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Melania Trump Calls For National Security Aide To Be Fired; WH Sources Allege Aide Has Been Dishonest And Leaked Stories; Judge Grants Hearing Tomorrow For CNN's Lawsuit Against WH; Legal Challenge Filed Against Trump's Appointment of Acting AG; Nelson Ca
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Trump fires Attorney General Jeff Sessions; names acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker who has said Mueller probe is going too far; President Trump fires Jeff Sessions; official says John Kelly made the call to Sessions, not Trump; Jeff Sessions fired; a
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Breaking news Trump takes charge of the Mueller investigation today. Firing. Tis attorney general Jeff Sessions replacing him for now with sessions chief of staff, Matt Whitaker. According to the Justice department Whitaker will be and their words in charge of all matters under the purview of the department of Justice. All matters that must mean he is now stepping in to oversee special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation from deputy attorney general rod Rosenstein, just a short time ago, quite a scene. We want to show you Whitaker and sessions seen together shaking hands as sessions left. The Justice department for the last time it is no secret that President Trump is wanted to replace sessions ever since he recused himself from the Russian investigation over the past year. The president has repeatedly asked sessions to regain control of the investigation a demand sessions. Refused. Earlier today, the president played coy though when asked about the Agee's future. Can you give us clarity, sir on your thinking? Currently now after the midterms about your attorney general, and your deputy attorney general do they have long term job security answer that at a little bit different time. The president saying that knowing full well sessions was gone sessions in a letter then to the president writing this at your request. I am submitted submitting my resignation. So now, the focus turns quickly to Whitaker the man taking over for sessions who is in. A twist only fitting for today's politics has made no secret of his feelings toward the rush investigation. Here he was on CNN in July of last year before he worked at Justice. Listen, you can see a scenario where Jeff Sessions is replaced it with a recess appointment, and that attorney general doesn't fire Bob Muller. But he just reduces the budget so low that his his investigation grinds to almost hall grinds to a halt Whitaker. Also writing an opinion piece for CNN. Summer, and it was titled Muller's investigation of Trump is going too, far and also writing this. If Muller was investigating Trump's finances, quote, this would raise serious concerns that the special counsel's investigation was a mere witch hunt. Those final words likely music to the president's years. Here's what the president had to say about the investigation today. On the Russian vestige. Are you concerned that that you may have not concerned about anything with you may have his best to? His best to Gatien because it's a hoax would you consider removing Mr. Muller from his position. I could've ended it anytime. I wanted I didn't. And there was no collusion. And there's no collusion. It was supposed to be on collusion. There's no collusion. Going back to the Russia investigation and potential investigations from the now democratically democratic majority in congress some say that you could stop all this by decline. I could fire everybody right now when I don't wanna stop it, politically, I don't like stopping it's disgrace. It should have never been started. Because there was no crime a hoax the disgrace. He could fire everybody right now. Little did anyone know at that time. The president already had with Jeff Sessions. Pamela Brown is out front now live at the White House for us this evening, Pamela. Even the White House staff, it appears was caught off guard by this. That's right, Kate a President Trump's decision to effectively fire. His attorney general Jeff Sessions on the same day. He was. Telling him victory in the mid term certainly caught. At least some White House staffers by surprise in terms of timing though. There was widespread understanding among aids that this was something President Trump wanted to do shortly after the mid terms, but as we know the president had openly been ridicule ridiculing Jeff Sessions for many months. He was upset that he had recused himself. But instead of the president calling up Jeff Sessions himself he had his chief of staff. John Kelly do so calling him before that contentious press conference telling him that he needed to turn in his resignation letter. And you saw their President Trump was asked about Jeff Sessions, and he dodged the question saying, we'll talk about that later. I didn't wanna do anything before the midterms. But we know the president had repeatedly asked Jeff Sessions who had recused himself from the probe to regain control that had been bothering President Trump. So the question now is what will happen to the Russia probe Matt Whitaker as you pointed out had openly said publicly said that the Muller probe should be limited. He suggested a one. Way of doing that would be limiting funds. So now that he has taken the reins of the Russia probe as the acting AG. The question remains what will happen now if the president didn't want any any oversight or any changes to it? He could have just had his number two, the deputy attorney general rod Rosenstein, become the acting attorney general, but would occur is seen by Trump. As a loyalist the two had discussed taking this job before. And now, it has happened with this news today that Jeff Sessions has resigned. Matt Whitaker is now the acting attorney general we should point out Kate that Matt Whitaker released a statement today saying that he plans to run the department with fairness. Good to hear panelist with and we've