The liberal media were elated Monday after the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee sent letters to over 80 people and entities related to President Trump requesting documents they hoped they could impeach him with. And during their evening newscasts, ABC, CBS, and NBC hyped those Democratic efforts to probe every aspect of Trump’s life.
“On the Hill tonight, Democrats making it clear they're now on the hunt. Now in control of the House, of course, after the midterms, they are ramping up their investigations of President Trump,” announced sensationalist ABC anchor David Muir. “Launching several investigations into the President, his family, his finances.” Kind of hard to claim it's not a "witch hunt" when you're touting Democrats being "on the hunt".
ABC congressional correspondent Mary Bruce boasted about “Democrats launch[ing] a sweeping investigation into allegations of corruption, obstruction, and abuse of power,” but was dismissive of “President Trump insist[ing] there's nothing to see here.”
Bruce was also excited to share who was in the sites of zealous Democrats:
But Democrats are going far beyond just the question of collusion. The House Judiciary Committee today demanding documents from 81 people and entities close to the President, including members of his family, sons Don Jr. and Eric, and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Some of Trump's closest former aides and advisers, like Steve Bannon, Hope Hicks, and former White House council Don McGhan, his current campaign manager Brad Parscale, and the Trump organization's chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg.
On the CBS Evening News, congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes reminded viewers that the document requests were “backed by subpoena power”, and were needed by Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) in order to investigate “Russian loans and investments, presents from foreign governments, the firing of FBI Director James Comey, and hush money payments to two or more women.”
A key point repeatedly hit by ABC was that Nadler was looking for information regarding any and all conversations between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin:
BRUCE: David, Democrats made clear today, they are demanding to talk to anyone who had any inside access to those private conversations between the President and Putin, including the translators. And they want to see any notes or records related to their communications, whether they were those in-person meetings or even phone calls.
Meanwhile, on NBC Nightly News, they seemed less enthralled but made sure to hit the same major narrative talking points.
“Today, Democrats issuing a request for documents from more than 81 people and groups associated with the President, including, the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Trump organization CFO, Alan Weisselberg, looking into what they call allegations of corruption, obstruction, and abuses of power,” NBC White House correspondent Kristen Welker reported.
She added: “Among the events Democrats appear to be targeting, that 2016 meeting between Trump family members, campaign officials, and a Kremlin-linked attorney, and those hush money payments during the campaign.
Cordes may have described this situation best when she noted: “Republicans argue ‘Democrats are just hedging their bets’ in case Special Counsel Robert Mueller comes up empty-handed.”
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
March 4, 2019
6:41:39 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: On the hill tonight, Democrats making it clear they're now on the hunt. Now in control of the House, of course, after the midterms, they are ramping up their investigations of President Trump. Launching several investigations into the president, his family, his finances. And also we're learning tonight, they're asking for notes, any documentation for the President's conversations with Vladimir Putin. At times, only translators were if the room, and some times, only a Russian translator. ABC's Mary Bruce up on the hill tonight.
[Cuts to video]
MARY BRUCE: Tonight, as Democrats launch a sweeping investigation into allegations of corruption, obstruction, and abuse of power, President Trump insists there's nothing to see here.
(…)
BRUCE: But Democrats are going far beyond just the question of collusion. The House Judiciary Committee today demanding documents from 81 people and entities close to the President, including members of his family, sons Don Jr. and Eric, and son-in-law Jared Kushner. Some of Trump's closest former aides and advisers, like Steve Bannon, Hope Hicks, and former White House council Don McGhan, his current campaign manager Brad Parscale, and the Trump organization's chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg.
Chairman Jerold Nadler says the Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over impeachment, is making these requests to "begin building the public record.”
(…)
BRUCE: Democrats want to explore everything from the firing of former FBI Director James Comey to the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels to the President's meetings with Vladimir Putin, and whether he and his family are profiting from the presidency. But Trump has said it all amounts to presidential harassment.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
MUIR: And Mary Bruce with us live tonight on Capitol Hill. And Mary, we've learned that three other committees are now formally requesting any and all information about the President's conversations with Vladimir Putin?
BRUCE: David, Democrats made clear today, they are demanding to talk to anyone who had any inside access to those private conversations between the President and Putin, including the translators. And they want to see any notes or records related to their communications, whether they were those in-person meetings or even phone calls. David?
MUIR: Mary Bruce tonight. Mary, thank you.
CBS Evening News
March 4, 2019
6:36:30 p.m. EasternJEFF GLOR: We are going to move now to Washington, D.C., and as Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation of President Trump appears to be wrapping up, House Democrats are just getting started with theirs. Nancy Cordes reports on today's sweeping request for documents.
[Cuts to video]
DONALD TRUMP: It's a political hoax. There’ no collusion.
CORDES: President Trump shrugged off the Democratic move today, but its scope was sweeping. 81 individuals and institutions, a who's who of Trump world, were given two weeks to hand over financial documents, e-mails, and memos, anything related to, among other things, Russian loans and investments, presents from foreign governments, the firing of FBI Director James Comey, and hush money payments to two or more women.
(…)
CORDES: The request, backed by subpoena power, went out from House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler to the President's sons, his 2016 campaign officials, current and former White House aides, executives from Trump organization, and some associates who have already been charged with crimes. Nadler told all of them he is investigating, quote, "allegations of obstruction of justice, public corruption, and other abuses of power."
(…)
CORDES: Republicans argue “Democrats are just hedging their bets” in case Special Counsel Robert Mueller comes up empty-handed. The president made a similar charge this weekend.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
CORDES: Nadler's committee, House Judiciary, is also the committee that would oversee any impeachment proceedings. Nadler said it's too early to talk impeachment and what he's focused on right now is looking into presidential actions, Jeff, that fall outside the special counsel's jurisdiction but may still have broken laws and norms.
GLOR: Nancy Cordes, thanks very much.
NBC Nightly News
March 4, 2019
7:11:00 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: We turn now to the new investigation involving President Trump tonight and his inner circle and the new move by House Democrats. NBC's Kristen Welker has details.
[Cuts to video]
KRISTEN WELKER: Tonight, President Trump vowing to cooperate with the rapidly growing investigation by House Democrats.
DONALD TRUMP: I cooperate all the time with everybody. And you know the beautiful thing? No collusion, it's all a hoax.
WELKER: Today, Democrats issuing a request for documents from more than 81 people and groups associated with the President, including, the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Trump organization CFO, Alan Weisselberg, looking into what they call allegations of corruption, obstruction, and abuses of power. But still insisting they're not yet building a case for impeachment.
REP. JERRY NADLER: We have to do the investigations and get all this. We do not now have the evidence all sorted out and everything to do an impeachment.
WELKER: Among the events Democrats appear to be targeting, that 2016 meeting between Trump family members, campaign officials, and a Kremlin-linked attorney, and those hush money payments during the campaign. Democrats pressing ahead with their investigation even before the report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is turned over.
(…)
[Cuts back to live]
HOLT: And Kristen with us now. Kristen, the President also getting some tough news about his national emergency. What's that about?
WELKER: Indeed. The Republican Senate, Lester, seems poised to block President Trump's emergency declaration now that four Republicans oppose it. But it won't stop funding for a border wall because President Trump will veto the legislation. This will likely be decided by the courts, Lester.
HOLT: Kristen Welker at the White House, thank you.
