't say I have read it all, but I have read most of it.  There is an unredacted version over in the classified section of the Senate.  A room where you can go look at the unredacted version and I did that and I found it not to change anything in terms of an outcome."

3. Cutaway Barr listening to Graham

4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Senator Lindsey Graham, Chairman Judiciary Committee, reading messages between FBI agents : ++NOTE GRAPHIC LANGUAGE ++

"'October the 19th, 2016. Trump is a fucking idiot. He is unable to provide a coherent answer.' Sorry to the kids out there.  These are the people that made a decision that (Hillary) Clinton didn't do anything wrong and a counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign was warranted.  We are going to, in a bipartisan way, I hope, deal with Russia.  But when the Mueller report is put to bed, and it soon will be, this committee is going to look long and hard at how this all started."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington DC - 1 May 2019

5. Various views of letter Mueller sent to Barr

POOL

Washington DC - 1 May 2019

6.  SOUNDBITE (English) Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat, California:

"More than once the report documents that legal condition can, excuse me, conclusions were not drawn because witnesses refused to answer questions or failed to recall the events. In addition numerous witnesses including but not limited to Jared Kushner, Sarah Sanders, Rudolph Giuliani, Michael Flynn, Steve Bannon and John Kelly all stated they could not recall events.  The president himself said more than 30 times that he could not recall or remember enough to be able to answer written questions from the special counsel."

7. Side view of Barr listening

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat, California:

"And contrary to the conclusion that the special counsel's report did not find evidence of communication or coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, the Mueller report explicitly states and I quote 'a statement that the investigation did not establish particular facts does not mean there was no evidence of those facts.' Volume 2., page 2. Let me conclude with this, Congress has both the constitutional duty and the authority to investigate the serious findings contained in the Mueller report. I strongly believe that this committee needs to hear directly from Special Counsel Mueller about his views on the report in his March letter. I also believe senators should have the opportunity to ask him about these subjects in questions, directly. I have requested this to our chairman to authorize a hearing with Special Counsel Mueller and I hope that will happen soon. Thank you Mr. Chairman."

9. Mid view of senators

The incoming chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says Attorney General nominee William Barr has confidence in special counsel Robert Mueller (MUHL'-ur) and will let Mueller finish his Russia investigation.

Sen. Lindsey Graham says Barr has a "very, very high opinion" of Mueller.

The South Carolina Republican was among the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who met with Barr on Wednesday as Barr made the rounds on Capitol Hill before his confirmation hearing next week.

President Donald Trump pushed out Attorney General Jeff Sessions last year and nominated Barr to replace him.

Trump's critics have warned that Barr may try to curtail Mueller's investigation, given that the president has repeatedly called it a "witch hunt."

And Barr wrote an unsolicited memo to the Justice Department last year critiquing Mueller's investigation

Washington DC - 9 January 2019

1. Cutaway of Graham and Barr in his office

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"I think the main thing people want to know is what's his view of the Mueller investigation. And I can assure you based on what I've heard, that he has a high opinion of Mr. Mueller, believes that Mr. Mueller is doing a professional job, will do a professional job. Be fair to the president of the country as a whole and has no reason for Mr. Mueller to stop doing his job and is commited to allowing Mr. Mueller to finish."

++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"As to the President I ask him, he said some pretty tough things. Mr. Barr said he's the one on the receiving end of this, he is sort of the accused and from the president's point of view, I think he believes it is a witch hunt and doesn't believe he did anything wrong and I can remember the Clinton days, when Ken Starr was part of a right-wing conspiracy. That is just sort of the way these things go."

++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASH++

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R) South Carolina, Incoming Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

"He had absolutely no indication he was going to tell Bob Mueller what to do, or how to do it. He is confident that Mr. Mueller will pursue the facts and the law."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he doesn't intend to watch former special counsel Robert Mueller testify before Congress on Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

The Republican told reporters Tuesday the public already has a "pretty full picture" of Mueller's report.

McConnell said he doesn't know "how many times we want to see this movie again." He said the public has "moved on past" it.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham told reporters that he's heard all he needs to hear from Mueller and he doesn't think it will change the public's mind.

The former special counsel is set to appear Wednesday in his first extended public remarks since being appointed more than two years ago to lead the probe.

