Why Are FBI Checks on Trump Nominees Necessary? Fmr. Senate Counsels Explain

>>> NOW, MORE THAN 75 NOBEL LAUREATES WRITING AN OPEN LETTER URGING TRUMP TO DITCH RFK JR. AS HIS CHOICE FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY.

AS TRUMP'S PICK GET MORE PUSHBACK, HIS TEAM HAVE SIGNALED THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO GO IT ALONE, BYPASSING THE TRADITIONAL OFFICIAL VETTING PROCESS.

NOW, IN CONVERSATION WITH HARI SREENIVASAN, FORMER REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC COUNCILS TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE EXPLAIN WHY THE SENATE CONFIRMATION PROCESS AND FBI BACKGROUND CHECKS ARE SO CRUCIAL.

>> KAJA KALLAS , GREG, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU BOTH HAVE WORKED FOR YOUR THAT MOST AMERICANS ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH.

TO HELP TO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON IMPORTANT NOMINEES, RIGHT, AND HE BOTH RECENTLY WROTE AN OP-ED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES TITLED "FBI CHECKS ON TRUMP NOBODY'S ARE A MUST.

GREG, EXPLAIN WHY THESE CHECKS ARE SO CRITICAL.

>> EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR WITH THE PUBLIC PART OF THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS.

THE HEARINGS AND ALL OF THE POLITICS AROUND IT.

BUT, THE PART THAT WE WROTE ABOUT WHAT WE REALLY FOCUSED ON INLET OP-ED IS THIS BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, WHICH IS A PART OF THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS THAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES.

IT IS HANDLED CONFIDENTIALLY AND GREATLY.

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE SENATE EXAMINING THE CHARACTER INTO THE FITNESS OF NOMINEES AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WHO CAN BE TRUSTED WITH THE IMMENSE POWER THAT SOME OF THESE OFFICES OFFER THEIR INCUMBENTS.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS YOU ARE SENATE SHOULD BE ASKING NOW OF NOMINEES IS NOT JUST WHETHER THEY ARE THE FIT WITH THE POLITICS BUT WHETHER THEY ARE THE TYPE OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL BE FAITHFUL TO THE OATH OF OFFICE, BUT THE LAW OF THE CONSTITUTION ABOVE THEIR OWN WOMEN'S WITH THE WHIMS OF ANY POLITICAL LEADER.

>> SO, NOAH BOOKBINDER, LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK .

PUT ME IN THE HOT SPOT HERE.

LET'S SAY I AM UP FOR ONE OF THESE IMPORTANT JOBS.

WHAT ARE YOU AND GREG AND THE STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE DOING TO FIND OUT WHATEVER YOU CAN ABOUT ME OR WHETHER I AM QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB?

>> THE FIRST THING IS ACTUALLY THERE IS A PROCESS THE FBI DOES.

THINK OF DONE THIS FOR DECADES.

AND, THEY TALK TO THE NOMINEE, THEY TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH THAT NOMINEE AT EVERY STAGE IN THEIR LIVES, WHO HAVE KNOWN THEM AT DIFFERENT STAGES.

THEY LOOK INTO, BACKGROUND CHECKS.

THEY LOOK AT EDUCATIONAL THEY REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET A SENSE OF WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE AND HAVE BEEN AT EVERY STAGE.

THEY WRITE UP OFTEN A COUPLE HUNDRED PAGES.

THAT COMES TO THE COMMITTEE.

AND USUALLY GREGG NUNZIATA AND I WHEN WE DID IT TOGETHER WOULD REVIEW ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND HONESTLY USUALLY IT ENDS THERE BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE REST OF US HAVE IT YOU JUST NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AND MAKE SURE IT ALL LOOKS OKAY.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE QUESTIONS.

THERE IS SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED, THERE IS INCOMPLETE INFORMATION.

AND SO WAS THAT COUNSEL ON THE COMMITTEE WILL GET TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FBI HAS TO GO BACK AND TALK TO MORE PEOPLE, DO SOME MORE DIGGING OR WHETHER WE CAN DO , WE BEING THE COUNSEL ON THE COMMITTEE, CAN DO OUR OWN RESEARCH.

