Transcript for The Briefing Room: Trump: 'I don't think the FBI really should be involved'

And welcome to the briefing or a month. Tuesday on Devin Dwyer an ABC news Washington with our justice reporter Jack Arctic thanks for joining us today. A big morning of news here in Washington all swirling around the nomination of judge Brett Cavanaugh to the US Supreme Court. And the president just calling him a news conference a few minutes ago calling for an open process to investigate those bombshell allegations from 36 years ago. Against judge Kavanagh bicycle listen to what the president just had to say about the process he wants to see. Republicans and I can speak for myself we should go through a process because they shouldn't even be a legal doubt. You should give. Again they knew what they were doing they should've done this a long time ago three months ago. Not now. But they did it. So I don't want to play into their hands. Hopefully. The woman will come forward state her case. He will state his case. Before representatives of the United States senate. And then they will vote. So president trump throwing its support behind that Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that's been set for. For Monday 10 AM it would be an epic hearing both the judge and his accuser. But Jack the president to it's sort of missing one fact here the woman has not confirmed in Democrats. Want the FBI did you investigating this before they hear from her. That's right nor the process is set up. It's the president's appointment yet it has ordered Donna background investigation. On untouched Kavanagh they presented at the White House after that was done he became aware of this allegation. By a letter of September 12. They. Brought that the White House attention as well it's up to the White House to compel them to do rights it was a. Live now this information in the content a lot of people are having trouble sort of digesting this they think the FBI seasoned investigators here is a pretty. Serious allegation that's coming against someone. A lot of people say why doesn't the FBI just investigate that didn't understand certainly that's the Democrats want here but you're saying. It's not their purview to look into something it. Not if it mr. and issue a federal crime being alleged. They would have a predicate to go investigate. We don't have it here and so will we have is is an administrative process of really of their background investigation process. In the way that set up when they find something like this after the investigation is completed. Did they bring it to the attention of the stakeholder in this case the White House. It's up to that stakeholder the White House to act. So the president saying. He doesn't think the FBI should do this he doesn't think. And they want to do this that's perhaps a little bit of a twist as they haven't said he took anything other than it's not really there and their purview they really wanna be and a militarist. But they'll do their act yet could do it if the president asked for them to look into because. And so they would give presumably interview the woman they would interview potential witnesses we do you know that the Senate Judiciary Committee which has its own investigators. Arguing that right now. A hot meanwhile Republicans are full steam ahead for this a committee hearing on Monday even though the woman has not yet confirm Christine pleasing for. Mitch McConnell the senate majority leader today said it's sort of a do or die moment for her to Nicholas. She's been asking for the opportunity to be heard and she's going to be given an opportunity or on Monday as article on pointed out you could do it probably should first. For publicly ownership of horrors Monday is her opportunity. So Monday it's your opportunity Jack we still haven't. I haven't heard Kandahar we do know that Susan Collins Republican of mean critical vote has said she hopes. The hearing will take place in that attorneys for both sides will get to question both. Of these witnesses it would be an extraordinary scene. It did absolutely would you know rates be you know as we stated today Burmese if you clobbered get to that point whether this process will string out even further. That's right the Democrats is anyone in the FBI to look into it. Meanwhile speaking of the FBI another major story hit late yesterday just in the midst of the cabin on news got a little bit Barry but the president. Are taking the extraordinary step of ordering the a number of documents of the FBI investigation. Entry into the Russia pro but also that Hillary Clinton's emails. These are the famous he struck texts important also some tax involving the former gang director James call me. But Jack lot of people sort of wondering and the significance of this here the president is taking unilateral action. But what does this stuff done. Show what it was though. Newton admitted they've yet to be declassified as the color page five application. Buys application to remove among the most sensitive documents in the US government. There we suffer the first time earlier this year. Eight redacted version of the fights application released. The president asking for other pages that. To be declassified but we're gonna see it happen now is that that the united Director of National Intelligence will conduct. In equities review to all the agencies contributed that buys application of the opportunity than. To look at it in evaluated to see if he would recommend any further reductions. That it racially compiled since the White House in the White House the president the protectorate or the rather the need class a fire and keep he can decide whether or not want to take the threats 600. Is this is the system very complicated but the bottom line here for those keeping score on Carter page of course. Our member of the truck campaign team. Under surveillance by the FBI for possible ties to Russia. In this document the