got a lot to discuss here out Brown with us. Also tonight. Evan presence here. CNN's senior Justice correspondent and Laura Jarrett CNN Justice correspondent, and and milgram she's a former federal prosecutor, it's great to see all of you. Evan short of ending Muller probe all altogether. What can Whitaker what can Whitaker due to the investigation is complete control? Look, I mean as the attorney general he has a say on whether or not mother issues subpoenas. If there are steps in in major investigative steps that mother wants to take he has to consult with the attorney general in this case, he was he was consulting with rod Rosenstein to get sign off on pretty much everything he did. But going forward, I think even more important than the investigation is what happens to Muller's report. Okay. So when the final when that is finished and by all indications the investigation appears to be winding down. So when Muller produces a report that will go to Matt Whitaker, and he will control. Roll what happens then if there are any charges additional charges that he recommends that will go to Medwick Whitaker. Whether the report ends up with the hands of congress, or if any of it becomes public all of that resides in the hands of Whitaker now. And I think that's a really important thing to keep in mind. It's also probably the crucial because we and it could be the final decision is the final decision. And I think the president had this in mind when he chose Matt Whitaker for that reason, Laura you also have some new reporting on sessions view of the molar probe. What can you tell us? Yeah. It's interesting Kate. We talk a lot about how frustrated Trump is with Muller. But I am told by a source familiar with sessions thinking that he too is actually frustrated by the pace of the molar investigation, wishing that it would just go away wishing that it would end its sort of taken on a life of its own something that's unexpected. But he also is very supportive privately of deputy attorney general rod. Rosenstein who up before today had been overseeing the probe again, a source telling me that he really thinks remote Rosenstein, just got this dropped in his lap. He didn't ask for this. And he basically did as good of a job as anyone could under the circumstances. But it's interesting sessions has no regrets about the recusals. Despite the fact that it has now resulted in his abrupt firing he has no regrets about taking the job. And at the end of the day. I think he hopes that he will remember be remembered I should say for trying to uphold the rule of law trying to uphold the integrity of the department despite all of these repeated attacks from the president Kate, and they should be a while before history can judge any of this chapter that we're looking at right now though, and with so much I there's still so much unknown of about this tonight. If your concern is the integrity of the Russian Russia investigation. What's your big question? I guess tonight. Yeah. I mean, I think we've to to think about this a few different ways. I mean, the first is that the Justice department is made up of men and women who are career prosecutors investigators. And so I think why do think it's significant that sessions is out and Whitaker's and particularly because his background. He he did serve as a US attorney, but his background is largely political. So I do think there's reason to be concerned about what he'll do to the rule of law into the Muller. Pro I think it's important to remember that the department itself as an institution is very strong. And so I think you know, it isn't as easy as he might have said in an interview to just turn off the money to an investigation like the Muller's investigation as special counsel. So I think some of that is is hyperbolic, and I think the reality will be different. I do think though, we have to watch what happens next the only thing, I know. And I think we're speculating about a lot of stuff. But the only thing I can save her shore. Is that Muller will do everything the exact way he was gonna do it? Regardless of whether Whitaker set sits in the chair. Air or Rosenstein science sat in that chair. And so the question is how they'll respond to Muller moving forward to complete the investigation possibly, I think charge. Additional people. You know, let me ask you the disdain that President Trump has had processions and his frustration. I mean that is well known this. Listen. Jeff Sessions should've never let it happen. He should have never recused himself. I think it was square that Jeff say never took control of the Justice department and. It's a sort of an incredible thing. The attorney general meta terrible mistake when he did this. And when he recused himself or disappointed with the attorney general, but we will see what happens I will tell. Time will tell well. This may have been a long time coming Pamela. But I mean, you're also reporting not only the White House. The Justice officials were kind of kept in the dark on this one as well. Yeah. That's right, again, the president had publicly ridiculed Jeff Sessions. So there was certainly wasn't expectation at the Justice department and the White House that eventually sessions would go but aides had been urging the president to wait until after the midterms. However timing was surprising at the Justice department as well. In fact, US attorneys across the country DOJ employs only found out because they watch TV. They saw it in the media. They were given no official. Notification of the fact that Jeff Sessions had given a President Trump his resignation letter, which is pretty extraordinary if you think about it, but also sort of fits in this theme of how the president handles these firings. Oftentimes, it's not him doing it. And oftentimes people find out from watching the news a worth noting that John Kelly was the one in this case who ask. Jeff Sessions to hand over his resignation letter in our reporting is that sessions and asked him if he could stay on for the