Transcript for The Briefing Room: GOP stands firm on Kavanaugh, suspicious packages sent to Pentagon

And. Hey welcome to the briefing Arab on this Tuesday afternoon on Devin Dwyer ABC news in Washington great to have you with us here and ABC news live joined by. Jack got here justice reporter Catherine folders are White House produces a full team coverage including out in the states today president trump out on the trail get out there. And a little while but today we're tracking the latest in a Brett Cavanaugh. Supreme Court nomination that's turned into an FBI investigation. Extended one and a political battle. I'm like we've seen in this town for quite some time in Jack I want to lead this off with you we are. I guess you could see nearing the end of this very abbreviated. Week long FBI probe that was reopened last Friday were more than half way. Where things stand right now with who the FBI has interviewed. And what they're looking. So right now we don't yet Diaz interviewed some of the key witnesses some of the four. Main players. Differ Ramirez. Among them some money usually you have right. Maybe interviewed her they've interviewed. Mark judge when his close friend. And it's so. Those will give sort of the if you baseline torque off. As as the entered as is you reprocess or expands as they start to look for other characters other people who those people might have seen at various events that might be able to corroborate her account. Some of the testimonies. They'll be able to. Piece together sort of their best. Picture that they can put together thirty some years later. Yeah would you project that the FBI has and has now spoken with those four key players in addition to mark judge endeavor Mears also PJ Smith one of the friends of brick have been on high school so called drinking buddy. And also. It is spoke with Leland Keyser one of the other friends of doctor Christine glossy Ford who apparently heard about this at the time. I'm but what's been striking the past 24 hours is how we've started to see them go a little bit further afield and talk to some friends. Beyond that immediate list a four that the White House gave Catherine you know. That dom again that White House counsel who's been driving this process giving the FBI their marching orders. You were reporting yesterday that they've now expanded the scope loosen the reins a little bit after some criticism from congress. You write they have loosen the reins now the exact terms of what are looking into are. Unclear but yes we can't McGann directed the FBI they could expand their prime they could talk to whoever they deem it a credible witness whoever they want. I'm massive properly what the president said yesterday he said that he'd welcome the FBI talking any of these people when he was asked if Tom. If this Supreme Court pick if Kavanagh should be interviewed he said sure the question now. Jack is is to hold that thought is is the number of topics of they're able to interview anybody they started to do that. But there's been a lot of debate today on the heel as to whether the FBI will look into the allegations of this third accuser. I Julie sweat nick was being represented by Michael on the not. But what of the overarching term restrictions on this is that the allocations have to be credible or have some sort of basis. And you. Yet the river that this investigation being done with. The White House has declined to the FBI effectively that they're gonna take direction from the White House as to how far pubic Inco at this type of investigation and and they're gonna do it. It in in that way treading lightly. Not to go too far afield. But let's stick with the allegations that they believe have some credibility and the president weighing in just a little while ago on what he thinks the state of play as right now where is he was hitting the trail out to the Memphis area. This is what he had to say about the FBI probe. I don't want to do anything to interrupt. What's happening with the judge yeah. And I think the process I must say I think hopefully as they said they'll have a vote by the end of the week. Had it will be a positive out but it will be dependent on what comes back from the FBI the FBI the FBI is working. They're working very hard at let's see what happens I think he was. Fighting people who will make it very tough charges against them had I thought it did very well I really did I thought it did very well. He's fighting very hard for his reputation for his family. I thought what happened was really thought it would stop stop. I've been watching this stuff for a long time I've never seen anything like going on with respect to judge DeVon. And before again at a politics of this let's playoff of the president's comments they're Jack about what the FBI is doing he wants to appear totally hands off here. We do know that in addition to the names you've been talking about they have been starting to look into some past complaints about Kavanagh. You for looking today at one of those that surface in the times this morning in 1985. Bar fight right. This far but apparently after a UB40 concert. Kavanagh and some of his friends were at a bar and a fight breaks out. And in. If it appears according to please report we're seeing that plea board here 81 of the subjects involved was alleged his friend Chris Dudley was. Alleged to have. It's in the head with a with a glass bottle or glass. Drinking glass holding the time comes I believe is a report says and it. This altercation with lately started when some ice was perhaps thrown back cannot Kavanagh has interviewed by the police and he. One answer questions according to the report either way the charges were filed against him and and that was the end of that. Matter he was noted as throwing ice right at somebody in this fight. Or perhaps not as serious as he instantly with a bottle but is I think. What what Democrats or whoever leaked this to the times are trying to show we can take this to Capitol Hill Alley