Mueller's 448-page report released in April did not establish that Trump's campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia. But the special counsel did not exonerate President Donald Trump of wrongdoing in obstructing the investigation.

POOL

Washington - 23 July 2019

1. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to speak with reporters

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

"The Americans have got a pretty full picture of it and I believe the Mueller report came out sometime back. No, I don't intend to be watching (Mueller's testimony)."

3. McConnell listens to reporter question on whether there is anything he wants to hear from Mueller

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

"We've already heard from him. It seems to me - I don't know how many times we want to see this movie again - but I think the American people have moved on past this."

5. McConnell departs

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 July 2019

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

"It won't reshape my dynamic. I've heard all I need to hear from Mueller. I've read his report. I accept the findings. I don't think it's going to change public opinion. Having been involved in the Clinton impeachment if the public's not with you, you'll pay a price and I don't think anything Mueller can say that's going to change anybody's mind. (Reporter: Why don't you want to bring him before your commitee?) Because I've heard all I need to hear."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus120815

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he doesn't intend to watch former special counsel Robert Mueller testify before Congress on Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

The Republican told reporters Tuesday the public already has a "pretty full picture" of Mueller's report.

McConnell said he doesn't know "how many times we want to see this movie again." He said the public has "moved on past" it.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham told reporters that he's heard all he needs to hear from Mueller and he doesn't think it will change the public's mind.

The former special counsel is set to appear Wednesday in his first extended public remarks since being appointed more than two years ago to lead the probe.

Mueller's 448-page report released in April did not establish that Trump's campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia. But the special counsel did not exonerate President Donald Trump of wrongdoing in obstructing the investigation.

POOL

Washington - 23 July 2019

1. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell listens to reporter question

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

"The Americans have got a pretty full picture of it and I believe the Mueller report came out sometime back. No, I don't intend to be watching (Mueller's testimony)."

3. McConnell listens to reporter question on whether there is anything he wants to hear from Mueller

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

"We've already heard from him. It seems to me - I don't know how many times we want to see this movie again - but I think the American people have moved on past this."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington - 23 July 2019

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

"It won't reshape my dynamic. I've heard all I need to hear from Mueller. I've read his report. I accept the findings. I don't think it's going to change public opinion. Having been involved in the Clinton impeachment if the public's not with you, you'll pay a price and I don't think anything Mueller can say that's going to change anybody's mind. (Reporter: Why don't you want to bring him before your commitee?) Because I've heard all I need to hear."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he doesn't intend to watch former special counsel Robert Mueller testify before Congress on Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

The Republican told reporters Tuesday the public already has a "pretty full picture" of Mueller's report.

McConnell said he doesn't know "how many times we want to see this movie again." He said the public has "moved on past" it.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham told reporters that he's heard all he needs to hear from Mueller and he doesn't think it will change the public's mind.

The former special counsel is set to appear Wednesday in his first extended public remarks since being appointed more than two years ago to lead the probe.

Mueller's 448-page report released in April did not establish that Trump's campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia. But the special counsel did not exonerate US President Donald Trump of wrongdoing in obstructing the investigation.

POOL

Washington DC - 23 July 2019

1. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell walks to speak with reporters

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

"The Americans have got a pretty full picture of it and I believe the Mueller report came out sometime back. No, I don't intend to be watching (Mueller's testimony)."

3. McConnell listens to reporter question on whether there is anything he wants to hear from Mueller

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

"We've already heard from him. It seems to me - I don't know how many times we want to see this movie again - but I think the American people have moved on past this."

5. McConnell departs

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington DC - 23 July 2019

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

"It won't reshape my dynamic. I've heard all I need to hear from Mueller. I've read his report. I accept the findings. I don't think it's going to change public opinion. Having been involved in the Clinton impeachment if the public's not with you, you'll pay a price and I don't think anything Mueller can say that's going to change anybody's mind. (Reporter: Why don't you want to bring him before your commitee?) Because I've heard all I need to hear."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says his panel will "unpack the other side of the story" of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into President Donald Trump and his campaign.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spent the weekend with Trump in Florida, said his committee will investigate the actions of the Justice Department in the Russia investigation, including the FBI's use of a dossier compiled by British spy Christopher Steele.