rest of the week. But John Kelly stayed firm with him and said no that he needed to do so today. No, Evan Nancy Pelosi is already and there are others that already calling for Whitaker. Recuse himself from overseeing the Russia investigation. Do you have any suggestions of that is going to happen or how that would be decided who would be the arbiter final arbiter, we're told that I clearly this has been thought about and there's certainly at the White House. There's no belief that he should recuse himself that despite the comments that he's made including here on CNN. Yeah. That those perhaps present an appearance of conflict. So here's what typically would happen at the Justice department is this an ethics officer and Essex officers would review this and say, okay. Well, you might have a an appearance of conflict. I don't think anything indicates that that Whitaker would have an actual conflict in the kind that Jeff Sessions had, but certainly the appearance of conflict. There's also something that Justice rules say that you ridden is that's that's part of it. Even the appearance of the appearance of confidence the problem. So he could get advice to say, you should recuse yourself, but Whitaker can choose to ignore that. He can say, look, you know, I. I take your advice. But I believe that I disagree with it. And by the way, people close to President Trump point out that rod Rosenstein has not recused himself, and he is a witness in this investigation. Also, true, all gotta love these one for webs where weaving here, and can you interpret do you interpret this move by the president as as anything other than trying to constrain or stop Muller because when you look at the record of Jeff Sessions, he was carrying out trumps agenda at the Justice department when you look through where his priorities were what he was focused on. He really was delivering on what Trump was looking for that. You look, I agree. I mean, I think his record, you know, gang prosecutions targeting MS thirteen going after creating that task force on religious freedom. He's he's sort of been going through the president's playbook. I also think that their relationship did fracture. And that the president is a transactional. Person he wants someone in that job who he feels that? He has some control over is my sense of it. And I think for whatever, you know, I think it was because of the Muller piece, but that something broke between them. And then of course, what you say is true. I, you know, I read this also a little bit in and I'm I'm no expert in this space. But all of a sudden, the house of representatives is going to start potentially issuing subpoenas and doing investigations, and this feels to me like a little bit of a chess move back to say, I still have a lot of control, and I'm going to control the pieces I can control, and this is certainly one of them more. What do you know? I don't know how important it is at this moment. But what do, you know about the relationship between Whitaker, and Rosenstein, they obviously have been working together. Justice. It's a tricky dynamic. I would say I mean, we've reported several weeks back. We all remember when the deputy attorney general flew over to the White House expecting to get fired and on that day. The plan was for Whitaker to take his job. Everyone was preparing for. That fact, the solicitor general was going to take over the Muller probe. And instead today Whitaker takes his boss's job. So it's all sort of a bizarre occurrence here. But Rosenstein and Whitaker do not have a prior relationship. They did not work together. These were people who were close, privately or socially. They have a professional relationship, certainly. But it wasn't as if they were buddies behind the scene, and I certainly think when he tried to step in and it was gunning for his job. You can imagine. How awkward that is it could it could fray a relationship it could there's potential of it. Great to see guys. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much an amazing day. It has been out front next. We have some more on our breaking news top democrat. Rats raising the red flag saying it is imperative congress, protect Robert Muller. Let's speak. I'm going to speak to democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal to get his reaction. Plus new details tonight on the man who will oversee the Russian investigation just who is Matt Whitaker and the day after the Republicans lose control the house, the president mocks his own party. Mia love gave me no love and she lost to bed. Sorry about that. One Republican congressman now fights back. He's my guest tonight. Support for out front comes from our friends at rocket mortgage by Quicken Loans. Let's talk about buying a home for a minute because of rising interest rates. 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Data in comparison to public data records, equal housing lender. Licensed in all fifty states and MLS consumeraccess dot org number thirty thirty. Breaking news Jeff Sessions fired. And we are learning tonight that the embattled attorney general had wanted to stay until the end of the week, but that chief of staff White House chief of staff John Kelly shot that idea down. We also know that the president did not call sessions himself that was also left to John Kelly sessions officially left. The Justice department short time ago with a sendoff by members of the department including sessions chief-of-staff Matt Whitaker who is now. The acting. Attorney general Whitaker is now expected to oversee special counsel Robert Muller's Russia probe not deputy attorney general rod Rosenstein as has been kind of the state of play for so long now out front now democratic Senator from Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal. He sits on the Senate Judiciary committee Senator thank you for coming in. Thank you very much. What's your reaction to Jeff Sessions being fired today? It's a break the glass moment our democracy is under attack because the president