President Trump Holds Meeting on Gun Policy; White House Communications Director Hope Hicks Resigns; Interview With New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler; In Shocking Move, Trump Backs Obama Gun- Control Ideas
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Stunning shift. The president accuses a fellow Republican of being afraid of the NRA as he meets with lawmakers on gun violence and seems to side with Democrats on some key issues. Will he follow through or revert to the GOP script? Battle Sessions. The attorney general of the United States refuses to stay silent as the president escalates his public smear of his own Cabinet member. Tonight, Jeff Sessions is defending his launch of an independent investigation that Mr. Trump calls disgraceful. And expanding Russia probe. CNN has learned that the special counsel is looking into the president's business dealings in Russia before the 2016 campaign. Is he looking for links between the Kremlin and Mr. Trump's decision to run? We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in</s>THE SITUATION ROOM. ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.</s>BLITZER: Breaking tonight, one of the president's most loyal allies that allies in his chaotic White House is calling it quits. Hope Hicks is stepping down as communications director. The announcement coming about 24 hours after she testified before Congress in the Russia investigation. And it caps a very busy day that included a dramatic escalation in the president's feud with his Attorney General Jeff Sessions. There's a lot of talk about with former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara, who has been on the receiving end of the president's anger, and the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, is joining us as well. And our correspondents and analysts are also standing by. First, let's go to our chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta. Jim, first of all, what do we know about Hope Hicks' reason for resigning?</s>JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you said, President Trump has lost Hope, as in Hope Hicks, his communications director here at the White House and longtime trusted aide. She announced earlier today through the White House that she's stepping down over the next several weeks. The president put out a very glowing statement about his longtime and trusted aide here at White House. He said -- quote -- "Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years. She is as smart and thoughtful as they come. A truly great person. I will miss having her by my side. But when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together in the future." Now, I'm told by a White House official over here, Wolf, that there is -- quote -- "nothing nefarious" about Hicks leaving at this time. The official denied that this had anything to do with the Rob Porter scandal that broke over the last several weeks and that it was not about her testimony up on Capitol Hill in front of the House Intelligence Committee behind closed doors during which she told that panel that she had to from time to time tell little white lies on behalf of the president. Wolf, they don't have a plan yet for naming her replacement over here at the White House as communications director. As you know, that is a very big job at any White House. And that her departure is expected over the next several weeks, but no firm date for her final departure here, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Jim, there were also some stunning statements from the president today about guns and his own attorney general today. Update us on that.</s>ACOSTA: That's right. We thought this would be the most remarkable thing to happen over here at the White House today. The president at one point telling a group of lawmakers in the White House here in front of the cameras, at least one of them, that they're afraid of the NRA, but some of these lawmakers who were gathered here in the room with the president, they fired right back and told the president that unless he stands up to the NRA, nothing will be done on the issue of gun control.</s>DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have to act.</s>ACOSTA (voice-over): This time, President Trump promised new gun control measures are on the way. But first he professed his love to the lawmakers from both parties gathered at the White House.</s>TRUMP: I see some folks that don't say nice things about me. And that's OK, because if you turn that into this energy, I will love you. I don't care.</s>ACOSTA: The president then vowed action is coming, first on the use of bump stocks, attachments that effectively turn semiautomatic rifles into machine guns.</s>TRUMP: I'm going to write that out. You will have that done pretty quickly.</s>ACOSTA: Mr. Trump then reaffirmed his interest in raising the age limit to 21 for purchasing some firearms after some waffling from the White House on the issue.</s>TRUMP: I think it's something you have to think about. So, I will tell you what. I'm going to give it a lot of consideration.</s>ACOSTA: Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein showed the president data that shows how the assault weapons ban passed in the '90s cut down on gun deaths.</s>SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: When it ended, you see it going up.</s>ACOSTA: Also on the table was the influence of the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobby closely tied to the president.</s>TRUMP: I'm the biggest fan of the Second Amendment. Many of you are. I'm a big fan of the NRA. But I had lunch with them, with Wayne and Chris and David, on Sunday and said it's time. We have got to stop this nonsense. It's time.</s>SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D), CONNECTICUT: The reason that nothing has gotten done here is because the gun lobby has had a veto power over any legislation that comes before Congress.</s>ACOSTA: On the proposal to expand background checks sponsored by Senators Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey, the president criticized the measure's GOP sponsor, Toomey, as fearful of the</s>NRA. TRUMP: You know what? Because you're afraid of the NRA, right?</s>ACOSTA: The president also made the stunning comment that people with mental health issues should have their firearms confiscated.</s>TRUMP: A lot of times, by the time you go to court, it takes so long to go to court, to get the due process procedures. I like taking the guns early. Take the guns first. Go through due process second.</s>ACOSTA: The president staged the gun discussion as the West Wing is still trying to get a handle on why so many of its top aides lack top- secret security clearances. Mr. