Transcript for The Briefing Room: White House walks back more Trump comments

Hey everybody you're watching ABC news live on counts and teaching in Washington alongside Justin official Mary Alice parks. Eight busy Thursday after a very crazy week we started off with. Would it would end we're now somewhere between yes and no and now we don't know where we are we haven't heard much from the president today. On the topic of Russian meddling during the 2016 election. And he's ongoing interactions of Vladimir Putin although we did hear that maybe there's a second summit coming we're gonna died in to all of that with our powerhouse political team here this afternoon. We are watching though the President's Day and his administration he'd be all over the business side of cable TV. Talking about jobs platform Martinez monitoring that there's any news the president makes will bring that to you hear life but guys. We'd been tracking. All the developments here as it comes to Russia Mary else we just saw up on that hill a vote 920. That there would be no. Former administration officials brought over or questioned by Russian officials as Vladimir Putin is now set. Read because the idea that they were even considering this planned just had. Everyone a Capitol Hill and at the State Department totally aghast I was struck by comments from a former secretary of state Madeleine Albright this morning on CNN. She was saying she couldn't believe what this kind of proposal was doing to the morale of diplomats across the world. Could you imagine if you're out there working in some instances putting your life arrest. And the White House is considering a proposal that takes a former diplomat and use that. As media bargaining chances. By the White House came out so that they're not considering this proposal I'm wondering if the Senate's vote for their. And got a little long bike right along to say that this is not a good idea. Everybody knows it's about idea you don't let that it's a bad deal on both ends nobody wants to go over there motors wanna go over there and within a Russian prosecutors interrogated and Evernote nor does military time here and and we don't want Russian interrogators interrogating our former just review also had not heard anything on this from the NSC they've been pretty quiet the only official Stephen we've had so far is in code that's only. It on paper he's gonna speak later today were. Think he'll be here if the problem and trump calls it incredible offer. It's now up to everybody who works for who's going to be a first want to say. Actually doesn't mean nobody wants to take that job it's terribly yesterday there Sanders had questions about it she said that they were considering. Addition have an announcement to make at that she could not against the war. All the women we are seeing now is much is the White House isn't talking Capitol Hill is talking we have heard from so many members on both sides of the aisle or the last couple days here is just an idea of what we've been here. I'm just so deeply disappointed and outraged that has the United States could even. Think of making available to. Russian intelligence. KGB thug. One of our senior diplomats who serve this country with distinction when you agree or disagree wit. And that's truthful or any other diplomat. They deserve the utmost protection and vigilance from. Leaders of this country. I think this whole idea of turning over or missile thing. The care of Americans. Is is not a good idea now I. And absurd. There is no rule of law Russia there's the rule put. The courts are not independent intelligence services are there for one purpose to keep it keep him. I can't imagine a scenario. Where it would be national interest tilt Lal. Russia to have access. To our intelligence can hear people defending our nation. Now I even absurd says senator Lindsey Graham let's go up to Capitol Hill where refining ABC's Alley Rogen she's been running around the hill. Trying to get a sense of where we are today Al leap day four of this. Still the outrage. Kind it is absolutely whiplash inducing up here we've seen three resolutions coming go but I just wanted to take a step back and reiterate that. These are this is literally the bare minimum that the senate could be doing right now these resolutions are non binding all it's saying is. This is the sense of the senate that we don't think the president should be sending American officials over the Russia. For interrogation. So it may be all they can do right now because congress works slowly. They want to have hearings and we did hear today from the senate majority leader. Mitch McConnell who said he wants the relevant committees to start talking about what additional measures can be taken to check. Russia on these issues perhaps additional sanctions. So we did see that one resolution today but two earlier John and we can get into that if you want it to others. Failed earlier today which is a sense of where things are out here he. Yeah and in the other sense that we're getting also from the president let's bring in Jordan Phelps over the White House is that Jordan he's been. Doing a lot of media and the last couple days he did to Fox News interviews over in Helsinki when he wrapped up the summit there he spoke with CBS news. On in the last couple days as well. You know the other party investigation is still going on as we well know is Robert Mueller special counsel probe. And he said last night to Jeff Glor that he's still would sit down for an interview if his lawyers allow it so we're still going on hearing that side of the investigation. And only you bring up that investigation it brings to mind why the president has had thanks difficulty coming out and saying that he. Just six that's the intelligence Khamese findings he. I do you place as he does but there's always with that hesitation and where that hesitation comes from John. And large part is is ongoing investigation. The president can't seem to disconnect the idea of collision which is what Mahler is investigating. And the idea that Russia metals and so that's why he's he's so much confusion in. And yes we do you see the president also saying that you know he's always wanted to sit down with mark he continues want to sit down with mark. But Johnny's you know very well his legal team doesn't want Allen at half. He had no they certainly do not Rudy Giuliani out there against today's teenage friend narrowing type of interview. Jordan thank you for that Mary Alice though you know we've been watching over the last. Two days now the Aspen for a mountain Colorado. We know that later today Dan Coats is going to be speaking Lawler rock grosans Stein we TV here though from the secretary of Homeland Security Kearse in Nielsen. Who