AMNA NAWAZ: Good evening.
I'm Amna Nawaz.
GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.
On the "News Hour" tonight: DONALD TRUMP, President of the United# States: I hope there are others,## because you can't let this happen to a country.
GEOFF BENNETT: President Trump predicts# more of his political opponents will face## prosecution after his Justice Department# indicts former FBI Director James Comey,## who's already pledging to fight back.
JAMES COMEY, Former FBI Director:# I'm innocent, so let's have a trial.
AMNA NAWAZ: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin# Netanyahu divides global leaders at the## United Nations General Assembly, vowing# to finish the job against Hamas in Gaza.
GEOFF BENNETT: And actress Scarlett Johansson# takes on a new role behind the camera for## her future film directorial# debut of "Eleanor the Great."
SCARLETT JOHANSSON, Director: I have to approach# my job with empathy and then let the audience,## let them have their own feelings# about the characters and what they do.
(BREAK) GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "News Hour."
Former FBI Director James Comey has# been indicted by a federal grand jury,## an extraordinary escalation in President Trump's# campaign to prosecute his political rivals.
AMNA NAWAZ: Comey, a vocal critic of Mr.
Trump,# was charged for what the Department of Justice## says is false testimony to Congress five years# ago around investigations he led into the 2016## campaign.
Comey has long been at the center# of one of the president's biggest grievances,## investigations into Russian interference# and potential ties to Trump's campaign.
Our White House correspondent Liz# Landers, starts our coverage tonight.
LIZ LANDERS: More fallout tonight following the# Justice Department's near-unprecedented felony## indictment against former FBI Director James# Comey.
Comey was charged late Thursday on two## felony counts, obstruction of a congressional# proceeding and making a false statement.
DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# It's a pretty easy case because, look, he lied.
LIZ LANDERS: Mr.
Trump, who is himself the# first former president convicted of a felony,## celebrated the move today on# his way to a golf tournament,## and he insinuated the charges# won't stop with Comey.
DONALD TRUMP: Frankly, I hope there are others,## because you can't let this happen# to a country.
It's about .. really.
It's not revenge.
It's about justice.
It's# also about the fact that you can't let this go on.
LIZ LANDERS: A defiant Comey# responded to the indictment overnight.
JAMES COMEY, Former FBI Director: My family# and I have known for years that there are## costs to standing up to Donald Trump.
But# we couldn't imagine ourselves living any## other way.
We will not live on our knees, and# you shouldn't either.
My heart is broken for## the Department of Justice, but I have great# confidence in the federal judicial system.
And I'm innocent, so let's have a trial.
LIZ LANDERS: The charges against Comey stem# from an appearance before the Senate in 2020,## where the prosecution alleges the# ex-director authorized a leak of## classified information to the media and# then knowingly told the Senate differently.
SEN.
TED CRUZ (R-TX): Chairman Grassley# asked you point blank -- quote -- "Have## you ever been an anonymous source in# news reports about matters relating## to the Trump investigation or# the Clinton investigation?"
You responded under oath -- quote -- "Never."
He then asked you -- quote -- "Have you ever# authorized someone else at the FBI to be an## anonymous source in news reports about the Trump# investigation or the Clinton administration?"
You responded again under oath: "No."
JAMES COMEY: I can only speak to my testimony.## I stand by what -- the testimony you# summarized that I gave in May of 2017.
LIZ LANDERS: All of this comes just days after# President Trump called for Comey's prosecution,## along with others, writing directly# to his attorney general, Pam Bondi,## on social media -- quote -- "We can't delay# any longer.
Justice must be served now."
Adding urgency, the Justice Department# faced a five-year statute of limitations## for charges based on Comey's hearing# that would have expired next week.
Trump## has long considered Comey a political enemy.# Since firing him months into his first term,## the president has been locked in a bitter# feud with the former director for approving an## investigation into Russian election interference# and possible ties to Mr.
Trump's campaign.
SEN.
LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC):# Is there any cost to people## trying to destroy President Trump's presidency?
LIZ LANDERS: Defenders of the# president took to the airwaves## yesterday, calling to charges long overdue.
MIKE DAVIS, President, Article III# Project: I think this is the beginning## of the accountability and certainly not# the end for these lawfare Democrats.
LIZ LANDERS: But opponents have criticized how# the Comey case was brought.
Lindsey Halligan,## Trump's newly-installed U.S.
attorney, took# the Comey indictment by herself to a grand jury## because no other prosecutors would join her due to# the reservations about the strength of the case.
Previously one of Trump's personal attorneys,# Halligan has never prosecuted a case.
Her## predecessor, Erik Siebert, was pushed out# of his job for not bringing mortgage fraud## charges against another of Trump's enemies,# New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Democrats called the Comey charges# part of a troubling pattern.
REP.
HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): These# charges are going to be dismissed.## James Comey will win in court.
But# what it reflects is a broader attack## on the rule of law that should# frighten every single American.
LIZ LANDERS: The indictment comes weeks after# Comey's daughter, Maurene, was fired from her## job as a federal prosecutor in New York.
And# just minutes after the charges were filed,## Comey's son-in-law resigned from his# post with the Justice Department.
Comey will be arraigned in early October.
The# judge assigned to the case is a Biden appointee.
For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.
AMNA NAWAZ: For further insight into the legal# and political developments, we turn now to## Barbara McQuade.
She's a University of Michigan# law professor and former federal prosecutor.
Barb, welcome back to the "News Hour."
Let's just start with the charges here,## one count of making a false statement,# another of obstruction of congressional## proceeding.
