DANGEROUS BECAUSE HE MAY BE OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE IN TERMS OF
THE INVESTIGATION. >> JOINING ME NOW IS SENATOR
LINDSEY GRAHAM OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
SENATOR, WELCOME BACK TO "MEET THE PRESS."
>> GOOD MORNING. >> I ASSUME IT'S DARK COMEDY.
>> WHY DID I AGREE TO DO THIS? >> OH, BECAUSE YOU'RE A GLUTTON
FOR PUNISHMENT, SIR. >> OKAY.
>> WELCOME. LET ME START HERE.
THE PRESIDENT SAID THAT RUSSIA WAS ON HIS MIND WHEN HE WAS
MAKING THIS DECISION. HOW CONCERNING IS THAT TO YOU
WHEN IT COMES TO HIM ADMITTING THAT WAS AMONG THE THINGS IN HIS
MIND WHEN HE MADE THIS DECISION TO FIRE JAMES COMEY?
>> I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE COMEY COME BEFORE THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE AND CLEAR THE AIR. DID THE PRESIDENT EVER SAY
ANYTHING TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI THAT WOULD BE CONSTRUED AS
TRYING TO UM PEAD THE INVESTIGATION -- IMPEDE THE
INVESTIGATION? THE PRESIDENT CALLED ME ABOUT
THE FIRING AND REFERENCED THE COMEY MEETING LAST WEEK AND THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND HOW BAD IT WAS.
IT'S TIME TO CALL THE FBI DIRECTOR AND HAVE HIM EXPLAIN TO
THE COUNTRY AT LARGE ABOUT THE DINNER.
IF THERE ARE ANY TAPES THEY NEED TO BE TURNED OVER.
I DOUBT IF THERE ARE WE NEED TO CLEAR THE AIR ALSO.
>> LET ME PUT UP THAT TWEET WHERE THE PRESIDENT PUT THE WORD
TAPES IN QUOTES SO WE DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
DID YOU THINK THAT CONSTITUTED A THREAT TO COMEY?
>> I THINK IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE. I THINK IT REQUIRES SOMEBODY
LIKE ME, A REPUBLICAN TO CALL COMEY BEFORE THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE TO LET HIM EXPLAIN THAT CONVERSATION.
RIGHT NOW, I DO NOT BELIEVE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A TARGET OR
SUBJECT OF ANY INVESTIGATION REGARDING COLLUSION WITH THE
RUSSIANS. THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE.
BUT THIS TWEET HAS TO BE ANSWERED.
I WOULD ADVISE THE PRESIDENT NOT TO TWEET OR COMMENT ABOUT THE
INVESTIGATION AS WE GO FORWARD. THE RUSSIANS DID INTERFERE IN
OUR ELECTION. I DON'T THINK THEY CHANGED THE
OUTCOME. I HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION.
THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO BACK OFF AND LET THE INVESTIGATION GO
FORWARD. WE NEED TO CALL COMEY AND GET TO
THE BOTTOM OF ALL OF THIS. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR AN FBI
AGENT TO LEAD THE FBI. YOU TALK ABOUT A NEW PERSON TO
LEAD THE FBI, HOW ABOUT AN FBI AGENT ABOVE REPROACH.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT HAS TO BE AN FBI AGENT AT THIS POINT?
WHY NOT A U.S. ATTORNEY, PROSECUTOR, SOMEBODY LIKE THAT?
>> IT COULD BE. IT COULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
HOW ABOUT THE IDEA OF AN FBI AGENT LEADING THE FBI, PROMOTING
WITHIN THE RANKS? THERE'S SO MANY GOOD AGENTS, MEN
AND WOMEN OUT THERE CAPABLE OF LEADING THE AGENCY.
THIS IS UP TO THE PRESIDENT. HE HAS THE CAPABILITY TO PICK
SOMEBODY BEYOND REPROACH OUTSIDE THE POLITICAL LANE.
I HOPE HE'LL DO THAT, I'M READY TO DO THAT.
I'M READY TO MOVE ON AND PICK A FLEW FBI AGENT.
I HAVE NO EVIDENCE THE PRESIDENT COLLUDED WITH THE RUSSIANS AT
ALL. NOBODY ON THE CAMPAIGN I KNOW OF
HAS COLLUDED WITH THE RUSSIANS. WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE EVIDENCE
YET. WE NEED TO CONTINUE FORWARD AND
PROTECT THESE INVESTIGATIONS. >> WHILE STAYING ON THE FBI
DIRECTOR, EIGHT PEOPLE INTERVIEWED YESTERDAY AT THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, ONE OF THEM A COLLEAGUE OF YOURS, SENATOR
JOHN CORNYN. TWO WERE WOMEN, COULD BE THE
FIRST WOMAN TO HEAD THE FBI. A FORMER FBI AGENT AND FORMER
MEMBER OF CONGRESS. LET ME ASK YOU THIS.