Graham spoke Monday after Attorney General William Barr reported to Congress on Mueller's findings. Barr said Mueller found no evidence that Trump or his associates conspired with Russia. Mueller did not make a determination on whether Trump obstructed justice.

Graham said he will be speaking with Barr at noon and wants him to testify before his committee.

Washington, DC - 25 March 2019

1. Wide shot of Lindsey Graham walking into the Senate press gallery

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

"The Mueller report is complete. I have a phone call with Attorney General Barr at noon about what's next. What's next, I hope, will be that he will come to the committee, release as much as possible of the Mueller report."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina:

"It's clear to be from the 4-page summary by Attorney General Barr that the Russians did in fact hack into the DNC, the Podesta emails. It was the Russians. There wasn't some 300 pound guy sitting on a bed somewhere. And the conclusion was firm, without equivocation, that no one on the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians when it came to the 2016 election."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

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

"So I hope soon to have as much of the report released as possible and what happens next? What happens next is that I have been talking since 2017, the end of 2017, about the other side of the story and nobody much appeared, appears to care, but I hope you will find some interest now. That the FISA warrant issued against Carter Page, based on a dossier prepared by Christopher Steel,e is at a minimum disturbing. Whether or not it's a legal I don't yet know. So I'm going to get answers to this."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina:

"(Reporter question: Is it your belief that the Russians were trying to ...?)

Absolutely. I think, there's things I can't tell you. They were out to get us all. Here's what I told Trump for whatever it's worth. I think the dossier, a lot of it came from the Russian intelligence service. If you just think Russia just likes Trump and hate Clinton you're missing the point of what they're trying to do. They're trying to divide all of us against each other and done a pretty good job of it. They're still at it, by the way, they're still doing this. And one of the things I want to take away from this whole endeavor is to try to find ways to fix it. Critical infrastructure before this debate was power companies, financial services. Now it's got to be the political system. Parties need to realize that they're subject to being attacked, that the vote vote tallying process needs to be hardened, that the social media outlets that we all rely upon and enrich our lives can be co-opted to spread lies to pit one American against the other. If we don't take that from this investigation that the Russians tried to do it and they're going to keep trying then we missed a real big point."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:  AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Washington, DC - 25 March 2019

1. Wide shot of Lindsey Graham walking into the Senate press gallery

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

"The Mueller report is complete. I have a phone call with Attorney General Barr at noon about what's next. What's next, I hope, will be that he will come to the committee, release as much as possible of the Mueller report."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina:

"It's clear to be from the 4-page summary by Attorney General Barr that the Russians did in fact hack into the DNC, the Podesta emails. It was the Russians. There wasn't some 300 pound guy sitting on a bed somewhere. And the conclusion was firm, without equivocation, that no one on the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians when it came to the 2016 election."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

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

"So I hope soon to have as much of the report released as possible and what happens next? What happens next is that I have been talking since 2017, the end of 2017, about the other side of the story and nobody much appeared, appears to care, but I hope you will find some interest now. That the FISA warrant issued against Carter Page, based on a dossier prepared by Christopher Steel,e is at a minimum disturbing. Whether or not it's a legal I don't yet know. So I'm going to get answers to this."

++BLACK BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina:

"(Reporter question: Is it your belief that the Russians were trying to ...?)

Absolutely. I think, there's things I can't tell you. They were out to get us all. Here's what I told Trump for whatever it's worth. I think the dossier, a lot of it came from the Russian intelligence service. If you just think Russia just likes Trump and hate Clinton you're missing the point of what they're trying to do. They're trying to divide all of us against each other and done a pretty good job of it. They're still at it, by the way, they're still doing this. And one of the things I want to take away from this whole endeavor is to try to find ways to fix it. Critical infrastructure before this debate was power companies, financial services. Now it's got to be the political system. Parties need to realize that they're subject to being attacked, that the vote vote tallying process needs to be hardened, that the social media outlets that we all rely upon and enrich our lives can be co-opted to spread lies to pit one American against the other. If we don't take that from this investigation that the Russians tried to do it and they're going to keep trying then we missed a real big point."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

STORYLINE:

The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says his panel will "unpack the other side of the story" of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into President Donald Trump and his campaign.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spent the weekend with Trump in Florida, said his committee will investigate the actions of the Justice Department in the Russia investigation, including the FBI's use of a dossier compiled by British spy Christopher Steele.

