(fast paced music)
- The House Judiciary Committee
wants the full Mueller report.
The latest on the push for subpoenas
involving the Russia investigation.
The debate over healthcare in America.
As the president claims,
it'll be the hallmarkof the Republican Party.
A look at the GOP plans.
And after multiple scandalsseemingly faded away,
new calls for the governorof Virginia to resign.
All this and more tonight on Faith Nation.
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House Democrats try toforce the Justice Department
to give up the full Mueller report
Welcome to Faith Nation.
I'm John Jessup.
- And I'm Jenna Browder.
The attorney general ispreparing a redacted version
of the Russia probe for Congress,
but House Democrats are demanding more.
- Today, voting to usethe power of the subpoena
to see all the findings ofMueller's investigation.
Capitol Hill CorrespondentAbigail Robertson joins us now.
Abigail, we understand the subpoenas
aren't just for documents.
- That's right, John.
In addition to going after the full,
unredacted Mueller report,they also want any evidence,
any documents Mueller might have collected
during his investigation,any supporting documents,
as well as subpoenas for interviews
with people associated withthe Trump administration.
Take a look.
- I frankly believe thatwe are being both fair
and balanced.
- [Abigail] Democrats inthe House made it official
and partisan.
- This committee has theright and the responsibility
to see the full contents of this report.
- [Abigail] Voting 24-17 along party lines
to authorize subpoenas, butwaiting before firing them off.
- Adjourned.(gavel pounds)
- [Abigail] Attorney General William Barr
has already promised to get them a version
scrubbed of classified material,
secret grand jury testimony,
and anything related toongoing investigations
or the personal privacy of third parties.
- The department is wrong
to try to withhold that information.
- [Abigail] But that's not enough
for the House Judiciary Chairman.
- The Constitution charges Congress
with holding the president accountable
for alleged official misconduct.
That job requires us to evaluatethe evidence for ourselves,
not the attorney general's summary,
not a substantially redactedsynopsis, but the full report.
- [Abigail] Representative Jerry Nadler
compared Mueller's report tothe release of the Starr report
into President Clinton.
- Boxes of such informationproduced by Ken Starr.
- [Abigail] And the Nixonimpeachment process.
- Just some of the grand jury material.
- [Abigail] GeorgiaRepublican Doug Collins
called those props apples and oranges.
- Starr, Mueller.
It just doesn't work.
- They're sore losers.
- [Abigail] The White House maintains
the report's release is upto the attorney general.
- Anything that's given to them
will never be good enough.
- Today's authorization includes subpoenas
for five Trump administration officials,
Reince Priebus, Steve Bannon, Hope Hicks,
Donald McGahn, and Annie Donaldson.
As to whether the attorney general
will have the ultimate decision
as to what to releaseand what to keep private,
that will likely be made in the courts.
- Abigail, what's been the response
on Capitol Hill to the subpoena vote?
- Well, Republicans on theHouse Judiciary Committee say
that this is unnecessarybecause they think
Attorney General Barr has already promised
that he will release the report
and they say that he is working,
and I quote Mark Meadows on this,
at warp speed to get this report out.
But I also spoke with Republican Senator
Mike Braun yesterday,who surprisingly said
that he's not reallybothered by the subpoenas
and their moves and their actions
because he says if it speedsthis up, he thinks that's fine.
Take a look.
- I think this would speed the process
and, really, whether that happens,
I think Attorney General Barr
will do everything he can tomake it as explicit as he can
given the qualificationsthat he has to adhere to.
- Either way, I think it'sjust a matter of weeks,
if not a few months, before this report
is finally released tothe American public.
- Capitol Hill CorrespondentAbigail Robertson.
Thanks, Abby.
- Thank you.
- Well President Trumpis pushing Republicans
to come up with a newplan for health care.
He says the GOP cannotafford to avoid the issue,
but he's made it clear, action won't come
until after the 2020 election.
CBN News White HouseCorrespondent Ben Kennedy
joins us from the NorthLawn with what's behind
this new strategy.
Ben.
- Well Jenna, heading into 2020,
the White House knows healthcare will be a key issue.
The president does admit Democrats used it
to their advantage in the midterms,
and he wants to take it awayfrom them this time around.
- We have an election coming up.
- [Ben] One week afterthe president boasted
he would make Republicansthe party of health care,
GOP leaders made it clearthey have no intention
of pushing through a bill anytime soon.