IN THIS POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, DO YOU THINK IT'S THE RIGHT TIME
TO HAVE THE FIRST EVER FBI DIRECTOR WHO HAD A POLITICAL --
ELECTED POLITICAL BACKGROUND WHICH IS WHAT IT WOULD BE IF
EATS MIKE ROGERS OR JOHN CORNYN WERE NAMED?
>> NO. I THINK IT'S NOW TIME TO PICK
SOMEBODY THAT COMES FROM WITHIN THE RANKS OR SUCH A REPUTATION
THAT HAS NO POLITICAL BACKGROUND AT ALL THAT CAN GO INTO THE JOB
ON DAY ONE. WHO DOES THE FBI DIRECTOR WORK
FOR? TO ME, IT'S LIKE APPOINTING A
JUDGE. THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY APPOINTS
A JUDGE BUT THE JUDGE IS LOYAL TO THE LAW.
THE PRESIDENT APPOINTS THE FBI DIRECTOR BUT THE FBI DIRECTOR
HAS TO BE LOYAL TO THE LAW. JOHN CORNYN IS A WONDERFUL MAN
UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD BE A SUPERB CHOICE TO BE FBI
DIRECTOR. THESE ARE NOT NORMAL
CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE A CHANCE TO RESET AS A
NATION, THE PRESIDENT HAS A CHANCE TO CLEAN UP THE MESS HE
MOSTLY CREATED. HE REALLY DID HIS STAFF A
DISSERVICE BY CHANGING THE EXPLANATION.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE PRESIDENT TO PICK SOMEBODY WE CAN ALL
RALLY AROUND, INCLUDING THOSE WHO WORK IN THIS FBI.
>> LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING ABOUT RUSSIAN INTEREST
INTERFERENCE. LATER IN THE SHOW I HAD A SHOW
WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, REX TILLERSON.
I CONDUCTED IT YESTERDAY. HE WOULD NOT GIVE AN EXPLANATION
WHY THE ISSUE OF RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE WASN'T EVEN BROUGHT
UP DURING HIS MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER LAVEROV.
IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE A TOP PRIORITY.
CAN WE MOVE ON IF WE DON'T CONFRONT THEM ON THIS?
>> I DON'T KNOW. SECRETARY TILLERSON DID A
MASTERFUL JOB TALKING ABOUT THE THREAT OF NORTH KOREA.
I UNDERSTAND WANTING TO ENGAGE THE RUSSIANS AND SYRIA BECAUSE
THEY'RE PART OF THE SOLUTION IF WE FIND ONE.
I'M 1,000% THE RUSSIANS INDEPENDENT FEARED IN OUR
ELECTION AND HACKED INTO THE DOC E-MAIL AND I DO NOT BELIEVE WE
CAN GO FORWARD AS A NATION UNTIL WE PUBLISH RUSSIA.
I HAVE BIPARTISANS SANCTIONS FOR RUSSIA AND MY GOAL IS TO PUT IT
ON THE PRESIDENT'S DESK AND HOPE HE WOULD EMBRACE IT.
RUSSIA DIDN'T CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION BUT THEY SURE
TRIED AND I HOPE THEY WILL SEE THEIR INTERFERENCE AS A THREAT
TO OUR DEMOCRACY. >> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
INVESTIGATION. NENBC "WALL STREET JOURNAL" POLL
I WILL READ IT TO YOU. WHO SHOULD INVESTIGATE RUSSIAN
INTERFERENCE. ONLY 15% THINK IT SHOULD BE YOU
FOLKS IN CONGRESS, SENATOR. 78%, A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF
PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OR A
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THE PUBLIC
DOESN'T TRUST NOW THE POLITICSES TO DO THIS?
>> YEAH. BUT HERE'S WHAT I THINK ABOUT
THE INVESTIGATION. RIGHT NOW, IT IS A
COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATION, NOT A CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION, SO YOU DON'T NEED A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.
I TRUST DEPUTY ROTHENSTEIN TO DO THIS.
IF HE GETS TO THE POINT HE CAN'T DO IT AND IT BECOMES A CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION, WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.
AND INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TAKES IT OUTSIDE OF CONGRESS.
