Rep. Ted Lieu: Firing Of James Comey Is Obstruction Of Justice | AM Joy

>>> DONALD TRUMP IS ABOUT TO GIVE A COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS.
>>> SOME HAVE BEEN YOUTHS THE "I" WORD AND WHILE IMPEACHMENT
STILL REMAINS AS SENATOR BLUMENTHAL SAID A DISTANT
POSSIBILITY, DEMOCRATS ARE PURSUING OTHER WAYS TO HOLD
TRUMP ACCOUNTABLE. FOUR DEMOCRATS ASKED THE DOJ TO
OPEN A NEW PROBE WHETHER TRUMP INTERFERED IN THE -- AND THEY'RE
CALLING HIS BLUFF ABOUT THE WARNING ABOUT TAPES ABOUT THEIR
DINNER CONVERSATION. A LETTER WAS SENT TO THE WHITE
HOUSE ON FRIDAY REQUESTING ANY TYPES REGARDING THAT
CONVERSATION. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I WANT TO START WITH THAT TWEET. A LOT OF LAWYERS WERE
INTERPRETING THAT AS POTENTIAL OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE OR
WITNESS TAMPERING. YOU, SIR, YOU ARE AN ATTORNEY AS
WELL. I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT IT.
IN YOUR VIEW, IS THAT EITHER IN THE POLITICAL SORT OF
IMPEACHMENT SENSE OR IN THE LEGAL SENSE OBSTRUCTION OF
JUSTICE OR WITNESS TAMPERING? >> IT COULD BE, BUT I BELIEVE
THE FIRING OF DIRECTOR COMEY IS THE OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
THE PRESIDENT ESSENTIAL ADMITTED HE FIRED HIM BECAUSE OF THE
RUSSIA PROBE. WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION'S DISRESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW.
NONE OF THIS IS OKAY. >> YOU'RE PROBABLY TOO YOUNG TO
REMEMBER THE IMPEACHMENT OF BILL CLINTON, BUT YOU WANT TO GO BACK
IN A MOMENT. IMPEACHMENT IS A POLITICAL
PROCESS. THERE IS A TRIAL THAT TAKES
PLACE IN THE SENATE ONCE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT COME
OUT, BUT IT STARTS IN THE HOUSE. THE HOUSE FILES THE ARTICLES.
THESE ARE THE ARTICLES AGAINST BILL CLINTON, FOUR COUNTS TOTAL.
ONE THAT HE ALLEGEDLY CORRUPTED AND MANIPULATED THE JUDICIAL
PROCESS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR HIS PERSONAL GAIN AND
EXONERATION. THAT WAS 1 AND 2.
ARTICLE 3 WAS HE ENGAGED PERSONALLY AND THROUGH
SUBORDINATES AND AGENTS IN A COURSE OF CONDUCT OR SCHEME
DESIGNED TO DELAY, IMPEDE, COVER UP AND CONCEAL THE EXISTENCE OF
EVIDENT AND TESTIMONY RELATED TO A FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACTION
BROUGHT AGAINST HIM. ARTICLE 4 WAS THAT HE ENGAGED IN
CONDUCT THAT RESULTED IN THE MISUSE AND ABUSE OF HIS HIGH
OFFICE, IMPAIRED THE DUE -- AND CONTRAVENED THE AUTHORITY OF THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND THE TRUST-SEEKING PURPOSE OF A
COORDINATE INVESTIGATIVE PROCEEDING.
A LOVE OF THAT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT DONALD TRUMP IS ENGAGED IN.
DOES IT SOUND LIKE THAT TO YOU? >> IT DOES, BUT IN NIXON'S
IMPEACHMENT, THE FIRST ARTICLE WAS OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
THAT PROVIDES A VERY RELEVANT EXPERIENCE TO LOOK AT.
IN THAT CASE, RICHARD NIXON FIRED PEOPLE WHO WERE
INVESTIGATING HIM. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT DONALD TRUMP
DID WITH THE FIRING OF DIRECTOR COMEY.
>> YET, THE HEAD OF THE BODY IN WHICH YOU SERVE, CONGRESSMAN
LIEU, IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, EVEN AS YOU AND OTHERS
RESPOND. THIS IS ACCORDING TO JAKE
TAPPER -- I DECIDED I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON THE TWEETS
OF THE DAY OR THE HOUR. HE'S ESSENTIALLY DISMISSED EVEN
THE IDEA HE SHOULD EVEN TALK ABOUT WHAT DONALD TRUMP IS
DOING. DO YOU SEE ANY CHANCE THAT THE
LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OR THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE WILL DO ANYTHING AT ALL TO CONSTRAIN THE
PRESIDENT? >> NOT RIGHTHT NOW, BUT IT'S
STARTING TO CHANGE. WE HAVE REPUBLICAN JUSTIN AMASH
OUT OF MICHIGAN SAYING THERE SHOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT
COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO THE TRUMP/RUSSIA ACTIVITIES.
DARRELL ISSA OUT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SAYING THERE SHOULD
BE A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, AND YOU'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE
REPUBLICANS STARTING TO PUT COUNTRY ABOVE PARTY, AND
EVENTUALLY WE'LL GET TO THE TRUTH.
>> TO YOUR POINT, EVEN JASON CHAFFETZ WHO SAID HE COULDN'T
LOOK HESS DAUGHTER IN HER ICE, BUT THERE ARE SOME MOVEMENT.
THE REASON YEAR INCLUDINGS WON'T MOVE IS THE POLLS.
LET'S LOOK AT GALLUP'S APPROVAL RATING THIS IS MAY 1st THROUGH
THE 7th. HE AS GOT 40% OF INDEPENDENTS,
THE AVERAGE IS 42, AN HISTORICAL LOW, BUT IN YOUR VIEW, AS LONG
HE'S AT 84% WITH REPUBLICANS, DO YOU FORESEE REPUBLICANS EVER,
EVER IMPEACHING SOMEBODY WHO THEIR OWN VOTERS SUPPORT?
>> I DO NOT. THAT'S WHY THE MIDTERM ELECTION
IN A YEAR AND A HALF ARE SO IMPORTANT.
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU TWO WORDS WHY THEY'RE IMPORTANT --
SUBPOENA POWER. IF THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE
HOUSE, WE CAN CONTROL THE SUBPOENAS, THAT MEANS WE CAN DO
A REAL INVESTIGATION, AND DEMAND DOCUMENTS AND HAVE WITNESSES
COME AND TESTIFY. THAT'S WHY THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS
ARE SO IMPORTANT IN THE YEAR AND A HALF.
>> TWO WORDS -- SUBPOENA POWER. KEEP IT IN MIND, VOTERS,
CONGRESSMAN LIEU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK

Rep. Ted Lieu: Firing Of James Comey Is Obstruction Of Justice | AM Joy | MSNBC

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