Graham spoke Monday after Attorney General William Barr reported to Congress on Mueller's findings. Barr said Mueller found no evidence that Trump or his associates conspired with Russia. Mueller did not make a determination on whether Trump obstructed justice.

Graham said he will be speaking with Barr at noon and wants him to testify before his committee.

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

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The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says his panel will "unpack the other side of the story" of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into President Donald Trump and his campaign.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spent the weekend with Trump in Florida, said his committee will investigate the actions of the Justice Department in the Russia investigation, including the FBI's use of a dossier compiled by British spy Christopher Steele.

Graham spoke Monday after Attorney General William Barr reported to Congress on Mueller's findings. Barr said Mueller found no evidence that Trump or his associates conspired with Russia. Mueller did not make a determination on whether Trump obstructed justice.

Graham said he will be speaking with Barr at noon and wants him to testify before his committee.

The South Carolina Senator also said it's clear from Mueller's report that Russia is "trying to divide all of us against each other."  And he said if the public doesn't take that from the probe, "we missed a real big point."

Washington, DC - 25 March 2019

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina:

"The Mueller report is complete. I have a phone call with Attorney General Barr at noon about what's next. What's next, I hope, will be that he will come to the committee, release as much as possible of the Mueller report."

++WHITE FLASH BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

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

"It's clear to be from the 4-page summary by Attorney General Barr that the Russians did in fact hack into the DNC, the Podesta emails. It was the Russians. There wasn't some 300 pound guy sitting on a bed somewhere. And the conclusion was firm, without equivocation, that no one on the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians when it came to the 2016 election."

++WHITE FLASH BETWEEN SOUNDBITES++

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina:

"So I hope soon to have as much of the report released as possible and what happens next? What happens next is that I have been talking since 2017, the end of 2017, about the other side of the story and nobody much appeared, appears to care, but I hope you will find some interest now that the FISA warrant issued against Carter Page, based on a dossier prepared by Christopher Steele is at a minimum disturbing. Whether or not it's illegal I don't yet know. So I'm going to get answers to this."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

Senate Republicans have mixed reactions to the surprise announcement that the Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016.

The Justice Department on Wednesday appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to lead the investigation. Mueller will have sweeping powers and the authority to prosecute any crimes he uncovers.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr who considered the appointment as a good decision said that ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will not honor a subpoena issued by a Senate committee looking into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Burr told reporters Thursday that Flynn's lawyer informed the panel he will not abide by a subpoena for private documents.

President Donald Trump lashed out at the appointment of a special counsel to investigate allegations that his campaign collaborated with Russia to sway the 2016 election, tweeting Thursday that it is "the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!"

Reactions from Congress to Mueller's appointment were mainly positive, even though Republicans had dismissed an independent outside investigation as unnecessary and duplicative of what congressional committees already are doing.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee, says it's a "scandal" of Watergate proportions, and the only way to end it is to get out the full truth.

Republicans have largely stood behind Trump in the first months of his presidency as the FBI and congressional investigations into Russia's election meddling intensified. But GOP lawmakers have grown increasingly anxious since Trump fired Comey, who had been leading the bureau's probe - and after Comey associates said he had notes from a meeting in which Trump asked him to shut down the investigation into the Russia ties of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Washington - May 18, 2017

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"General Flynn's lawyer said that he would not honor the subpoena and that's not a surprise to the committee. But we'll figure out on General Flynn what the next step, if any, is. But we're continuing on with a lot of interviews and through those interviews it leads us to additional document requests and additional individuals we'd like to talk to."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"Director Comey is a public citizen now. He's not constrained by investigations and we think the most important thing that Director Comey can contribute now is an understanding by the American people of what transpired. We happen to think that an open hearing in front of the intelligence committee is the right way for him to do it since we've worked so closely with him and we respect him so much."

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

"Clearly foreign governments could interfere in our election, they did this time. They may be more successful next time. So the shape and the scope of the congressional investigation I think has dramatically changed. I respect the decision. Mueller is a good guy. But one of the big losers here is the public because we're not going to hear from Comey now most likely. I hope we do. I want to hear about the conversation. I want to know the context of it. But now that you have a special counsel, maybe that's off the table."

