Ben Rhodes

does not conduct criminal investigations.

She has no role in executing search warrants.

And she does not belong on the scene of a domestic FBI search, particularly one tied to the president's personal grievances carried out under the pretense of normal law enforcement.

Now, Director Gabbard argues that her presence was justified by, quote, broad statutory authority.

The broad authority to analyze intelligence is not a license to participate in a sham investigation.

And it certainly does not justify facilitating direct contact between the frontline FBI agents doing this investigation directly to the President of the United States.

I know.

There goes the Bordeaux.

I thought of you.

I know.

Could finally make me keep my New Year's resolution to drink less.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's down a little bit, but the drinking is still robust.

Seemed up.

So is the calorie count at this pub.

Sunday roasts, those are fantastic.

Nothing like tucking into like a giant pie of meat.

There's no, like, Politico playbook, you know, uh,

Nigel making things interesting.

Give it a minute.