00:00Upfront next, breaking news exclusive, CNN reporting tonight.
00:03The White House asked the FBI to knock down media reports.
00:07What was the FBI's response?
00:09Plus, Senator Bernie Sanders ready to launch more than 100 rallies across the nation.
00:13He talks President Trump and the GOP town hall outrage.
00:17He's my guest tonight.
00:18And Trump's right-hand man, Steve Bannon, making a rare public appearance.
00:21The advisor, once portrayed as the Grim Reaper, breaks his silence.
00:25Let's go out front.
00:28Good evening. I'm Erin Burnett.
00:29Out front tonight, the breaking news.
00:31We have exclusive new reporting tonight that the White House asked the FBI to knock down media reports about contacts
00:37during the presidential campaign between Donald Trump's associates and Russians known to U.S. intelligence.
00:45Pamela Brown and Evan Perez.
00:47Tonight, rare public comments from one of the men closest to President Donald Trump, Steve Bannon.
00:51Bannon, who almost next in the room.
00:52Oh, I can tell you, people started looking at each other and saying to each other,
00:56he was a hit.
00:57People thought that he was direct.
00:59He was smart.
01:00Here on the talk shows.
01:01You know, I met him and found him to be very personable in person.
01:07I've been, others who expected him to be something very different have described a similar thing when meeting him.
01:12But he slams the media constantly.
01:14And he did so today.
01:16And he called it the opposition.
01:17But a new Quinnipiac poll with bad news for Steve Bannon.
01:20Bad for the President of the United States.
01:2237% of the people trust him to tell the truth about important issues.
01:26That is not good for Steve Bannon.
01:27He was preaching to his choir in that room.
01:29But that's not the nation.
01:31Sure, but six days ago, there was a Fox poll.
01:34Also, I appreciate both of your time.
01:35And next, undocumented immigrants in fear of deportation may find safe houses through an underground railroad.
01:41Our special report is next.
01:42And Jeannie Moos with the lighter side of Steve Bannon just weeks into the new administration.
01:46And he's already a legend to some.
01:50Tonight, the President calling recent immigration raids a, quote, military operation.
01:55People that you were able to find, and that man with his story as Jew and how he feels about
02:00doing this.
02:01When you were talking to that pastor, how likely is it that officials will go after these religious leaders?
02:07No, it's possible, right?
02:08Technically, under the law, it is possible.
02:09Thank you very much.
02:10And out front next, breaking news, the former House Speaker John Boehner speaking out, saying Republicans won't be repealing and
02:17replacing Obamacare.
02:18Is he right?
02:19And he's cultivated a mysterious tough guy persona.
02:22So, really, who is the real Steve Bannon?
02:25Jeannie Moos is next.
02:27Tonight, the man who's been called President Trump's brain.
02:30Who is he?
02:31Well, Jeannie Moos knows.
02:34And somehow, we all know that Steve Bannon finds all of that very humorous as well.
02:39By the way, our apologies to Congressman McClintock.
02:41We couldn't get his shot back in time.
02:43We'll have him back on again soon.
02:44AC 360 starts now.
02:48Good evening.
02:49I'm Erin Burnett.
02:49Out front tonight, we begin with breaking news on this Monday evening.
02:52A top Republican doubling down tonight, calling for an independent investigation into Russia, including alleged connections between Trump associates and
03:00Russians known to U.S. intelligence.
03:02Congressman Daryl Issa, a top Trump supporter, issued a statement today.
03:06Judge McKenzie, thank you for being with me.
03:07And you just heard Congressman Schiff.
03:09His point of view is these conversations shouldn't have happened when the FBI said the report is BS, in their
03:15words.
03:15And then Reince Priebus followed up with the FBI, said, why won't you talk to reporters about this on background?
03:20That would seem to violate your rule.
03:21No, but I haven't heard anybody identify a crime that's been committed.
03:26Congressman Schiff, inadvertently.
03:28Still okay?
03:28That's still okay.
03:29And it's okay to go to the Republican chairman of the committees who are investigating it and do that, too?
03:33That's a whole different thing.
03:34It sounded, from reading that, like he's trying to give himself cover in case something improper did happen.
03:39I mean, this isn't a full-throated defense.
03:41Every contact may not be improper, but I haven't looked at these.
03:45That's what any...
03:46...there.
03:46Thank you very much.
03:48And next, Press Secretary Sean Spicer is going to check his staff's cell phones during crackdown on White House leaks.
03:53He had the blessing of the president to do that.
03:55Plus, President Trump says, quote, nobody knew health care could be so complicated.
03:58Really, nobody knew that?
03:59And Janie Mos on Oscar's epic mistake.
04:02But for Miss Universe host Steve Harvey, who had his own snafu, it was something, frankly, to cheer about.