weighing in again on the Russian. Right and she made a point of not mincing words saying that there was no question in the Intel community Russia had the intent to interfere in our electoral system. And that we should be prepared that they will try to do it again. I think I get to what is in through the heart. Of the conundrum the political conundrum this week for the president and for our Republican leadership on Capitol Hill. If you believe that there's at the rat. And then you would do something about the Pratt. Right so either you don't really believe at. Or why aren't they acting on it and that question is gonna continue to plague this White House. And a public leadership in the past there would be. An inner agency task force to deal with the threat they're beat. A planned there'd be a ribbon commission stumping and and they would be proud of that and it out and it would help Americans feel like they were doing something to keep institutions protect. You have to weigh in on this well I mean her answers he's in many ways I mean IC believes that the model and we know that the question is. What does the president believe him and he has shown us time and time again especially this week on Monday. Standing next opponent. That he doesn't really believe the ice he he he came out and have to make a clarifying statement right. That he does believe it but even in that very statement. He contradicted the hall. He said he could have been others well that's true that's how I think that's only he's contradicting them. In his clarifying statement saying that he agrees with and then presser Arabs something totally different and we are turning Cuba put every second of this before you leave here's to Nielsen now. Somehow Charlottesville came up again today I think we're just gonna roll the tape guys. I think what's important on a conversation is. It's not that Wen site is great Wen site is run anybody that is advocating violence. We need to work to mitigate. There are no humans are then. Well look like we're right back through worry you're that. It's and you remember that sort of universal outrage the president's comments last year and terrorists. By very kind people on both sides of that debate. And we've heard from Democrats are real concern that this administration. Is not looking into the real rise and for rat out takers in this country. And this would suggest that media that's why not she sees knowing to blame then does that mean not investigating. Groups that pose a threat to minority. And it's funny that this came up today as you know everyone's been comparing what the White House is dealing with right now with this Russian disaster which Charlton on. On how they're addressing how they're handling because it was a crisis then and we thought that was a big one this is it is holdout on the down. Some of the most shocking comments and Toxics toxic comments he made as president. Groups and in her decision to repeat them to raised its. Really if it stunning. That really something electric keep Iran that again it just happens be getting some traction this afternoon before we leave you there's another story it's kind of my favorite story of a whole week. Army is probably going to be a movie maybe we should all buy into it now. This Russian woman she's 29 years old Maria boo Tina. She was indicted and now charged an hour's pled guilty yesterday in federal court here in DC. She's gonna being in jail until she eventually goes trial some way down the road but. What's fascinating about her is although he's that she was trying to infiltrate. Top ranks of Republicans the NRA. It is EYL. Reed of the story for those of us who've been following last couple days. I don't think that Republicans and Aaron can stay quiet on it at some point they're gonna have to address the story that looks really sketchy we know that. If she was trying to pump money into the NRA will we know of the NRA pump money into Republican campaigns. That's. Doesn't look for them and they're gonna act out and address that but I also that it's important to note that all of this trial is case this. These indictments are sap river brought separate from the Muller team. Because it really gets to the complicated. Sophisticated. Nature of a Russian meddling has dozens or this was an actual yeah I'm human agents. And she was here for years went to school American news we're doing really multifaceted. The rat all geared towards trying to breed will looks like Antonin she's trying to infiltrate the NRA looks like trying to breed social division there's almost no issue. As did this as guns in America that's so interesting to be working on it's a fascinating. Study alleges story really watching that as a contains developer purity BC lastly. Pop quiz for both of you guys can we show that picture that cover that thing we've been talking about all day. Let's see who can get this right this is the cover of time magazine I'm told it's Cummings about the pop up here comes sooner or later every god who is that. You know and he he had that's. Through ten. Took it didn't yet know it's it's really creepy is yeah it is better for them obviously just dead. I don't know what that is the and that's obviously. Or their interpretation of the this Monday at council felt so this. Is the new cover of time magazine is we've been saying all day. There is nothing it will annoy the president more than him on the cover of time magazine as Vladimir Putin's he collects covers of time magazine this is the two faces should take more now we gather treatment it's it's a little scary it's it's a little spirit the other cover guys and The New Yorker cover to do we pulled out one. Yet no meetings if common okay this is yellow card I love today nothing New York Post out of we have on this is from a few years ago so this ironic about in this covered of that today. Three years ago this is the cover when president trump and Kennedy trump said out on the road I think that Iowa. That John McCain was not a war hero but against interest and yeah I was being in new Yorker cover you haven't seen it go look at it involves an escalator long story but. Lot of fun today bluntly the exact favorite story this week is that and I don't know if you get through this brief missive that he's got a new contract to repaint Air Force One. Red white and blue that will be no more Jackie Kennedy in the blue gap that's it has some form it will get its won't work from that burning hot like hash tag. Yeah yeah I'm thinking. Gold strike they want you to figure this out thanks so much for watching ABC news fly for just an official on capitol called earth I'm John fan two yeah make sure looked ice. I now fired allowed the FI guys feeling it.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.