Transcript for Former national security adviser's sentencing delayed

And. Everybody welcome to the repairman Devin Dwyer ABC news in Washington who joined by Kathryn fathers are White House reporter. Great to have you it is very busy news day here in Washington this Tuesday starting with. Big developments a federal court where the highest ranking White House official in the trump administration former national security advisor. Michael Flynn was set to be sentenced today. For lying to the FBI of course she was fired for lying to president trump. He stood up today the judge was asking me he was prepared for his sentence and here's what the judge had to say the judge said that what Michael Flynn did. While in the White House line both to the FBI lying to others about his contacts with the Russians was quote a serious. Serious serious offense. I for doing so on White House property he said I'm going to be frank with you this is a serious offense you lied in the west wing by a high ranking security officer unblemished military career serious offense. In fact Catherine callers was in the room Katherine. The judge dam would not be even ask Michael Flynn. Or rather the special prosecutor whether they considered treason charges. The right which the judge then later it in kind of a funny moment came back into court and walked back he said I wasn't talking about treason I was just asking the question in general economy trying to set the stage here judge Emmet Sullivan. That this is a serious crime he was hinting he was preparing to send Michael Flynn to prison within the whole thing came off the track me out what this is what's significant about this that the special counsel has recommended them the Max time for this for this crime is six months the special counsel a sense he's cooperating he's been nineteen interview was with us dozens of hours of interviews they have recommended no jail time. Wow what happened in there is the judge asked if Flynn would have to cooperate anymore with Muller well. The special counsel said it's a possibility in any case in the eastern district of Virginia one and that one the judge to say okay well I'm not sure. That I want to reveal his sentence when I don't know the extent of his cooperation the judge then asked one piece in the Indy took a break in in DeVon what was if I'm pretty striking. Is Flynn came into court this morning smiling. Talking with his lawyers this lift perhaps. After the break came in just stone faced realize that he's confident know his sentence until his cooperation is done. And it could be in March the judge said today but very clearly saying this is a serious crime that deserves jail time. Meanwhile over at the White House reporters put the question to why white house Press Secretary Sarah Sanders today what does the president think. Of Michael fins and pleaded guilty plea in hints that he could be going to prison here's a kid she had to say. When it comes to things that heavy thing to do with the president. The activities that he has said to an out again we'll let the court make that determination to be engaged and don't have anything to do with the president the president. Why do represented resolve government. Working for another government during the campaign does that give. Certainly concerned about something for the court to make that determination and we. We'll let him do yeah. Free to let the poor play that out and they'll make a determination on whether or not he engaged in something right or wrong. Katherine pretty remarkable the president fired Michelson for slow for a line now seems to be saying. He's a pretty good guy perhaps a pardons and ordered him well exactly perhaps it could be for not off the table he hasn't set itself a terrible what's striking about Sarah's ads or send us comments saying that this had nothing to do the president very clearly that the timeline of events to when he lied to the FBI. During the transition and then in the White House which is what the judge said it today it wasn't so much. It was about the lying but. And when it took place when that Flynn was his national security advisor and sad the last. And of course coming from someone who's a former defense intelligence chief he should know about these things just said captain falters thank you for your reporting the story. Who lives on for a few more months in the Tony nineteen thank you very much meanwhile the other major story in this town today is we aren't lurching toward a potential partial government shut down three days away now until funding runs out 25%. Federal agency funding will expire at midnight Saturday morning the 22. The White House said today they're actually scrounging around for money seen if they can re. To meet that five billion dollar mark for the president's border wall. We'll see if they can come up with that but our Terry Moran put to Sarah Sanders whose money is it anyways here's Terry's exchange Nicholas. Let's look at the deficit ballooning to over a trillion dollars and this president were additional monies for this war when it come from and why he asked the American taxpayer for them. What he promised Mexico. But we're not asking American taxpayers for that. We are looking at existing funding through other agencies right now that we can draw on to do that in immediate. Immediately for the president's things earlier. The president has been clear that day US MCA deal would provide additional revenue through that deal that would it. Show that Mexico's paint a wall fresh from the trade benefits can sorority don't don't put trash. You say it's revenue provided in the money that would be saves and the US MCA deal we can pay for work the wall. Four times over and by doing that new trade deal we have the opportunity of pay for the law. Let's go to private citizens. I don't organizing. He's talking about the general revenue that comes from through your tax. IRS tax quartet and about additional revenue that would have existed but now the president getting a new deal he got him out. Then there are there are had been a number other things we looked in which we know we'll have additional revenue that comes and three US citizen. From the US NCAA meanwhile haven't really think there'll be more than that comes them. So Terry Moran joins us now from the White House Terry that was a great fact check on your part there are those who. White House is trying to have it both ways are trying to argue Mexico's pain for there's no evidence