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

"I'm disappointed in many ways that the Congress may be taken out of the game now because we're a public venue. I thought Yates and Klapper were good. I thought Sally Yates was an excellent witness. I thought Klapper provided insight to the public that we all need to know, you know. It's our nation here. So hearings like that are probably now off the table, and too bad."

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

"I have reason to believe there may be emails between the Clinton campaign and Democratic officials and the Department of Justice during the Obama administration. There is a problem here with committee jurisdiction. If there were emails from the Clinton campaign of the Democratic operatives to the Department of Justice during the Clinton email investigation, I want to know about it."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ted Cruz. (R) Texas:

"I don't think appointing a special counsel was necessary. But if one was going to be appointed, I think Bob Mueller is an excellent choice. I've known Bob for two decades. And he is a serious law enforcement professional. He's someone who has been appointed positions by both Republicans presidents and Democratic presidents. And he's earned the trust on both sides of the aisles, from Republicans and Democrats. He is a fair minded, serious prosecutor. He led the FBI with great distinction. And I'm confident that he'll investigate the matter and follow the facts wherever they may lead."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. John McCain, (R) Arizona:

"In the respect that there is a new revelation almost everyday, like this morning there's a new revelation that there was more communications between the Trump campaign and the Russians in that respect that there is a new revelation every few days."

(Reporter question off camera): "How does the appointment of a special counsel change that?'

(McCain): "I think it's very important, but that is the investigate the criminal activity. The Senate and the House have to investigate the aspects of Russian activity from the standpoint of sanctions against Russia, what we do to counter these attacks, and all the aspects of cyber warfare."

SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Patrick Toomey, (R): Pennsylvania:

"Well my opinion of Bob Mueller is that he's terrific, completely unimpeachable in all respects and widely recognized as such by everybody. I never really was convinced that this is the best way to go. We have in the past when we've used special prosecutors and special counsels it hasn't always ended well. My view was always that the president should move quickly to get a completely unimpeachable leader of the FBI, preferably a Democrat so that there would be no doubt that that organization is being run by somebody who has no allegiance to Donald Trump."

Senate Republicans gave mixed reactions to the surprise announcement that the Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016.

The Justice Department on Wednesday appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to lead the investigation.

Mueller will have sweeping powers and the authority to prosecute any crimes he uncovers.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr who considered the appointment as a good decision said that ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will not honor a subpoena issued by a Senate committee looking into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Burr told reporters Thursday that Flynn's lawyer informed the panel he will not abide by a subpoena for private documents.

President Donald Trump lashed out at the appointment of a special counsel to investigate allegations that his campaign collaborated with Russia to sway the 2016 election, tweeting Thursday that it is "the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!"

Reactions from Congress to Mueller's appointment were mainly positive, even though Republicans had dismissed an independent outside investigation as unnecessary and duplicative of what congressional committees already are doing.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee, says it's a "scandal" of Watergate proportions, and the only way to end it is to get out the full truth.

Republicans have largely stood behind Trump in the first months of his presidency as the FBI and congressional investigations into Russia's election meddling intensified.

But GOP lawmakers have grown increasingly anxious since Trump fired Comey, who had been leading the bureau's probe - and after Comey associates said he had notes from a meeting in which Trump asked him to shut down the investigation into the Russia ties of Flynn.

Washington - May 18, 2017

++SEPARATED BY BLACK++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"General (Michael) Flynn's lawyer said that he would not honor the subpoena and that's not a surprise to the committee. But we'll figure out on General Flynn what the next step, if any, is. But we're continuing on with a lot of interviews and through those interviews it leads us to additional document requests and additional individuals we'd like to talk to."

++BLACK FRAMES++

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"(Former FBI) Director (James) Comey is a public citizen now. He's not constrained by investigations and we think the most important thing that Director Comey can contribute now is an understanding by the American people of what transpired. We happen to think that an open hearing in front of the intelligence committee is the right way for him to do it since we've worked so closely with him and we respect him so much."

