Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein: 'President Donald Trump's pattern with Russia is damning'

On Friday, legendary Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein appeared on CNN to discuss a damning new report alleging that President Donald Trump ordered his lawyer, Michael Cohen, to lie to Congress about Trump tower in Moscow.

Bernstein cautioned that we need to know more about the evidence behind the claims. Nevertheless, the story fits a pattern of relentless misconduct, much of which can be traced to President Vladimir Putin.

"No matter how sensational this story, the pattern itself is so damning about the president of the United States and his conduct as a candidate and as the president in terms of whether wittingly, unwittingly, half wittingly he has been manipulated at almost every significant turn by Vladimir Putin," Bernstein said.

Bernstein pointed out that Cohen also told prosecutors Trump knew in advance about the Trump tower meeting between Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner and Russian agents.

He denounced the GOP for failing to hold the president accountable.

"Republicans have been craven and unwilling to demand serious investigations themselves," Bernstein said.

"Why haven't Republicans thus far except for self interest and very little interest in what's good for the country been more demanding of let's get to the bottom of President and the Russians?" he asked.

"The most egregious and consistent lies, by his family, by his sons have been about Russia."

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