Former FBI official explains why Trump’s hush money payments could be impeachable offenses in new Congress

The former Assistant Director for Counterintelligence at the Federal Bureau of Investigation explained on MSNBC's "Deadline: White House" how Donald Trump's hush money payments could constitute impeachable offenses.

NBC News national security contributor Frank Figliuzzi joined guest host Chris Jansing to discuss the president's legal defense as Democrats prepare to take control of the House of Representatives.

Host Jansing asked Figliuzzi how Democrats could "best play their hand" in Congress.

"I think they'll carefully pick and choose their battles," he suggested.

"One of the things I predict you'll see fairly early is a sharp look at acting Attorney General [Matt] Whitaker," he predicted. "What were the circumstances by which he was appointed to that office? What discussions occurred about perhaps impeding, constraining in some way, the Russia investigation? I would expect that to be up near the front."

"Then I think they're going to move on to some of the civil concerns, civil charges that might exist around the foundation, the Trump Foundation and the state of New York and the state Attorney General," he continued.

"I think they'll likely stay clear of pending criminal investigations. I hope they ... stay clear of the Mueller inquiry, but we could still see crimes that even lead to impeachment as they discuss the payments to women," he argued.

Trump's longtime attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, has implicated the president as being part of the conspiracy for the hush money payments.

"This is a done thing. Cohen has pled guilty. He's been sentenced," Figliuzzi reminded. "This is something that's fair game."

"If they tease that out, we could see impeachment offenses simply coming out of the money laundering and structuring and wire fraud and bank fraud regarding those payments," he explained.

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