What would convince a grand jury# to indict on those?
What could they have seen?
BARBARA MCQUADE, Former U.S.
Attorney: Well,# the standard, of course, at the grand jury## is simply probable cause.
Based on the reporting,# it sounds like what they looked at were the grand## jury transcripts of both Jim Comey and then# perhaps Andrew McCabe, the deputy director.
And so if there are discrepancies between# those two things, that could establish,## generously, probable cause in the minds# of a grand jury.
Now, keep in mind that,## at a grand jury, there's no defense attorney,## there's no cross-examination.
And so it's just# the prosecutor presenting one side of the case.
AMNA NAWAZ: So probable cause is the bar# for a grand jury.
Where's the bar for the## prosecutors?
The allegation here is that# Comey lied to Congress about authorizing## someone to leak information to journalists.# What do prosecutors have to prove here?
BARBARA MCQUADE: Well, at trial, they would# have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jim## Comey made a statement that was false, that the# statement was material, that is, determinative of## something under their investigation, and that he# then and there knew that the statement was false.
At trial, they will have to prove it beyond# a reasonable doubt to a jury that decides## it unanimously.
What's also interesting# is, although legally what's required at## a grand jury stage is just probable cause,# the Justice Department's policy manual says## a prosecutor should not initiate a prosecution# unless they believe the evidence is sufficient## to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.# That means guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
AMNA NAWAZ: And you have heard there# Jim Comey has said that he is innocent,## that he welcomes a trial.
What's# his defense likely to argue here?## And is it possible that this# never even makes it to trial?
BARBARA MCQUADE: I think so.
I mean, I think, before th.. to dismiss.
One grounds for a motion to dismiss# would be selective prosecution.
That means that## a person was targeted not because of some# legitimate law enforcement objective, but## because of some arbitrary or improper objective,# in this case, perhaps political considerations.
And Donald Trump's posts on social media# would certainly be evidence to document## that sort of a thing.
It could also# be an argument that the case should## be dismissed on the grounds of due process# violations as to his right to a fair trial.
When you have Donald Trump telling the world, the# president of the United States, that he lied or## that he's a bad person, everybody's going to hear# that, and it potentially taints the jury pool.
But then, ultimately, if this case does go to# trial, that's where Jim Comey will attack the## evidence that the government puts# in, will perhaps likely, I think,## testify on his own behalf and deny the charges.# And then it will be up to a jury to decide## whether the government has met its burden# of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
AMNA NAWAZ: Barb, as you heard Liz Landers'# report there, the fact that only attorney## Lindsey Halligan's name is on the indictment# that none of the prosecutors in her office## signed off on this, how unusual is that?
And# what does that say to you about this case?
BARBARA MCQUADE: It's extraordinary.
I served as an assistant U.S.
attorney for# 12 years and signed many indictments in.. capacity.
When I served as U.S.
attorney# for eight years, I signed exactly zero,## because it is the job of the line prosecutor to# sign those indictments.
The fact that she was## the one who signed the indictment, and the only# one, and that she was the one and the only one## who presented this case to the grand jury after# four days on the job is truly extraordinary.
What it says to me is that nobody else would touch# this case with a 10-foot pole.
Why?
Because they## don't believe in the case, and they believe# that they could perhaps have ethical concerns## and grievances against them, even risking their# own law licenses if they were to participate.
AMNA NAWAZ: And let's just revisit that# timeline, as Liz reported it out too.
This all followed, as you mentioned,# President Trump publicly telling his## attorney general to prosecute some of his# critics, including Comey.
The president## said today he hopes that there are more# people who could be prosecuted ahead.
Barb, big picture, what is to stop# President Trump here from using the## Department of Justice as his own personal law# firm to settle scores and suppress critics?
BARBARA MCQUADE: Well, what's interesting is# that, since Watergate, there have been norms that## prohibit conversations and communications between# the White House and the Department of Justice.## There have been policies that say prosecution# should not be used for political purposes.
But President Trump has busted through all of# those norms and now appears to be directing## his Department of Justice to do his bidding.
In# many ways, he may feel empowered by the decision## of the Supreme Court last summer that said he# personally cannot be held criminally liable## for acts that are conducted within the scope# of his constitutional duties as president.
I think these qualify.
So, what really is# left is individual cases of acquittals if## there is no evidence to prove these cases# or impeachment by the Congress.
And that's## something that we have seen Congress loathe# to do in recent years to impeach and then## convict a member of their own party.# But that is the recourse that we have.
AMNA NAWAZ: That's former federal prosecutor# Barbara McQuade joining us tonight.
Barb, thank you for your time.# Always good to speak with you.
BARBARA MCQUADE: Thanks.
GEOFF BENNETT: For more on the indictment and# its implications, we're joined now by Ty Cobb.## He was a White House attorney in the first# Trump administration, managing the response## to the special counsel Robert Mueller's probe# into alleged Russian election interference.
Thanks for being with us.
TY COBB, Former White House Special Counsel:# My ple.. GEOFF BENNETT: And I want to start with your# reaction to the indictment of form.. Director James Comey and to the way these charges# were brought, both the substance and the process.
TY COBB: So I think the process is# more important than the substance.
This process was worse than unusual.
It was# wholly un-American and really despicable in the## way it was done.
America's long been# a country where evenhanded justice## has been the standard and the goal.# And that's all been abandoned under## this president and his willing# assistant attorney general.