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

"Clearly foreign governments could interfere in our election, they did this time. They may be more successful next time. So the shape and the scope of the congressional investigation I think has dramatically changed. I respect the decision. Mueller is a good guy. But one of the big losers here is the public because we're not going to hear from Comey now most likely. I hope we do. I want to hear about the conversation. I want to know the context of it. But now that you have a special counsel, maybe that's off the table."

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

"I'm disappointed in many ways that the Congress may be taken out of the game now because we're a public venue. I thought Yates and Klapper were good. I thought Sally Yates was an excellent witness. I thought Klapper provided insight to the public that we all need to know, you know. It's our nation here. So hearings like that are probably now off the table, and too bad."

++BLACK FRAMES++

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

"I have reason to believe there may be emails between the Clinton campaign and Democratic officials and the Department of Justice during the Obama administration. There is a problem here with committee jurisdiction. If there were emails from the Clinton campaign of the Democratic operatives to the Department of Justice during the Clinton email investigation, I want to know about it."

++BLACK FRAMES++

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ted Cruz. (R) Texas:

"I don't think appointing a special counsel was necessary. But if one was going to be appointed, I think Bob Mueller is an excellent choice. I've known Bob for two decades. And he is a serious law enforcement professional. He's someone who has been appointed to positions by both Republicans presidents and Democratic presidents. And he's earned the trust on both sides of the aisles, from Republicans and Democrats. He is a fair minded, serious prosecutor. He led the FBI with great distinction. And I'm confident that he'll investigate the matter and follow the facts wherever they may lead."

++BLACK FRAMES++

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. John McCain, (R) Arizona:

"I respect that there is a new revelation almost everyday, like this morning there's a new revelation that there was more communications between the Trump campaign and the Russians in that respect that there is a new revelation every few days."

(Reporter question off camera: How does the appointment of a special counsel change that?)

"I think it's very important, but that is to investigate the criminal activity. The Senate and the House have to investigate the aspects of Russian activity from the standpoint of sanctions against Russia, what we do to counter these attacks, and all the aspects of cyber warfare."

++BLACK FRAMES++

SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Patrick Toomey, (R) Pennsylvania:

"Well my opinion of Bob Mueller is that he's terrific, completely unimpeachable in all respects and widely recognized as such by everybody. I never really was convinced that this is the best way to go. We have in the past when we've used special prosecutors and special counsels it hasn't always ended well. My view was always that the president should move quickly to get a completely unimpeachable leader of the FBI, preferably a Democrat so that there would be no doubt that that organization is being run by somebody who has no allegiance to Donald Trump."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE++

Senate Republicans have mixed reactions to the surprise announcement that the Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign in 2016.

The Justice Department on Wednesday appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller to lead the investigation. Mueller will have sweeping powers and the authority to prosecute any crimes he uncovers.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr who considered the appointment as a good decision said that ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will not honor a subpoena issued by a Senate committee looking into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Burr told reporters Thursday that Flynn's lawyer informed the panel he will not abide by a subpoena for private documents.

President Donald Trump lashed out at the appointment of a special counsel to investigate allegations that his campaign collaborated with Russia to sway the 2016 election, tweeting Thursday that it is "the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!"

Reactions from Congress to Mueller's appointment were mainly positive, even though Republicans had dismissed an independent outside investigation as unnecessary and duplicative of what congressional committees already are doing.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee, says it's a "scandal" of Watergate proportions, and the only way to end it is to get out the full truth.

Republicans have largely stood behind Trump in the first months of his presidency as the FBI and congressional investigations into Russia's election meddling intensified. But GOP lawmakers have grown increasingly anxious since Trump fired Comey, who had been leading the bureau's probe - and after Comey associates said he had notes from a meeting in which Trump asked him to shut down the investigation into the Russia ties of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.:

Washington - May 18, 2017

++SEPARATED BY WHITE FLASHES++

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"General Flynn's lawyer said that he would not honor the subpoena and that's not a surprise to the committee. But we'll figure out on General Flynn what the next step, if any, is. But we're continuing on with a lot of interviews and through those interviews it leads us to additional document requests and additional individuals we'd like to talk to."

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Richard Burr, (R) North Carolina:

"Director Comey is a public citizen now. He's not constrained by investigations and we think the most important thing that Director Comey can contribute now is an understanding by the American people of what transpired. We happen to think that an open hearing in front of the intelligence committee is the right way for him to do it since we've worked so closely with him and we respect him so much."

