Rep. Adam Schiff: Another Stunning Public Disclosure | Morning Joe

>> HE SAID THERM TOLD INFORMATION THAT YOU HAD ABOUT
THE DNC. HOW DID THEY GET THAT
IMPRESSION? >> IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE THAT
MAYBE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SUCH INFORMATION.
THEY WANTED IT SO BADLY. >> THAT WAS STUNNING.
THAT WAS PART OF KIER SIMMONS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW THAT WE JUST
HEARD WITH THE RUSSIAN LAWYER WHO MET WITH DONALD TRUMP'S SON
AND SON-IN-LAW DURING THE HEAT OF THE CAMPAIGN.
THE HOUSE -- DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF OF
CALIFORNIA. ALSO AT THE TABLE THE NEWS AND
FINANCE ANCHOR OF YAHOO NEWS. >> IN MARCH YOU SAID, "THERE IS
MORE THAN A CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT TRUMP AIDES
COLLUDED WITH RUSSIA." IN THIS E-MAIL ONE OF THOSE
PIECES OF EVIDENCE IS THIS E-MAIL EVIDENCE TO YOU OR WAS
THIS NEWS TO YOU? HAD YOU KNOWN ANYTHING ABOUT
THIS E-MAIL IN THE PAST? >> YOU LOOK AT THE TIME TABLE,
THIS IS A MONTH BEFORE THE RUSSIANS START DUMPING
INFORMATION THEY HAVE DEROGATORY INFORMATION ABOUT SECRETARY
CLINTON. IF THAT REPORT IS CORRECT, THIS
E-MAIL DISCLOSED TO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN THE TRUTH THAT THE
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT HAD DAMAGING INFORMATION THAT THEY WANTED TO
HELP ELECT DONALD TRUMP AND IT PUT CERTAINLY THE FIRST FAMILY
ON NOTICE OF ALL OF THESE FACTS. IT MAKES ALL THE DENIALS WE'VE
SEEN SINCE THAT MUCH MORE UNBELIEVABLE SUSPECT SO
CERTAINLY THIS BEARS A LOT OF INVESTIGATION.
THESE PARTICIPANTS ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO
OBTAIN ANY RELEVANT EMAILS OR DOCUMENTS.
YET ANOTHER, I THINK, RATHER STUNNING PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.
>> YOU SAY STUNNING. WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THIS
DISCLOSURE? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY
SOME ELEMENTS I HAVE BEEN. THE SHIFTING EXPLANATIONS BY THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. FIRST THERE WAS WE NEVER HAD ANY
KIND OF MEETINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEN THERE WAS, OKAY, WE DID
HAVE A MEETING, BUT IT WAS ABOUT ADOPTIONS.
THEN, OF COURSE, PAUL MANAFORT, THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER IS THERE.
WHY WOULD HE COME TO A MEETING ABOUT ADOPTIONS?
THEN IT'S ABOUT THE ACT THAT'S A SANCTIONS LEGISLATION THAT
SANCTIONS RUSSIANS WHO ARE COMMITTING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
THEN WE LEARN THAT, WELL, ACTUALLY THEY WENT HOPING TO GET
DAMAGING INFORMATION FROM THE RUSSIANS ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON.
IS THIS COLLUSION? >> CERTAINLY IF THE TRUMP
CAMPAIGN WENT TO A MEETING WITH THE RUSSIANS SEEKING TO ENLIST
OR RECEIVE THE HELP OF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT IN GETTING
DAMAGING -- >> WHICH IS WHAT THE TRAIL OF
EVIDENCE AND EMAILS SUGGESTS IS THE CASE?
>> YES, THAT WOULD BE A POTENTIAL FORM OF COLLUSION THAT
THEY ARE GOING TO COORDINATE WITH THE RUSSIANS, THE
DISSEMINATION OF DAMAGING INFORMATION.
AGAIN, THIS IS STILL IN THE CATEGORY OF ALLEGATION THAT
NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. HERE YOU HAVE VERY DIRECT
POTENTIAL EVIDENCE OF THE RUSSIANS COMMUNICATING WITH THE
CAMPAIGN. WE HAVE STUFF THAT WILL HELP
YOUR CAMPAIGN. WE WANT TO HELP YOUR FATHER GET
ELECTED. WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE THE GOODS
IN THE MEETING, BUT IF YOU GO FORWARD WITH SOMETHING, THEN
WE'LL HELP YOU WITH THE ACT. THAT, OF COURSE, WOULD BE
ILLEGAL. IF THEY WERE SOLICITING OR
RECEIVING ESSENTIALLY IN KIND CONTRIBUTION FROM A FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT IN A U.S. ELECTION, THAT WOULD VIOLATE, I THINK, ANY
NUMBER OF LAWS. >> DO YOU THINK THE SCENARIO
THAT PLAYED OUT SIX MONTHS AGO WITH SALLY YATES WHEN SHE WAS
ALARMED AT POTENTIAL -- BY THE RUSSIANS WITH MICHAEL FLYNN WHEN
HE KNOWINGLY LIED ABOUT SANCTIONS WITH THE RUSSIAN
AMBASSADOR. WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT YOU THINK
THE RUSSIANS COULD HAVE BEEN USING THIS KNOWING VERY WELL
THAT THIS MEETING DID TAKE PLACE KNOWING THOSE WITHIN THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION FOR MONTHS NOW HAVE BEEN DENYING ANY SUCH
MEETINGS AND SAID THEY NEVER MET WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS.