Keep in mind that career prosecutors, including# a seasoned prosecutor of Trump's own appointment## as the U.S.
attorney in the# Eastern District OF Virginia,## had concluded at the end of a long process, along# with the FBI, that there were -- there was just## insufficient evidence with which to proceed# against the former FBI director, Mr.
Comey.
In response, Trump fired that prosecutor,# according to him -- the prosecutor says he## resigned -- and ordered, in no uncertain terms,# his attorney general to punish his enemies, not## just Mr.
Comey, but Senator Schiff and Attorney# General Letitia James, saying that these people## had tortured him, he'd been wronged badly, and it# was time for -- time for them to be punished now.
And that historically is not the way America# works.
Now, that's the way Allende's Chile worked,## Stalin's Russia worked, Hitler's Germany worked,# but it's not the way America works.
It's not## the role of an attorney general to do what the# president orders him to do in criminal matters.
Attorney generals with character,# historically, Elliot Richardson,## and then his deputy William Ruckelshaus, had# the appropriate response when President Nixon## tried to strong-arm them into firing the# then-independent counsel, Archibald Cox,## and they said no and were forced to resign.# They honored their oath to the Constitution.
As we saw, sadly, at the great hall of# justice shortly after Trump's inauguration,## when Pam Bondi took over, she pledged the fealty# of herself and her department to the president,## rather than the Constitution.
And# that, sadly, is the way this is gone.
So I don't think this can be reported as# one or two degrees of standard deviation## from the norm.
This is a wholesale# 180 from the norms of what## made America different from# Third World dictatorships,## authoritarian regimes and tyranny.
I think this# case could well be dismissed because of vindictive## prosecution standards or selective prosecution# standards or prosecutorial misconduct standards.
GEOFF BENNETT: How do you assess the way President# Trump in his second term has asserted control over## the Justice Department and many of the prosecutors# who work for it, as compared to the first term?
TY COBB: Well, he appointed people who# were clearly slavishly devoted to him and## willing to break any ethical barriers# or legal barriers to do his bidding.
That's much different than the first time, where# Senator Sessions was the first attorney general## and Bill Barr is his successor.
People can quarrel# with some of their decisions and some of their## policies, but I don't think they can quarrel# about the fact that they were men who had devoted## themselves to public service over a long period# of time and cared greatly about their country.
Here, what we have is people who care less# about their country and certainly less about## the Constitution and more about their standing# with the president, whose crippling narcissism## dictates his every whim, including this vengeance# tirade that he's on in the Eastern District.
GEOFF BENNETT: You worked closely# with President Trump, as we mentioned,## when he pushed for something that was clearly# outside of the bounds of established norms.## How did those conversations# typically unfold in the White House?
TY COBB: Well, I can't really go# into my direct interactions with## the president on legal matters.# That would be inappropriate.
But I can say that the difference between# the people that were in the White House## when I was there and what appears to# be going on now is, when he wanted to## take a particular course of action, if it# wasn't appropriate or if it was unwise,## unethical or wrong, there were# people who would say that to him.
He had very strong, capable people# who were experienced in government,## knew government much better than he did,# and acted as an inappropriate restraint## when he suggested something that they perceived# as perhaps out of bounds or inappropriate.
I think## now what you have is, whatever his narcissistic# whim may be, vengeance, power, war crimes,## whatever, people just say yes.
You know, how# quickly can we get that done for you, sir?
So, I think that's a much different# circumstance than what we see now.
GEOFF BENNETT: I have to ask,# did you feel this way about the## president when you worked for him, or# has there been a fundamental change?
TY COBB: No, I was never a Trump supporter.# I never voted for Trump.
I took the position## because I was asked to serve the country and the# president at the time in a matter where I thought,## because of my strong relationship# and long friendship with Bob Mueller,## together, we could find a path that# would not divide the country through## what was going to be a difficult time.# And I think we got that done, largely.
But, no, I was not an ideological match for the# president, and I was not a personal supporter.
But## I'm very concerned.
And, frankly, I don't# understand how anybody who cares about the## country could not be concerned about# the attacks on the rule of law, which## has been so diminished now in our country,# and to the point that it's a danger to not## just Trump's enemies, but to all of# us, as he picks winners and losers.
I mean, Tom Homan went to McDonald's today and# presumably spent some of the cash that he got## as a bribe, and there are no consequences for# that.
And even the White House press secretary## lies on his behalf, insisting he didn't take the# money, even though he's on tape taking the money.
And, instead, James Comey is preparing# for his arraignment.
And that, I think,## is -- I think that people should# understand how wrong that is.
GEOFF BENNETT: The president, as we know,# prizes personal loyalty above all.
What's## the red line that even loyalists should not# cross, and how should they defend that boundary?
TY COBB: Well, I think the# red line is really established## for many of these people# by the oath that they take.
Not everybody takes an oath to be# federal employee, but, certainly,## the attorney general, FBI agents, prosecutors,## Cabinet officials and others have taken an oath to# either defend and protect or preserve and defend## the Constitution.
And that should be their# line.
And the Constitution requires a## loyalty to a set of principles that have# been abandoned by this administration.
GEOFF BENNETT: Ty Cobb, thank you for your# perspectives and for your time this evening.
TY COBB: My pleasure.
Good luck.
Thank you.
GEOFF BENNETT:## In New York today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin# Netanyahu addressed the U.N.
General Assembly,## touting his country's operations# against Iran and its proxies in## the Middle East and vowing to press ahead# with Israel's military offensive in Gaza.
(CHEERING) MAN: Please, order in the hall.