- So I made it clear to him
we were not gonna bedoing that in the Senate.
- [Ben] Trump tweeted Wednesday
that he was never planning avote prior to the 2020 election
and never asked Mitch McConnell for a vote
before the election.
- Republicans should notrun away from health care.
- [Ben] The commander in chief delivered
a campaign style speech Tuesday night,
admitting that we blew it in 2017
and wants to make it up in 2020.
- We're gonna come upwith a health care plan.
We're not gonna vote on ituntil after the election.
- [Ben] His timeline changecomes after the administration
decided to support endingObamacare through the courts,
a move that could leave millionswithout health insurance.
- I was disappointed when wewere talking about repeal only
without a credible plan to replace.
- The president maintainsthey will have a plan in place
if the courts ultimately rule
the Affordable Care Act is out,
adding that pre-existingconditions will be covered.
I just spoke with Marie Fishpawof The Heritage Foundation,
who made some recommendationsto the president
on how to lower health care.
It turns out he included theconcepts in his 2020 budget.
- Largely, he would get rid of a failed
entitlement spending schemethat gives insurance companies
more money under Obamacareevery time they raise prices
and replace it with aformula grant to states
that would make sure thatpeople, not a bureaucrat,
could choose the right plan for them.
- A POLITICO/Morning polltoday found that 59% of voters
said they don't have much trust at all
in the president on health care.
What do you think that says
as he wants health care to bea key issue for Republicans?
- Well I think Americansare definitely telling us
that health care matters.
We see this in poll after poll after poll.
And the president isright to want to develop
a concrete proposal that can be measured
and assessed for whether or not
it meets those goals thatAmericans have laid out.
- Now the White House has stopped short
of any new health care specifics,
and I really don't imaginean official proposal
would surface until the courtsmake a ruling on Obamacare.
Ben Kennedy, CBN News, The White House.
- Thanks, Ben.
President Trump is doubling down
on his call to close the border,
tweeting today: Congressneeds to act immediately
to fix immigration loopholes and, quote,
this is a national emergency.
Closing the border is an unpopular idea
among many here in Washington,including lawmakers
within the president's own party,
although most do agreea rise of immigrants
is overwhelming Customs and Border Patrol.
- I am not familiar with any plans
out of the administration.
I can just tell you from my perspective
we need to keep thelegitimate trade and travel
from going across the border,flowing across the border.
It's so important for our economy.
Mexico also needs to step up
and do their part to address this issue,
and the countries in Central America
need to do their part as well.
We are at a, really, abreaking point for capacity
within Homeland Security.
- [John] Trump says closing the border
could damage the US economy adding, quote,
security is more importantto me than trade.
- Here now is our panel,Julia Manchester with The Hill
and David Brody, CBN NewsChief Political Analyst.
Both of you, thank you
for being here.- Thank you for having me.
- Julia, to you first.
How big of a problem is the situation
at the southern border?
Is President Trump, isit a national emergency
like he says it is?
- Well Jenna, I think itreally depends who you talk to.
I think Republicans andthe president's allies
would say that Customs and Border Patrol
are absolutely overwhelmed by migrants
coming from those threeCentral American countries,
Guatemala, El Salvador.
However, I think a lotof Democrats would say
while it is certainly an issue,
the situation at the border,
they wouldn't necessarilycall it a crisis.
They're essentially calling for
maybe more resources at the border.
They're not going as farto shut the border down.
However, you've heard a lot of Democrats
proposing this kind of smart wall
by putting more technology,cyber technology, down there.
So two completely differentapproaches really,
but it depends who you talk to
as to whether it's a quote unquote crisis.
- David, do you think the president
will actually follow through on his threat
to close down the border?
Because you hadRepresentative Mark Meadows,
one of his closest allies on Capitol Hill,
say today that he doesn'tthink the president
will ultimately go that far.
- Yeah, I think Meadows is right,
and Meadows has the earof the president or,
whatever that is, but yes, I think so.
Look, I think what we're seeing here
is that this president,even on Twitter today,
he says we're gonna closethe border, he says,
or big stretches of the border.
So already, there's a backtrack there.
And I've been talkingto some of my sources
at the White House who say, look,
this thing is not necessarilygonna close fully the border.
They're trying to find outthe economic impact of it.
So I think they'relooking at ports of entry.
From a shipping perspective,that's the economic impact,
those won't close.
