Judge in Manafort Trial Tells Jurors He Was Wrong in Criticizing Prosecutors; First Lady's Parents Now U.S. Citizens, Use "Chain Migration" President Hates.
COOPER: The judge in the Paul Manafort tax fraud case has made plenty of headlines so far today. He made headlines for admitting he was wrong. But that wasn't the only the piece of news from the courtroom. The other big item about the government's star witness Rick Gates could signal just how important Mueller still believes he is. Our Jim Sciutto has more in that and joins us now from the courthouse. So, what are you learning about a discussion that lawyers had with the judge about Gates?</s>JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, as the president continues to attack the whole Mueller investigation as a witch hunt, that's run its course, we learned more evidence that in fact, the focus of this investigation, beyond the Manafort trial, the question of Russian interference and the question of whether the Trump campaign cooperated with that Russian interference is still an open investigation. There was some testimony on Tuesday, where Rick Gates, of course, the former deputy campaign chairman for the Trump campaign, was questioned about his interviews, more than 20 interviews with the special counsel. The prosecutor here said he wanted that testimony kept secret, because as the prosecutor described in papers presented to the judge, that relates to an ongoing criminal investigation in his words. What are the two lines of investigation special counsel are looking at? Manafort's financial crimes as we've been following these last few days at court, but also Russian interference and was there any cooperation from the Trump campaign? By the prosecutors saying there that that is part of an ongoing criminal investigation, you get an indication that that line of inquiry is still not closed, Anderson.</s>COOPER: That's fascinating. There have also been clashes between the prosecutors and the judge in the case. The judge at one point admitting he was wrong. What else did he say?</s>SCIUTTO: Right. You know, that's been one of the interesting qualities of this trial here. Judge Ellis is a very vocal judge. I've been inside that courtroom, as he is at times chastised the prosecutor almost like a schoolteacher, telling him to look him in the eye and give a yes answer instead of a yeah answer. But there was a moment yesterday where the judge disputed the prosecution's ability to keep an expert witness inside the courtroom, in this case, a former IRS agent and expert tax witness. Of course, the crimes alleged here involved tax evasion. The prosecutor said, wait a second, judge, you approved of this decision earlier, just look at the transcript. So, lo and behold, they looked at the transcript and the judge did in fact approve that. So, today, a bit of mea culpa from the judge saying, you're right, I did say that was OK, you know, my fault, my bad.</s>COOPER: All right. Jim Sciutto, thanks very much. Coming up now, a happy moment for First Lady Melania Trump. Viktor and Amalija Knavs were granted citizenship today. They're the parents of Melania Trump. However, what's obviously a big day for her and her parents is also drawing attention to the president's controversial calls to end the immigration policy that brought them here. You see, according to a source with direct knowledge, Melania Trump did what so many children do, she sponsored her parents' green cards. This type of family visa is exactly the type that President Trump is trying to eliminate. He calls it chain migration.</s>TRUMP: Under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives. We want to get rid of chain migration. Ending chain migration. Ending chain migration. You have chain migration. This was a Schumer deal. Schumer wanted this. We have to get rid of chain migration, all of these things we're talking about. A guy comes in and then you have to bring his aunt, his uncle, his father, his grandfather, his grandson. A total disaster which threatens our security and our economy. His third niece by a different marriage -- And provides a gateway for terrorism. They think it's good politically. I'll tell you what? I think it's horrible politically. What do I know? But I did become president in like a year and a half.</s>COOPER: Well, the first in-law's attorney calls it family reunification, not immigration and bedrock policy. The first lady's office declined to comment. More on this now from MJ Lee, who joins us now. So, what else can you tell us about the process the first lady's parents went through to become citizens today?</s>MJ LEE, CNN NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER: Well, Anderson, we're really learning for the first time today how Melania Trump's parents came to this country and became American citizens earlier today. A source with knowledge tells me that it was in fact the first lady who sponsored her parents, Victor and Amalija Knavs, for their green card. And to be clear, and as you made clear, this is not out of the ordinary. This is a way that many Americans bring their family members to this country. The first lady's parents, as you know, are from Slovenia. We've seen them around Washington, D.C., and sometimes travel with the president and first lady. But up until today, we didn't have clarity on how it was that they had gotten their green cards. Well, it turns out the first lady took advantage of the family migration card like so many others do in this country, so that her parents could settle down here.</s>COOPER: And this is obviously all in contrast from the president's own position. Has the White House had anything to say about the disconnect?</s>LEE: Yes, you know, I think it's incredibly noteworthy that Melania did this for her parents and this is a practice that her husband, the president, does not like. In fact, we've heard President Trump, you just played a great clip there, rail against the family migration policy many, many times. He refers to it as chain migration. And that particular part of family visa is a category that Trump wants to get rid of all together because he says they are harmful to this country. Now, the first lady's office is not commenting on any of this. However, we do have a statement from Viktor and Amalija Knavs' immigration lawyer, Michael Wilde (ph). He told me earlier today. He said, I can't comment on the president's politics when it comes to my clients, but I have stood up against the president's immigration policies personally. So, you're seeing a real disconnect here between the president's policy views on this and the fact that his wife has taken advantage of that policy for her parents -- Anderson.</s>COOPER: All right. MJ Lee, appreciate it. A source close to the White House tells CNN that President Trump is scheduled to have dinner tonight with his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. This in the middle of the ongoing back and forth about whether, in fact, the president will agree to be interviewed by the special counsel. Pros and cons of that, ahead.