1 00:00:12,900 --> 00:00:14,333 >> Announcer: THIS IS AN NBC 2 00:00:14,333 --> 00:00:17,033 NEWS SPECIAL REPORT. HERE'S LESTER HOLT. 3 00:00:17,033 --> 00:00:18,067 >> WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS THIS MORNING. 4 00:00:18,067 --> 00:00:20,067 TENEMOS NOTICIAS. EL PRESIDENTE MOMENTS AGO, PRESIDENT TRUMP 5 00:00:20,067 --> 00:00:23,900 LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE TO BEGIN HIS TRIP TO THE G-20 SUMMIT. 6 00:00:23,900 --> 00:00:28,200 HE TOOK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MORNING'S MAJOR NEWS AND THE 7 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,767 RUSSIA INVESTIGATION. MICHAEL COHEN, THE PRESIDENT'S 8 00:00:32,767 --> 00:00:35,933 LONGTIME PERSONAL ATTORNEY PLEADED GUILTY IN A NEW YORK 9 00:00:35,933 --> 00:00:38,033 COURTROOM SAYING HE LIED TO CONGRESS ABOUT A TRUMP TOWER 10 00:00:38,033 --> 00:00:40,200 DEAL IN RUSSIA. WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT IN 11 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,500 A MOMENT. FIRST, LET'S BRING IN PETE 12 00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:46,900 WILLIAMS. PETE, WHAT'S THE ESSENCE OF WHAT 13 00:00:46,900 --> 00:00:50,167 COHEN SAID IN COURT TODAY? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 14 00:00:50,167 --> 00:00:52,267 >> HE ADMITTED HE LIED TO CONGRESS, THE SENATE 15 00:00:52,267 --> 00:00:57,100 INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE WHEN HE SAID WORK ON A NEVER COMPLETED 16 00:00:57,100 --> 00:01:01,600 PROJECT TO BUILD A TRUMP TOWER IN MOSCOW ENDED BEFORE THE 17 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:06,733 PRESIDENTIAL XANL BEGAN. HE SAID IT KEPT GOING UNTIL MID 18 00:01:06,733 --> 00:01:10,500 2016, AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX MORE MONTHS. 19 00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:14,433 HE LIED WHEN HE COULDN'T RECALL CONTACT WITH RUSSIAN OFFICIALS. 20 00:01:14,433 --> 00:01:18,667 WHEN HE WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE PRESS SECRETARY OF PUTIN. 21 00:01:18,667 --> 00:01:21,567 THEY NEEDED HELP ACQUIRING LAND AND FINANCING. 22 00:01:21,567 --> 00:01:24,367 AND LIED WHEN HE SAID HE NEVER PLANNED TO TRAVEL TO RUSSIA. 23 00:01:24,367 --> 00:01:28,500 WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT HIS OWN TRAVEL AND CONTEMPLATED WHETHER 24 00:01:28,500 --> 00:01:33,067 MR. TRUMP SHOULD GO THERE. IT GIVES MUELLER MORE LEVERAGE 25 00:01:33,067 --> 00:01:35,867 AND INSIGHT. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE NEVER 26 00:01:35,867 --> 00:01:39,067 HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA. THE QUESTION IS WHEN HE SAID 27 00:01:39,067 --> 00:01:42,133 THAT, WAS HE STILL INVOLVED IN TRYING TO GET TRUMP TOWER BUILT 28 00:01:42,133 --> 00:01:48,200 IN MOSCOW, LESTER. >> THIS ONCE AGAIN CONFIRMS 29 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,633 COHEN IS ACTIVELY TALKING TO THE MUELLER TEAM. 30 00:01:51,633 --> 00:01:55,267 HE PLED GUILTY MONTHS AGO IN A SEPARATE PROSECUTION, CORRECT? 