[Chris Cuomo, Cnn:] All right. So, a friend of President Trump goes to the West Wing, doesn't meet with the president, but comes out and says that he thinks the president is considering firing special counsel Bob Mueller. So, the media goes to the White House says is this true? Sean Spicer says Ruddy speaks for himself. Then some hours go by because that's not an answer and it turns out that he says well, the president speaks for himself and he doesn't think Ruddy ever spoke to the president about this. So then, Chris Ruddy, the friend of the president, attacks Sean Spicer. This is what he just said. "Spicer issued a bizarre late- night press release that a] doesn't deny my claim the president is considering firing Mueller, and b] says I didn't speak to the president about the matter when I never claimed to have done so. Memo to Sean focus your efforts on exposing the flim-flam" which is a term that means deceptive nonsense "Russian allegations against POTUS and highlighting his remarkable achievements. Don't waste time trying to undermine one of your few allies." Which is exactly what Chris Ruddy is doing, is undermining the legitimacy of the press secretary of the man to which he claims to be a friend odd. Let's discuss. Congressman Chris Collins of New York. It is a laugh or cry moment, Congressman. What is going on?
[Rep. Chris Collins,  New York, Energy & Commerce Committee:] You know you know, Chris, why don't we talk about Aaron Judge and the Yankees? Now, there's something we can agree on.
[Cuomo:] Well, I'll tell you what. You know, the you know, the Yankees have a little way to go but, yes, we're also pro-New York, you know that. But we're not going to dwell on this too much but I don't get it. How do you make sense of this? Is the guy a friend of the president or not? I mean, what's going on here?
[Collins:] I can't make any sense of it. It is hearsay. I think the important thing to note is it would be a disaster a true disaster if that ever occurred. And from what I've heard Rosenstein say the deputy attorney general Mueller couldn't be fired even if someone wanted to. So I think, you know, we'll put this into, you know, kind of a bizarre category because I guess Ruddy's saying he didn't meet with the president. I don't know why he would have made those statements then, so
[Cuomo:] All right.
[Collins:] Yes, what we've got to say is it's not going to happen anyhow.
[Cuomo:] You don't think it will happen? I mean, look, it could happen. It would be complex. Rosenstein would have to do it. The president could order him to. He could refuse.
[Collins:] Oh, Chris, it would be a disaster. It would be
[Cuomo:] And you've heard nothing to suggest the president is considering this?
[Collins:] No. It would be a political disaster. We I mean, certainlythat's obvious, so I think we'll leave it that Rosenstein has said it can't happen anyway so I don't understand the back and forth with Ruddy
[Cuomo:] All right.
[Collins:] and Sean Spicer so we'll let it go at that.
[Cuomo:] All right, and we'll leave the it could happen but we'll leave that to the side. You have not heard
[Collins:] Sure.
[Cuomo:] any reason to
[Collins:] No.
[Cuomo:] believe that the president is considering. We'll take you on record at that.
[Collins:] None whatsoever.
[Cuomo:] Jeff Sessions, the attorney general do you believe that he should refuse to answer any category of questions before the Senate today?
[Collins:] No, I don't not. As you know, Jeff Sessions is a good friend of mine. He's a man of integrity. He will speak very directly. I am confident he has nothing to hide and I think at this point everyone should speak clearly, directly with giving answers to questions because America needs that. We need clarity on this. It's got to run its course but at this point in time we just don't need more questions. Comey left more questions unanswered than he answered, and I think Jeff Sessions can fill in the blanks very directly. I'm assuming there's going to be some disagreement, both of them under oath, but they're going to still disagree is my guess on some of what the conversation was when Comey supposedly said don't ever leave me in the room with the president alone again. We'll see how that goes. And I think Sessions will be forthright. I know he's a man of integrity and I look forward to his testimony.
[Cuomo:] What do you think was the right thing to do if, in fact, the president asked him to leave the room so he could speak privately with the FBI director?
[Collins:] Well, the President of the United States, if he asks someone to do something in that regard, I don't know anyone who would say well, I'm sorry, Mr. President, I'm going to stay right here. That doesn't work that way. I think you know that. And I'm assuming if the president did direct him and I'm not thinking that may have happened, but if it did I'm sure Jeff Sessions left the room.
[Cuomo:] Boy, that would be some development. If the attorney general says that never happened that will certainly be a twist in this tale.
[Collins:] Sure.
[Cuomo:] Let me ask you about a couple of things that we know did, in fact, happen one political, one policy. The political one, the cabinet meeting that turned into this you know, this profession of faith and love of the president is getting a lot of heat. What did you make of this?
[Collins:] I'm not sure which one you're talking about.
[Cuomo:] Well, there's only one to discuss. He had a cabinet meeting let me play for you a little taste of it.
[Mike Pence, Vice President Of The United States:] to serve as vice president to a president who's keeping his word to the American people.
[Alexander Acosta, Secretary Of Labor:] Mr. President, I am privileged to be here. I'm deeply honored and I want to thank you for keeping your commitment to the American workers.
[Tom Price, Health And Human Services Secretary:] Mr. President, what an incredible honor it is to lead the Department of Health and Human Services at this pivotal time under your leadership. I can't thank you enough for the privilege that you've given me and leadership that you've shown.