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, recently had his clearance status downgraded from top-secret to secret. But CNN has learned other White House staffers have been notified their clearances were bumped down as well. That's despite promises from the president during the campaign to properly handle classified material.</s>TRUMP: This was not just extreme carelessness with classified material, which is still totally disqualifying. This is calculated, deliberate, premeditated misconduct. If elected, Hillary Clinton would become the first president of the United States who wouldn't be able to pass a background check.</s>ACOSTA: Another headache for the president appears to be Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his handling of alleged abuses in the Russia investigation. The president tweeted: "Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the inspector general to investigate? Will take forever. Why not use Justice Department lawyers? Disgraceful." Sessions announced he's letting the Justice Department's inspector general inspector to look into it.</s>JEFF SESSIONS, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: We believe the Department of Justice must adhere to the high standards in the FISA court. And, yes, it will be investigated. And I think that's just the appropriate thing. The inspector general will take that as one of the matters he will deal with.</s>ACOSTA: Today, Sessions fired back at the president's tweet with a blunt statement. "As long as I am the attorney general, I will continue to discharge my duties with integrity and honor. And this department will continue to do its work in a fair and impartial manner, according to the law and Constitution."</s>ACOSTA: Now, the president is already getting some blowback from conservatives for that meeting on gun control over here at the White House. Take a look at these headlines from Breitbart. They pretty much sum it up, Wolf, at this hour. This is stunning stuff. "Trump, the gun grabber. Cedes Dems' wish lists, bump stocks, buying age, assault weapons, background checks." That's on the front page of Breitbart right now. He also is being criticized by Breitbart for essentially telling Steve Scalise, the House majority whip, that they will not be bringing up the concealed carry bill that he would like to see passed in Congress and be made a part of a comprehensive gun control bill. The president saying at one point during that session that he supports Scalise on that piece of legislation, but he doesn't want it to be a part of a big comprehensive bill. Wolf, we should point out we have seen this movie before. It was a different subject, though, in early January. You will recall on the issue of immigration, the president had this big meeting over at the White House. He brought all these lawmakers here from both sides. And it sounded like they were going to reach some sort of compromise. Of course, nothing came out of that meeting as a result of that. And ever since then, the president has blamed Democrats for the failure to pass any kind of measure on that issue -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Jim Acosta, thanks very much for that report. Another White House official is heading for the exit as the Russia investigation weighs in on many current and former allies of the president. Let's go to our justice correspondent, Jessica Schneider, for us. Jessica, Hope Hicks is resigning, but she remains a key witness in the Russia probe, right?</s>JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: She does, Wolf. Hope Hicks was interviewed by the special counsel's team in mid- December, and it was just yesterday she spent nine hours behind closed doors in an interview with the House Intelligence Committee. What she said in the testimony raised eyebrows. A source tells us that Hicks admitted to telling -- quote -- "white lies" for the president, but she said that those were minor and she never spread falsehoods about anything substantial, including the Russia investigation. When it does come to Mueller's investigation, Paul Manafort was back in court today, where a September 17 trial date has now been set.</s>SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort is maintaining his innocence, pleading not guilty to money laundering and false statements as part of a new indictment, this time without his former co-defendant Rick Gates, who pleaded guilty Friday to two charges of false statements and conspiracy to assist Manafort in criminal schemes and agreed to cooperate with the special counsel. Manafort also faces 18 additional charges of bank fraud and alleged tax crimes in federal court in Virginia. The special counsel's team also appears to be following the money when it comes to the president. CNN has learned investigators have questioned witnesses about Donald Trump's business activities in Russia prior to the 2016 campaign as he considered a presidential run. The president has repeatedly dismissed questions about any financial ties to Russia.</s>TRUMP: I have no dealings with Russia. I have no deals in Russia. I have no deals that could happen in Russia because we have stayed away. And I have no loans with Russia.</s>SCHNEIDER: But prosecutors have asked wide-ranging questions about Trump's financial ties to Russia in interviews, according to sources, including why efforts to brand a Trump Tower in Moscow fell through, and whether or not the Russians may have any compromising information about the president. All of this indicates Mueller may be reaching beyond the campaign to explore how the Russians may have sought to influence Donald Trump when he was discussing deals in Moscow, and whether Trump was contemplating a presidential run at the same time. The president has previously said any investigation into his family finances would cross a red line.</s>QUESTION: If Mueller was looking at your finances, your family's finances unrelated to Russia, is that a red line?</s>QUESTION: Would that be a breach of what his...</s>TRUMP: I would say yes. I would say yes.</s>SCHNEIDER: Sources say Mueller's team has also asked about the financing behind the 2013 Miss Universe Pageant in Moscow, where Trump partnered with billionaire Russian real estate developer Aras Agalarov and his son Emin. These sources tell CNN they don't know if the Mueller team has concrete evidence to indicate wrongdoing, but pointed out: "You ask everything, even if you don't think it's credible. The allegations are out there, and it was checking the box."