GEOFF BENNETT: As dozens of delegates walked# out in protest just before he st.. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu# delivered a defiant speech at the United Nations.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime# Minister: That is why Israel must## finish the job.
That is why we# want to do so as f.. GEOFF BENNETT: A speech that at times included# visual aids, placards, maps and charts... BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Let's do a pop quiz.
GEOFF BENNETT: ... in defense of Israel's# intensifying.. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: But, regrettably,## many leaders who are represented in this# hall, they send a very different message.
GEOFF BENNETT: He also delivered# a sharp rebuke to nations that## have acknowledged a Palestinian state.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Your disgraceful decision# will encourage terrorism against Jews and## against innocent people everywhere.# President Trump understands better## than any other leader that Israel# and America face a common threat.
GEOFF BENNETT: That's as President# Donald Trump today said he was close## to forging a deal to end the war# in Gaza, offering few details.
DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# It's looking like we have a deal on Gaza.
And## we will let you know.
I think it's a deal that# will get the hostages back.
It's going to be a## deal that will end the war.
It's going to# be a deal with -- it's going to be peace.
It's not going to happen.
GEOFF BENNETT: It follows the# president's comments yesterda.. vowing he won't allow Israel# to annex the West Bank.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: For decades,# the very ideal peace between... GEOFF BENNETT: In an unprecedented move,## the Israeli military today broadcast# Netanyahu's U.N.
speech into Gaza.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: I have surrounded# Gaza with massive loudspeakers in the## hope that our dear hostages will hear my message.
GEOFF BENNETT: Meantime, in Gaza City today, the# chaotic aftermath of another Israeli airstrike.
RAHMA JAROUANA, Sister Killed in Airstrike# (through translator): They said they were going## to the south.
Then we heard they were bombed.# They.. moving from place to place.
What is our# fault in all this?
What have we done?
GEOFF BENNETT: Hope for an end to# the war still nowhere in sight.
Also today, the U.S.
Supreme Court is letting# the Trump administration move forward with## freezing $4 billion in foreign aid that had been# allocated by Congress.
Mr.
Trump said last month## that he would not spend the money and instead# invoked something called a pocket rescission.## That's a rarely used maneuver that allows Mr.# Trump to bypass Congress to hold up the funds.
Today's ruling is just the latest legal# victory for the Trump administration and,## in particular, the president's broader push# to have greater control over federal spending.
A wide range of industries are bracing for# the latest round of President Trump's tariffs,## which are set to take effect next week.# Major pharmaceutical companies are hoping## to avoid the worst of his planned 100# percent tariffs on imported medicine.## Officials say there are carve-outs for# companies that are already building plants## in the U.S.
and for countries who already# have deals with the Trump administration.
President Trump also announced tariffs of 50# percent on kitchen cabinets, 30 percent on## upholstered furniture, and 25 percent on# heavy trucks, all set to kick in on Wednesday.
Federal officials say they have removed# an immigration officer from his current## duties after an altercation at# a Manhattan immigration court.## Video provided by ProPublica shows the# officer shoving an Ecuadorian woman to## the ground in front of her crying children# after her husband was arrested.
She had## been pleading with him in Spanish, saying at# one point: "You don't care about anything."
In a statement today, the Department# of Homeland Security said:## "The officer's conduct is unacceptable# and beneath the men and women of ICE."
The incident is a rare example of# the Trump administration holding## ICE officers accountable for their behavior.
Sinclair Broadcasting and Nexstar are# ending their blackouts of Jimmy Kimmel's## late-night program.
That means the show# is set to air across all ABC affiliates## across the nation tonight.
The two major# broadcast owners had continued preempting## Kimmel's program even after Disney ended# its suspension earlier this week.
Disney## had suspended Kimmel last week for his# comments following Charlie Kirk's murder.
In a statement today, Sinclair wrote# -- quote -- "We take seriously our## responsibility to provide programming that# serves the interests of our communities,## while also honoring our obligations# to air national network programming."
Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill is# calling for an investigation into the release## of her unredacted military service records.# The New York -- the New Jersey Democrat is## running for governor against Republican Jack# Ciattarelli.
The documents came to light## after an ally of Ciattarelli filed a Freedom of# Information Act request for her military file.
The National Archives apologized to Sherrill# after releasing documents that included## personal information like her Social Security# number and home address.
An official with her## campaign says the Trump administration may# have violated federal law with the release.
On Wall Street today, stocks closed higher to end## the week.
The Dow Jones industrial# average gained roughly 300 points.## The Nasdaq added around 100 points and the# S&P 500 snapped a three-day losing streak.
Activist and fugitive Assata Shakur has died.# She was born Joanne Chesimard and in her 20s## joined the Black Panther Party and later# the Black Liberation Army.
In the 1970s,## she was given a life sentence for# the fatal shooting of a New Jersey## State Trooper.
She maintained her innocence# and escaped from prison, fleeing to Cuba,## where she lived under political# asylum for the rest of her life.
Here she is in 1998 speaking# to NBC News from Havana.
ASSATA SHAKUR, Activist and Fugitive: I# never received justice, and I escaped,## because I was afraid for my life, and, B, because# I knew that I would never receive justice.
GEOFF BENNETT: To her supporters,# Shakur was a symbol of resistance.## She was also considered a godmother# to the late rapper Tupac Shakur.
But, to law enforcement, she was one of the# country's most notorious fugitives.
In 2013,## she became the first woman ever on the FBI's# most wanted list.
Cuban officials said she## died of health conditions and advanced# age.
Assata Shakur was 78 years old.
