[Church:] Well democrats in the U.S. congress are not giving up their demand for the complete version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report. They will meet with Justice Department officials in the coming day before voting Wednesday on a contempt citation for Attorney General William Barr. Meanwhile, President Trump isn't backing down either. CNN's Jim Acosta has our report.
[Jim Acosta, Cnn Correspondent:] As the honor of the army football team at the White House, the president sidestepped the news that his former personal attorney Michael Cohen was heading off to federal prison. Instead launching a full scale blitz against the Mueller report, tweeting "there are no high crimes and misdemeanors, all the crimes are on the other side," a reference to democrats. But nearly 380 former federal prosecutors argue that's not true. Saying in a statement on the website media, "each of us believes that the conduct of President Trump described in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report would in the case of any other person not covered by the office of legal council policy against indicting a sitting president result in multiple felony charges for obstruction of justice."
[Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi:] Certainly the next step is we need to have Bob Mueller come to Capitol Hill and testify. I expect that's going to happen this month.
[Acosta:] But now the president doesn't want that to happen, tweeting, "Bob Mueller should not testify." That's a departure from what he told reporters that it's up to Attorney General William Barr.
[Donald J. Trump, President Of The U.s:] I don't know, that's up to our attorney general who I think has done a fantastic job.
[Acosta:] Barr told congress that's fine with him.
[Unidentified Male:] What about Bob Mueller, should he be allowed to testify before the senate?
[William Barr, U.s. Attorney General:] I've already said publically I have no objection.
[Acosta:] The president is feeling cheated, retweeting Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. who said, "I now support reparations. Trump should have two years added to his first term as payback for time stolen by this corrupt failed coo." That won't sit well with democrats. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the New York Times she si worried the president won't give up the White House if he loses in 2020, saying "we have to inoculate against that. We have to be prepared for that." As for Michael Cohen, he once said he worried about that as well.
[Michael Cohen, Former Personal Attorney For Pres. Trump:] Indeed given my experience working for Mr. Trump, I fear that if he loses the election in 2020 that there will never be a peaceful transition of power.
[Acosta:] The legal turmoil for the president comes as he's grappling with a range of foreign policy headaches with the administration sending an aircraft carrier to the Middle East. And a warning to Iran this happening amid a delicate ceasefire in the region between Israel and Gaza militants after a weekend of violence that left at least 23 people dead. And North Korea trying Mr. Trump's patience with a missile test over the weekend, the president may be causing some heartburn for his own team by failing to bring up election meddling with Russia's Vladimir Putin last week.
[Trump:] We didn't discuss that. Really didn't discuss it.
[Acosta:] Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that's no big deal.
[Mike Pompeo, U.s. Secretary Of State:] We talk to leaders all the time; we cover a broad range of subjects. Sometimes conversations just aren't long enough to include every issue that might be brought up.
[Acosta:] Before bringing it up himself with the Russian foreign minister.
[Pompeo:] The same thing I've shared with them each time, we've had a chance to cover that particular topic, which is that it's not appropriate. And that we'll do everything we can to deter it.
[Acosta:] And there is one other foreign policy concern that could have a big impact on the U.S. economy, and the economy around the world and that is the president's continued trade war with China. The president's threat to hike tariffs on China rattled the markets earlier in the day but it seems those jitters have eased as of this evening. Jim Acosta, CNN, the White House.
[Church:] Richard Johnson is a lecturer in U.S. politics and international relations at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. Thank you so much for being with us.
[Richard Johnson, Lecturer In U.s. Politics & International Relations:] Good morning.
[Church:] All right, so we just heard there, more than 500 former federal prosecutors signed this open letter saying Mr. Trump would have been charged with obstruction of justice if he weren't president. Does this make the need to hear Robert Mueller testify even greater to clarify some of these points? And ho likely is it do you think that will happen?
[Johnson:] I think it does make the case for Mueller to testify stronger. I think there's been a lot if dissatisfaction with the way in which the Mueller report has been presented and interpreted by the attorney general's office. And I think that people felt that the attorney general was very quick to draw quite strong positive conclusions in the president's favor from the Mueller report. That unhinged the context that the Justice Department's own guidelines about not bringing indictment through the Justice Department against the president. And so really this is a matter for congress to decide and therefore it's important for congress to have all the information available to it, including Mueller's testimony.
[Church:] And of course at this point President Trump is saying no, there is no need for Mueller to testify. The attorney general has said he doesn't object to that. We'll see what happens with that. But I want to ask you too about these two congressional deadlines. It came and went Monday with no compliance on the part of the Trump administration just as most people expected. So let's start with the democrats' request for the president's tax return. It's now up to the court. And this could take a while, couldn't it?
[Johnson:] Yes, I mean this tax issue is we've been talking about this since long before President Trump was elected president. And what's interesting also is not just the federal action which is being taken at the moment, but the way in which states are preparing themselves for the next presidential elections. There are a lot of discussions about how California may require presidential candidates to release their tax returns in order to even appear on the ballots. And so what we've moved from as a norm of President's releasing their tax returns for many decades, since the Ford Administration, to moving to a period now where we have almost sort of force legal compliance for a norm. And I think that just speaks to what's happened in the last few years in American politics where sort of norms of good behavior have eroded and we've moved into a much more legalistic and hostile context. And so I think this is going to continue to play out for quite some time to come.
