1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: Well, now it's time for our daily Bloomberg Law and Brief, 2 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: exploring legal issues in the news, brought to you by 3 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: American Arbitration Association, International Trade or Business Dispute Resolve Faster 4 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: at the International Center for a Dispute Resolution, the leader 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: in alternative dispute resolution around the world, i c d 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: R and dot org. Today Bloomberg Lahos jing Grosso discusses 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: the legal fallout from former FBI Director James Comey's congressional testimony. 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: She speaks with Jeffrey Kramer, a managing director at the 9 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: Berkeley Research Group, and Stephen Ryan, a partner at McDermott, 10 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: will and Emery. So much has been said about Comey's testimony, 11 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: so let me ask you both to give your reaction 12 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: to his testimony and its import Jeff, let's start with you. Sure, 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,800 Speaker 1: I certainly agree was it was? It was monumental. We 14 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 1: did have sort of a preview, given the fact that 15 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 1: Mr Comey releases statement beforehand, but as we knew of 16 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: the question and answer periods, was was more revealing. Um, 17 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: as the indicator told a friend basically too at a 18 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: reporter knew about this, which is how we learned about it. 19 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: But I think Jim Comey struck a struck a perfect 20 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: core between just giving the facts and giving us really 21 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: an inside view into that conversation, which is unique unto itself, 22 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 1: but then also apinting a little bit on whether or 23 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: not the President overstepped his bounce. Stephen, you know, I 24 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,479 Speaker 1: think we're off on a multi month and maybe your 25 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: investigation and the only vote about the investigation that really 26 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: counts as Bob Mueller's the special counsel. And so when 27 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: we look at Comy six months from now or a 28 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: year from now, this was the John dene testimony of 29 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 1: this period, um. But what the end result of that 30 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 1: is is not not yet clear. Much of the talk 31 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:51,559 Speaker 1: for weeks has been whether or not Trump committed obstruction 32 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 1: of justice. Comey said that he wouldn't make that conclusion himself, 33 00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:00,919 Speaker 1: but his testimony laid out a case for obstruction of justice. Jeff, 34 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: what's your take on obstruction of justice? Yeah? I think 35 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: reasonable minds can consideringly differ on this, But your points 36 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,959 Speaker 1: well taken is that well, Jim Comey didn't give the 37 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: final answer yes or knowing his opinion. He did kind 38 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: of lay out a couple of the elements and and 39 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: knowingly so um and can the president even be charged? 40 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: Gonna sitting president even be charged with obstruction? You know, 41 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: just quickly you look at and any federal prosecutor has 42 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: been doing this for a while, It's done some obstruction cases. 43 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,359 Speaker 1: You look at someone's words and actions. And the President 44 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 1: has given us his words, some through Jim Comey, but 45 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: also his tweet as to why he fired him. And 46 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: then you look at his actions. He fired an individual 47 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 1: who was arguably invest making an investigation he didn't want 48 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: as Jeffrey Kramer, a managing director at the Berkeley Research Group, 49 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: and Stephen Ryan, a partner at McDermott, Will and Emory. 50 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,799 Speaker 1: Speaking of the Bloomberg Law host Jun Grosso. You can 51 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: listen to Bloomberg Law weekdays at one pm Wall Street 52 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: Time here on Bloomberg Radio Now. Among the top legal 53 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 1: stories from Bloomberg Law, lawyers for entertainer Bill Cosby won't 54 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 1: say whether he'll take the stand this week in his 55 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: sexual assault trial. Last week, Jury and Suburban Philadelphia heard 56 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: from his accuser. Experts say putting Cosby on the stand 57 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 1: could be risky and could allow more accusers to testify 58 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: as rebuttal witnesses It's another sign of the impact online 59 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 1: shopping is having on brick and mortar retailers. Children clothing 60 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 1: chain Jim Boree has filed for bankruptcy. The company has 61 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: signed a restructuring agreement that will reduce its debt by 62 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: more than nine hundred million dollars bank capital Mount Jimboree 63 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: seven years ago. And that's this morning's Bloomberg Law Brie. 64 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: If you can find more legal news at Bloomberg Law 65 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 1: dot com and Bloomberg b n A dot com. Attorneys 66 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: will find exceptional legal research and business development tools there 67 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: as well. Visit Bloomberg Law dot com and Bloomberg b 68 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: and a dot com for more information.