31 00:01:55,267 --> 00:01:57,400 >> IT SHOWS THAT THE MUELLER PEOPLE HAVE MORE LEVERAGE. 32 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,833 >> HERE'S THE PRESIDENT. THIS WAS RECORDED A FEW MOMENTS 33 00:01:59,833 --> 00:02:03,200 AGO. >> AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND THE 34 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,767 SENATE, HE PUT OUT A STATEMENT TALKING ABOUT A PROJECT WHICH 35 00:02:07,767 --> 00:02:11,867 WAS ESSENTIALLY, I GUESS, MORE OF LESS OF AN OPTION THAT WE 36 00:02:11,867 --> 00:02:14,133 WERE LOOKING AT IN MOSCOW. EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT IT. 37 00:02:14,133 --> 00:02:16,267 IT WAS WRITTEN ABOUT IN NEWSPAPERS. 38 00:02:16,267 --> 00:02:19,167 IT WAS A WELL-KNOWN PROJECT. IT WAS DURING THE EARLY PART OF 39 00:02:19,167 --> 00:02:22,267 '16. AND I GUESS EVEN BEFORE THAT. 40 00:02:22,267 --> 00:02:23,767 IT LASTED A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. 41 00:02:23,767 --> 00:02:27,633 I DIDN'T DO THE PROJECT. I DECIDED NOT TO DO THE PROJECT. 42 00:02:27,633 --> 00:02:29,767 SOY DIDN'T DO IT. SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT DOING 43 00:02:29,767 --> 00:02:33,333 A PROJECT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT DOING A 44 00:02:33,333 --> 00:02:37,500 PROJECT. MICHAEL COHEN, WHAT HE'S DOING, 45 00:02:37,500 --> 00:02:40,433 HE WAS CONVICTED, I GUESS, YOU'LL HAVE TO PUT IT INTO LEGAL 46 00:02:40,433 --> 00:02:44,333 TERMS. HE WAS CONVICTED WITH FAIRLY 47 00:02:44,333 --> 00:02:48,800 LONG-TERM SENTENCE ON THINGS TOTALLY UNREALITIED TO THE TRUMP 48 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:57,133 ORGANIZATION. HAVING TO DO WITH MORTGAGES AND 49 00:02:57,133 --> 00:03:00,533 CHEATING THE IRS, PERHAPS. HE WAS GIVEN FAIRLY LONG JAIL 50 00:03:00,533 --> 00:03:04,467 SENTENCE. AND HE'S A WEAK PERSON. 51 00:03:04,467 --> 00:03:08,267 AND BY BEING WEAK, UNLIKE OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU WATCH, HE IS A 52 00:03:08,267 --> 00:03:11,633 WEAK PERSON. AND WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IS 53 00:03:11,633 --> 00:03:14,767 GET A REDUCED SENTENCE. SO HE'S LYING ABOUT A PROJECT 54 00:03:14,767 --> 00:03:17,267 THAT EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT. I MEAN, WE WERE VERY OPEN WITH 55 00:03:17,267 --> 00:03:18,733 IT. WE WERE THINKING ABOUT BUILDING 56 00:03:18,733 --> 00:03:22,133 A BUILDING. I GUESS WE HAD A FORM. 57 00:03:22,133 --> 00:03:24,500 IT WAS AN OPTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WOULD CALL 58 00:03:24,500 --> 00:03:28,067 IT. I DECIDED ULTIMATELY NOT TO DO 59 00:03:28,067 --> 00:03:30,633 IT. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN 60 00:03:30,633 --> 00:03:35,833 >> DID YOU TELL HIM -- >> I DON'T HEAR. 61 00:03:35,833 --> 00:03:39,233 I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING. [ NO AUDIO ] 62 00:03:39,233 --> 00:03:41,833 >> WHEN I RUN FOR PRESIDENT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT 63 00:03:41,833 --> 00:03:44,500 ALLOWED TO DO BUSINESS. I WAS DOINGS A LOT OF DIFFERENT 64 00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:47,467 THINGS WHEN I WAS RUNNING. AFTER I WON, OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T 65 00:03:47,467 --> 00:03:50,600 DO BUSINESS. FROM JANUARY 20th. 66 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:53,733 BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHICH IS A FOLLOWING YEAR. 67 00:03:53,733 --> 00:03:57,467 BUT, I RAN A BUSINESS. IN FACT, I OFTEN JOKE ABOUT THE 68 00:03:57,467 --> 00:04:01,667 FACT THAT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT CAMPAIGNED AND 69 00:04:01,667 --> 00:04:06,233 SIMULTANEOUSLY RAN A BUSINESS. BUT THAT WAS -- THAT WAS A 70 00:04:06,233 --> 00:04:09,300 PROJECT THAT WE DIDN'T DO. I DIDN'T DO. 71 00:04:09,300 --> 00:04:12,767 THAT WAS A PROJECT THAT WASN'T DONE FOR A LOT OF REASONS. 72 00:04:12,767 --> 00:04:17,500 NUMBER ONE IS THAT -- I WAS REALLY NOT THAT I HAD TO DO IT, 73 00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:20,467 BUT I WAS FOCUSED ON RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. 74 00:04:20,467 --> 00:04:21,500 I WANTED THAT T TO BE MY PRIMARY FOCUS. 75 00:04:21,500 --> 00:04:26,500 NOT RUNNING OR BUILDING A BUILDING. 76 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:28,767 [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] >> WELL THIS WAS A DEAL THAT 77 00:04:28,767 --> 00:04:32,300 DIDN'T HAPPEN. THAT WAS NO DEAL. 78 00:04:32,300 --> 00:04:34,933 IF YOU LOOK -- THIS WAS AN OPTION. 79 00:04:34,933 --> 00:04:38,767 I GUESS -- I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO BE HAVE SPECIFIC. 80 00:04:38,767 --> 00:04:45,100 TO MY WAY OF THINKING, IT WAS AN OPTION THAT I DECIDED NOT TO DO. 81 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:48,067 SO WE DIDN'T -- SO IF YOU LOOK, WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE, EXCUSE 82 00:04:48,067 --> 00:04:50,167 ME. EXCUSE ME. 83 00:04:50,167 --> 00:04:53,633 EXCUSE ME. THIS WAS AN OPTION. 84 00:04:53,633 --> 00:04:58,933 IN A FORM. BUT HERE'S VERY SIMPLE. 85 00:04:58,933 --> 00:05:00,367 WE HAD A POSITION TO POSSIBLY DO A DEAL. 86 00:05:00,367 --> 00:05:06,367 TO BUILD A BUILDING OF SOME KIND IN MOSCOW. 87 00:05:06,367 --> 00:05:10,400 I DECIDED NOT TO DO IT. THE PRIMARY REASON, THERE COULD 88 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,433 HAVE BEEN OTHER REASONS, BUT THE PRIMARY REASON IT WAS VERY 89 00:05:12,433 --> 00:05:14,500 SIMPLE. I WAS FOCUSED ON RUNNING FOR 90 00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:16,700 PRESIDENT. THERE WOULD BE NOTHING WRONG IF 91 00:05:16,700 --> 00:05:19,633 I DID DO IT. I WAS RUNNING MY BUSINESS WHILE 92 00:05:19,633 --> 00:05:23,067 I WAS CAMPAIGNING. THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE THAT I 93 00:05:23,067 --> 00:05:27,133 WOULDN'T HAVE WON. IN WHICH CASE I WOULD HAVE 94 00:05:27,133 --> 00:05:29,633 GOTTEN BACK INTO THE BUSINESS. WHY SHOULD I LOSE LOTS OF 95 00:05:29,633 --> 00:05:32,433 OPPORTUNITIES. SO HERE'S THE STORY. 