Rogen. Joins us now from the senate. Alli plane off of what Jack was saying in this sort of scene that's been painted in some these new reports that are coming out Democrats seizing on these. Going beyond the allegations of doctor for trying to paint a picture of somebody who clearly can't. Handle alcohol and was quite aggressive at times in life. Yet that's exactly right DeVon and Democrats yesterday submitted a new list of 25 names that they say they want the FBI to investigate. And they're really starting to reshape their argument as saying that if the FBI does not. To conduct an exhaustive. Interview of most of the people are all of the people on that list then it's no it's not going to be a a true investigation and they may not. Except its credibility meanwhile though we heard from senate majority leader to Mitch McConnell just a moment ago who is as he has been doing is. Expressing his sense of momentum in this whole thing saying that. The senate is still going to hold its confirmation vote on to have an on by the end of the week he says that even if Democrats don't like this FBI report. It's just going to be another example by their strategy for opposing Kavanagh. Senate Democratic Leader though Chuck Schumer says he wants the FBI to brief all senators. On their findings at least 24 hours before. They have to vote but so far it doesn't seem like McConnell that going to agree that act Avant. And air McConnell standing firm as you say Alley also saying today that he does not want. The public to have this FBI report he wants it to be senators. Only not sure how that's going to fly what are you hearing from Democrats about what information should be made public. Well first of all senators are not known for there discretion thing. And there. Ability to keep things that are not supposed to be leaked from leaking so. I don't know how strong that's going to hold the Wii or are we are actually hearing from members of both sides of the aisle both Democrats and Republicans are Miree Bruce's. Out chasing senators right now in she's reporting back that folks including senators Lindsey Graham John Kennedy both Republicans on the Judiciary Committee. Calling for that report to be released publicly so that. Members of the public can review it and understand what evidence the senate has. As they prepare for a vote on Kavanagh so I don't know DeVon that you've heard the last of this debate. But certainly the days are ticking down in all of this is even that we are in a waiting game all of this is going to happen very quickly. And let's just remind everybody Jack what the FBI. Actually is doing here and what they will submit to the White House they wanted they will not making this public they also won't give any conclusion precisely as has been said over and over as we want to hearings last week. Yet get isn't it conclusions they candidate or the evidence for their client. This sort of pile of paper that we're talking about a letter and what they call FBI 302 engines or basically the report that an FBI agent generates when they've done an interview. And though street's usual contain this week you know what was said to them and in great detail and you know dubbed White House counsel and the senate will have to evaluate those reports they got. If if if they add up any. Yeah I think one of the things still look up to whom we look at these reports and going back to what you are saying about the topics this. He there's some question in some reporting over whether these witnesses are being questioned about the alleged heavy drinking habits. In senators on the hill obvious that it has been a focal point in an issue. I'm that's another thing to keep an eye out for are they asking about us or are they not his becoming central. Absolutely and before we lose Alan broken up on the senate real quick Alley let's do it didn't and undecideds check. If you will we know that all of this at the end of the day really comes down to those moderate Republican senator Susan Collins Lisa Murkowski. Jeff flake. Joseph Manchin the Democrat. You know what are you hearing from them right now do we have any sense of how they're preparing to vote on this. And basically. As the great Tom Petty would say the waiting is the hardest part they're all waiting to see what the FBI comes out with their waiting to see what their conclusions are before they really weigh into us. But they aren't indicating senator mansion and senator Murkowski today saying that if Brett Cavanaugh is found to have lied in any way in his testimony. That would be a disqualifying factor for them so again. This depends so much on what we learn from the FBI and of course we don't know yet how much the public it's going to see of this FBI conclusions but. The senators are you just mentioned are really playing it close to the vast they don't want you they're talking to us but they're not saying a whole lot. Ahead of they are receiving these FBI conclusions haven't. All right Alley Rogan. On the road with the president right now in joins us Jordan great to have you here I want to he chewed away and a little bit what president trump said just before. He hit the road this morning about what all of this might mean. For the election and for Republicans take a list. Yeah. Not sure we have that sound but Jordan let's talk about a president from. Before he hit the road or a little bit earlier said that. This is a dangerous time for young men in this country he said that sort of this Barbara Kavanagh case. Is is is a sign that the country could be turning towards. I guilty until proven innocent it concerns him. It seems a lot of us to be a play to his face and message that he looks to be taken to the road toward. And when handling is nine he had been some comments. I increasing immediately part basically saying he's sorry for his son's right now is. His daughter's physically this idea that means can be brought down by hockey season. They haven't got you out here on fits me a lot of that he quite