I think the issue iswill ports of entry close
at the civilian or the citizenlevel, where cars come in.
That's the difference.
- Yeah, a lot of concernabout the avocados
coming up from,- Well we need to be concerned
about the avocados.- from Mexico.
David, on the topic of health care,
can this be a winningissue for Republicans?
President Trump, hesure seems to think so.
- Well, he wants to issuethis issue politically.
He knows that the Democratsown the health care issue
so he wants to win it.
What a shock that DonaldTrump wants to win, right?
That's what he always wants to do.
So that's the political calculus here,
take it away from the Democrats.
Now, when I was talking tosome White House sources
this morning, they were saying
that's not punting this to 2020.
They said no, no, no, it's not punting,
he's clarifying, that's the word,
he's clarifying that he wants the vote
until after the 2020 election,
which, if you think aboutit, it does make sense.
I mean why in the world
would you actually voteon any sort of thing
that House Democrats can get a hold of
and that's gonna water down
something that you want eventually.
But look, ultimately,what does Trump do here?
He always starts on Twitter
and then works backwards,doesn't he, right?
It's like he comes up with a tweet
and then, all of a sudden,
well now let's work out the details.
Usually, it's the other way around.
- Julia, what's your sense?
You have your ear to the ground.
How do you think thisis all gonna play out?
- Well, it's interesting 'cause last week
I was actually talking to acouple Republicans on the Hill
and I think they were all taken off guard
as to what happened.
No one told them that they were gonna be
the party of health care.
You know, Chuck Grassley,
a very senior Republican in the Senate
said that I was just looking
to lower prescription drug prices,
something that Republicansand Democrats do agree with.
However, I think thepresident really wants to get
as many of his campaign promises fulfilled
- Right.- in time for 2020.
You know, we saw thathe made major progress
with renegotiating NAFTA and USMCA
as well as declaringthat state of emergency
at the southern border,so he's kind of, you know,
making this progress and maybe achieving
some of those goals, and I thinkhe really views health care
as a check on that list.
The problem is Obamacare,while it's not perfect,
according to many polls,it's actually very popular
with the American people
and there needs to beimprovements made to it
and I think a lot of Democratswould agree with that,
but I think that's what Republicans
are really concernedabout in how the president
is really approaching this.- And one quick addendum
on that, you know, ifthe Supreme Court rules
that Obamacare is unconstitutional,
a lot of Democrats are saying,
well, then everybody's gonnalose their health care.
The White House is telling me no,
that wouldn't be the case.
Congress would then put some sort of
three month, six month, whatever extension
in place to make sure those folks
don't lose their health care.
Congress is good at extending stuff.
- They're very good at kicking the can
down the road.- Kicking the can
down the road, yes.- That's right.
- Julia, in the House Judiciary Committee,
they are demanding thefull Mueller report.
Attorney General Bill Barr, of course,
he has cleared the Trumpadministration, the Trump campaign,
of any wrongdoing as it relates to Russia.
Democrats, they just do notseem willing to let this go.
- Yeah, and I think they reallyneed to proceed with caution
on this issue, especially going into 2020.
I think a lot of Americans,
while the majority ofAmericans have said in polling
that they do want the reportto eventually be made public,
the problem is I don't think this is,
I think most Americans viewthis as kind of the final word.
You know, look, the investigation'sover, let's move on,
let's talk about immigration,the economy, health care.
So they're really trying to play it,
they should try to play it safe there.
However, I think a lot of Democrats
are trying to save face in all of this.
You know, they were pushing this narrative
that there was some sort of collusion.
You know, they see atthe end of the report,
there was no really conclusion
as to whether the presidentobstructed justice,
according to Mueller,
Barr said there wasn'tsufficient evidence.
I think they want to cling on to that.
So, you know, they're not gonna stop,
but they really have toproceed with caution.
- What does Barr have to do here?
What is he obligated to do?
David, this question to you.
Does he have to hand over the full report
just because it's been subpoenaed?
- No, not necessarily.
Democrats want that underlying evidence,
which is interesting 'cause, basically,
that's like we want thereport and oh, by the way,
we want every single PDF file
attachment- Classified
information.- that goes with it.
Yeah, classified.
First of all, that's a bit irresponsible
to have an unredacted report,
whatever you think, if you'reRepublican or Democrat.