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

"The shape and the scope of the congressional investigation I think has dramatically changed. I respect the decision. Mueller is a good guy. But one of the big losers here is the public because we're not going to hear from Comey now most likely. I hope we do. I want to hear about the conversation. I want to know the context of it. But now that you have a special counsel, maybe that's off the table."

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

"I'm disappointed in many ways that the Congress may be taken out of the game now because we're a public venue. I thought Yates and Klapper were good. I thought Sally Yates was an excellent witness. I thought Klapper provided insight to the public that we all need to know, you know. It's our nation here. So hearings like that are probably now off the table, and too bad."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ted Cruz. (R) Texas:

"I don't think appointing a special counsel was necessary. But if one was going to be appointed, I think Bob Mueller is an excellent choice."

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. John McCain, (R) Arizona:

"There is a new revelation almost everyday, like this morning there's a new revelation that there was more communications between the Trump campaign and the Russians in that respect that there is a new revelation every few days."

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Patrick Toomey, (R): Pennsylvania:

"Well my opinion of Bob Mueller is that he's terrific, completely unimpeachable in all respects and widely recognized as such by everybody. I never really was convinced that this is the best way to go. We have in the past when we've used special prosecutors and special counsels it hasn't always ended well. My view was always that the president should move quickly to get a completely unimpeachable leader of the FBI, preferably a Democrat so that there would be no doubt that that organization is being run by somebody who has no allegiance to Donald Trump."

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

Sen. Lindsey Graham said consensus in the Senate seems to be in agreement with former FBI director Robert Mueller being chosen as special counsel in the investigation into Russian involvement in the Trump campaign.

But, Graham said, the choice to appoint a special counsel could jeopardize the transparency of the investigation to the American public.

"I think the shock to the body is it's now considered a criminal investigation and Congress' ability to conduct investigations of all things Russia has been severely limited probably in appropriate fashion," he said, meaning Congress would be unable to seek testimony from people who are a subject of the FBI investigation.

Graham also applauded Donald Trump's decision to consider former Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, to head the FBI.

Washington DC - 18 May 2017

1. Senator Graham entering

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

"The general consensus -- it was a good decision to pick a special counsel. A lot of confidence in Mr. Mueller. I think the shock to the body is it's now considered a criminal investigation and Congress' ability to conduct investigations of all things Russia has been severely limited probably in appropriate fashion. So, I think a lot of members want the special counsel to be appointed, but don't understand you're pretty well knocked out of the game. And that's probably the way it should be. It was a counter-intelligence investigation before now, it seems to me now to be considered a criminal investigation. And what does that mean for the Congress? I find it hard to subpoena somebody with records like Mr. Flynn who may be the subject of a criminal investigation. He also has the right not to incriminate himself. As to Mr. Comey, the former director of the FBI coming before the committee. If I were Mr. Mueller, I would jealously guard the witness pool. So one of the biggest losers in this decision is the public. We had a really good hearing with Yates and Clapper where the public could hear with Ms. Yates and Mr. Clapper. I think that opportunity has been lost, maybe for the greater good, but there are a lot of people in that room who are shocked that when a special counsel has been appointed that Congress has limitations on what we can do. So, I've always believed that a counter-intelligence investigation did not need a special prosecutor or counsel. A criminal investigation might. The deputy attorney general decided to appoint a special counsel, and one of the results of that the ability of Congress to call people who may be witnesses in an investigation by Mr. Mueller is going to severely restrict what we're going to do."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

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

"Well, one of the winners in this decision of appointing a special counsel because the new FBI director -- they don't have to deal with this. I think Joe Lieberman is a pillar of credibility, I think he'd be a good choice. But now you have a special counsel, the new FBI director doesn't have to worry about riding herd over an investigation of the man who appointed him."

Sen. Lindsey Graham says consensus in the Senate seems to be in agreement with former FBI director Robert Mueller being chosen as special counsel in the investigation into Russian involvement in the Trump campaign.

But, Graham said, the choice to appoint a special counsel could jeopardize the transparency of the investigation to the American public.

"I think the shock to the body is it's now considered a criminal investigation and Congress' ability to conduct investigations of all things Russia has been severely limited probably in appropriate fashion," he said, meaning Congress would be unable to seek testimony from people who are a subject of the FBI investigation.