honestly Sarah yeah that the president has thing. His friend's name that even if some things did happen crazy I'm art. Their clients to think first of all that have not did not do it. Yeah he adds that this was a long time and that more than anything this thing didn't panic stocks and tends to have basically want this is not just another attends. I just to derail this president and I got it slow it down and eat I'm yeah. It feels like sort of going in and find out that it might as well it's 116 out here hi I'm the same level of unqualified support for president from. I last night into the it was packed house at 8000 people. Sand into an auditorium and many thousands. I still outside a lot of people I talk to you might never had an easy isn't president anymore anyway excited to see. I'm and they definitely yeah careful about how to tell the Democrats. And media aren't I basically not giving this president hate dare say that that's how they haven't. Company and they can trump campaign music there of a toward makes a good point Catherine the president is is. There has been rallying his supporters all week campaign events into the weekend over the Kavanagh nomination. And he started to see today guys even. Ally trump ally Lindsey Graham a South Carolina. Sort of taking a page out of the president's playbook and saying that if this goes down it could actually be good for the president. Take a look at a statement he put out a little bit earlier Lindsey Graham said. In short that if the net nomination murder fall short he would encourage president truck Ter re nominate judge Kavanagh to the Supreme Court. He said it would be appealing to the Senate's verdict directly to the American people and I think that Katherine dress on this point that the president. And is sort of happy anyway this goes. At least politically speak. Absolutely he is happy politically speaking of Alice did you learn today. On the north line and going at Lindsey Graham he says we've been it would become better friends the last six months so. He is it you know preaching those types of statements last night he says the should be iron did. Today's a judge Kavanagh could be a rallying. Crime for Republicans so is politically. Capitalizing on landing you can see doesn't particularly want any counter programming to this story you know a separate story was disposed to meet with his deputy attorney general this week he said publicly. I don't want to do that while this is going. He's gain enough juice out of B Kavanagh our intent art speaking of juice let's shift gears in a pretty big way perhaps at too abruptly but there's sort of another. Crisis of a different kind going on in Washington right now actually over at the Pentagon some alarming news just a little while ago coming in BBC. That the Pentagon and received two suspicious letters that tested. Could test positive for suspicious substance a dangerous substance. This on the heels report earlier today that senator Ted Cruz's office in Texas also had. A suspicious envelope with a substance let's bring in our that our pentagon reporter Elizabeth McLaughlin. Who has been tracking this from the Pentagon Elizabeth what's the latest you're hearing about these letters. While seven there were two envelopes that were received at the Pentagon's mail processing center yesterday. They are suspected of containing rice which is that deadly poison now one was addressed to Defense Secretary James Mattis the other two the chief of naval operations. Admiral John Richards and so what we know now is that the FBI is in possession of that those envelopes checking to see if they do test positive for the deadly poison. And in the meantime the Department of Defense is saying that all pentagon personnel are safe and the mail that date coming yesterday is under quarantine. All right so there's a lot of concern there was a stand by Jack we've seen these reports of rice and before. We can't or call an instance of something addressed to secretary of defense though. What are investigators looking at in in in some relatively good take these envelopes that they're gonna test the content. These tests take some time though longer they have to render them more thorough that testing is more inclusive they become. So they're gonna give it several hours if not days to really come up with a conclusive result if this test positive. For rice and or if it becomes a false positive and so that's gonna take some time to figure out. But how dangerous is that what or if it's tell us your guardian has licenses deadly poison that's derived from castor beans and as small amounts including like them out the size of a couple grains of salt can be lethal so it it can be very lethal agent. And it's it's illegal to possess it. The federal government made several case against people of possessed Bryson in the past several years. And and troubling development on. The rice in front is said. They're people who are buying and selling it on the dark web and so there's the federal government may prosecutions on time cases like that in past. So it it it is a very hazardous thing but we've also seen a lot of ball strikes in. Incidents where there's a letter and a threat associated with the with something we've we've we've content that suggest. That it's pricing but it tend turns out not to be not to be but. That could be still prosecuted and read it threatening language with these letters let's go back to Elizabeth ever quickly Elizabeth for let you go get what are what is the mood over there at the Pentagon using those guys certainly general Mattis pretty unflappable but do you get the sense that they. Feel that this is truly a serious situation. While the Defense Secretary is currently traveling so he's out of the country but it was certainly shocking here in the hallway. I'm it's good to remember that the Pentagon's mail processing center is actually located outside the building so it's still. On the Pentagon department says that not connected to the major