has completely broken the norms of the. Normal succession process. It's a kind of slow motion Saturday night massacre occurred under president Nixon and the man he's chosen is someone who provided a roadmap for how to stifle and strangle this special counsel investigation. He called it Muller's Lynch mob, and he said the way to do it was to infect deny funding stifle it that way or cut thirty or disapprove indictments that clearly creates an imperative for recusals by him, and if not action by congress, and these are personal opinions of his right? That's coming from Whitaker before he was a Justice department things that he said things that things that he has written. And I do wonder if an FBI agent should be allowed to have personal opinions like Peter Struck many Democrats said should have been allowed to have personal opinions and not have it affect his work should the same apply to Whitaker. He's a lot of have personal opinions, but not to supervise the investigation Peter Struck. We've. Taken off the investigation by Robert Muller as soon as he learned of those communications that indicated his bias. So whether it violates Forty-five code fed relation section twenty eight it clearly is an appearance of impropriety, and it infects the entire department of Justice, and my view is career professionals in the department of Justice ought to really raise a protest here along with people throughout the United States because Americans want this investigation to be completed. There's a reason why Donald Trump waited until after the midterms because this step will be widely and deeply unpopular. I hope my Republican colleagues will sense it. Well, so if he does not recuse and right now, there's no suggestion that he will what do you do? Then Senator I'm going to be proposing legislation that would in effect guarantee funding for the Muller investigation. It would stop. Any effort to defend or reduced funding that is necessary for the agents and attorneys who are doing this final work, and I will also include in that legislation requirement that there be a report. In other words, the results of this investigation should be made known to the American people and give the special counsel time to complete that report isn't if there is an effort to fire them, you know, there's a lot of speculation that Robert Mueller is on the verge of a number of key charges and indictments after this quiet period before the election. And so the timing here is really suspect, but we've heard over and over from Mitch McConnell and Republican leaders that Muller should be able to finish his Muller should and we'll be able to finish his an investigation that there. There's there's no I mean, there's no reality in this especially in this post midterm world that they're going to lower your legislation to go forward. Do you have any confidence in that? First of all there's legislation, and it's bipartisan that has been approved by the judiciary committee to protect the special counsel. And you're absolutely right. That the majority leader said in the past there's no need for it. So we will need a really solid move by my Republican colleagues to fulfill their stated intention to protect the special counsel. And also, I think that they have to sense that this very unpopular step by the president really embarks on gained road for them. The reason that he waited until after the midterms was he knew it would be very very unpopular with the American people, and this move will be judged harshly by history. It will come home to haunt our Republican colleagues. You have been no fan of Jeff Sessions. I mean, I recall I recall one, quote when it came to change. Rules over asylum claims, and you said that you said that today's decision will send untold numbers of refugees to their deaths attorney general sessions their blood is on your hands. Are you really that sorry to see sessions go then Jeff Sessions, and I have differed deeply on a great many issues. In fact, I opposed his confirmation. I was the first member of the committee. I believe to oppose his confirmation, but I agree with him that he was absolutely right to recuse himself. He had no choice. I regret his leaving. For the reason that the president is in effect firing him which is his refusal to do the president's bidding stifle the special counsel investigation. And I think that the replacement for him, Matt. Matt Whitaker has a duty to recuse himself. He's so he's the acting. There's going to be a search for a new a new attorney general. I mean, can you say at this point? Is there any attorney general that the president would put up that you're going to support? Rod Rosenstein should be put in that job. That's the normal succession process. That's typically the way the process has worked in the past the president in effect is again, breaking the norms and avoiding the normal rules, and that is the succession that should take place. Now. That's what's happened under previous administrations when attorneys general have left Senator thank you for coming in. Appreciate your time. Thank you for us next. Our breaking news continues with a closer look at the president's. Now acting attorney general Matt Whitaker what he said about special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. There is no criminal Justice church to be had here. There's just the evidence is we? Plus, the president publicly shaming Republicans. I'm going to speak with one Republican congressman who says today's attacks angered him to his core. You know, what's not smart job sites that overwhelm you with tons of the wrong resumes. But you know, what is smart ZipRecruiter dot com slash out front. Unlike other job sites, ZipRecruiter doesn't wait for candidates to find you ZipRecruiter finds them for you. It's powerful matching. Technology scans thousands of resumes identifies people with the right skills education and experience for your job. And actively invites them to apply. So you get qualified candidates fast. No, more sorting through