Graham also applauded Donald Trump's decision to consider former Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, to head the FBI.

Washington - May 18, 2017

1. Sen. Graham enters

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

"The general consensus -- it was a good decision to pick a special counsel. A lot of confidence in Mr. Mueller. I think the shock to the body is it's now considered a criminal investigation and Congress' ability to conduct investigations of all things Russia has been severely limited probably in appropriate fashion. So, I think a lot of members want the special counsel to be appointed, but don't understand it's you're pretty well knocked out of the game. And that's probably the way it should be. It was a counter-intelligence investigation before now, it seems to me it's being considered a criminal investigation. And what does that mean for the Congress? I find it hard to subpoena somebody with records like Mr. Flynn who might be the subject of a criminal investigation. He also has the right not to incriminate himself. As to Mr. Comey, the former director of the FBI coming before the committee. If I were Mr. Mueller, I would jealously guard the witness pool. So one of the biggest losers in this decision is the public. We had a really good hearing with Yates and Clapper where the public could hear with Ms. Yates and Mr. Clapper. I think that opportunity has been lost, maybe for the greater good, but there are a lot of people in that room who are shocked that when a special counsel has been appointed that Congress has limitations on what we can do. So, I've always believed that a counter-intelligence investigation did not need a special prosecutor or counsel. A criminal investigation might. The deputy attorney general decided to appoint a special counsel, and one of the results of that the ability of Congress to call people who may be witnesses in an investigation by Mr. Mueller is going to severely restrict what we're going to do."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

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

"Well, one of the winners in this decision of appointing a special counsel because the new FBI director -- they don't have to deal with this. I think Joe Lieberman is a pillar of credibility, I think he'd be a good choice. But now you have a special counsel, the new FBI director doesn't have to worry about riding herd over an investigation of the man who appointed him."

Sen. Lindsey Graham says consensus in the Senate seems to be in agreement with former FBI director Robert Mueller being chosen as special counsel in the investigation into Russian involvement in the Trump campaign.

But, Graham said, the choice to appoint a special counsel could jeopardize the transparency of the investigation to the American public.

"I think the shock to the body is it's now considered a criminal investigation and Congress' ability to conduct investigations of all things Russia has been severely limited probably in appropriate fashion," he said, meaning Congress would be unable to seek testimony from people who are a subject of the FBI investigation.

Graham also applauded Donald Trump's decision to consider former Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, to head the FBI.

Washington - May 18, 2017

1. Sen. Graham enters

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

"The general consensus -- it was a good decision to pick a special counsel. A lot of confidence in Mr. Mueller. I think the shock to the body is it's now considered a criminal investigation and Congress' ability to conduct investigations of all things Russia has been severely limited probably in appropriate fashion. So, I think a lot of members want the special counsel to be appointed, but don't understand it's you're pretty well knocked out of the game. And that's probably the way it should be. It was a counter-intelligence investigation before now, it seems to me it's being considered a criminal investigation. And what does that mean for the Congress? I find it hard to subpoena somebody with records like Mr. Flynn who might be the subject of a criminal investigation. He also has the right not to incriminate himself. As to Mr. Comey, the former director of the FBI coming before the committee. If I were Mr. Mueller, I would jealously guard the witness pool. So one of the biggest losers in this decision is the public. We had a really good hearing with Yates and Clapper where the public could hear with Ms. Yates and Mr. Clapper. I think that opportunity has been lost, maybe for the greater good, but there are a lot of people in that room who are shocked that when a special counsel has been appointed that Congress has limitations on what we can do. So, I've always believed that a counter-intelligence investigation did not need a special prosecutor or counsel. A criminal investigation might. The deputy attorney general decided to appoint a special counsel, and one of the results of that the ability of Congress to call people who may be witnesses in an investigation by Mr. Mueller is going to severely restrict what we're going to do."

++SOUNDBITES SEPARATED BY BLACK++

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

"Well, one of the winners in this decision of appointing a special counsel because the new FBI director -- they don't have to deal with this. I think Joe Lieberman is a pillar of credibility, I think he'd be a good choice. But now you have a special counsel, the new FBI director doesn't have to worry about riding herd over an investigation of the man who appointed him."