>> WHAT INSTRUMENTALITIES DID THEY TRY TO EXERT INFLUENCE,
BECAUSE THE MOST CRITICAL THING IS DO THE RUSSIANS HAVE ANY
INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN HOLD OVER THE HEAD OF THE
ADMINISTRATION TO INFLUENCE U.S. POLICY?
THAT COULD TAKE THE FORM OF MEETINGS THAT THEY KNOW TOOK
PLACE, OFFERS TO GIVE HELP THEY KNOW TOOK PLACE.
IT COULD TAKE THE FORM OF IF THEY WERE ENGAGED IN MONEY
LAUNDERING WITH THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION.
I'M NOT SAYING THIS HAPPENED, BUT IF IT DID, OBVIOUSLY THAT IS
SOMETHING THEY CAN HOLD OVER THE PRESIDENT AND THE FIRST FAMILY.
WE NEED TO FIND OUT DID ANY OF THIS HAPPEN?
IF IT DID, IT COULD VERY WELL SHAPE WHY THE PRESIDENT
APPROACHES SYRIA THE WAY HE DOES, WHY HE APPROACHES UKRAINE
THE WAY HE DOES, WHY HE APPROACHES SANCTIONS THE WAY HE
DOES, WHY HE SAYS THE THINGS HE SAYS ABOUT WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER
THE RUSSIANS WERE INVOLVED. WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF
THIS. IT WOULD BE THE WORST FORM OF
NEGLIGENCE FOR THE CONGRESS NOT TO.
>> MIKE. >> SO OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GOING TO
WANT TO HAVE DONALD TRUMP JR. TESTIFY BEFORE YOUR COMMITTEE.
>> YES. >> UNDER OATH.
>> YES. >> AS PART OF THAT PROCESS GIVEN
WHAT WE KNOW NOW PUBLICLY, WHERE DO YOU GO AS A PROSECUTOR OR AS
A CONGRESSMAN ON THIS COMMITTEE TO GET TO INTENT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK, FIRST, WE TRY TO GET WHATEVER
MATERIALS THAT WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE IN TERMS OF DOCUMENTATION.
THEN WE BRING IN THE WITNESSES WHO SET UP THE MEETING.
CLEARLY IT WAS AN EXPECTATION ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN EVEN FROM
THEIR OWN STATEMENTS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GET SOME GOODS ON
HILLARY CLINTON. WHY IF THAT WAS CORRECT, WHY WAS
THAT E-MAIL SENT. IF THIS LAWYER AND I WOULD TAKE
EVERYTHING SHE HAS TO SAY, OBVIOUSLY WITH A HUGE GRAIN OF
SALT, WE KNOW THAT THE RUSSIANS USE SOMETIMES PRIVATE SIT
ZBRENZ, TO DO THEIR BUSINESS. THEY DID DON'T ALWAYS USE
CERTIFIED AGENTS OF THE SVR. WE'LL WANT TO KNOW WHAT WENT
INTO THAT. WHY DID THE PERSON WHO SENT THAT
E-MAIL BELIEVE THAT THE RUSSIANS WERE TRYING TO HELP ELECT DONALD
TRUMP? WHAT INFORMATION DID HE BELIEVE
THAT THEY HAD? THERE'S CLEARLY A BACK STORY
HERE THAT WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF.
>> WHICH LEADS TO THE SECOND QUESTION THAT CADDY RAISED ABOUT
COLLUSION. WHAT IS THE ULTIMATE LEGAL
DEFINITION OF COLLUSION? >> IT'S A TERM TO COVER ALL
POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC CONDUCT. THERE IS NO STATUTE THAT USES
THAT TERM OR COORDINATION, WHICH THE TERM THE FBI DIRECTOR MORE
OFTEN USED. >> IF YOU CONSPIRE WITH OTHERS
TO VIOLATE ANY NUMBER OF LAWS, THERE'S A CRIME.
IF THERE'S A -- IF THERE'S AN EFFORT TO GET HELP FROM A
FOREIGN POWER, IF THERE'S A CONSPIRACY TO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL
QUID PRO QUO, AN ACT OF BRIBERY WHERE YOU WILL GET HELP IN
EXCHANGE FOR A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE.