And Robert Barnett, the Washington lawyer# and power broker who helped shape book deals,## careers and contracts for some of# the nation's most prominent figures,## has died.
Barnett built a reputation as# one of the capital's premier dealmakers,## advising corporations, journalists and# politicians across the political spectrum.
He was behind multimillion-dollar# publishing agreements for the Obamas,## the Clintons and George W. Bush and his wife,# among many others.
Barnett was married to## longtime CBS News correspondent Rita Braver, who# confirmed his death, but did not give a cause.
And he was also a friend to many of us here# at the "News Hour," generous with his advice,## quick with his wit, and always supportive# of our work.
Bob Barnett was 79 years old.
Still to come on the "News Hour":# ahead of consequential state elections,## how the Trump administration is trying to change# the way people vote; David Brooks and Jonathan## Capehart weigh in on Comey's indictment and# the upending of Justice Department norms;## plus, Scarlett Johansson discusses# her feature film directorial debut.
AMNA NAWAZ: In recent days, the Justice# Department has sued eight states to compel## them to share their voter registration# lists with the federal government.
Those## lists include voters' personal data, like# dates of birth and Social Security numbers.## State officials oppose the move because of# concerns about how the information will be used.
That comes as President Trump continues to target# election systems, including mail-in ballots.
Liz Landers is back now with a closer look.
LIZ LANDERS: Trump's targeting of mail-in# voting is just one action he's been critical of.
To discuss more, I'm joined by David# Becker, the executive director of the## nonpartisan Nonprofit Center for# Election Innovation and Research.
David, thank you so much for joining us.
The Department of Justice announced that they are# suing after the state refused to turn over vote.. registration lists.
The Department of Justice# sent us a statement and said in part that Congress## gave the Justice Department authority under# statutes, and they list out a few of these,## to ensure that states have proper voter# registration procedures and programs## to maintain clean voter rolls containing# only eligible voters in federal elections.
Do the states have the ability to# refuse to send this information over?
DAVID BECKER, Executive Director, Center for# Election Innovation and Research: So, first of## all, the National Voter .. which are two of the statutes that they# cite, do in fact require and authorize the## states to engage in list maintenance, voter list# maintenance, to keep their voter lists up to date.
But those responsibilities reside with the states# and the states alone.
What the Justice Department## can do -- and I know this because I worked# for seven years as a lawyer in the Justice## Department enforcing these statutes -- is, they# can say to states, you have to have a program## that does these things, that removes voters who# have died, removes voters who have moved away.
But it doesn't enable the Justice Department# to seize that authority from the states and## do it for the states when they don't want# to.
Another big factor here is that a lot## of this data is highly sensitive,# data like driver's license numbers,## Social Security numbers and dates of birth,# which are the holy trinity of identity theft.
And states have very significant regulations# to protect that data from disclosure.
Remember,## the federal government, it was revealed, just# uploaded a huge amount of data from the Social## Security database to a vulnerable public cloud# server.
So the states have a very good reason to## want to protect their data and get more answers# from the DOJ that the DOJ has not provided.
It has not been clear what they're# going to do with this data,## how they're going to store this data,# who's going to have access to this data.
LIZ LANDERS: In a separate action that# the Department of Justice is taking,## they sent a request back in August to# access voting machines, specifically## Dominion Voting Systems that were used in the# 2020 election in two counties in Missouri.
Neither of these county election officials# have complied to turn over these voting## machines.
Does the Department# of Justice have input on voting## machines and maintaining the actual# physical infrastructure for voting?
DAVID BECKER: With rare exception, the DOJ has# absolutely no authority over voting machines.## They might have some authority to ensure# that the voting process is accessible to,## for instance, people with disabilities or people## who don't speak English very well.# That's in the Voting Rights Act.
But, in general, they have no authority to# seize or inspect voting machines in any way.## And the way that this was done in states# like Missouri -- there's also allegations## this was done in Colorado -- is, it appears# they went through some kind of third party## to try to twist arms with local election# officials and get access to those devices.
It's even more troubling because there# is federal law that requires these local## election officials to maintain custody.# Chain of custody is very important with## voting machines.
And if they -- if# that chain of custody is destroyed,## it could render those machines# unusable in the next election.
So there's no clear indication,# again, what the DOJ is doing,## whether it has any competence# whatsoever to look at voting machines,## and absolutely no federal statute# that authorizes them to do that.
LIZ LANDERS: I want to play for# you a sound bite from President## Trump last month talking about# mail-in ballots.
Let's listen.
DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States:# Mail-in ballots are corrupt.
Mail-in ballots,## you can never have a real democracy with# mail-in ballots.
And we, as a Republican Party,## are going to do everything possible# that we get rid of mail-in ballots.
LIZ LANDERS: The president has repeatedly attacked## mail-in ballots and that form of# voting.
Are mail-in ballots secure?
DAVID BECKER: Well, we have had mail-in ballots,## mail-in voting, since at least the# Civil War, so for over 150 years.
And, in fact, the states that started making it# more popular, extending it to more people often## tended to be redder states, states like Arizona,# Utah, who were thinking about voters who might be## older, who might be in rural areas, who needed# to find ways to vote.
It's absolutely secure.## Every state has multiple protections in place# on the voter registration side, once the ballots## come back in, to check to see the signatures# are matching and the right person is voting.
And, also, if anyone ever tried to# vote a ballot there wasn't theirs,## it's likely they're going to -- that# person's going to show up.
And so## there will be protections in place# to make sure mail voting is secure.