for that. But we do seem on the verge of a potential shut down because taxpayers. Taxpayer money isn't going for the wrong. As Wright said that is the dispute of course and the key question this week will the government shut down over. President trump wants the first five billion dollar installment on his 25 billion dollar wall that he promised Mexico would pay for that they have some cockamamie idea. Through the trade agreement through which visits and money goes to private citizens that'll pay for it through increased tax revenue maybe. The bottom line is he's not gonna get five billion. And are now either a Mitch McConnell as proposed maybe a 1000000006. They say Sarah Sanders was saying reading and scrounge around the agency is looking for a loose change. And and and find some an extra billionaire that a problem with that is it may not be legal most money. That is spent by the government is spent by law was passed by congress. Each dime of which. Is appropriated for specific purposes you can't take money for school lunches. And and and buy a tank with that for the most part there are some exceptions there is some discretion is Greece in the years. A little bit and then may be able to come over the middle billion dollars in that. But right now. What we're hearing is up on the hill they want to go home they don't want this fight the president sees that this fight. Helps portray him to his voters as the primary defender of America's borders and he likes it. So he likes the drama. He had he just said the Oval Office Terry he was asked if we're gonna have a shut down he said it's too soon to say. It does seem he likes the suspense Terry Moran at the White House is always fantastic reporting thank you sir. Speaking of Capitol Hill and what is happening in their some breaking news coming from the hill are. Senior congressional correspondent Marie Bruce joins us now with the latest Mary you're just talking to some develop they're talking to a sources developments just breaking right now to Terry's point. That we could see at least a temporary spending measure to get through the holidays on this one where you here. Yet DeVon it seems that once again lawmakers appeared there's gonna kick this can down the road because right now it really does not seem there is any prospects for compromise there on the president's demands for that five billion dollars to fund his walls so it does seem likely what we're hearing from from members of both sides of the I'll here's an Art Cohen last. Around some kind of short term solution how long. That short term solution will last remains to be scenes a lot of the deet tails ought to be worked out. But the bottom line here is that we now have the top Republican in the senate the top Democrat in the Senate's top democratic house. All saying that yes they would be on board with a short term continuing resolution that would allow the government. To stay open. Allow everyone here to go home enjoy their holiday is. And then ever come back next year and first bank that new congress would be dealing with how to fund the government but to Terry's point but neither side wants a shot down and run here's. Simply as sick of it to be quite blunt about it one Republican told us look people does wanna go home. But a big of the sentiment that ever want up here can share and agree wit. But yes Mitch McConnell just moments ago told reporters on camera that yes heat is sure that there will not be a shot. All right sure that's a pretty high endorsement all they don't think. We can let our guard down until that ink is dry certainly the good news for those 800000. Federal. Workers -- after were potentially without pay over the holidays merry Bruce thanks so much from Capitol Hill we know you'll be back with more breaking developments here and ABC news live. I'm meanwhile another big story popping out of the White House today just in time for Christmas the president making clear today that he was who fell in another major campaign promise in the week. So many deadly mass shootings in this country 443. Days ago the deadliest mass shooting in Las Vegas took place. And today the White House announced that they are banning bumps stocks officially today here's the announcement from Sarah Sanders just a few minutes ago. President is once again fulfilling a promise he makes the American people. This morning the acting attorney general science the final rule making clear that bought stocks are illegal. Because they fall within the definition of machine guns that are banned under federal firearms. And 98 period. Now begins. Which persons and possessions of my stuff but I'm stock type devices must turn those devices that ATF field office or destroy them by march 21. Instructions for proper instruction we posted on ATF's website today. All right pretty extraordinary there want to bring in our justice reporter Mike Levine for more on this Mike. I never thought I too they were the White House would announce a Republican White House from the podium that people are supposed to turn in their gun devices. And ended dispose of them to being compliance with this new regulation and it's really sunk then and one wonders whether the NRA will come out and challenge this. Yeah there's been a lot of consternation actually within some some elements of the gun rights community here. This in this process of this of this rule being passed has been going on going for months now the Justice Department has been working with other groups have been concerned about this. Today issued operative sort of a draft overrule some time ago and asked the public to comment on and they got some opposition some substantial opposition. But today the Justice Department issued the final rule. And as you already said as Sarah Sander said people now who have these bombs stocks have three months to either turn them in to the ATF or to destroy them themselves. And there are tens of thousands of them out there these devices again being clarified by the government as machine guns Mike Levine thanks so much for your reporting on this. It's not the only gun action that the administration took today in the wake of these shootings they had also several months ago. Set up a white house commission on school safety that after the Parkland. I shooting in Florida at the coming up with some recommendations will today the White House unveiled 100. Recommendations. Offer tomb improve school safety. Gun protection measures as well a lot of talk