[Rex Tillerson, Secretary Of State:] Mr. President, thank you for the honor to serve the country. It's a great privilege you've given me.
[Reince Priebus, White House Chief Of Staff:] On behalf of the entire senior staff around you, Mr. President, we thank you for the opportunity and the blessing that you've given us to serve your agenda and the American people.
[Cuomo:] So that's how it went. It went around the room, all complimenting the president, and it seemed to be a reflection of the president's feeling that people aren't nice enough to him. What's your take?
[Collins:] Well, I do know that he's assembled the best cabinet that's ever been assembled, bar none. And I think it is important with all the turmoil in the country today to reassure the president, quite frankly. He's being attacked at every front, much of it inappropriately. And like any human being, I'm assuming the cabinet would say, you know, we know things are going well. The accomplishments are real. We've got a great team and, Mr. President, I'm honored to be here. So, not surprising. I did not know about that until, you know, you just played the tape but I know most of the folks in the cabinet and I would find it quite appropriate to reassure the president all is good because, I mean, the attacks are coming left and right, unrelenting, so good for them.
[Cuomo:] Why is the criticism of the president inappropriate?
[Collins:] Well, because it is based on a lot of fake news and there are distortions and exaggerations left and right. I've been in the middle of it myself.
[Cuomo:] How so?
[Collins:] Oh, I've been attacked by Sen. Schumer, Elizabeth Warren. I've been attacked by Louise Slaughter. I actually had "The Buffalo News" had to retract a story. You know, that happens about once every 100 years. The story wasn't an exaggeration, it was not a distortion, it was outright fabrication. So, I mean, I've been living in the middle of
[Cuomo:] Oh, but you find yes, all right but all I'm saying is, Congressman, you know, you've got one story from "The Buffalo News" that someone had to retract. I'll look into why it was but that certainly can't serve as proof of all media coverage being inappropriate and wildly wrong, and based on fake news. You've got one little example of that. Isn't most of it pertinently appropriate because it all stems from what the president says and does.
[Collins:] Well, but we know the press tends to lean in a particular direction and when things are reported, whether it's true or not or hearsay or not, it gets reported as though it is true. So if, you know we could agree to disagree but I believe, and I know many of the Trump supporters in my district would agree, the press has certainly exaggerated the negative and has, you know, not talked about some of the positives. And, you know, what's the shame is we're not talking about our rollback of Dodd-Frank and what it's going to do for the community.
[Cuomo:] Well, we should be. Look, that's something that we really want to talk about because rolling back some of the only protections put in after that huge fiasco to keep it from happening again, done under the cover of the Comey moment, seemed like a real sneaky move, to be honest with you.
[Collins:] Oh, we've wanted to talk about this. I mean, 25 percent of the community banks in America have shut down because of the onerous regulations they can't afford.
[Cuomo:] But those regulations were put into place because you guys in Congress had allowed wild speculation and then bailed out the same people who wound up bankrupting thousands of Americans.
[Collins:] It went way too far and if we're going to get this economy moving with small businesses they tend to borrow from these community banks who are going down every day because of the regulatory burden. The fact that they have to set aside reserves for mortgages that they've written for Aunt Sally down the street.
[Cuomo:] But it but what you roll back is going to help a lot more than just community banks. Isn't that true, Congressman?
[Collins:] Oh well, what we're rolling back and by the way, we are keeping the Durbin Amendment on the debit card fees, so that's an acknowledgment that at least one part of Dodd-Frank that's good.
[Cuomo:] Big banks are going to be able to get freedom to speculate in a way that they couldn't before because of what you just rolled back. Isn't that true, Congressman?
[Collins:] Look, sure, we are removing regulations. This is America and
[Cuomo:] So it's not just about community banks and the little guy and who the little guy borrows from, and Main Street versus Wall Street. You also freed up the Wall Street guys that wildly speculated and caused the problem. Isn't that true?
[Collins:] They're well, lessons learned, Chris. You know, some of that speculation clearly was not well, clearly after the fact, not in the best interest of America.
[Cuomo:] And now they can speculate more because of what you just rolled back.
[Collins:] They can run their business the way they see fit for their shareholders. We're not going to bail them out. If they make a mistake, they make a mistake. This is this is
[Cuomo:] You cannot guarantee that you will not bail them out right now. That is nowhere codified in law and it happened the last time and now, you made it easier for them to speculate again. True or false?
[Collins:] Well, I can I can assure you I would never support bailing them out.
[Cuomo:] That's one vote.
[Collins:] The shareholders bear the risk. The shareholders ultimately elect the board who picks the officers
[Cuomo:] All right.
[Collins:] and if some bank does stupid things and they overspeculate and something happens, they can go down.
[Cuomo:] Well, we'll see what happens but, certainly, it's more possible now than it was before. Congressman, always a pleasure to have you on the show
[Collins:] Yes, good to be with you, Chris.
[Cuomo:] always. Be well.
[Collins:] Thank you.
[Cuomo:] Alisyn
[Alisyn Camerota, Cnn:] Chris, there is a heat wave in the East and wild weather in the Midwest. We have the video to show you, next.