96 00:05:32,433 --> 00:05:38,333 GO BACK AND -- LOOK AT THE PAPER THAT MICHAEL COHEN WROTE BEFORE 97 00:05:38,333 --> 00:05:40,500 HE TESTIFIED IN THE HOUSE AND/OR SENATE. 98 00:05:40,500 --> 00:05:43,333 IT TALKED ABOUT HIS POSITION. WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO, BECAUSE 99 00:05:43,333 --> 00:05:49,167 HE'S WEAK PERSON. AND NOT A VERY SMART PERSON. 100 00:05:49,167 --> 00:05:52,700 WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO IS END -- AND IT'S VERY SIMPLE. 101 00:05:52,700 --> 00:05:55,467 HE'S GOT HIMSELF A BIG PRISON SENTENCE. 102 00:05:55,467 --> 00:05:57,933 AND HE'S TRYING TO GET A MUCH LESSER PRISON SENTENCE BY MAKING 103 00:05:57,933 --> 00:06:01,333 UP A STORY. NOW HERE'S THE THING. 104 00:06:01,333 --> 00:06:04,200 EVEN IF HE WAS RIGHT, IT DOESN'T MATTER. 105 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,167 BECAUSE, I WAS ALLOWED TO DO WHATEVER I WANTED DURING THE 106 00:06:07,167 --> 00:06:09,267 CAMPAIGN. I WAS RUNNING MY BUSINESS. 107 00:06:09,267 --> 00:06:18,933 A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS DURING THE XANL. 108 00:06:18,933 --> 00:06:21,633 SO VERY CO HERKS N IS LYING. 109 00:06:21,633 --> 00:06:25,767 AND HE'S TRYING TO DO THINGS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. 110 00:06:25,767 --> 00:06:28,567 THINK YOU SHOULD GO BACK TO I THINK IT WAS JANUARY. 111 00:06:28,567 --> 00:06:31,833 IT WAS REPORTED BY KATHERINE HARRIS. 112 00:06:31,833 --> 00:06:34,433 A TERRIFIC REPORTER ON KNOCK. SHE TALKS ABOUT A LETTER THAT HE 113 00:06:34,433 --> 00:06:36,467 SIGNED. I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER IT. 114 00:06:36,467 --> 00:06:41,067 >> THE AMERICANS ARE HELD IN -- >> I'M GOING TO BRING IT UP, 115 00:06:41,067 --> 00:06:42,567 YES. I DON'T HEAR YOU. 116 00:06:42,567 --> 00:06:49,400 YOU HAVE THE TALK. SEE THAT, YOU HAVE A HELICOPTER. 117 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:54,633 >> PARDONING PAUL MANAFORT. >> NO, THE QUESTION WAS ASKED 118 00:06:54,633 --> 00:06:57,367 YESTERDAY ABOUT PARDONS. IT'S VERY SAD WHAT'S HAPPENED TO 119 00:06:57,367 --> 00:07:00,567 PAUL. THE WAY HE'S BEING TREATED. 120 00:07:00,567 --> 00:07:04,767 I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY TREATED SO POORLY. 121 00:07:04,767 --> 00:07:07,433 THE QUESTION WAS ASKED OF ME BY "THE NEW YORK POST." 122 00:07:07,433 --> 00:07:11,233 I SAID, NO, I HAVE NOT OFFERED ANY PARDONS. 123 00:07:11,233 --> 00:07:13,400 THINK THEY ASKED, WHATEVER, WOULD YOU? 124 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,967 I SAID, I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING OFF THE TABLE. 125 00:07:15,967 --> 00:07:20,900 THAT WAS DONE AS A QUESTION FROM "THE NEW YORK POST." 126 00:07:20,900 --> 00:07:23,967 >> DID YOU TELL MICHAEL COHEN WHAT TO TELL -- 127 00:07:23,967 --> 00:07:29,400 >> GO AHEAD. >> IF COHEN IS SUCH A BUM, WHY 128 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:33,200 DID YOU HIRE HIM, HAVE HIM ON YOUR PAYROLL FOR 12 YEARS AND 129 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,267 HAVE HIM DO SO MUCH OF YOUR DIRTY WORK? 130 00:07:35,267 --> 00:07:37,600 >> BECAUSE A LONG TIME AGO HE DID ME A FAVOR. 