THAT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC. IF THERE'S ANY CONSPIRACY TO
OBTAIN I WILL LIFT INFORMATION, TO STEAL THE INFORMATION.
ANY NUMBER OF THOSE THINGS COULD BE VIOLATION OF LAW.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT BOB MUELLER WILL BE LOOKING AT FOR
THE PURPOSES OF DO WE BRING A PROSECUTION?
THERE ARE THINGS THAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO LOOK AT FOR WHAT WERE
THE FULL RANGE OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE RUSSIANS.
DID THEY HAVE THE HELP OF SUGS PERSONS, AND MOST IMPORTANT, HOW
DO WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THIS HAPPENING AGAIN?
IF THERE IS ANY LEVERAGE THE RUSSIANS HAVE OVER THE
PRESIDENT, WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
>> ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE SANCTIONS BILL.
WHERE DOES IT STAND RIGHT NOW? >> IT HAS OBVIOUSLY OVERWHELMING
SUPPORT IN THE CONGRESS. I THINK THIS IS TRUE IN BOTH
HOUSES. THE ONLY ISSUE IS WILL PAUL RYAN
BRING IT UP FOR A VOTE? WHAT PRESSURE IS THE WHITE HOUSE
EXERTING TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING?
I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE PRESSURE WILL BE IRRESISTIBLE.
WE'LL GET TO VOTE ON IT. WILL WE GET TO VOTE ON THE BILL
THAT CAME OUT OF THE SENATE OR A WATERED DOWN VERSION -- THEY'RE
IN THE HOUSE AS WELL WITH WANTING A TOUGHER SANCTIONS
BILL? >> I THINK THEY ARE.
IT'S NOT WHAT THE MEMBERS WANT. IT'S WHAT THE LEADERSHIP IS
WILLING TO ALLOW AND HOW MUCH PRESSURE THEY'RE UNDER FROM THE
WHITE HOUSE. >> CONGRESSMAN, OF ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT WERE PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING, ONE IS
CURRENTLY TIED TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
PAUL MANAFORT NO LONGER PART OF THIS TEAM, AND, OBVIOUSLY, DON
JR., A PRIVATE CITIZEN AS WELL, WORKING WITH THE TRUMP COMPANY.
JARED KUSHNER, GIVEN WHAT WE IN AND OUT KNOW, DO YOU THINK THAT
HE SHOULD HAVE A SECURITY CLEARANCE REVOKED?
>> CERTAINLY IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT A LOT OF THE MEETINGS THAT
HE PARTICIPATED IN AND THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE ALLEGED TO
HAVE TAKEN PLACE WEREN'T DISCLOSED DURING HIS BACKS
GROUND CHECK PROCESS. I WOULD PRESUME THAT FROM THE
OPEN SOURCE REPORTING. IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN I THINK
HE SHOULD HAVE HIS SECURITY CLEARANCE REVIEWED AND VERY
LIKELY REVOKED. YOU CAN'T, I THINK, GO INTO ANY
KIND OF DISCUSSIONS OR SUBMIT DOCUMENTS ABOUT WHETHER YOU HAD
MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN NATIONALS AND OMIT, FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT
PROVED TO BE TRUE, A DISCUSSION OF WANTING TO SET UP A SECRET
BACK CHANNEL WITH A FOREIGN ADVERSARIAL POWER.
FOR ANYONE ELSE THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR SECURITY CLEARANCE
REVOKED. THE HOLDER SAYS OF THAT
CLEARANCE ARE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION.
>> SO DONALD TRUMP JR. JUST TWEETED.
HE SAYS CONGRESSMAN SCHIFF, MEDIA AND DEMS ARE EXTREMELY
INVESTED IN THE RUSSIA STORY. IF THIS NONSENSE MEETING IS ALL
THEY HAVE AFTER A YEAR, I UNDERSTAND THE DESPERATION.
IS THAT ALL YOU HAVE? >> THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT MORE
THAT'S EVEN IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
OF COURSE, THE EVOLVING ACCOUNTS FROM DON JR. DON'T INSPIRE A LOT
OF CONFIDENCE. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO IS VERY
ADAMANT NEVER HAD THESE MEETINGS, NEVER HAD ANY KIND OF
HELP OR OFFERS FROM HELP. THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS.
HE WAS MAKING THE SAME ARGUMENT BEFORE.
OF COURSE, HE HAS HAD TO EVOLVE HIS STORY MANY TIMES SINCE THEN.
I'M SURE HE WILL EVOLVE IT MANY TIMES IN THE FUTURE.
I DON'T GIVE THAT A WHOLE LOT OF CREDIT.
>> RANKING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE INTEL CAN I, ADAM

Rep. Adam Schiff: Another Stunning Public Disclosure | Morning Joe | MSNBC

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