about arming teachers raising the age I want to bring in now one of those former Parkland students. Our marched for our lives. Strategists now Matt DH Matt great to see you. It would give us your hot take on what the administration has announced today did they go far enough in your view. With some of these recommendations to make schools safer. This is a baby step toward. And and a lot of ways a big step back. I in regards to army teachers that is and not that is not a solution. That is a sales pitch I think back to late last night. When I had a hard time going to bed because one of my heroes Fred Guttenberg shared a post. Our sun sentinel opinion article or local paper. Had a picture from the third floor of Stoneman Douglas where several students were gunned down. And it was a mass of students scrambling to get out of the school I imagine if a teacher was armed and that situation. That it would be. You just more dangerous for the students and not really kept me up late last eight because. I I refuse to accept these non answers as solutions we've to do so much more. And find the courage or leadership really needs aren't occurs actually do some need to keep our student. He added the administration and I didn't speak in its recommendations even keep some of the things the president himself and called for like raising. The minimum made sure to purchase a firearm of course Florida acted to do that but it's not a national recommendation on the issue of arming teachers to your point Matt. Here's at the report reads on that wall. The trump administration is not calling for funds federal funds should go toward arming teachers and schools they do recommend in do give guidelines in this new report for how teachers should be armed take a look. The report says that it schools can determine based on their unique circumstances. Of each school whether it's appropriate for staffed to arm themselves. To prevent violence in school this is certain districts this can be helpful. Matt want to get your reaction to some of the other measures that are in here about. Extreme risk protection orders could that be perhaps a silver lining. In this report even though you didn't get everything that you wanted to hear. Extra rumors protection order and expanding those to include family members are being able to report. Are not potentially dangerous individuals as step in the right direction. But again those are no trainers we should be able to disarm Truman violent individuals. And for example just this morning a fifteen year old on her way to on their way to school. In Orlando which shot and killed what is arming teachers do to protect that person. Right and so 96 people die every single day from gun rounds in America and this report is jitters. It's a miss direction and we're not actually talking about this issue is a public health crisis and be willing to and that's the necessary federal. Dollars in two CDC funded research on gun violence actually treating this as a public health crisis if if if somebody killed. Seventeen students in six minute and you don't. And that's the money actually finding out why this happened like we're not actually going anywhere so we need to respond better research lead of actually aren't viable solution super save all lives not just odd pick and choose what we actually think is a solution when there's no real evidence back. All right Matt. Matt and we should say that ABC news in the briefing room did reach out to the NRA for comment on all these measures and developments today come from the White House we did not hear back from them. I will bring that's he would ABC news dot com. The White House is pretty active today they're also making another public health announcement this morning this one coming from the US surgeon general Jerome Adams and a new report declaring that we have now reached an epidemic staged. With the number of teenagers who are using V being devices in this country. We had the surgeon general here in the briefing room just a little while ago were asked him just how serious this crisis is right now. While in the recent data the CDC data from November. And the data that was released yesterday from the monitoring. The future survey shows what's truly an unprecedented increase in youth use of any substance over the last forty years. A doubling of high school seniors who say they're using these products a 78%. Increase. And youth youth and and not not to overwhelm you with numbers but 3% of adults are using these products compared to 20%. Of high schoolers that that's truly an epidemic by anyone's definition. Yeah I was I was struck by that number you report one in five high school students use in at all he also found one point three million more teenagers. Started draping just last year alone it does seem like this is ballooning. Opt. Why is this becoming such a big problem it's illegal to buy these things as a teenager but yet. More and more using the media that you were gets told the story about your own teenage son didn't know that this was dangerous because the products. Smell good they look cool in the light but why every reach this point. Well number one we've got products that are easy to conceal. These devices parents don't know that this is a nicotine delivery device yet it looks cool to kids they're coming in flavors that are appealing to kids. The number one raising kids say that they like them is because. Of the flavors and they are delivering a much higher level of nicotine as compared to the older he cigarettes that are on the market. It's a you've got a perfect storm occurring. And when I really want folks to understand. Is that. Nicotine is uniquely harmful to the adolescent developing brain it can cause learning attention. And memory problems and it can prime the brain towards feature addiction. One more shocking stat that I shared. Now earlier is the fact that 13 of use who were using these products are using marijuana in them. So whether it's nicotine and marijuana. Are Miree Adam other unknown substances at these these products are are not safe in the hands of our young people and justice. Underscore this even though eight you in your office have advised. Adults who are trying to quit smoking to maybe use these devices to wean themselves off a nicotine addiction. Your bottom line advice for parents is. Absolutely see these things out remove them from children it's it's very hazardous. Well the scientists still evolving in terms of harm reduction for