CALL PEOPLE UP, TRY TO GET MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION.

A KEY THING HERE IS THAT THE FBI IS NOT MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER SOMEBODY SHOULD BE CONFIRMED.

THE FBI AND COMMITTEE STAFF AND THE SENATORS ON COMMITTEE ARE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE INFORMATION SO THAT SENATORS CAN VOTE WITH A COMPLETE PICTURE OF WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE.

>> SO, GREGG NUNZIATA, YOU'VE WORKED ON BEHALF OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THIS COMMITTEE IN THAT ROLE.

WHY ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW AS THIS TRANSITION COMES TO BEAR?

>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF RHETORIC FROM THE PRESIDENT- ELECT AND SOME OF HIS ALLIES IN THE SENATE THAT MAY BE THE FBI PROCESS IS NOT NECESSARY AND THAT IT SHOULD BE SIDESTEPPED.

YOU SEE THESE NOMINATIONS, THESE NAMES THEY FLOATED WITHOUT EVEN PRELIMINARY DILIGENCE AS FAR AS I CAN TELL ON THE PART OF THE PRESIDENTS TEAM.

THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT JOBS AND THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AND SOME REPUBLICAN SENATORS, I SHOULD SAY MOST REPUBLICAN SENATORS PROCESS IS WHAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED HERE.

THERE HAS BEEN THIS TALK ABOUT SIDESTEPPING THE FBI AND THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION AND ALSO MUSING FROM THE PRESIDENT ABOUT USING THINGS LIKE THE RECESS APPOINTMENT POWER TO SIDESTEP CONFIRMATION ENTIRELY.

THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS IS A CRITICAL CHECK AND BALANCE IN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM AND IT SHOULD NOT BE ANALYZED OR PUSHED ASIDE LATELY IT IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS ARE FIT TO CARRY OUT THE OFFICES TO WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN NOMINATED.

>> NOAH BOOKBINDER, LET'S TAKE EACH ONE OF THOSE ONE AT A TIME HERE.

ON THE ONE HAND , FIRST, IS THE FBI EXCLUSIVELY QUALIFIED?

OR, WHY SHOULD THEY BE TRUSTED WITH THE PROCESS VERSUS, SAY, PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO DO SIMILAR OR AS DEEP A BACKGROUND CHECK, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF KEY DIFFERENCES.

PROCESS THAT HAS WORKED WELL FOR DECADES, THAT THE SENATE KNOWS HOW TO WORK WITH.

GREGG AND I WORKED ON CAPITOL HILL AT A TIME OF DEEP PARTISAN DIVISION, WHERE THERE WAS LOTS OF FIGHTING ABOUT WHAT KINDS OF NOMINEES WERE QUALIFIED, HOW YOU SHOULD VOTE, WHAT THE POLICY PREFERENCES WERE.

THERE WAS NOT FIGHTING IN THIS BACKGROUND REVIEW PROCESS.

WE DID IT IN A COOPERATIVE WAY AND WE GOT THE SENATORS THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED.

THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY AND PRESIDENT THAT SAYS THIS PROCESS WORKS.

THAT IS THE FIRST PART.

THE SECOND PART IS THAT WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE CONSISTENT, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE THOROUGH , THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE OBJECTIVE, PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE HIRED BY THE PRESIDENTS TEAM RATHER THAN BEING PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

WITH THE FBI, NOT THAT THE FBI IS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY BUT, WITH THIS PROCESS, YOU KNOW EXPERIENCED PEOPLE GETTING AN OBJECTIVE LOOK, GETTING SENATORS WHAT THEY NEED TO SELL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN DECIDE ABOUT PEOPLE TAKING IMPORTANT POSITIONS THAT MATTER A LOT TO AMERICANS.

WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET.

WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A LOT OF REASON TO TRUST THAT THE PRESIDENT-ELECT BRINGS IN IS GOING TO GIVE THE TYPE OF SEARCHING ANALYSIS AND INVESTIGATION THAT IS NEEDED.

>> RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE NOMINEES THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS PUT FORWARD.

MATT GAETZ, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE ROLE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.

PETE HEGSETH FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY.