LIZ LANDERS: To the point# that you were just making,## there are 36 states that allow# no-excuse absentee voting,## including several that are almost entirely# vote-by-mail.
President Trump won 20 of those.
Does the president have the power# to get rid of this kind of voting?
DAVID BECKER: No, the founders were very wise# when they constructed the Constitution.
Remember,## they had just defeated a tyrant in England and# achieved their freedom here in the United States.
And one of the things they were really# worried about was that a future despot,## a future authoritarian would try# to seize power through some kind## of populism or something like that.
And so# they decentralized the running of elections## through something called the Elections Clause# of the Constitution, which says that the time,## place and manner of elections is# regulated by the state legislatures.
Congress can also regulate it, of course, Congress# being made up by the states.
But the White House,## the president, plays absolutely no role on# elections.
And if the president wants to change## anything with regard to federal elections, he,# of course, has to go through Congress to do that.
LIZ LANDERS: David Becker, thank you so much.
DAVID BECKER: Thank you, Liz.
GEOFF BENNETT:## Former FBI Director James Comey's indictment# and a looming government shutdown.
Much to discuss with their friends# Brooks and Capehart.
That's New## York Times columnist David Brooks# and Jonathan Capehart of MSNBC.
It's great to see you both.
So, David, President Donald .. on the job for just four days when she went before## a grand jury seeking this extraordinary,# unprecedented indictment of James Comey.
How do you view the charges themselves# and the process that led to these charges?
DAVID BROOKS: I view it the way every# other sentient human being views it,## as an erosion of our democracy, a blatant one.
You want your prosecutors to ask# themselves one question -- well,## two.
Did this person commit a crime# and can we prove it?
And, clearly,## that's not the way you can think if you're if# the Justice Department these days.
The only## question you need -- have to ask yourself# is, does the president want me to do this?
And that's just a violation of our basic# fundamental principles.
And so I wish I## had something sophisticated to say, but when# you look at what the actual indictment is,## it claims that he knew that# somebody else did some leak.
Well, it's so flimsy, you can see why they have# been deciding not to prosecute this case over## and over and over again.
And to do it a week# before the term runs out, with the prosecutors## never prosecuted anything before, it's the# obvious.
It's a violation of our democracy.
GEOFF BENNETT: Jonathan, how# does all of this strike you?
JONATHAN CAPEHART: Oh, look, when it comes# to democracy and threats to democracy,## there will be no daylight between me and David.
I come at this with the same view.
Justice# is supposed to be blind.
It is supposed## to be meted out without fear or favor of the# powerful and certainly without pressure from## the president.
And now what we have seen time# and time again -- this isn't the only time that## we have seen Justice looking over her shoulder,# wondering, what does the president want me to do?
And the other thing about this# indictment of James Comey,## it's only two pages.
And it's only -- it's# two pages because it's double-spaced.
It is## literally so flimsy that it is no wonder# that the former FBI director is saying,## yes, let's go to trial, because I think he# knows deep down, if justice is to prevail,## if the rule of law is to be upheld, a jury# of his peers will find him not guilty.
GEOFF BENNETT: And, David, the president is# predicting more prosecutions to come, he told## a reporter on the South Lawn.
He doesn't have a# list, but he says: "I think there will be others."
We pulled together a list of all the people the## president has targeted for retribution in# varying degrees.
You see them all there,## Letitia James.
You see Jimmy Kimmel, Adam# Schiff, John Bolton.
The list goes on.
Stepping back, what does this moment# mean for the Justice Department itself,## its independence, its credibility, and the# way Americans view its role going forward?
DAVID BROOKS: Gone.
And, of course, it's not the first time# the Justic.. you would say.
John F. Kennedy shouldn't have# appointed his brother as attorney general.
But## it's -- one of the things# I think we have learned is,## the Constitution's a magnificent document,# but they made it too hard to change.
And a lot of countries have# independent prosecutorial systems,## and they don't have the politicians# determining who's going to -- and we## relied -- instead of a legal precedent that# it's going to be separate and independent,## we learn -- we relied on norms.
We learn --# relied on presidents restraining themselves.
And it turns out -- and we have learned# this since the first Trump term -- that## norms that we thought were -- we almost thought# they were real, like concrete.
And norms are## really powerful, but if somebody destroys# them, they have destroyed your system.
And so## the eruption of norms has really# led to us -- us where we are today.
And then the final thing I'd say is that Lindsey# Halligan, she must -- she might be a wonderful## person.
I don't know.
I don't know her.
But the# quality of a job of a prosecutor, like the quality## of a general, like the quality of a pilot, like# the quality of a journalist, experience helps.
And the people who were fired because# they refuse to do this were experienced## prosecutors.
I don't know their politics, but# they lived up to the standard of their craft.## And when you have somebody who's willing# to betray the standard of their craft,## you have got something bigger than one case.# You have got an administration where people## are going to do the things that are disgraceful# because they just don't see any disgrace in it.
GEOFF BENNETT: And, Jonathan, building on# David's point about the erosion of norms,## how might this indictment influence# America's credibility abroad,## where the rule of law has long been# the cornerstone of our democracy?
JONATHAN CAPEHART: Right.
The answer# to your question is in the question.
The United States has been a beacon around# the world for a whole host of reasons,## but primarily because of the rule of law,# that, if you go before the judicial system,## you go before a jury of your peers, you# will have your day in court.
And what## we're seeing here is -- I agree with David.# The independence of DOJ is -- it is gone.