the wrong resumes. No more waiting for the right candidates to apply. It's no wonder that ZipRecruiter is rated number one by employers in the US. This rating comes from hiring sites on trust pilot with over a thousand reviews and right now listeners can try ZipRecruiter for free at this exclusive web address ZipRecruiter dot com slash out front. That's ZipRecruiter dot com slash. Oh, you T F R O N T ZipRecruiter dot com slash out fraud. Ziprecruiter, the smartest. Way to hire. Tonight. Democrats already calling for acting attorney general Matt Whitaker to recuse himself from the Russia investigation. House minority leader Nancy Pelosi saying this given his record of threats to undermine and weaken. The rush investigation Matthew Whitaker should recuse himself from any involvement in Muller's investigation. Jessica Schneider is out front with more Whitaker's record. Matthew Whitaker has been on the president succession list since at least late September. The president's spoke directly with Whittaker when it was rod Rosenstein whose future was in question at the time. Multiple sources told CNN that the president talked with Whittaker about becoming acting deputy attorney general after revelations that Rosenstein suggested officials wear wire to record the president as a way to oust him from office, but with sessions resignation at the request of the President Trump named Whitaker acting attorney general via tweet, I think would ultimately the president's going to start doing is putting pressure on. Rod Rosenstein, Whitaker has long backed President Trump's tough take on the Muller probe in an opinion piece for CNN dot com and August twenty seventeen Whittaker wrote that it was time for Rosenstein who oversees the special counsel to order Muller to limit the scope of his investigation to the four corners of the order appointing him special counsel, any warned that by investigating the president's personal and business finances Muller. Has come up to a red line that he is dangerously close to crossing. And he said if Muller didn't limit his prob-, it would raise serious concerns that the special counsel's investigation was a mere witch-hunt Whitaker also appeared on CNN in July twenty seventeen suggesting any replacement attorney general would likely slow down the special counsel by pinching, the purse strings that attorney general doesn't fire Bob Muller. But he just reduces the budget so low that his his investigation grinds to absolutely almost and before Whitaker began working at the Justice department at sessions chief of staff in October two thousand seventeen he was quite vocal about two main focal points of the Muller investigation any possible. Obstruction of Justice by the president. No criminal Justice. The evidence is we and that Trump Tower meeting in June two thousand sixteen where Donald Trump junior and others met with the Russian lawyer to suggest that there's a conspiracy here. I mean, you would always take that mean Whitaker was by session side today as he left the Justice department as he has been for the past year. Mac, and he is a long political history of his own the former college football player at the university of Iowa ran as the Republican candidate for state treasurer there but lost. And was later appointed by President George W Bush as US attorney for the southern district of Iowa. I'm not sure what we are passing on to the next generation in two thousand thirteen Whitaker. Ran in the Republican primary for US Senate, but came in fourth and one year later, he was named chairman of Sam Clovis unsuccessful bid for Iowa State treasurer Clovis was a top Trump campaign aide and has reportedly testified before Muller's grand jury. And despite Whitaker's past comments speaking out against the special counsel. He will be assuming oversight of the Russia probe taking over that duty from rod Rosenstein, became Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. They've called for Whitaker to recuse himself. But remember, it was Jeff Sessions recusals from overseeing that probe that sparked President Trump's fury and led to his firing today Kate, so I'm hearing you say is there's not really a chance. Great to see you. Thanks so much Jessica out front, and however, we now Joan Walsh national affairs correspondent at the nation and Steve Cortez member of President Trump's twenty twenty reelected visor counseling signed an NDA with the campaign. It is great to see you guys. Thank you so much for being here. So you're saying there's a chance does not apply. I do not think when it comes to recusals, and nor should it by the way, shocker the acting. They're Torney general has legal opinions. I would hope he does. And he has really legal opinions on this issue. We wouldn't want somebody who doesn't have legal opinions, by the way, he's a political appointee. And his opinion, by the way, which. Voice voices. CNN's website is exactly correct. Which is that the idea of a prosecutor who subjects to no one who has no jurisdictional boundaries. There's a name for that boundary. Boundary. There are no. Rosenstein has totally refused to supervise this investigation. That because they are delving. This was supposed to be about Russia now they're looking at and not just now for months, they here's the thing. Here's take this is a fierce before I got into pine. Related to Russia. They actually might be. But I do here's an important kind of. Let's put some important perspective on this. If this was a democratic president if this was an investigation against into a democratic president, if you will you would be raising hell wouldn't over that. Outing recused because our founding fathers in their wisdom. They gave us a mechanism to oversee and to supervise excess is of the executive branch, and that is the legislative branch. And by the way, the people just spoke yesterday, and the new democratic legislative branch said they said that they were happy this seems like ago, they're happy. The jets went the concentrate that the legislature is