DENT AND AS THESE PILE UP AND POTENTIALLY GET MORE SERIOUS THAT COULD CHANGE. NO ONE KNOWS MORE ABOUT POLITICALLY-CHARGED CASES IN THE MIDDLE OF PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS AND FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY. I SAT DOWN WITH HIM FOR A CONVERSATION OF HIS HOME THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS THE LEGAL PERIL SURROUNDING THE FORMER PRESIDENT. >> YOU HAVE SAID THAT THE MAR-A-LAGO DOCUMENTS CASE IS THE STRONGEST AGAINST TRUMP AND THERE IS NEW REPORTING, PROSECUTORS REPORTING FROM 2021 IN WHICH TRUMP ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE LOWING THE RETAINED DOCUMENTS THAT HE KNEW OR CLASSIFIED. IF YOU ARE PROSECUTING HIM OR JUST GIVING YOUR EXPERIENCED AND HOW WOULD YOU USE EVIDENCE TO HELP THE CASE AND HOW MUCH DOES HELP THE CASE? >> I ONCE IT WITHOUT PLAYING IT THAT LAURIE I HOPE THEY ARE OKAY. >> NOT ABOUT THIS CASE BUT IT IS VERY APPLICABLE. >> AND DOZENS OF TIMES SENSE. BUT TAPES ARE AMAZING FOR A PROSECUTOR BECAUSE YOU CANNOT CROSS EXAMINE A TAPE. YOU CANNOT CALL A TAPE ALLY. OR DEEP STATE OPERATIVE. A TAPE IS YOU. SAYING WHAT YOU THINK WHICH IS WHY THEY ARE SO VALUABLE FOR A CRIME CASE. AND WILL BE SO VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT TO JACK SMITH IN THIS DOCUMENTS CASE. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE CASE WILL END UP. BUT IT MAKES IT EASY MEASURABLY STRONGER TO HAVE IT BE THE SUBJECT OF THE INVESTIGATION, SAYING IN A WAY THAT THAT CANNOT BE IMPEACHED, NO PUN INTENDED, WITH. TRUMP CANNOT BE CRITICIZED OR UNDERMINE BECAUSE THE COPIES ALL AROUND. THAT IS WHY ONCE EVERYONE A HOPE THERE ARE TAPES. I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING THERE ARE TAPES. >> TURNS IT IS ANOTHER GRAND STATEMENT IN MANY OF THESE CASES AND KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT TRUMP AND HOW HE OPERATES AND ACTS, PEOPLE HAVE DOVE SO QUOTE CLOSELY INTO HIS MIND IN SOME WAYS, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE JACK SMITH ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH THIS OR WHAT WE MINDFUL OF? >> I'M NOT SURE THAT HE NEEDS ANY ADVICE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'VE NEVER MET HIM. HE DOES NOT NEED ANY ADVICE BECAUSE HE KNOWS BECAUSE THIS ALREADY STARTED THAT TRUMP COMES FOR THE RULE OF LAW SYSTEM OF JUSTICE AND THE AGENCIES WITH A FLAME THROWER. HE WILL COME AND TRY TO CRITICIZE AND ATTACK YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR WITNESSES. THERE ARE NO LIMITS TO WHAT HE WILL TRY TO DO TO OBSTRUCT AN EFFORT TO HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE. BUT I'M SURE THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THAT AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'M SURE THEY'RE BEING CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THEIR EYES ARE DOTTED IN THEIR T'S ARE CROSSED, IF THEY'RE PLANNING CHARGE THIS CASE. >> YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LEAD A POLITICALLY SENSITIVE INVESTIGATION AROUND A CAMPAIGN. GIVEN THE CURRENT TIMETABLE OF THE CASES AND THE POTENTIAL CASES AGAINST TRUMP WHICH ARE MULTIPLE, HE COULD BE THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE BEFORE ANY OF THESE EVEN GO TO TRIAL. HOW CONCERNING IS THAT TO YOU? >> IT IS CONCERNING TO A PROSECUTOR LEADING INVESTIGATION INTO THE FBI. BECAUSE DESPITE HIS HISTORY, WE DESPERATELY DO NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ELECTION TIME INVESTIGATION. IT OR NEAR THEM. SO THEY ARE