131 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:43,700 A LONG TIME AGO HE DID ME A FAVOR. 132 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:46,367 NO, NOT AT ALL. NOT AT ALL. 133 00:07:46,367 --> 00:07:50,133 I'M NOT WORRIED AT ALL ABOUT VERY POSSIBLE. 134 00:07:50,133 --> 00:07:57,067 WE'RE IN NEGOTIATION. WE DON'T GET BORDER SECURITY, 135 00:07:57,067 --> 00:08:03,300 POSSIBLE SHUTDOWN. >> PRESIDENT TRUMP IN AN 136 00:08:03,300 --> 00:08:06,067 IMPROMPTU MEETING WITH REPORTERS BEFORE HE GETS ON THE 137 00:08:06,067 --> 00:08:07,967 HELICOPTER. YOU HEARD THE NOISE IN THE BACK 138 00:08:07,967 --> 00:08:11,233 GROUNLD. ON HIS WAY TO THE G-20 SUMMIT. 139 00:08:11,233 --> 00:08:15,200 A LOT OF QUESTIONS HAVING TO DO WITH MICHAEL COHEN, HIS FORMER 140 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:18,700 PERSONAL ATTORNEY. WHO PLEADED GUILTY TODAY ON A 141 00:08:18,700 --> 00:08:21,400 CHARGE OF LYING TO CONGRESS WITH SPECIFIC REGARD TO A TRUMP TOWER 142 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,067 PROJECT. A PROPOSED PROJECT IN MOSCOW. 143 00:08:25,067 --> 00:08:28,833 AND IT REGARDS EARLIER STATEMENTS HE MADE ABOUT THE 144 00:08:28,833 --> 00:08:31,067 SCOPE OF THAT PROJECT AND WHETHER WORK CONTINUED INTO THE 145 00:08:31,067 --> 00:08:33,700 XANL. THE PRESIDENT, YOU HEARD THERE, 146 00:08:33,700 --> 00:08:35,933 SAYING, IT WOULDN'T MATTER. HE SAID IT DIDN'T CONTINUE INTO 147 00:08:35,933 --> 00:08:38,700 THE XANL. HIS FOCUS WAS ON RUNNING FOR 148 00:08:38,700 --> 00:08:43,067 PRESIDENT AT THE TIME. LET ME BRING IN PETE WILLIAMS, 149 00:08:43,067 --> 00:08:47,300 WHO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ME. TO THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS THAT 150 00:08:47,300 --> 00:08:52,767 EVEN IF THIS WORK ON THE PROPOSAL HAD GONE WELL INTO 151 00:08:52,767 --> 00:08:55,933 2016, WOULD IT MATTER LEGALLY? >> NO, OF COURSE, THERE WOULD BE 152 00:08:55,933 --> 00:09:00,233 NOTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT IT. HE WASN'T THE PRESIDENT OF THE 153 00:09:00,233 --> 00:09:04,800 UNITED STATES IN 2016. SO THIS WHOLE QUESTION OF THE 154 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,600 SO-CALLED EMOLUMENTS CLAUSE WOULDN'T HAVE ARISEN. 155 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:10,333 THE ONLY SIGNIFICANCE IS PRETTY BIG. 156 00:09:10,333 --> 00:09:13,967 DOES THIS SUGGEST CONNECTIONS WITH MOSCOW, BECAUSE, MICHAEL 157 00:09:13,967 --> 00:09:17,633 COHEN, ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID WAS HE WAS IN TOUCH WITH 158 00:09:17,633 --> 00:09:20,067 VLADIMIR PUTIN'S OFFICE ABOUT THIS. 159 00:09:20,067 --> 00:09:24,933 TALKING TO HIS PRESS SECRETARY. AND BY HE, I MEAN, COHEN. 160 00:09:24,933 --> 00:09:28,100 HE, COHEN WAS DOING THIS. TALKING TO THE RUSSIAN OFFICIALS 161 00:09:28,100 --> 00:09:30,967 TRYING TO GET THE THING GOING. THEY COULDN'T GET TRACTION. 