Within hours of the news that a federal grand jury is now

investigating Russian actions in the election,

President Trump came out swinging at a West Virginia

rally.

He lambasted the special council for hiring some lawyers who

supported Hillary Clinton, and the Democrats for ties

to special interests.

And once again, he blamed them for advancing a false narrative

about his ties to Russia.

The reason why Democrats only talk about the totally made-up

Russia story is because they have no message, no agenda,

and no vision.

GARY LANE: The president listed his accomplishments

in just a short seven months in office,

accomplishments he suggests his opponents don't want

you to know, like a record-high stock market, reforms

at the Veterans Administration, thousands of manufacturing jobs

coming back to America, and executive orders

allowing the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines.

The Russia story is a total fabrication.

It's just an excuse for the greatest loss in the history

of American politics.

That's all it is.

GARY LANE: Grand juries are commonly

used to subpoena records and witnesses,

but they don't necessarily mean any criminal charges will

be sought.

But the grand jury news first reported by the "Wall Street

Journal" suggests Mueller may be expanding his investigation

into following the money, possible Trump

campaign and business transactions with Russians.

Not only can a federal grand jury

force a president to testify, as in the case of Bill Clinton,

it can also subpoena documents like tax returns and bank

records.

If I were in the White House, I

would be concerned that the investigation

has gone up another notch, or appears

to have gone up another notch.

In short order, probably people who

are in the administration or former members

of the administration or former members of the campaign,

will be getting subpoenas to testify and to provide

documents.

GARY LANE: But presidential lawyer, Jay Sekulow,

said the president isn't a target of the probe.

We have no reason to believe that the president is

under investigation here.

GARY LANE: Despite the federal grand jury investigation,

the president and Republicans received some good news

Thursday.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice

announced he's switching parties from Democrat to Republican.

Like it or not like it, but the Democrats

walked away from me.

Today I will tell you with lots of prayers and lots

of thinking, today I'll tell you, as West Virginians,

I can't help you anymore being a Democrat governor.

GARY LANE: Justice is a coal magnate.

He owns five mines and more than 100 companies.

As he told CBN's Wendy Griffith, he also

is a faithful Christian.

I pray many times a day and read the Bible

every single night before I go to bed,

and done it forever more.

When God is in your life, you know, it just empowers you.

And you're not afraid, and you just--

you feel Him there.

GARY LANE: And with Justice switching parties,

there are now 34 Republican governors and only 15

Democratic governors.

And the Republicans now control the governorship

and legislatures in 26 states.

Democrats only have full control in six states.

The others are divided.

But the news of West Virginia's governor switching parties

was overshadowed by all the Washington frenzy

over the impaneling of a federal grand jury.

The president would like a quick conclusion to the Russia

investigation, but Mueller's latest move

suggests it may continue for a very long time.

Gary Lane, CBN News.