No, Barr's not under any obligation there,
but there is a PR obligation,
there is a political obligation
to the point where you cankind of satisfy both parties.
I think it's gonna be messy.
I think what's interesting to watch
is will there be any sort ofspecial counsel investigation
into how this whole thinggot started to begin with.
My sources are telling meno, that's not gonna happen,
but there might be an IG report,
like an inspector generalreport, that the DOJ may do
at some point.- Last question for you.
Late today, Republicansused the nuclear option
to unilaterally change the Senate rules
to allow quicker confirmationfor President Trump's judicial
and executive level nominees.
Does this put the onus on Republicans
to make sure that theystay in power in 2020?
Because if the roles reverse
and you have a Democratic president, then.
- Yeah, for sure, I think it does.
But this all startedwith Harry Reid in 2013.
I mean even the Democrats admit that.
And so this has been a game of chess
and checkers and Parcheesiand Chutes and Ladders.
Who knows, it's tons of games.
But that's what's been going on.
And so now, McConnellhas raised the stakes
even a little bit more.
But look, in this political climate,
you gotta do what you gotta do.
At least that's thethinking on both sides.
- [Jenna] Yeah, and Julia, a final word?
- Yeah, no, I would absolutely agree.
I think a lot of Democratsare looking at this
and thinking this could change for us.
However, it has to do with the precedent
really going forward and how it changes
when power changes and such.
- All right, JuliaManchester, David Brody,
thank you both.- Thanks, guys.
- Well former Vice President Joe Biden
responding this afternoonto multiple claims
of inappropriate contact with women.
In a video he posted on Twitter,
the possible 2020 presidential candidate
defended his past behaviors,
but noted social norms are changing.
- I'll be much more mindful.
That's my responsibility,
my responsibility, and I'll meet it.
But I'll always believegoverning, quite frankly,
life for that matter, is about connecting,
about connecting with people.
That won't change, butI will be more mindful
and respectful of people's personal space.
And that's a good thing,that's a good thing.
I worked my whole life to empower women.
I worked my whole life to prevent abuse.
I've written...
So the idea that Ican't adjust to the fact
that personal space is important,
more important than it's everbeen is just not thinkable.
I will, I will.
- Biden has been polling
at the head of the Democraticpack of presidential hopefuls,
though he has yet to officiallyannounce his 2020 campaign.
- [Jenna] Sexual assaultallegations, racist photos,
and new calls for resignations.
Up next, the state ofpolitics in Virginia.
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- Welcome back.
Virginia's lieutenant governor says
those recent allegations of sexual assault
go against everything he stands for
in his public and private life.
Just a day after one of his accusers
gave her first television interview,
Democrat Lieutenant GovernorJustin Fairfax today
addressed those claims.
- He is now making publica polygraph test he took
regarding those assault allegations,
which he notes he passed,
and he's also calling on law enforcement
to take a look into these situations.
- My attorney has, at my direction,
requested that the prosecutorsin Boston, Massachusetts
and in Durham, North Carolinalaunch an investigation
of these allegations and I'veoffered my full cooperation.
I will answer any and all questions
and I am willing to do so under oath
and under penalty of perjury.
- Both of Fairfax's accusers
want a bipartisan publichearing on the matter.
The Virginia HouseMajority Leader today said
there doesn't seem to be enough support
among lawmakers for that.
- And Fairfax isn't theonly top Virginia lawmaker
embroiled in controversy right now.
Just a few months ago, thecommonwealth's governor
faced back-to-back scandals,one over infanticide comments,
and the other overresurfaced blackface photos.
- Well today was the last day
of the Virginia legislative session,
drawing protests at the state capital
demanding that DemocratGovernor Ralph Northam
resign over those two issues.
Eric Phillips is inRichmond with the story.
- Here in Richmond, on veto day,
which is the last dayof the General Assembly,
marches and rallies for pro-life.
Meanwhile, some are callingon Governor Ralph Northam
to answer some unanswered questions.
Others flatly calling on him to resign.
During a morning news conference,
House Republicans calledfor Governor Northam
to answer questions that still linger
from the controversial yearbook photo
in which the governor mayhave appeared in blackface.
They say the investigation has gone cold
and they want to heat it up.
- What happened to theinvestigation he promised?
What happened to the private investigator
he was going to hire?
What happened to thefacial recognition software
he was going to employ to get
to the bottom of this photograph?
Has the governor found outyet who was in the photo
as he promised he would?