162 00:09:30,967 --> 00:09:34,800 THEY WERE TRYING TO GET HELP SECURING THE LAND AND GETTING 163 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:37,567 FINANCING. THE RUSSIANS NEVER GAVE THEM ANY 164 00:09:37,567 --> 00:09:42,667 OF THAT. THE QUESTION FOR MUELLER IS, 165 00:09:42,667 --> 00:09:48,500 DOES THIS SUGGEST CONNECTIONS TO VLADIMIR PUTIN'S OFFICE THAT 166 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:52,867 COULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME CONDUITS USED TO MEDDLE IN THE 167 00:09:52,867 --> 00:09:54,133 ELECTION. THERE'S NO SUGGESTION. 168 00:09:54,133 --> 00:09:57,633 ABSOLUTELY NO SUGGESTION IN ANY OF THESE COURT DOCUMENTS OR 169 00:09:57,633 --> 00:10:01,533 ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT MICHAEL COHEN SAID TODAY THAT WOULD GO 170 00:10:01,533 --> 00:10:05,233 TO THAT RUSSIAN MEDDLING THING. THIS IS TOTALLY ABOUT THE 171 00:10:05,233 --> 00:10:09,000 ABANDONED PROJECT TO BUILD THIS MASSIVE TRUMP TOWER IN MOSCOW. 172 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,433 BUT WHAT MICHAEL COHEN IS SAYING HERE IS THAT HE WROTE A TWO-PAGE 173 00:10:12,433 --> 00:10:16,300 LETTER TO THE CONGRESS IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR. 174 00:10:16,300 --> 00:10:18,767 AND THEN TESTIFIED TO THE SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE IN 175 00:10:18,767 --> 00:10:22,333 OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR. BOTH TIMES SAID FALSELY NOW, HE 176 00:10:22,333 --> 00:10:29,600 SAYS, THAT THE WORK ON THIS THING WAS TOTALLY OVER BY 177 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,833 JANUARY OF 2016. AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN WAS 178 00:10:32,833 --> 00:10:38,000 HEATING UP. NOW HE SAYS IT WAS STILL GOING 179 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,333 NONJU ON IN JUNE. 180 00:10:41,333 --> 00:10:44,400 COHEN SAID HE WAS STILL TRYING TO GET IT GOING. 181 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:48,267 HE SAYS HE FALSELY TOLD CONGRESS THAT HE, COHEN, NEVER TRIED TO 182 00:10:48,267 --> 00:10:52,667 TRAVEL TO MOSCOW ON THIS. IN FACT, HE NOW SAYS HE DID. 183 00:10:52,667 --> 00:10:56,400 AND THE THIRD THING HE SAYS IS, HE MADE A FALSE SHAME THAT HE 184 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:00,167 DIDN'T RECALL CONTACTING ANY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHEN, IN 185 00:11:00,167 --> 00:11:04,300 FACT, HE WAS IN TOUCH WITH THESE PEOPLE FROM VLADIMIR PUTIN'S 186 00:11:04,300 --> 00:11:06,367 OFFICE ABOUT TRYING TO GET THEIR HELP. 187 00:11:06,367 --> 00:11:10,667 AT ONE POINT HE TALKED TO PEOPLE IN THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION ON 188 00:11:10,667 --> 00:11:13,500 WHETHER DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF SHOULD GO THERE. 189 00:11:13,500 --> 00:11:16,500 SOMETHING THAT OBVIOUSLY NEVER HAPPENED. 