1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,280 Speaker 1: Well, now it's time for our Bloomberg Law Report. Let's 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: get to the legal stories we're watching this morning with 3 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:12,280 Speaker 1: Deep Podusc in the Bloomberg Washington Newsroom. The US has 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: once again refused to qualify China as a market economy. 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: This adds to tensions between the economic superpowers. Days before 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,799 Speaker 1: President Trump's first trip to Beijing, the Interior Department wants 7 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: to streamline federal regulations governing oil and gas projects, as 8 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: well as diverse activities on federal lands, ranging from the 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: largest coal mines to simple brush clearing projects or recreational opportunities. 10 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: And medical device companies are getting more guidance from the 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: FDA on how to use an alternative pathway to get 12 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: innovative products on the market faster. Bloomberg Law everything you need, 13 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:50,559 Speaker 1: all on one legal research platform, including guidance, analysis and 14 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: Bloomberg market Intelligence. Find out more at Bloomberg Law dot com. 15 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: And now let's dig deeper into today's top legal story. 16 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: Special Council Robert Mueller unveiling the first charges in his 17 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: investigation into Russian interference in the election. For more in 18 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: the story, Bloomberg Lahous Doing Grosso and Michael Bess speak 19 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,679 Speaker 1: with William Banks, the professor at Syracuse University Law School, 20 00:01:13,959 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: and Fordham a Law school professor. Andrew Kent, Bill, you 21 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: have the first indictments. You have two very high ranking 22 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: people having been indicted for things that aren't entire don't 23 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: seem to be related to the actual campaign itself. Where 24 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 1: these developments tell us about where Mueller's investigation stands right now, Well, 25 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: you know, it is an important signal that the investigation 26 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: is far from over, that it's probably still picking up momentum. 27 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: These are important developments, but they're by no means the end. 28 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: I think in some ways, the Papadopoulos agreement is is 29 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: more central to the concerns that perhaps the Trump administration 30 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 1: colluded with the Russians. I think the fact that Papadopolis 31 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: was at a meeting early on, or had connections early 32 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 1: on with Russian government officials while he was employed by 33 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: the Trump campaign is pretty damaging. Andrew, Let's look at 34 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: the timing of what Mueller is doing. First, he announces 35 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: the indictment of Manifort and Gates while everyone is still 36 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: talking about that, and before they've even gone before a judge, 37 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 1: they unseal a plea in a separate case and George 38 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:30,239 Speaker 1: Papadopolis pleaded guilty October five. Do you see that Mueller 39 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: is trying to set something up here with these double 40 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 1: timed announcements. You're probably obviously he's operating in an extremely 41 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: sensitive environment. So I assume Mueller is timing things in 42 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: a way that he thinks will give him the most 43 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 1: space to continue with an investigation. Is there also a 44 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: sort of a warning to people who are in the 45 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 1: White House that this is happening and I've got someone 46 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: here who's cooperating with the FBI. I think it absolutely 47 00:03:00,919 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: is a warning. And it's also uh, you know, you 48 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 1: saw the talking point from the President before the Papadopulus 49 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: plea was released, you know, saying what you know, this 50 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: was just about stuff in the past, has nothing to 51 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: do with me, has nothing to do with my campaign, 52 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: nothing to do with Russia. Know nothing to see here 53 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: about Manafort, and then um, yeah, and then quickly the 54 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 1: Papas plea is released, which is all about a test 55 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: to clude with Russia and as fordom A Law School 56 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 1: professor Andrew Kenton William Banks, a professor at Syracuse University 57 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: Law School, speaking with Bloomberg's Doom Grosso and Michael Best. 58 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: You can listen to Bloomberg Law weekdays at one pm 59 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: Wall Street Time here on Bloomberg Radio, and find more 60 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: legal news at Bloomberg law dot com. Attorneys will find 61 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: exceptional legal research and business development tools there as well. 62 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: Visit Bloomberg law dot com for more information.