Has the governor yet learned how the photo
got in his yearbook page?
- [Eric] Today, a coalition of Virginians
also called for Northam's resignation
because of what they call his support
of racism and infanticide.
- Of course, Northam,whose nickname was Coonman,
knew exactly what he wasdoing in his yearbook page.
Likewise, he, as a pediatric neurologist,
knows exactly what happenswhen you leave a newborn baby
to die of exposure and neglectin a hospital of all places.
- The lieutenant governor
also back under scrutiny this week
as the two women who accusedhim of sexual assault
spoke out for the veryfirst time on television.
House Republicans are proposing a hearing
to really delve into these allegations,
but so far, Democrats have said no,
and without bipartisan support,
the chances of a publichearing are slim to none.
In Richmond, Virginia,Eric Phillips, CBN News.
- [John] Thanks, Eric.
Coming up, how one ministryis helping prepare offenders
for success after prison
and why they say addressingspiritual needs is the key.
(dramatic music)
- Welcome back.
Conditions within theAlabama prison system
violate the Constitution.
That's according to new findings
from the Justice Department.
The DOJ says Alabama prisonsare failing to protect inmates
from violence and sexual abuse,
calling the problem severe and systematic.
The Justice Department warningAlabama it has two months
to fix the problem orit may sue the state.
- Well, while the government works
to make progress oncriminal justice reform,
one Texas program leads the way.
- As Amber Strong explains,
they say their secret is simple: Jesus.
- [Amber] With all the pompand circumstance you'd expect,
proud graduates take the stage one by one.
- [Announcer] Terry Brown, salutorian.
- [Amber] This isn'tany ordinary graduation.
♪ How great ♪
- [Amber] Typical commencement speakers.
- According to Proverbs31:8, that we have to learn,
if we want to stand out in life,
stand up for people who cannotstand up for themselves.
- Each student is a success story
courtesy of the TexasOffenders Reentry Initiative.
The TORI program boasts an impressive
11% recidivism rate.
The national average sits at about 50%.
That means that, when youwalk through these doors,
you're more than likelywalking back into a prison.
Inside headquarters, staffmembers are hard at work
preparing citizens for success
as they return to life on the outside
- Organize my thoughts.
Then I put it on paper.
- [Amber] In 2005, folks like this
flooded Dallas homeless shelters,
unable to find work,housing, or a way forward.
That's when the city reachedout to The Potter's House
and Bishop T.D. Jakes.
- Bishop did a clearingcall to the congregation
and said listen, here is the issue,
here's what our community is saying,
but I know there are judges in here,
there are lawyers and teachers
and doctors and social workers,
I mean all these professionsare within the church.
Now let's figure out what we need to do.
- [Amber] Working with communityleaders and businesses,
team members secure housing and jobs
while helping clear criminal records
and addressing other needs.
- That landlord may not rentto you, but they'll rent to me.
So I'll go in there and I'll tell them
about the TORI program,
how much they've progressedin a short window of time,
and how this tenant maybe the most loyal tenant
you'll ever have.
- [Amber] 14 years and23,000 success stories later,
the program is thriving.
- This is not rocket science.
It's Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
It's every human's basic needs.
If we would make thoseaccessible to our citizens
who are coming home, we wouldhave to build more prisons.
- [Amber] A key element ofthis reformation process
is that it doesn't justbegin outside the prison.
Some volunteers meet inmatesbefore they're released,
people like Shane Gregory, who can relate
because he's been there.
- November the 14th,2008, I got out of prison
and I was going back inNovember the 14th, 2017.
I heard my spirit ask me
what you think I brought you ask for?
TORI really blessed me toactually see what the effect is
on actually them seeingsomebody like theirself
that actually has made up their mind
they're not coming back.
- [Amber] Veronica Berry, a former client
and now successful business owner,
says she owes it all to thelessons learned here at TORI,
both educational and spiritual.
- Trust God.
Do not give up on yourself anddo not give up on that hope.
- [Amber] Amber Strong,CBN News, in Dallas, Texas.
- You know, it's amazing,
a state that has been known
as a criminal justice reform state,
Texas is really leading the way
- It is.- to show how you can actually
do it in a way that makesit better for these people
once they get out of prison.
- Absolutely, a second chance.
- Yep.
Well, that's gonna do ittonight for Faith Nation.
- Have a great evening.
(uplifting music)