[Church:] Right and of course that other Congressional deadline that came and went. The Attorney General Bill Barr resisting providing an un-redacted Mueller Report but the fight continues to see that as well. But the Democrats will never see a completely un-redacted report will they? After all the Trump Administration does have the law on its side on this point because there're a number of elements that can't be revealed right?
[Johnson:] Well, that's what they're arguing and I think what will be interesting is that there've been discussion about a move to hold the Attorney General in contempt of Congress. Now on the face of it that's a serious move and what that would mean is that if the entire House of Representatives passed a contempt of Congress resolution that would be forwarded on to the US attorney for the District of Columbia. Who would be able to take legal action against the Attorney General and in theory could fine him or even imprison him. Because the US attorney for the District of Columbia is himself a Trump appointee it's unlikely that she would take action we think. Congress actually has quite wide ranging powers in these [inaudible]. Congress in the past used to be able, I think it still does but doesn't practice-exercise but could even imprison people using its own Sergeant of Arms and its control over the District of Columbia's jail. Now I'm not saying that I expect Congress to send the Sergeant of Arms off to arrest the Attorney General but we are in an increasingly escalating conflict between the Legislative and Executive branch. And so I think that we're going to see perhaps powers being used that haven't been exercised in quite some time. Where sort of kind of level of conflict that we haven't really seen since, probably since, Watergate.
[Church:] Interesting a lot of push back for sure. Richard Johnson thank you so much for bringing your analysis and perspective to this appreciate it.
[Johnson:] Thank you.
[Church:] Let's take a short break hear the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are now parents and we've got a line to England for the details of the newest addition to the royal family. Plus why millions of young South Africans are staying away from this week's national elections. We'll have a live report. Welcome back everyone, I'm Rosemary Church I want to update you now on the main stories we've been following this hour. Myanmar has freed two Reuters journalists jailed for their reporting on a Rohingya massacre in 2017. The men spend more than 500 days behind bars for violating the Colonial era Ofiicial Secrets Act. They were apparently released as part of a Presidential pardon. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will be heading Washington as the US and China continue their high level trade talks set for Wednesday. The Trump Administration is accusing China of reneging on its previous agreement and sys it will escalate tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. US war ships and bomber are being sent to the Middle East after threats from Iran and its proxies against US forces. That is according to US officials citing specific and credible intelligence. The White House announced on Sunday a carrier strike group was heading to the region. Well Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markel are now parents. The baby boy's birth on Monday was announced in the traditional way on easel outside Buckingham Palace. And then in perhaps a less formal more tongue in cheek staff, via town crier in the town of Windsor of course. And now there is a third way, Instagram. It's just one of the many ways the couple are doing tradition with a little twist. As for the baby we don't know his name yet but his father delivered the rest of the details.
[Harry Charles Albert David, Prince Of England:] Meghan and myself had a baby boy, early this morning. A very healthy boy, mother and baby are doing incredibly well. It's been the most amazing experience I could ever possibly imagine. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension but we're absolutely thrilled and so grateful to all the love and support from everybody out there. It's been amazing so I just wanted to share this with everybody.
[Church:] We have a very happy father there. Let's bring in CNN's Anna Stewart live from Windsor. So good to see you again Anna, he is so happy, so proud, and so thrilled isn't he. A great day for both Harry and Meghan and all the royals. How are their subjects responding to this happy news?
[Anna Stewart, Cnn Reporter:] You can see that Prince Harry was bursting with joy as is everyone here in Windsor and the next big question is what will the baby be called. And every one has an opinion on this. I've had some pretty strange names, unlikely names I'd say so far. But I'll give you the top bets at the moment. Cause the bookies opened their books months ago, we've been watching them very closely. At the moment, number one is Alexander at 72, now that is Prince Georges middle name also Alexandra is the queen's middle name so it's got a big royal tradition there. Next up you have James. A long history of Jameses in the royal family. Arthur again that is a middle name for Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Louis so that's already a very popular one. And then we have Spencer at 11 to two and this is kind of climbing the tables rather suddenly right near the end. I didn't see it in the top 10 a few weeks ago it would be a nod of course to the baby's late grandmother Princess Diana. That was her maiden name now it will likely have two middle names. So frankly, it could have all four. It could have four names. It could have five names. Traditionally royals do have quite a few so it could be a combination of all of them. Surnames, well royals don't need surnames but at school it's likely to use the surname Sussex because Prince George uses Cambridge at school we know that. It can also used Mount Boston Windsor if it needs to. And then there's a big question of the title, whether the queen intervenes and gives this baby the titles of Prince His Royal Highness, if she doesn't it's most likely to take Prince Harry's lesser title Earl of Dumbarton. Now in addition to that once we find out what the baby's called, what the title will be I expect we'll hear it as he said on social media through past statements but also from the town crier and there's not just one but two here in Windsor take a listen.
[Tony Appleton, Unofficial Town Crier:] Oh yay, oh yay, oh yay...