</s>SCHNEIDER: And new tonight, we have learned the banking regulator in New York is digging into more financial details from Jared Kushner. The head of the Financial Services Department in New York has asked Deutsche Bank and two other small lenders about their financial relationship with Kushner, his family members, and his family's real estate business, according to a source. This request follows an updated financial disclosure from Jared Kushner which revealed now debt and uncertainty over the future of his heavily indebted Manhattan office tower 666 Fifth Avenue. And, of course, we previously reported that Mueller's team had been asking questions about Kushner's efforts to try to shore up financing for the building and his discussions with foreign investors during the transition -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Yes, supposedly about a $1 billion debt as far as that property, 666 Fifth Avenue, is concerned. Jessica Schneider, thanks very much. Let's get a little bit more on all of this. Congressman Jerrold Nadler is joining us. He's the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. Congressman, thanks very much for joining us.</s>REP. JERROLD NADLER (D), NEW YORK: You're welcome, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Let me get your reaction to the breaking news you just heard from Jessica, that your state, New York state's banking regulator is investigating Jared Kushner's financial relationship with Deutsche Bank and two other smaller lenders.</s>NADLER: Well, I'm glad they're investigating it. The whole question of Trump and Jared Kushner and all their financial relationships with Russia, with Deutsche Bank, which is an agent of Russia in many cases...</s>BLITZER: Why do you say it's an agent of Russia?</s>NADLER: Because there have been a lot of deposits from Russia in it, I gather from news. And a lot of its capital came from Russia.</s>BLITZER: But is that just from news reports, or do you have other information?</s>NADLER: No, no, no. No, I do not have other information. It's from news reports.</s>BLITZER: Just to be precise. Because that's a serious allegation, that Deutsche Bank is an agent of Russia.</s>NADLER: It's just from news reports.</s>BLITZER: OK.</s>NADLER: In any event, there are a lot of questions, obviously. I mean, we know that Trump Jr. said back in 2008 lots of our money, a disproportionate part of our money comes from Russia. We know the Russians tried to help the -- did help the Trump campaign. Whether he colluded on it is another question. But there are all sorts of relationships and motives that have to be examined.</s>BLITZER: Do you believe the Russia investigation played a significant role in the decision by Hope Hicks, the communications director at the White House, a longtime aide to the president, to resign?</s>NADLER: I don't know. I have no facts on that. All I do know is that when the communications people for the president admits she lied to the American people, that's a terrible betrayal. And it's a terrible thing that the representative of the president lies to the American people.</s>BLITZER: She says she was engaging in what she called just little white lies, nothing substantive.</s>NADLER: So she says, and maybe they weren't too substantive. But when you're the spokesman for the president, you should not be lying to the American people.</s>BLITZER: Let's get to another sensitive issue. And you're on the Judiciary Committee, which looks at the Justice Department. The president tweeted this today about the attorney general of the United States. "Why is Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking the inspector general to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse," Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse? "Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power, and already late with the reports on Comey, et cetera. Isn't the I.G., the inspector general, an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL." What do you think the president's goal was in this extraordinary tweet?</s>NADLER: The president's goal was to undermine Sessions for some reason, and to take more attention away from the investigation. This whole question of the FISA warrant, first of all, it's based on lies in the Nunes memo, which have definitively shown to be lies by direct quotes from the underlying documents in the Democratic memo. They showed quite clearly that the court was told that some of the allegations came, formed the basis of the warrant came from politically motivated sources. They were told that. And any allegation to the contrary was not true. It also showed that the entire investigation was not even based on that. So the whole question of the FISA court and that particular warrant is a distraction, a deliberate distraction from the Mueller investigation, which, as far as we can tell, there have been no leaks from it, has been a very substantive investigation, which has gained a number of guilty pleas, a number of indictments. And the president apparently believes that the walls are closing in on him and he is trying anything to divert attention.</s>BLITZER: Is this public humiliation by the president of his attorney general, the attorney general of the United States, designed to get Sessions to resign?</s>NADLER: It may very well be, because if Sessions were to resign -- remember, he's recused from the Russia investigation. The president could appoint someone else who was not recused who might then be able to fire Rosenstein or Mueller and sabotage the investigation. And that clearly would be very much to the detriment. We must get to the bottom of the Russian interference in our election. And we must get to the bottom of why the president refuses now to authorize our intelligence agencies to protect us against the Russian interference in our next election, which Admiral Rogers, the head of the NSA, said yesterday in -- I think it was the Senate. That, to me, is one of the biggest questions now. The president is tasked, his oath of office is to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. And he seems to be refusing to do that, because we know that the Russians attacked our election. We know that they're going to do it again. And he is refusing to give the NSA and the other intelligence agencies the directive and the authority to properly protect us.</s>BLITZER: Yes. Admiral Mike Rogers, he did testify before the Senate, the head of the National Security Agency, also the chief of the U.S. Cyber Command. He said he hasn't received any orders to do so. And as a result, he can't go ahead simply on his own.</s>NADLER: And the question is why the president won't do anything to offend Putin. And maybe it has something to do with financial entanglements in Russia. That ought to be investigated.</s>BLITZER: They're investigating, I suspect, as well. Congressman Nadler, thanks so much for joining us.</s>NADLER: Thank you.</s>BLITZER: Just ahead, we will have more on Hope Hicks' surprise resignation and her role in the special counsel's Russia investigation. I'll talk to former U.S. attorney Preet Bharara about that and more. Also, the president's newest attack on the attorney general of the United States, Jeff Sessions. We will get Preet's analysis of that. Is the president crossing a constitutional line?