Tune in Sunday for More from Former Defense Sec. Robert Gates, Exclusively on “Meet the Press with Chuck Todd”
JANUARY 27, 2018 – Former Defense Sec. Robert Gates exclusively told “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd that “people are assuming [Mueller is] going to come to one conclusion. But people need to be prepared that a guy like Bob Mueller may come to a different conclusion that will elate some people and anger some people.”
Gates added, “The Bob Mueller I know is a man of extraordinary integrity and character. I can’t think of anybody who would do a more honest and stand-up job of conducting an investigation.”
When asked what Congress should do to protect Mueller if the president decides to fire him, Gates said, “the one thing that can be done is to try and figure out how to make it clear the magnitude of the political cost that would be incurred should he be fired.”
Tune in tomorrow for more from Todd’s exclusive interview with Gates as well as an exclusive with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and interview with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
See below for the transcript of this exchange and watch here: http://nbcnews.to/2DE72Da.
Follow “Meet the Press” on Facebook and on Twitter for the latest.
MANDATORY CREDIT: NBC’S “MEET THE PRESS WITH CHUCK TODD”
- Mandatory credit to NBC’s “Meet the Press with Chuck Todd” on first reference.
- The onscreen “Meet the Press Exclusive” credit must be clearly visible and unobstructed at all times in any image, video clip, or other form of media.
- Embedded web video must stream from the NBCNews.com media player with the unobstructed credit as described above.
# # #
CHUCK TODD: Bob Mueller, you worked with him when he was head of the FBI. What do you make of the president’s attacks on him. Do you have confidence in Bob Mueller, and if he were fired, how would you react to something like that?
ROBERT GATES: Well, I think, I mean the Bob Mueller I know is a man of extraordinary integrity and character. I can’t think of anybody who would do a more honest and stand-up job of conducting an investigation. And, you know, people need to be prepared, people are assuming he’s going to come to one conclusion. But people need to be prepared that a guy like Bob Mueller may come to a different conclusion that will elate some people and anger some people.
ROBERT GATES: So, but I think he’s, I have total confidence in him.
CHUCK TODD: And do you think Congress should do whatever it took to protect him if somehow the president decided to fire him?
ROBERT GATES: Well, this is tough because it is an executive branch appointment, and I don’t know how you have the Congress extends an umbrella of protection legally through legislation over what is an executive branch nomination, or appointment. I would say this, I think that the one thing that can be done is to try and figure out how to make it clear the magnitude of the political cost that would be incurred should he be fired.
# # #
For more information contact:
Joya Manasseh
NBC News
o: (212) 664-2498
c: (917) 587-1284
e: joya.manasseh@nbcuni.com
__
NBC NEWS’ “MEET THE PRESS WITH CHUCK TODD”
“Meet the Press with Chuck Todd” is where newsmakers come to make news — setting the political agenda and spotlighting the impact Washington decision-making has on Americans across the country. It is the #1 most-watched Sunday public affairs show across the board for the 2016-2017 season, reaching more than three million viewers every Sunday and millions more through social, digital and on-demand platforms. “Meet the Press” brings its authority and influencer interviews to MSNBC with “MTP Daily” weekdays at 5 p.m. ET and to the “1947: The Meet the Press Podcast”. It’s the longest-running show in television history, having celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2017 with the launch of its first-ever film festival in collaboration with the American Film Institute this November. Chuck Todd is the political director of NBC News and the moderator of “Meet the Press“; John Reiss is the executive producer.
# # #