adults and I want to make sure we preserve that option for adults. But right now we don't need to wait to act. To help protect our young people I want parents to have a conversation. With their children about whether or not they've been exposed to these devices and help them understand that there. Not safe that they're not just simply flavored water vapor I want Mike position and in nurse colleagues out there. To make sure that you can using the the annual physical exam at the touch point. To have a conversation with a young people and their parents and I want teachers and and other youth influencers to help maintain. Smoke free environments that include. These. These EEE cigarette devices. Mean their policies. All right US surgeon general's room atoms thanks so much for coming on the briefing room thank you. All right our thanks to the attorney surgeon general for that meanwhile just a footnote to our earlier reporting on the gun developments in the NRA did just come out with a statement saying they are disappointed in the administration's new war on bond stocks. In that it fails to address the thousands of law abiding Americans. Who relied on prior ETF determinations. That they could lawfully by those devices a disappointment from the NRA today on that. Aren't moving on now meanwhile it's been a week since this country said goodbye finally to former president George Herbert Walker Bush and we're learning some more. About his big heart his sense of generosity. And charity today some reporting from the Colorado Springs gazette newspaper uncovered the story. Now the former President Bush sponsored a Filipino child. In his years after the White House. Oh for more on this now want to bring in west Stafford he joins us from Colorado Springs he was the former president. Of compassion international charity group that set up these sponsorships. Oh west Stafford great to have you with us thanks so much. So give us the back story here how did this arrangement between the former president. And a Filipino. Young man come about and why I was kept secret for so long. You know what you know he. He was a kinder gentler man and he called on us to be the same. Turns out he was doing an awful lot of kinder and gentler things that none of us knew. And I was watching I was watching his casket in the rotunda. That powerful article dated and I was wondering what all these people know about it was suddenly it occurred to me. I know something about him that probably nobody used and today it was because it was that it really had to be kept secret. He was at eighty Christmas concert where they Meagher and Michael W. Smith. Who are friends of compassion represent us. And other words they were sings anybody want to sponsor a child could do raise your hand and it'll bring a packet with a picture of a child's description of that child. President Bush is it they're surrounded by his security guys when all of a sudden his head and shoes up he says I'd like one. I was sitting right to suit accusing the panic in his security guys witnessing got anthrax and what it will would do this package. But it but they did pass it out of him. Adds. Leaders head of security talking to me is impressions president said Ellison. Doesn't surprise as he would do this he's that kind or but we've got to be kinda careful here. Or probably gonna have to do it under a pseudonym so I'm some classified name. Because right now in the Philippines he was saying others and I tied occupant group. Who site they weren't there are modus operandi was they were kidnapping. And holding people for ransom mile and he's if if they knew. That this little Filipino boy in this tiny little village was so sponsored by the most moral man and Roberta. He could be vulnerable. So we agreed to use different different name and I agree that all communication. Between neutral would go back and forth through my office selected screen and make sure it was really saves in there and directions. While it's incredible story touching story we're seeing pictures as you're talking US. Some of the letters pictures of Timothy who I'm sure is a much bigger Timothy now. This for nearly. He's 25 years old so this went on for nearly twenty years and as you say had to be kept secret for security reasons for Timothy say did. Did Timothy ever find out that he was corresponding with the president of the United States. He did you did not learn that until he had graduated from the program. I can tell you all of us are compassion we were we're playing by the rules. But but don't 41 was not always playing by the rules to be got a second I'll tell you some of stores ago in his try to Mary was real recently that he I understand he's sort of started to leak it out and similar letters. He did it these are all handwritten letters from humans. You know the one of the first ones was one mortars and sent pictures just my dog Sadie. She knows lots of famous people. And her a few years later he writes so we're going to my son's house and this is while W was president we're going to my son's house for Christmas. She lives you know big White House. Big giveaway and they give validity. Any good as we heard at the funeral ceremonies they got ahead at former president George or more from bush had a great sense of humor. And obviously a huge car as we are seeing here. West Stafford know you're the former president of compassion international but no the group is still very active for anybody interest in. I do go on mileage and check it out compassion international sponsors. Assets of sponsorships for Americans to write letters and send financial support to children living in poverty all around the world west Stafford thank you so much for Sharon's story with us today. My religion some really. Yeah it is indeed happy holidays to you and your family. And as we close out the day here I in the briefing room a little holiday. I treat from the White House put out this holiday picture of the first couple last night they've been on a blitz over there a hundred open houses. And receptions this year alone there you see the president and First Lady in the cross hall they are 29 trees 141000. Red ornaments that's their official. Christmas portraits of countdown the days to Christmas. Thanks so much for joining us in a very busy day here in agree Fairmont Devin Dwyer Washington was he right back here tomorrow at 3:30 eastern time until then have a good afternoon.

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