BOTH OF THESE MEN HAVE COME UNDER PUBLIC SCRUTINY FOR ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT IN THE PAST.

AND, I WONDER , WOULD AN FBI BACKGROUND CHECK, IF THAT HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN THE FIRST PLACE, WHAT IS THE BENEFIT THERE?

>> SO, I THINK A KEY THING ABOUT THIS PROCESS IS THAT IT IS A CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS AND IT CAN HAPPEN BEFORE ANYTHING IS ANNOUNCED PUBLICLY.

SO, YOU CAN ENVISION A SITUATION WHERE THE FBI COULD DO IT'S CHECK AND SOME OF THESE NOMINEES WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ANNOUNCED AND IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO BE IN THE NEWSPAPER AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO HAVE HAD THIS SORT OF PUBLIC BACK AND FORTH ABOUT ARE THESE NOMINEES SIT, THE, TUESDAY, ARE THEY GOING TO GO?

THE PRESIDENTS TEAM HAS THE INFORMATION IN ADVANCE AND CAN MAKE A QUIET DECISION.

THAT IS ONE BENEFIT.

THE OTHER ONE IS THAT I THINK OF A PRESS IS DOING A GREAT JOB IN DIGGING INTO SOME OF THESE FOLKS.

BUT, THERE ARE GOING TO BE ALL SORTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER REPORTING FROM THIS OUTLET GETS THE FULL PICTURE INTO REPORTING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WITH THE FBI, AGAIN, NOT THAT THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST IS ALWAYS A PERFECT WAY TO GO BUT THERE IS REAL PRECEDENT FOR THE FBI DOING A THOROUGH AND OBJECTIVE LOOK.

WHEN GREGG AND I DID THIS, IF WE THOUGHT THERE WERE GAPS, WE EITHER ASKED THEM TO GO BACK AND DO MORE RESEARCH OR WE DID IT OURSELVES.

SO, THERE WAS A WAY FOR INFORMATION TO COME IN THAT SENATORS WOULD TRUST TO BE AS CLOSE TO THE FULL PICTURE AS YOU COULD GET.

>> CRAIG, THE PRESIDENT, FOR YEARS NOW, HAS ALREADY HAD PROBLEMS WITH HOW HE FEELS PERSECUTED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

THE INVESTIGATIONS LAUNCHED INTO HIM AND HIS BUSINESS DEALINGS OVER TIME.

SO, THERE IS KIND OF A GENERAL PICTURE OF DISTRUST.

WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT?

>> AGAIN, I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS IS NOT AN FBI CHECK IN THE MAKING A DECISION.

THE FBI IS GATHERING INFORMATION FOR THE SENATE TO REVIEW AND IT IS DONE DISCREETLY, CONFIDENTIALLY.

IT IS NOT PUBLIC AND THIS HAS BEEN A SYSTEM THAT HAS WORKED FOR AT LEAST 40 OR 50 YEARS.

SO, I UNDERSTAND THAT OUR PRESIDENT HAS OBJECTIONS TO HOW THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATORY BODIES HAVE FUNCTIONED, EVEN IF THOSE ARE WELL-PLACED , I REALLY DON'T THINK THERE IS A LOT TO FEAR HERE.

IT IS A VERY DISCREET, CONFIDENTIAL PROCESS AND THERE'S NO JUDGMENT PLACED IN THE HANDS OF THE FBI OR CAREER GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.

THE JUDGMENT IS WITHIN THE HANDS OF THE SENATE AND, IN PARTICULAR, AT THIS POINT, THE SENATE CONTROLLED BY A MAJORITY OF THE PRESIDENTS PARTY.

>> NOMA, AS WE TALK, ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THE PRESIDENT HAS NOMINATED WHO ARE BILLIONAIRES.

WHY IS THERE SORT OF ASSET HOLDINGS SORT OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OF CONCERN DURING AN FBI BACKGROUND CHECK?

>> WELL, I THINK THE ALL DOESN'T INHERENTLY DISQUALIFY ANYBODY.

YOU CAN HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ESTABLISHED PROFESSIONALS WHO DESERVE A DECISION BASED ON THE CAREER THAT GOT THEM VERY WEALTHY.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY ATTENTIONAL CONCERNS THAT COME UP.