And the one thing that -- in addition# to the norms that David talked about,## that the Constitution relied on,# that the founders relied on, was## leaders of good character.
And that is what# we do not have in the current president of## the United States.
And I say that because a person# of good character would not single out his or her## enemies for prosecution without evidence and# just say flatly they're guilty of something,## and then demand that the people at the# Justice Department go find that something.
We are in a very bad place when it comes to the# rule of law.
And this is why the world is so## worried about what is happening to this country,# why they were so worried about a Trump 2.0.
GEOFF BENNETT: And we are also# in this country days away from## a government shutdown with no off-ramp in sight.
The OMB director, Russ Vought, he charged into# this escalating shutdown fight, warning of mass## federal layoffs unless Democrats basically do# what President Trump and Republicans want.
David,## what do you make of the way the Trump# administration is playing hardball here?
DAVID BROOKS: It was entirely# predictable.
Donald Trump ran## for office saying he was going to take# a flamethrower to the U.S.
government,## federal bureaucracy.
He hired Elon# Musk, and Musk more or less failed.
DOGE created a lot of chaos, but it didn't take# a blowtorch to the U.S.
government.
It was mostly## ineffective.
And, to me, the problem here is that# Chuck Schumer has decided to pick up where Elon## Musk leaves off.
He -- by shutting down the# -- heading us toward a government shutdown,## he will give the federal government or the Trump# administration incredible latitude to fire people,## to decimate more agencies, to pour money# where they need to for political support,## to withdraw money where they want to -- because# they don't think it will politically hurt him.
They are handing Russell Vought amazing power when# they do this.
And that's just not me saying this.## This is what Chuck Schumer said in May when# he decided not to shut down the government.## He said, it would give carte blanche for the# Trump administration to destroy vital services.## It would hand the keys to the city and the# state and the country to Russell Vought.
I don't know what's different from now# from March.
I think he made the right## call in March.
This is not the battle# to fight because it will just lead to## the destruction of the federal government.
And# there's no upside here for anybody.
People do## not win government shutdowns.
So there's no# upside for the Democrats.
It's all downside.
GEOFF BENNETT: Jonathan, should Democrats adjust## their strategy now to deal with# Vought's playing hardball here?
We had Chuck Schumer, Senator Schumer on# the program before this threat, and he was## saying that they are going to hold firm, not# compromise on the issues that they hold dear.
JONATHAN CAPEHART: And he's absolutely right.
Here is where David and I are# in complete disagreement.
Look,## Russell Vought, President Trump,# this has been their plan all along.## Democrats have to play hardball with them, have# to meet their hardball tactics with hardball## tactics.
They were always going to take a# wrecking ball to the federal government.
They're going to take a wrecking ball to the# federal government and do all sorts of things## whether Democrats give them the votes# needed to pass the C.R.
or not.
The one## thing -- Democrats are talking about they want# to safeguard health care for 15 million people,## from those who are about to lose their Obamacare# subsidies to those who are on Medicare.
But there's something else that they are# wisely demanding.
They're demanding that## the OMB director and the president dial back,# that Congress dialed back the president's## rescission power.
And what that means is,# let's say Democrats give Republicans the votes## they need to do the C.R.
to fund the government# afterwards, to do all those appropriations bills.
Well, Russell Vought and the president have# time and time again gone to Congress and said,## the money that you appropriated for X, Y or# Z, we're not spending it that way.
We don't## care whether you like it or not.
And so that's the# other thing that the Democrats are fighting for,## and they are right to demand that,# because no matter what they agree to,## the Trump administration is going to# turn their back on it, no matter what.
Fight, Democrats.
GEOFF BENNETT: Jonathan Capehart, David Brooks,## we're grateful for your perspectives at the# end of a very long, very busy .. DAVID BROOKS: Thank you.
JONATHAN CAPEHART: Thanks.
AMNA NAWAZ:## Academy Award nominee Scarlett Johansson# is known the world over for major roles## in close to 40 films over the# past three decades.
Recently,## she became the highest-grossing# lead actor in Hollywood.
She's now taking on a new role# as director.
Her debut film,## "Eleanor the Great," hits theaters tonight.
I# met up with her in New York earlier this week## to discuss this latest chapter in her career.# It's for our arts and culture series, Canvas.
JUNE SQUIBB, Actress: Because we have been# coming here every Friday for the last 16## years.
Can you count to 16, Charlie?
AMNA NAWAZ: It's a celebration of deep## devotion, a friendship for the ages... (LAUGHTER) AMNA NAWAZ: ... paired with the grief that stems from sudden loss and a lie# that ties it all together.
Actress June Squibb, who turns 96# this November, stars as Eleanor,## who one day accidentally walks into# the wrong room at her New York Jewish## community center and ends up adopting her# late friend's Holocaust story as her own.
ERIN KELLYMAN, Actress: I was wondering# if I could feature you in my article.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON, Director: I have to approach# my job with empathy and then let the audience,## let them have their own feelings# about the characters and what they do.
AMNA NAWAZ: It's the feature directorial# debut for Scarlett Johansson.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: I hope# that, at the end of the film,## the audience has empathy for Eleanor.
I# certainly do.
I think people are complicated.
AMNA NAWAZ: Eleanor can be bawdy and brash.
JUNE SQUIBB: Say goodbye to Melvin for me.## Oh, we had such a wonderful time# the other night.
He's very strong.
ACTRESS: You're so full of# (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Eleanor.
JUNE SQUIBB: Yes.
AMNA NAWAZ: And an imposing often grading presence# on the d.. ACTOR: She's going to live forever.