FEELING SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE TALKED, PROBABLY, I JUST KNOW THE SYSTEM. THEY ARE FEELING INTENSE PRESSURE TO MOVE SO THEY ARE NOT IN THE POSITION TO MAKE THE DECISION NEXT YEAR. WHEN DONALD TRUMP MAY BE THE NOMINEE. SO I THINK THEY ARE LIKELY WORKING VERY HARD AND TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF WHERE EVEN THE NORMAL PACE OF THE INVESTIGATION MIGHT BE. >> CAN YOU ENVISION A SCENARIO WHERE TRUMP MANAGED TO OPEN UP THE WHITE HOUSE AND IT TO THE JUSTICES DELIGHT? >> I. COULD I DON'T WANT TO BUT I COULD. IT IS A CRAZY WORLD THAT DONALD TRUMP IS DRAGGING THIS COUNTRY INTO. HE COULD BE WEARING AN ANKLE BRACE IT WHILE ACCEPTING THE NOMINATION. AS REPUBLICAN CONVENTION. >> HE COULD BE WEARING ANKLE BRACELET AND BE ELECTED THE NOVEMBER? >> YEAH. IT WOULD BE REJECTED IF YOU PUT IN A SCRIPT FOR A SHOW. BUT YOU COULD HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS POTENTIALLY INCARCERATED. WHEN HE'S ELECTED PRESIDENT. THAT WOULD BE WEIRD AND AWKWARD AND IT SEEMS EVEN CRAZY TO BECOMING IT OF MY MOUTH. BUT THAT IS A SITUATION WE FACE. IT LOOKS LIKE THE REPUBLICANS LIKELY COULD NOMINATE SOMEBODY WHO IS UNDER SERIOUS THREAT OF CRIMINAL DESTINATION, IS INDICTED. AND WHO KNOWS WHAT IS GOING TO LEAD? >> IF HE'S ELECTED AND SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT, WHICH THEY PAUSE? WOULD THE PRESIDENT BE THAT THEY POSITIVITY OR CONSIDERATION OF THESE LEGAL CASES? OR IS UP TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AT THE TIME? >> THERE IS NO PRECEDENT ORDER WHATSOEVER THAT I'M AWARE OF. WE'VE NEVER CONTEMPLATE ELECTING AGAIN SOMEBODY LIKE DONALD TRUMP. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CONTROL THE MANHATTAN D.A. OR THE FULTON COUNTY D.A.. SO NONE OF THE NORMAL TRADITIONS AND NORMS AROUND RESPECTING THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY, AND NOT DISTRACTING THE PRESIDENTS CRIMINAL CHARGES ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, ONE OF THOSE WOULD BE APPLICABLE. AND I CANNOT IMAGINE A CIRCUMSTANCE WITH SUPPORTIVE JUSTICE WOULDN'T, IF THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE DONE SO FAR IN ADVANCE OF A RESOLUTION BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE. >> SO DO IT IN, TIME DO IT THIS SUMMER. I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE INSIGHT INTO THIS, BUT DO IT THE SUMMER THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THEY COULD COMPLETE THE CASE BEFORE HE WERE TO TAKE OFFICE? >> YES. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING OBVIOUSLY. BUT I PREDICT WHAT YOUR SUMMER WILL BE -- DID NOT PLAN IN THE LONG VACATIONS AS A JOURNALIST. >> YOU SAY THAT TRUMP POSES A NEAR EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THE RULE OF LAW, AND THIS IS SOMETHING SIMILAR LANGUAGE THAT I HEAR PRIVATELY FROM NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS AND SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU AND I BOTH KNOW WHO WILL SAY THIS PRIVATELY. ABOUT A SECOND TERM COULD MEAN. BUT TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT YOU COULD TRY TO DO. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? >> THINK ABOUT WHAT FOUR YEARS OF RETRIBUTION PRESIDENCY MICHAEL LOOK LIKE. HE COULD ORDER THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF INDIVIDUALS. WHO HE SEES AS ENEMIES. ON THIS NEWS LIST. BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT, CONSTITUTIONALLY, DOES OVERSEE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ENTIRELY. MOST OF THEM ARE ONE OF JUSTICE. SO WE CLOSE A COMMISSION INTERACT THAT INDIVIDUALS BE PURSUED. HE COULD ALSO DIRECT ALL KINDS OF OTHER CONDUCT THAT PEOPLE WOULD MAYBE TAKE TO COURTS TO TRY TO STOP BUT WHO ENFORCES COURT ORDERS? MOST OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHAL SERVICE WHICH IS IN PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND REPORTS TO THE PRESIDENT. SO PRESIDENT TRUMP TO SAY, I DON'T CARE WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAYS. OR AT LEAST WHAT THE DISTRICT JUDGES SIDE. I AM TELLING THE MARSHALL, SERVICE DO NOT ENFORCE THAT COURT ORDER. OUR CONSTITUTION REALLY DOES GIVE A ROGUE PRESIDENT, WHICH IS WHAT THIS WOULD BE, TREMENDOUS POWER TO DESTROY. AND THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO WARN PEOPLE, GIVEN THE WAY HE SAYS THAT HE INTENDS TO OPERATIVE HE IS REELECTED, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD NEVER HAVE A MATCH AND. IT SEEMS LIKE SCIENCE FICTION IN A WAY. BUT THIS WOULD ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF DONALD TRUMP REALLY PROMISES, WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE CRITICIZE CNN FOR THEIR TOWN HALL. I WANT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO STAY AT THE THREAT THAT WE ARE FACING, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CANNOT TAKE THE NEXT ELECTION OFF. >> YOU ARE REPUBLICAN MOST OF YOUR LIFE BUT VOTED FOR BIDEN IN 2020. YOU STILL CONSIDER SELF ONE. DO YOU INTEND TO VOTE FOR HIM AGAIN OR IS THERE ANYONE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE YOU MIGHT CONSIDER? >> IT HAS TO BE JOE BIDEN. AND I AM GLAD HE IS RUNNING TO SERVE. GLAD HE IS WILLING TO SERVE. IT HAS TO BE SOMEBODY COMMITTED TO THE RULE OF LAW AND COMMITTED TO THE VALUES OF THIS COUNTRY AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT POLICY. WE CAN DISAPPEAR AGREE ABOUT POLICY. THERE ARE THINGS ABOUT THOSE DISAGREEMENTS. THE PRESIDENT MUST BE SOMEONE WHO WILL ADVISE THE LAW AND OUR CONSTITUTION. AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE BUT JOE BIDEN. >> ONE OF THE FOCUSES IT SEEMS TO A FADED FROM THE HEADLINES IS THE THREAT OF RUSSIA INTERVENING IN OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS AND SYSTEM. TRUMP RECENTLY SAID THAT UKRAINE WOULD NOT SEE IF UKRAINE WOULD PREVAIL OVER RUSSIA. GIVEN THIS AFFINITY FOR UPROOTED AND HIS OWN WAR DO YOU EXPECT OR SHOULD WE EXPECT RUSSIA TO INTERFERE ON HIS BEHALF IN 2024? >> YES, OF COURSE. VLADIMIR PUTIN DOES NOT WANT JOE BIDEN TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. FOR REASONS THAT I HOPE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE. BECAUSE HE ACTS IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST. HE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE DONALD TRUMP TO BE PRESIDENT AGAIN. BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP IS, FOR REASONS I STILL CAN'T EXPLAIN, VERY FOND OF VLADIMIR PUTIN. AND SO THEY WILL FIND WAYS TO INTERFERE AND I HOPE OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS EQUIPPED TO RESPOND MAYBE BETTER THAN WE DID IN 2016. BUT THEY WILL COME FOR THIS ELECTION. >> WHAT SHOULD THE MEDIA BE TELLING THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES OR HOW TO WATCH FOR THAT? WHAT DO YOU WISH PEOPLE WERE DOING OUT THERE? >> I WISH PEOPLE WERE TAKING A BREATH AND A BEAT BEFORE ACCEPTING SOMETHING THAT THEY SEE ON LINE ESPECIALLY RUMORS ABOUT PEOPLE OR, I KNOW WE WILL BE OVER THE NEXT YEAR BUT DOCUMENTS OF