the one to supervise and check and balance against the executive branch, and they're going to do so very aggressively Dallas the democratic house, but that is the mechanism not his own Justice department now investigating him, and essentially, this is outrageous McCain to know king. He is a Republican. He's a career that doesn't mean house to rod Rosenstein, you have no idea what Rosenstein has told him or not hold him. And the idea that Mark Whitaker. Who speaks who has spoken in Trump talking points about this investigation talking about he shouldn't. Look at his finances Donnie junior should anybody would take that meeting. That's ridiculous. That meeting could get him in a lot of trouble. The idea that this is the guy that that Muller has to go to talk about subpoenas to talk about indictments. And when he issues his report, it will be Mark Whitaker who decides whether we get to see it. That is outrageous given everything that's on the record this. This is how raising. In search of a crime. That's an un-american principle. That's all. That's what they went on here. If the president had been gone, I had if the president had, and we know he did a bad relationship with Jeff Sessions. He does have the right to surround himself with cabinet members and people that he wants to have run. I mean, this was a longtime coming is this one of those cases where why is it now as good a time as any to take him out and put Matt Whitaker in? I mean, I can't believe I'm having I'm expressing pity, or or empathy for Jeff Sessions. But I mean he could have given him till the end of the week. And the only thing Jeff Sessions has done wrong in this president's is is recused himself. I mean, he has carried out a hardline immigration policy that Democrats are aghast at that is one of the frightening really has carried out the president of the policy. He's implemented the policy all the way. There's only one reason that he went fell afoul of this president. And that makes a lot of us very very nervous. Right. But that is a foundational reason. I mean, all the Trump is accomplished and he's last couple of years, and it's amazing particularly economy all of it. I've been with this constant cloud of Russia that wouldn't exist. If Jeff Sessions had done the honorable thing in the first place and inform the president if you make me attorney general I have to recuse myself from related, he realized former Senator Al Franken. I think that's. I do find it funny, by the way, liberals are now embracing Jeff Sessions was probably the most right wing member of the Senate. I asked I asked Richard Blumenthal about that. Like. Dot org. Banquet believe me. Stranger things have happened for a president. Who takes no one's advice and takes pride in taking. No one's advice cities that he shoots from the God. He does his thing. Why not wait until after the why did he wait until after the midterm if he was so mad at sessions, and he really wanted to get this done. This seems entirely calculated because of the timing to be changing the conversation from bad news. You had a bad night on election a terrible night. And you could see at a terrible night. And just. By the way, we didn't terrible night. But I think it's part of it is changing the news cycle quickly. Yes. I do. But also is that we we have a better and more conservative and more Trumpian Senate on the way says that is the key is that he couldn't have gone if fired sessions under the previous Senate, he couldn't have gone a replacement approved confirmed. Now, he got better got more from my perspective, better got more Trumpian. So it makes perfect sense for him to pull the trigger. Now. Now, I advised him. And I wish you'd done this a heck of a long time ago, but better late than never let's hope Rosenstein is next. It's time to get get kinda sneaky, though, when you do it the day after an election like you've been hiding something from the public, and then okay now, we can do it. I mean, we knew it was coming. But there's still something really weird about it. And actually it is to distract us from the takeover. It seems entirely calculated to the news cycle, even though this was a long time coming every bet just seems entirely related that likely had the Democrats won control of the Senate. Yeah. I don't think he'd find your sessions. Going to replace any never gonna replace probably true and better to have sessions as feckless as he is than zero attorney general, do you think do you think I mean when you look at the landscape and things he didn't like Jeff Sessions. Is Matt Whitaker. Maybe better than the AG that Trump would pick next like is this a lesson? Talking necessarily about him as a g or anybody's AG. I'm talking specifically about the oversight of the Miller prob-. That's what I'm Jack to. Here's the thing. In terms of the motor pro nobody believes I don't think that Whitaker is going to come in. And seriously constrain his invested. You really don't think he's gonna end it. I think what he is going to say what I hope he says is it appears that we're in the fourth quarter or two minute warning. He's a football guy the two minute warning to this game wrap it up. This cannot go on indefinitely, and I think that's totally fair to say unless unless you can tell me reasons why let's wrap this up in the coming weeks and months. Well, we all hope that that happening. Oh, good. Luck agreement remain. Thanks, guys. Appreciate it out front next, President Trump lashing out at honestly, just about everybody today after his party lost control of the house. Such a racist. There's some. Plus women elected in record numbers last night. Many define the status quo. Yeah. There were people who laughed me out of rooms because they thought okay. She's twenty eight years old paying off student loans. You know comes around working class family. And who is laughing now? Tired of spending hundreds of dollars for prescription glasses. Our friends at Zanny optical offer, a huge variety of high quality stylish frames and state of the