I THINK THE INTEL AND JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, WE'RE DOING A GOOD
JOB. I WANT TO KEEP IT INSIDE THE
CONGRESS. I'D LIKE A SELECT COMMITTEE
WHERE WE ALL WORK TOGETHER. RIGHT NOW I SEE NO NEED FOR A
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR. IT'S NOT A CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION AND SEE NO NEED FOR INDEPENDENT COMMISSION YET.
>> YOU HAVE CALLED FOR A SPECIAL COUNCIL A NUMBER OF TIMES DURING
THE OBAMA YEARS AND TARGETING REPORTERS AND LEAKS AND WHITE
HOUSE LEAKS AND INVESTIGATIONS AND THE IDEA JOE SESTAK MAY HAVE
GOTTEN A JOB OFFER IN EXCHANGE -- MY POINT IS WHY DID
ALL THOSE MEET THE TEST FOR SPECIAL COUNCIL BUT THIS ONE
DOESN'T? >> THIS IS A
COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATION.
WE'RE NOT INVESTIGATING A CRIME YET.
IF IT BECOMES A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF THE TRUMP
CAMPAIGN COLLUDING WITH THE RUSSIANS AND MR. ROTHENSTEIN
DOESN'T DO HIS JOB. THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT POLLING OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN GETTING THE
RIGHT ANSWER. RUSSIANS DID IT, NEED TO BE
PUNISHED. TRUMP IS NOT A TARGET OF THIS
INVESTIGATION YET. LEAVE THIS INVESTIGATION ALONE.
CONGRESS IS DOING A GOOD JOB, IN MY VIEW.
IF IT GETS TO THE POINT WE CAN'T WE'LL TAKE IT OUTSIDE OF
CONGRESS. >> YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE
PRESIDENT'S FINANCE, THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE A BIG DEAL HE
SENT YOU A CERTIFIED LETTER FROM HIS ACCOUNTANT, ALL THAT MEANS
IS YOU SIGNED FOR IT. >> RIGHT.
>> THAT'S FINE. IN THIS CASE, SHOULDN'T YOU WANT
TO SEE THE TAX RETURNS FROM ONE OF THESE LLCs THAT RUN A GOLF
COURSE, THERE'S A REPORT FROM NORTH CAROLINA THE TRUMP
NATIONAL GOLF COURSE MAY HAVE BEEN FINANCED WITH RUSSIAN
MONEY. THAT WON'T BE IN THE PRESIDENT'S
TAX RETURN, THAT WILL BE IN THAT LLC OF TRUMP NATIONAL IN
CHARLOTTE THAT HAS THAT. ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET
YOUR HANDS ON THOSE RECORDS? >> I HAVE YET TO FIND ANY
EVIDENCE OF IMPROPER BUSINESS DEALINGS BETWEEN THE TRUMP
ORGANIZATION AND RUSSIA REGARDING THE ELECTION OR
ANYTHING ELSE. HOWEVER, FOREVER YOU CAN SHOW ME
THERE'S REASON FOR THAT, THERE'S A SUSPICION OF THAT WE NEED TO
GET THOSE DOCUMENTS. I DON'T ASK FOR THEM UNLESS
THERE'S A REASON. THE PRESIDENT SHOULD TURN OVER
HIS TAX RETURNS, HE SHOULD DO THAT.
I DON'T HAVE A REASON TO SUBPOENA THEM.
IF I GET THAT REASON, I'LL DO IT.
HE SHOULD TURN OVER HIS TAX RETURNS, DO THAT NOW.
>> ALL TAX RETURNS, NOT JUST PERSONAL BUT LLCs.
THAT'S WHERE THIS WILL BE, NOT IN HIS PERSONAL TAX RETURN IF
THAT'S THERE. >> IF YOU CAN SHOW ME A NEED TO
DO THAT I WILL DO IT. I CAN'T SAY ON TELEVISION BASED
ON YOUR QUESTION THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I'M OPEN MINDED TO ALL THINGS RUSSIA.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS I THINK RUSSIA TRIED TO AFFECT OUR
ELECTION AND UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY AND I'VE YET TO FIND
COLLUSION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA.
THERE'S A "WASHINGTON POST" STORY THAT COMEY WENT TO BURR TO
GET MORE AGENTS AND MORE MONEY. THAT'S NOT TRUE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS BEING SAID TRUE OR HALF-TRUTHS.
LET THE PROCESS WORK. I PROMISE THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH
CAROLINA, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES I DO CARE ABOUT
THIS. I HAVE NOBODY TO PUNISH OR
REWARD OTHER THAN GET TO THE FACTS.
>> SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM. I HOPE YOU DON'T REGRET COMING
ON NOW.
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