AMNA NAWAZ: There is in Eleanor# this main character who is not## there to compliment anyone else# or play off of someone else.## You don't see women like that a lot# on the big screen.
Why don't we?
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: Characters like# Eleanor in real life are often invisible## in communities.
Why?
I don't know.
I think# people are afraid of their own mortality## and people that are aging are a reminder# of that potentially for people.
You know,## and it's like -- I don't know.
I# think we live in an aging society,## and so there's more interest, I think, in# aging now than that has been in the past.
And I think movies like this film and actors# like June help to move that cause forward.
AMNA NAWAZ: After the devastating loss of# her best friend Bessie, Eleanor fills the## void with an unlikely new bond, a college# student reporter played by Erin Kellyman... ERIN KELLYMAN: What's it like being 94?
JUNE SQUIBB: I feel the same# way I did when I was 16.
AMNA NAWAZ: ... who turns to Eleanor# and other stories of survival from a## Holocaust support group to help her wrestle# with her own grief after her mother's death.
JUNE SQUIBB: You have to talk about# the things that make you sad.
Jews## fled Poland and never talked about# what they went through.
They just## kept it moving.
And there's some good# in that, but it can just eat you alive.
AMNA NAWAZ: Central to the story and to the# character of Eleanor is her Jewish faith,## right, her relationship to her faith.# And your decision in key parts of the## movie to -- as I understand it, to# cast real Holocaust survivors playing## themselves in some of those scenes,# why was that important to you to do?
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: You know, I# never even questioned it.
I just## never thought about casting actors# for those roles.
Part of it, again,## was just the desire to ground the story# in even a deeper emotional significance.
Several years ago, I participated in "Finding# Your Roots," and I discovered that I -- I knew## that I had relatives that died in the Warsaw# ghetto, but I didn't know the whole story of it.
It makes me feel more deeply connected to# that side of myself, that side of my family.
He presented me with a paper that had# -- it was essentially like a death## certificate for all of the people# in my family that I'd lost there.
AMNA NAWAZ: How much did you# think about your own family## story as you were telling this family story?
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: It was impossible# not to think about my own family story,## because it lives within me.# That's sort of all in my own DNA,## and all in all my memories, and# so the film is infused with that.
AMNA NAWAZ: It's also informed by Johansson's# own relationship with her grandmother,## Dorothy Sloan, a kindergarten# teacher, arts lover, and inspiration.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: We had such a deep friendship# and feeling a sense of, like, sisterhood between## us.
We talked about everything.
We talked about# our bodies.
We talked about our family.
We talked## about our fantasies, our -- we talked about sex.# We talked about politics.
Like, we really... AMNA NAWAZ: With your grandmother?
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: Yes, with my# gr.. Reading this script and seeing# this intergenerational friendship## celebrated and out in the open, it was so# unique.
It felt like something I wanted to## explore artistically and something# I feel like we should see more of.
AMNA NAWAZ: That uniqueness is being well# received.
At the Cannes Film Festival premiere,## "Eleanor the Great" received a# five-minute standing ovation.
(CHEERING) and it was also for June, I think.# She's so extraordinary in the film.## And it felt like -- this really feels# like a legacy performance for her.
AMNA NAWAZ: Tell me about working with her,## what that was like, and directing her in# particular.
Does she take direction well?
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: June is -- I mean,# she's such a sharp, very sinewy actor.
She's## just -- she comes to set, she's been preparing for# months, she has an idea of what she wants to do,## and her first take is fantastic, and then# just keeps getting better from there.
AMNA NAWAZ: The 40-year-old Johansson's evolution# and dexterity have built a career most actors only## dream of, from child star in "The Horse# Whisperer" with mentor Robert Redford... ROBERT REDFORD, Actor: What, do# you have a problem with that?
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: Isn't it, like, obvious?
AMNA NAWAZ: ... to films# like "Lost in Translation"... SCARLETT JOHANSSON: How dare you# compare my mothering to my mother?
AMNA NAWAZ: ... "Marriage Story"# and "Jojo Rabbit," even extending to## action films like "Jurassic World" and# across the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But directing was a dream she carried for years.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: Part of my work is,# I read a lot of scripts.
And I think,## having done it for such a long time, when I read# a script, like, I see I see the entire film in## my mind.
You know this film inside and out,# and it's my own perspective on storytelling.
JUNE SQUIBB: Me?
AMNA NAWAZ: Johansson says she hopes# the connec.. story offers a window into her life# and a mirror for the audience watching.
SCARLETT JOHANSSON: You know, we're all human.# And I think I would hope that this story## allows the audience to let go# of whatever judgment that they## may have of Eleanor initially and# be able to reflect on themselves.
AMNA NAWAZ: And, remember,# there's a lot more online,## including a lightning round of questions# with Scarlett Johansson, covering everything## from her real-life superpowers to her latest# Google search.
That is on our YouTube page.
GEOFF BENNETT: And be sure to# watch "Washington Week With The## Atlantic" tonight on PBS.
Jeffrey# Goldberg and his panel consider how## President Trump's role in James Comey's# indictment signals an historic shift.
AMNA NAWAZ: And watch "PBS News# Weekend" tomorrow for a look at## the increasing popularity of egg freezing# as a way for women to delay childbirth.
And that is the "News Hour"# for tonight.
I'm Amna Nawaz.
GEOFF BENNETT: And I'm Geoff Bennett.
For all of us here at the "PBS News Hour," th.. for spending part of your evening# with us, and have a great weekend.