art optics starting at just six ninety five. You can get multiple frames with this great pricing for less than one pair. Elsewhere start building your eyewear wardrobe from the comfort of your own home at Xeni dot com. With the latest trends in eyewear available in hundreds of frame styles and materials there isn't a better way to change it up for every season. Plus is any offers prescription sunglasses that incredible prices. Visit Xeni today at Xeni dot com slash CNN. That's Z E N N, I dot com slash CNN. Tonight, the president lashing out one day after Democrats regained control of the house of representatives. Trump told a press conference held a press conference for an hour and twenty six minutes. He's spent much of that time threatening. Anyone who doesn't agree with him? He took on incoming democratic committee chairs who might be seeking subpoenas watch that happens, then we're going to do the same thing and government comes to a halt that we can investigate. They look at us. We look at damn it goes on for two years, then at the end of two years. Nothing's too. Trump also mock members of his own party who had lost their races for reelection last night. Listen to this. I'm not sure that I should be happier said, but if feel just fine about it. Carlos cupola. Mike kaufman. To bad. Mike me, a love gave me no love and she lost to bed. So about that. And Barbara Comstock was another one. I mean, I think she could have won that race which she did going to have any embrace. I know it on that one one of the that race there. It hasn't even been called yet. May of you could still win. They have that race hasn't even been called in the president said that in that same press conference, the president through endless insults at reporters. You are a rude. Terrible person. You are the enemy of the people such a racist. There's some people. And if you were expecting an appeal for unity the day after an election that showed the country is more divided than ever you were mistaken. It was a big day yesterday incredible day and last night, the Republican party defied history. He's right about some gains in the Senate and governorships, but make no mistake. This wasn't a great night for the president. And how could it be when your party loses control of one chamber of congress? It wouldn't be for any president out front. Now. Retiring Republican congressman Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania. Congressman thanks for coming in. Hi, kate. You heard what the president said will he said a lot. But when the president today took to naming and shaming calling out by name some of your Republican colleagues. It almost seemed like dancing on their graves as they lost election about that. You wrote this on Twitter in part to lose because of the president. And then having piss on you angers me to my core. What made you so mad? Well, because because that's why I mean that that's why they lost. They are hardworking independent minded center. Right. Republicans who woke up every single day and got angry phone calls and protests and unending amounts of criticism. Not because of anything they particularly did. But because they're Republicans and there is such angst and anger against the president. And if it was anger based on policy, that's one thing. But a lot of the anger emanates. You rightly so from things that he says the ignorant mean. Name calling snide type stuff that you wouldn't want. Your twelve year old to say, let alone the president of the United States to say, and yet every Republican member of congress has chosen I think usually with the degree of restraint on not calling out the president every single time. He would say something that they would disagree with because they tried to focus on their jobs. But ultimately, it became an every day occurrence where members got asked over and over and over what do you think about Trump? What do you what do you think about what he said about this? And all these members were running in districts where his unfavorable numbers were between fifty five and sixty percent and they had to deal with him. And the fact that he was not favorable every single day. They would have if his if he was a viewed favorably they would have one and so for them to deal with all that and then the day after losing very tough races to have the president mock them. I'm like that. I just think is outrageous. And it bothers me every single time. I hear it. I'm sorry. If I'm a little emotional about it. No. But I want to say I mean, I've interviewed you a bunch of times. And we often talk about your position of calling out the president when you disagree with them and trying to focus on other things when you can what is it you. You're more anger than I've seen you ever on an issue when the president has said in a new rule things that probably made you imagine a match. Well, imagine you had a boss Kate that drove you crazy a lot of the time. But you poured your heart and soul into a job. And somehow some way you were in the type of profession where you failed you didn't win and the next day even that boss who bothered you disagreed with. But you bit your tongue instead of that boss saying, you know, what I know. We didn't always see eye to eye. Thank you for your service, Kate I hope you move on to bigger and better things instead that bosses Kate. You're a loser. I don't really care whether you want lost. No big deal. It's like to your point dancing on somebody's great. It's highly inappropriate. And it's deeply offensive and every single one of those members took tough votes in order to advance a center, right agenda because they believed in it. But they took a lot of heat for it. And the president should be thanking them for putting up the tough votes and advancing an agenda, which I believe we are better off economically because of a lot of the policies that have been implemented, and he didn't take that opportunity to do that. Instead he decided to to say negative things about him. And I just I just think it's so