ONE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST THE POTENTIAL FOR OFFICIALS TO BE ASKED TO MAKE DECISIONS ON QUESTIONS THAT SPECIFICALLY AFFECT THEIR WEALTH, MAYBE AFFECT COMPANIES THAT THEY OWN OR THAT THEY WORK FOR OR THAT THEY INVEST IN.

AND, SO, THAT IS THE FIRST PIECE, IS TO REALLY DETERMINE WHAT SOMEBODY'S FINANCIAL INTERESTS ARE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHETHER THERE MIGHT BE CONFLICT.

A LOT OF THOSE CONFLICTS COULD BE ADDRESSED BY DIVESTING OR RECUSING.

THAT SOMEBODY IS NOT FIT TO BE IN OFFICE.

IT JUST MAY INFORM THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT A SENATOR ASKS AND THE KINDS OF ASSURANCES THEY SEEK.

THE OTHER THING THAT COMES WITH TREMENDOUS WEALTH IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER A CABINET FILLED WITH A VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE IS GOING TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR THE INTERESTS OF REGULAR AMERICANS WHO AREN'T TREMENDOUSLY WEALTHY RATHER THAN SERVING IN THE INTEREST OF MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES.

THAT IS NOT REALLY A BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION QUESTION, THAT IS A QUESTION FOR THE SENATE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO CONSIDER IN TERMS OF WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT THEY WANT.

BUT, SO REALLY IN TERMS OF THE INVESTIGATION, IT IS MAKING SURE THAT THE SENATE HAS THE INFORMATION IT NEEDS TO GET ASSURANCES THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE THE STEPS THEY NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE RATHER THAN THEIR OWN BOTTOM LINE.

>> ONE QUESTION AT THE COURT OF THIS IS, IS THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT THIS BACKGROUND CHECK HAS TO HAPPEN?

GOING FORWARD, CAN THE PRESIDENT SAY I DON'T REALLY CARE, I'M GOING TO A POINT THIS PERSON TO THIS ROLE BECAUSE IT IS WITHIN MY RIGHTS TO DO SO AND LET'S SAY I HAVE ENOUGH INFLUENCE OVER SENATE REPUBLICANS AND THE SENATE AT LUNCH TO SAY GET MY NOMINEE THROUGH.

GREGG ?

>> I THINK THE AMERICAN POLITICAL NOTION WAS , THE REVOLUTION WAS FOUGHT AGAINST THE KING AND IN THE COLONIAL EXPERIENCE, THE KING'S APPOINTEES.

THE GRIEVANCES AMERICANS HAD WERE OVER RURAL APPOINTEES WHO WERE OFTEN UNQUALIFIED OVER THERE OFFICE TO POLITICAL FLATTERY OF THE MONARCH, AND ACTED AS PETTY TYRANTS WITH THE POWER THAT THEY WERE GRANTED OVER AMERICANS.

SO, WHEN THE FOUNDERS WROTE THE CONSTITUTION, SENATE CONFIRMATION WAS A CORPORATE OF THE PROTECTION OF OUR LIBERTIES .

AND, THE IDEA WAS THAT BY INVOLVING THE SENATE IN THIS PROCESS, YOU WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE PRESIDENT COULDN'T APPOINT PEOPLE WHO ARE UNQUALIFIED, MERELY POLITICAL FLATTERERS OF HIM, OR HER, AND WHO UNDERSTOOD THEIR DUTIES UNDER THE LAW.

THIS IS A CORE FEATURE OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND IT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

SENATE CONFIRMATION IS IMPORTANT.

AND, IT IS MUCH LESS MEANINGFUL IF IT IS NOT INFORMED, NOT AN INFORMED PROCESS.

THIS FBI PROCESS IS WHAT HAS PHILIP TO HELP THE SENATE WHERE NOW WE PROCESS HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF NOMINEES IN THE SENATE , MANY MORE THAN IN THE EARLY DAYS, AND IT IS A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE, A LOT TO GO THROUGH INTO THIS PROCESS IS BUILT UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SENATE CONSENT TO APPOINTMENTS IS CAN INFORMED CONSENT.

