Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: John Berman; Washington: Paula Reid) The appointment of Jack Smith as special counsel by Attorney General Merrick Garland to oversee two investigations of former President Trump examined; details given about Smith's background, the January 6 Capitol Hill riot & the classified documents at Mar-A-Lago & trump's calling the move political. [GARLAND - explains appointing a special counsel: in the public interest.] The background of long-term prosecutor Smith, who will operate outside of the Justice Department with their own budget discussed.

(Studio: John Berman; Washington: Kristen Holmes) Trump's reaction to the special counsel appointment, that he says he ould make a statement from Mar-A-Lago tonight without advisers really knowing about discussed; his statement on fox Digital quoted.

(Studio: John Berman; no location given: Andrew McCabe) The significance of the appointment of a special counsel but the idea is to avoid conflict of interest with the matter coming soon to an indictment or no indictment, on Smith's quiet resume with an independent nature, but he will still be attacked, on the deliberations leading to this appointment discussed.

(Studio: John Berman) Live discussion held with CNN's conservative attorney George Conway. [CONWAY - offers views on Trump being in "substantial peril," but the public evidence in the Mar-A-Lago documents case leaves him no defense, that Smith has been a special prosecutor for 30 years, that the documents case is simple: they were stolen & hidden: a simple case, on the timing of the announcement, on how Smith will react to Trump's statement he will not partake.]