entirely wrong. It's a failure of leadership. Would you have written the same thing? You did. Would you have said what you just said to me tonight? Would you have been comfortable doing that? If you weren't retiring. In this case. Yeah. Because those are my friends those are people who I lived in work with every single day anyone who's watching the program is in a work environment. And if you're in a very tough, intense work environment, and when you serve in congress. I promise you it gets pretty intense. It gets pretty tough people say things about you that aren't nice. That's all fine. That's all part of the business, but you you develop a certain respect for the people that you work with. And when you see them lose it's tough enough. But when you see them lose because of the president and the president not only doesn't acknowledge that. Instead, he says if they would have just embraced, and they would have one which is a total joke. Nobody believes that. But then to insult them in mock them on their way out it's just the height of of pettiness. It's just it's not excusable. Can I ask you real quick retiring in the party? I mean people who lost or as you saying center, right? Much of them. Is there are you finding that there is there still place for you in the Republican party? Are you questioning that now? Well, I mean philosophically I am a Republican for a number of different issues, and that's not to speak pejoratively about those who philosophically are Democrats were a two party system. Ultimately, you're trying to find compromise. But to your point about where we are as a party right now, it is very difficult in suburban environment. In this election cycle, two of one. And I think there are a lot of others out there that are making decisions not based on policy right now. But based on the personality of the president, and that's not working to the Republican advantage in competitive seats. Congressman thank you for coming in. We've had many conversation. None so much like this. I appreciate your candor. Thank you. Alfred press next the women smashing barriers and making history tonight as they had to Washington. Remember to create an ad like this one visit pure winning dot com slash CNN. Tonight the year of the woman a record two hundred thirty nine women ran for the house for how seats this year, and at least one hundred one we're elected that's also a record. And that's also a record. And there are some races. That haven't even been called yet gang laws out front. The cheese. We heard for Iowa democrat, Abby thinking our. Began as laughter. Yeah. There were people who laughed me out of rooms because they thought okay. She's twenty eight years old paying off student loans. You know comes around working class family. No money ever owned a foot into this. No one's laughing anymore at congresswoman elect thinking, our part of the record wave of women elected to congress Americans voted in more than one hundred women to the house of representatives a red to blue flip powered mostly by democratic winning. It's a political claiming of power that rose out of the populace women's March in response to the Trump presidency marching became running for office. There's time candidates like Mike, you Cheryl campaign with her powerful personal story as it maybe veteran does that open the door. I think it does. If you're a veteran, and you've always put this country. I I think that gives people the sense that you'll continue to do so Cheryl Mel the congresswoman elect from New Jersey's eleven district when I was a little elementary school kid. We lived here. Elissa slot who worked for the State Department never considered running for office until the house voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. You can't expect those people to reorient and become better leaders. You have to replace them with people who are willing to fight who are willing to actually like crap. You may wanna get tested g replaces her congressmen elected to represent. Michigan's eighth congressional district. The one hundred sixteen congress will not just be more female, but more diverse. New Mexico's dead Halid, and she was David's of Kansas make history as the first native American women in congress and elected as the first Muslim women in congress Ilhan, Omar and Rashida to lead women voters broke for Democrats by nineteen points over Republicans. What are the night's biggest surprises Kendra horns victory in deep? Red Oklahoma representation matters Oklahoma is forty ninth in the nation for women serving in elected office. And we need a different voices at the table to enact good policy. Republican women made gains in some offices while losing numbers overall in congress Tennessee's Marsha Blackburn moves from the house to the Senate. Well, south Dakota's, Kristi, Nome shatters, the ceiling of her state as the first woman governor a win and a wave of women. She predicted last winter as she farmed on her ranch, you prefer attractor to an airplane. I do you have control over your own destiny progress, but women still only make up about one in four members of congress. It's a notable increase. But I don't think it's the soon NAMI that was talked about throughout the whole campaign. I think we have to do more work to get to that point where we're talking about women who are closer to gender parody and government. Those numbers could rise because women are still in competitive races. That are too close to call tonight among them. California's young Kim who hopes to be the first Korean-American to go to congress and here were standing eras Senate race still too close to call between Pearson cinema and Martha mcsally Kate. Whoever wins here will make history as eras, first female, Senator Kate an awesome, look at it. All thanks so much. I really appreciate it. And thank you so much for joining us on this wild day. AC three sixty starts now. So many people around the world, depend on CNN's quality reporting. 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