TOSSING IT ASIDE WOULD BE A MASSIVE DISRUPTION IN THE BALANCE OF POWERS.

I THINK REPUBLICAN SENATORS, DEMOCRATIC SENATORS, ALL SENATORS SHOULD INSIST THAT NOMINATIONS BLINDLY.

THEY WILL NOT PROCESS NOMINATIONS WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE RECORD ON WHICH TO DECIDE.

WHEN NOAH AND I WERE ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, WE DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD ON NOMINATIONS UNTIL THIS WAS DONE, UNTIL WE HAD THE FBI FILE IN HAND, UNTIL WE HAD MADE ANY NECESSARY FOLLOW-UP SO THAT OUR BOSSES, THE SENATORS, COULD MAKE INFORMED JUDGMENTS ON THESE NOMINATIONS.

>> GREGG AND NOAH, BOTH OF YOU, I HEAR YOU IN THE BACKGROUND STILL CONSIDERING THE FBI CHECK AS ONE OF THE GOLD STANDARDS, IT CAN BE TRUSTED, IT IS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION THAT IS INHERENTLY UNBIASED IN WHAT THEY BRING UP AND HOW YOU PRESENT IT.

I WONDER IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW LET'S SAY, A NEW FBI DIRECTOR GETS INTO OFFICE WHO HAS GREATER ALLEGIANCE TO THE PRESIDENT.

CANNOT PROCESS ITSELF BE TEMPERED WITH, WEAPONIZED, TO CHANGE YOUR OPINION OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS STILL THE GOLD >> I AM WORRIED, OVER TIME, OF THE KIND OF IMPACT THAT A PRESIDENT COULD HAVE ON THE FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE, ON THE JUDICIARY.

RIGHT NOW, I DO HAVE LOTS OF FAITH IN THESE INSTITUTIONS AND HOPE THEY REMAIN STRONG.

NOT TO SAY THEY ARE NOT WITHOUT PROBLEMS.

I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT REFORMS.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT REFORMS OF THIS PROCESS.

I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST, NEITHER NOAH OR I WOULD SUGGEST IT IS PERFECT.

BUT, IT IS THOROUGH AND IT IS, IT HAS BEEN HANDLED WITH DISCRETION IN THE PAST AND I HOPE THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE.

>> NOAH?

>> I AM CERTAINLY DEEPLY, DEEPLY TROUBLED BY NOMINEES WHO HAVE VOICED A DESIRE TO USE GOVERNMENT TO SETTLE POLITICAL SCORES, TO GO AFTER PERCEIVED I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT PRESIDENTS AS HAVING ENEMIES, WE ARE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT IDEOLOGIES AND DIFFERENT GOALS.

BUT THIS APPEARS TO BE A PRESIDENT WHO BELIEVES HE HAS ENEMIES.

IT IS VERY WORRISOME.

I DO THINK THAT THE MANY THOUSANDS OF EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS IN A PLACE LIKE THE FBI AND THROUGHOUT GOVERNMENT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TRYING THEIR BEST TO DO THEIR JOBS IN A PROFESSIONAL AND OBJECTIVE WAY.

AS GREGG SAID, THE FBI IS NOT A PERFECT INSTITUTION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SURE IS NOT PERFECT.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE BETTER.

I DO BELIEVE THAT EVEN IF SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THESE KINDS OF STATEMENTS ARE CONFIRMED, AND TRY TO DO THEIR JOBS IN THAT WAY, THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL TRY TO CONTINUE TO BE OBJECTIVE AND DO THEIR JOBS IN FAIRWAYS.

ARE FIRED AND REPLACEMENTS OF CIVIL SERVANTS WITH LOYALISTS AND REQUIREMENTS THAT PEOPLE DO THEIR JOBS IN BIASED WAYS, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REEVALUATE WHAT WE THINK ABOUT A PROCESS LIKE THIS.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS WHERE WE ARE NOW.

I HOPE THAT IS NOT HERE WE GO.

IT IS CERTAINLY A SOURCE OF CONCERN.

>> NOAH BOOKBINDER, RESIDENT AND CEO OF CREW AND GREGG NUNZIATA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE RULE OF LAW.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOTES THERE.