[Stewart:] He's a familiar face at royal events. Now you are the self appointed...
[Appleton:] Royalist town crier.
[Stewart:] You are the self appointed town crier for all royal events.
[Appleton:] All royal events and I done the three royal babies Charlotte...
[Stewart:] George, Charlotte, Louis, and...
[Appleton:] And now we're not sure but it's a boy. I forecast a boy. And not sure of the name yet but...
[Stewart:] Any guess on the name.
[Appleton:] Oh it might be Charles.
[Stewart:] Problem is there's another town crier in town. Royal bearer of Windsor made his-is this official.
[Chris Brown, Official Town Crier:] This is official.
[Stewart:] You are the official town crier.
[Brown:] The mayor appointed me in 2012 and I've worked with every mayor since. I am the official town crier for this town.
[Stewart:] Now is there a little bit of rivalry cause I've met Tony many times. Tony blocks in second royal crier. No comment, no not awkward at all.
[Brown:] None at all, I'm sorry. We have a rule, we are polite in this town we don't say nasty things about people.
[Stewart:] But unofficial town crier Tony has more royal feathers in his cap.
[Appleton:] I'm all over the world. I'm international.
[Stewart:] You're the international self appointed royal
[Appleton:] I'm international and the royal family do know me and royal family have actually called me to
[Brown:] God save the queen.
[Stewart:] There may not be room for a third town crier but just in case a back up is ever needed...what do I shout?
[Brown:] You have to start with, oh yay, oh yay, oh yay, what you say after that is entirely your problem.
[Stewart:] Oh yay, oh yay, oh yay, Anna Stewart, CNN, Windsor.
[Church:] Yes, he didn't give you a chance to finish your sentence. He felt threatened for sure. Thanks so much Anna Stewart. Appreciate it. all right let's get some perspective now on the new arrival from Royal historian Kate Williams. She is the author of the book Young Elizabeth: the Making of Our Queen. Good to see you Kate.
[Kate Williams, Author And Royal Historian:] Good morning.
[Church:] So Prince Harry understandably thrilled with the arrival of his new baby boy and of course proud of his lovely wife Meghan. So what all can you tell us about this royal baby's arrival and of course the history this little boy's making.
[Williams:] Well, it's just been a fabulous day and baby Sussex waking up I'm sure already awake a day old now and all of the newspapers are covering the royal baby. It's just so much excitement here in Britain. Anna was showing how excited people are there in Windsor and really across the country we've seen a lot of our big land marks including the London Eye girthed in red, white, and blue and blue for boy and everyone's so thrilled. And I think we've really seen that when Harry said how he was over the moon. Some of Harry's real magic, he was overwhelmed, so much emotion, paying tribute to women of the world for giving birth. He really was absolutely thrilled and we're all so happy for him. And this baby-it's really a very exciting moment. The first Anglo-American baby born into the royal family. It's going to be a duel US UK citizen we understand so theoretically it could one day stand for US President you never know. And it's also our first biracial baby in the modern royal family and that sends a powerful message to the world, to the country, a muliti- cultural country in Britain which still is to a large degree very white and the elites but it doesn't have the same role as George. It's seventh in line to the throne it may not as Anna was saying, it may not have a prince title, the HRH title, it may be Earl of Dumbarton. There is some talk in the newspapers about how it might even have no title at all. It might just be a mister like any normal citizen of the United Kingdom. So that we will find out hopefully tomorrow with a photo of mother, baby, and father which we can't wait for. And the title and then of course I'm dying to know who will be the godparents? Will it be Serena Williams who was looking fabulous at the MET Ball, will it be George Clooney who the baby shares a birthday with or will we have a lot of royals but well this royal will grow up to have not a life like Prince Georges but it will be a back up royal. We will see this royal having an important role as a backup royal. Helping out with the royal engagements. So...
[Church:] Yes.
[Williams:] ...it will certainly have a life in the spotlight.
[Church:] Very similar to his father right. So as you mentioned no name yet, no title, there has been rumor that the queen would probably not call him a prince so what's behind all of that chatter on name and title?
[Williams:] Yes well we think probably now the queen won't call him a prince because usually if she was to do that it would have been planned and issued a few months in advance. It would be quite last minute if she makes a decision now. And the reason really was, we go back to George V now, the queens grandfather who made a rule about who could be prince and who could be princess. And it's strictly was the grandchildren of the sovereign and those in the male line of the Prince of Whales. And Prince Harry of course is a grandchild so he is a prince but his son is a great grandchild. But that does have the strange possibility that when Charles becomes king this baby could now become a prince and sort of accelerate from mister or Earl of Dumbarton to prince. So at the moment it is all up in the air but I think probably we'll see the baby being Earl of Dumbarton for the meantime which is a pretty cool title I think.
[Church:] Yes it is. It's all very cool. And we'll see what the name is in a few days perhaps you don't know. It could take longer than that right. Kate Williams thank you so much for joining us appreciate it.
[Williams:] Thank you.
[Church:] And time for a short break here. Just ahead we will hear from South Africa's born free generation and why they have no interest in voting in this week's election.