190 00:11:16,500 --> 00:11:20,067 IT SUGGESTS A CONDUIT BETWEEN THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION AND THE 191 00:11:20,067 --> 00:11:23,767 RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. NATURALLY, THE QUESTION FOR 192 00:11:23,767 --> 00:11:27,867 ROBERT MUELLER'S PEOPLE IS, WAS THAT SAME CIRCUIT, THAT SAME 193 00:11:27,867 --> 00:11:33,433 CONDUIT USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE. >> PETE, LET ME GO THE KRISTEN. 194 00:11:33,433 --> 00:11:35,700 A LONG PERIOD OF SILENCE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. 195 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:39,433 AND IN RECENT DAYS. ONE HEADLINE AFTER ANOTHER 196 00:11:39,433 --> 00:11:45,300 SURROUNDING THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION. 197 00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:46,733 THE MANAFORT TEAM COMMUNICATIONS. 198 00:11:46,733 --> 00:11:51,067 THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN TWEETING ABOUT IT ON DAILY BASIS. 199 00:11:51,067 --> 00:11:54,067 IS THERE A SENSE THAT THIS THING IS COMING TO A HEAD? 200 00:11:54,067 --> 00:11:57,433 A SENSE IN THE WHITE HOUSE? >> THERE IS, LERS. 201 00:11:57,433 --> 00:12:01,567 THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS PRESIDENT TRUMP INCREASINGLY 202 00:12:01,567 --> 00:12:03,900 EMBATTLED BECAUSE OF THE RUSSIA INVESTIGATION AND INCREASINGLY 203 00:12:03,900 --> 00:12:07,533 LASHING OUT. LISTEN TO THE LANGUAGE HE USED 204 00:12:07,533 --> 00:12:10,800 TO TALK ABOUT MICHAEL COHEN, HIS FORMER LAWYER AND ADVISOR. 205 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:14,533 HIS FIXER, HE REFERRED TO HIM AS. 206 00:12:14,533 --> 00:12:18,300 NOW CALLING HIM WEAK AND TRYING TO DOWNPLAY THE DEVELOPMENTS. 207 00:12:18,300 --> 00:12:21,867 SAYING, LOOK THERE WAS NO DEAL. SO THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE HERE. 208 00:12:21,867 --> 00:12:24,533 THERE'S NO SIGNIFICANCE. TRYING TO PIVOT. 209 00:12:24,533 --> 00:12:27,500 TAKE A STEP BACK AND CONSIDER THE BROADER CONTEXT OF THIS 210 00:12:27,500 --> 00:12:36,467 WEEK, LESTER. AS YOU POINT OUT. 211 00:12:36,467 --> 00:12:40,667 PAUL MANAFORT, HIS FORMER CAMPAIGN CHAIR WHO HAD AN 212 00:12:40,667 --> 00:12:47,500 AGREEMENT WITH MUELLER. MUELLER ACCUSING MANAFORT OF 213 00:12:47,500 --> 00:12:50,967 LYING. IT'S RAISED THE POTENTIAL 214 00:12:50,967 --> 00:12:53,400 PARDON. I PUT THE QUESTION TO THE 215 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:56,967 PRESIDENT, IS HE NOW LEANING TO A PARDON. 216 00:12:56,967 --> 00:12:59,367 HE TOLD "THE NEW YORK POST" YESTERDAY THAT IT WASN'T OFF THE 217 00:12:59,367 --> 00:13:02,133 TABLE. HE REITERATED MOMENTS AGO, IT'S 218 00:13:02,133 --> 00:13:07,300 NOT OFF THE TABLE. I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THIS 219 00:13:07,300 --> 00:13:09,567 INCREASINGLY BECOME AN ISSUE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP. 220 00:13:09,567 --> 00:13:12,067 THEY'RE BRACING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE INDICTMENTS 221 00:13:12,067 --> 00:13:15,833 FROM THE SPECIAL COUNSEL. YOU'RE SEEING IT IN HIS COMMENTS 222 00:13:15,833 --> 00:13:21,267 AND TWOOETS. EARLIER TODAY TWEETING DID YOU 223 00:13:21,267 --> 00:13:26,633 EVER SEE AN INVESTIGATION MORE IN SEARCH OF A CRIME? 