president is declassify and was sort of the origins the application for that surveillance what was put forward. To okay those wiretaps. And the president in is implying that it was politically Mo. Right but even at the end of this rejection process if it the president goes ahead with it. They'll be dozens and dozens of pages will be left rejected we won't know the complete context of the fight application. Though the real hazard for the intelligence community is. That Clinton source I've spoken with his in the future. Sources are going to be reluctant perhaps to come forward and share information with the US government with the intelligence community. For fear that at one point some politicians can declassified and that helped them. Beckett the forces in great danger potentially so it their there's a lot of risk that comes with it it it's got to complete me intelligent beauty with a lot. Their throat in the Justice Department there Wayne in on the president's order saying they would comply with this and these documents it's going there being scrubbed right now. But let's take a listen to the president weighing in on this earlier speaking out for the first time in the Oval Office about his decision overnight Nicholas. We'll look and say we want transparency what I was. Is I want total transparency this is a witch hunt. Republicans are seeing at the Democrats vowed to quit trying to do what they don't want I would 50% expected politics for them what. It's a terrible which China and it's hurt our country. And do the things that have been found over the last couple of weeks about text messages back and forth. Are a disgrace to our nation's. And I want transparency and so does everybody else as you know congressional committees game if anyone at this. And I did it based on that request but I think it's a good thing because we should open it up. For people to see thank you very much everybody. And let's bring in our Jordan Phelps who's over at the White House been covered all the developments today Jordan real quick on the president's announcement there. You've been out of the campaign trail this is an issue that really animates. Trump voters. Yeah I am absolutely as any kind of goes into that kind of conspiracy wean his face and and it. Fuels the flames there if you wells out by the president as you mentioned Evan knows this is it after police errant and that might be part of the reason he's playing an app. I'm meanwhile Jordan that that press conference a little bit earlier the president making. A big splash on tariffs one of his favorite issues certainly another issue plane in the mid term campaign overnight announced in another 200 billion dollars. Of tariffs on Chinese products consumer products coming in this country. But it was pointed out by Jon Decker of Fox News in a press conference that the trade deficit with China has actually gone up what he had to say about that. Yeah I had this trade work just keeps escalating the president. I am not taking his foot opt they act carry you well with China and if content DeVon and it reports that his own Treasury Secretary Stephen minions and I've been cleaning with the president not to escalate this aren't are at but that president you know taking this kind of aren't a big deal approached today at ten essays. As ramping things up and add. After asking essentially China. I can play chicken here but of course they're not doing that they RD sat in a statement signaled that they're going to have to respond you're saying they. Deeply regret the president making this acts and I and of course the president Latin in that statement announcing the tariffs that if China takes this action he's going to be forced to go to quote. Phase three which is an additional 200 in 67. Billion in terror acts and DeVon as he wound now this is a trade war that is out right here at home by American consumers and some of the president's base. Farmers for instance have already been suffering under the president's trade war. Yet sure destroy and we've been on the country and it's you know referred from some of those farmers from supporters very nervous about this prolonged freight warned of really knowing end in sight as you pointed out. But what are your security but developments with with that with that Mexico and Canada negotiations have been under way. That's overhaul NAFTA as well the president hinted today that perhaps. He's getting a little bit closer. On that front. Yet perhaps we know that they RD me act had the only. We had Max it out by Canada has really been a sticking point they air. I and that president highs made clear that you know he's not afraid cent below what NAFTA and walk away from not altogether so. I haven't AT and it's that it's high stakes I'd trade talk here at the White House. All right or Jordan felt that the White House thank you so much Jordan and back here Washington we are feeling the effects of hurricane Florence or whatever went up what is left of it. It's very wet outside in of course are those folks down in the Carolinas we're thinking of them. A lot of water down there we do you know that the president is headed to the Carolinas tomorrow to see the damage first hand. Of course Jack as you saw. Sort of taking a loaded victory lap today seeing he FEMA did it to restrict job. Handling this one even though there has been at least 32. Debt. And a long way to go for being in the committee entities that are still supporting the efforts down there. This is far from over the floodwaters have not yet receded and there's going to be a lot of homes. In a lot of rebuilding that need to be assessed what's the floodwaters to recede. Right the president headed to the Carolinas tomorrow for Wednesday we'll have that we're right here at ABC news live. Great to have Jack dot T with us for now on Devin Dwyer a Washington think so much for watching we'll see you next time.

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