office building where they're over. 25000. Employees who work here on a day to day basis. So certainly a scare but all we know is that the FBI's investigating and that everyone here in the building a safe. Arnold is that the lock on great to have you at the Pentagon thanks for your reporting little would have went on with what was which is that the after after 9/11. There are says some anthrax scares in new York and Washington. After that the federal government withdrew a lot of efforts to to create these remote mail sorting facilities. For the White House for the Pentagon for other government agencies. That's greatly reduce exposure to that the agencies might be targeted because to do a lot of the screening. Outside of the main building and safety buffer but not for those sort of in the mail. We hope that they are in good shape right now thank you both for that. Moving on we have a historic trip in the making under way right now he may not know but the First Lady in the Lonnie a trump. Is overseas she's doing her first official. Foreign tour arrived this morning. In Ghana. Gone. Is the first stop on her for country Africa swing and Catherine you've been tracking this for here stateside. A lot of interest. In the images in the optics coming out of Africa including from the president that he exactly and see some this. Images they're now she's focusing. The strip on visiting children's hospitals schools. Highlighting foreign aid and the recent visit video ever earlier handing out Teddy bears and blink it's what does be best message on it. Her initiative. Inside the White House is affecting a broad. A range of children's issues but you know is also in an Art Torres helps has been covering this news Michigan when more on this but this also. I'm comes amid controversy. With the president. I'm some African act countries before us that's obviously a a hovering over the stripping is also sought to cut back on how much the US spends on foreign assistance. Yeah let's bring Jordan into this George Phelps does cover the First Lady for a she's out of a broker and president David Jordan just closing thoughts hear from you. Many of us always looking into the the first lady's. Fashion apparel. For are her public schedule what message she might be trying to send. Our sources around her tell us that she does try to send messages to the president if you will through some of her to her choices what do you make of her selection of these countries in her her program here. Yeah. I mean he's nonsense here as having no name on the president's policy on. Out of my entire accepted an enemy is taking it is active in public. Freddie Mac yeah I strict and good evening percent of Muslims in an absolutely and pop fun not. It's incident occurred at Kansas last week and and did express his desire to cut back. I'm but the first step. Designed to deal these highlight positive you have to let me in. We also think contrast. I dissident in Ann Akers and her cousin pumped last week all say that he doesn't. Subscribe to the idea is yeah. I yeah. Strip yeah yeah yeah society and that's when we see so excited. So god could accept and you know sometimes it seems like it was edited and I tanks rolling campaign that fighting I would just outstanding contact aren't. This tech DeVon is just no exception here. All right torn felt there are very noisy arena. Ahead of the president's Raj tonight thank you for that I think a very Smart point that this Jordan put it it appears sometimes is this the First Lady is trolling. Her husband but very striking to say police that she supporting global aid. On this tour when her husband has very pointedly lived to cutter. Shifting gears and today it is 34 days from the mid term elections and chart would track it at that closely there's a new call to action. Out today which pretty creatively put out by a number of students supporting gun control. But urging all of us to get out to vote take a look. My first time Iowa is. Near. My first time he hasn't been back here. I was in church. It was amazing my first time everybody plot dubbed its. I'm not a part of the Q we've depleted you know with a sliding he's doing so many options life. You never know it can be life I mean it would have finally just. When. Did it. Bowed. My first time we're woman. 26 thing. It felt good but it and that my parents weren't allowed to do it until 1960. So I do it every chance they get we have the numbers we have the power we can units could do with us November's. Our generation is the largest group of voters in the country this rise. Register. And then our voices be can't vote if you don't fill out forms and register electoral cycle it just takes like ten minutes. I was so excited afterwards that I elected all over the place. Vote register and vote it's no harm us. But until he set. Up. All right acute at times crass. Play there for the youth vote this mid terms Jack but on a serious note though that group that put out that that PSA campaign. To go out and vote is that students from the march line Parkland rather Florida shooting earlier this year they're put this out coincidentally on the a one year anniversary of the deadliest mass shooting in US history out in Las Vegas certainly are our thoughts and prayers are with those families on this anniversary as well. That's right and closing yesterday announcing that he's. We import with trying to ban Bob stocks that. Regulation enters a ninety day review period and we'll see what comes at the end of it. Are in the students. Looking to get voters out to do to the polls just 34 days from now we'll have full coverage. Between eight tonight at twenty mid term treasured ABC news live in an abcnews.com. Download the ABC news apathy haven't done it. It's a great resource you can watch all of our coverage live wherever you are. After Jack got to agree to heavy Jack Capra Paul there's the whole team here at ABC news on Devin Dwyer. We'll see you next time.

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