224 00:13:26,633 --> 00:13:29,867 AND CALLING THE PROBE A JOSEPH McCARTHY-STYLE WITCH HUNT. 225 00:13:29,867 --> 00:13:32,600 THERE WAS A HEADLINE RELATED TO THE SUMMIT. 226 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,767 HE SAYS HE WILL PROBABLY MEET WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR 227 00:13:35,767 --> 00:13:40,900 PUTIN. EARLIER IN THE WEEK, HE 228 00:13:40,900 --> 00:13:45,667 INDICATED HE WAS VACILLATING OVER WHETHER TO MEET OR NOT. 229 00:13:45,667 --> 00:13:48,100 >> PETE, I BELIEVE TOMORROW, THE PROSECUTORS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO 230 00:13:48,100 --> 00:13:55,333 EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHY THEY THINK PAUL MANAFORT 231 00:13:55,333 --> 00:13:57,500 LIED TO THEM AND THUS BROKE THE AGREEMENT. 232 00:13:57,500 --> 00:14:00,767 WHAT MAY WE LEARN FROM THAT AND COUPLED FROM THE NUGGETS WE 233 00:14:00,767 --> 00:14:05,067 LEARNED TODAY? >> AT THE VERY LEAST WHAT WILL 234 00:14:05,067 --> 00:14:10,200 HAPPEN IN COURT HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., THE JUDGE WILL 235 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,667 SET DATE FOR SENTENCING PAUL MANAFORT. 236 00:14:12,667 --> 00:14:18,667 THAT BECAME NECESSARY WHEN THE LAWYERS FOR BOTH SIDES, 237 00:14:18,667 --> 00:14:21,567 MANAFORT'S TEAM AND MUELLER'S TEAM, THE AGREEMENT WAS BREAKING 238 00:14:21,567 --> 00:14:24,633 DOWN. THEY MIGHT AS WELL GET ON WITH 239 00:14:24,633 --> 00:14:29,067 SENTENCING. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER MUELLER'S 240 00:14:29,067 --> 00:14:33,833 TEAM WILL SAY MUCH MORE ABOUT WHY THE DEAL FELL APART. 241 00:14:33,833 --> 00:14:37,333 WE'LL GET THAT DETAIL WHEN THEY FILE THEIR SENTENCING MEMO TO 242 00:14:37,333 --> 00:14:41,167 THE JUDGE PROBABLY IN EARLY JANUARY ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK 243 00:14:41,167 --> 00:14:47,767 THE SENTENCE SHOULD BE. IT'S CLEAR THEY'RE NOT GOING TO 244 00:14:47,767 --> 00:14:51,433 SUGGEST LENIENCY FOR PAUL MANAFORT. 245 00:14:51,433 --> 00:14:56,067 WHICH IS WHAT PRESUME BLI HE WAS HOPING FOR BY PLEADING GUILTY. 246 00:14:56,067 --> 00:14:59,300 >>> MICHAEL COHEN PLEADING GUILTY TODAY TO A CHARGE OF 247 00:14:59,300 --> 00:15:03,067 LYING TO CONGRESS WITH REGARD TO THE SCOPE OF A TRUMP TOWER DEAL 248 00:15:03,067 --> 00:15:05,200 HE WAS WORKING ON THAT MAY HAVE EXTENDED INTO THE XANL SEASON. 249 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:07,733 WE'RE FOLLOWING THIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. 250 00:15:07,733 --> 00:15:13,467 I'LL BE BACK WITH FULL DETAILS TONIGHT ON "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS." 251 00:15:13,467 --> 00:15:15,833 FOR NOW, I'M LESTER HOLT. NBC NEWS NEW YORK. 252 00:15:15,833 --> 00:15:16,133 NBC NEWS NEW YORK. GOOD DAY.