david. >> cecilia vega in sicily thank you. >>> to a contentious moment right here at moment. voters at the polls today. overnight the republican candidate allegedly throwing a reporter to the ground. you'll hear the moment as it played out. the candidate has now been charged. a fox news crew witnessing the whol happen. but tonight, voters at the polls have two very different takes. abc's clayton sandell is in bozeman. republican greg gianforte, the frontrunner in montana's special election, was about to do an interview with fox news. that's when ben jacobs, a reporter for "the guardian", tried asking a question. >> in terms of the cbo score -- because, you know, you were waiting to make your decision about healthcare until you saw the bill, and it just came out. >> we'll talk to you about that later. >> yeah, but there's not going to be time. >> reporter: the reporter recording it all. >> i'm sick and tired of you guys. the last guy that came in here did the same thing. >> get the hell out of here. >> the last guy did the same thing. are you with "the guardian"? >> yes, and y

david. >> cecilia vega in sicily thank you. >>> to a contentious moment right here at moment. voters at the polls today. overnight the republican candidate allegedly throwing a reporter to the ground. you'll hear the moment as it played out. the candidate has now been charged. a fox news crew witnessing the whole thing, saying it did happen. but tonight, voters at the polls have two very different takes. abc's clayton sandell is in bozeman. republican greg gianforte, the frontrunner in montana's special election, was about to do an interview with fox news. that's when ben jacobs, a reporter for "the guardian", tried asking a question. >> in terms of the cbo score -- because, you know, you were waiting to make your decision about healthcare until you saw the bill, and it just came out. >> we'll talk to you about that later. >> yeah, but there's not going to be time. >> reporter: the reporter recording it all. >> i'm sick and tired of you guys. the last guy that came in here did the same thing. >> get the hell out of here. >> the last guy did the same thing. are you with "the gu

david. >> cecilia vega in sicily, thank you. >>> another breaking headline, there are reports that president trump's son-in-law jared kushner, now part of the west wing, could be under fbi scrutiny in the russia investigation. abc's senior justice correspondent pierre thomas with late development. >> reporter: abc news has learned that fbi investigators will likely want to talk with jared kushner in connection with alleged russian med ling in the 2016 election. kushner also participated in a meeting with former national security adviser michael flynn and the russian ambassador before president trump's inauguration. david. >> pierre thomas, thank you. >>> next to a contentious moment right here at home. a key race for congress. voters at the polls today. overnight the republican candidate allegedly throwing a reporter to the ground. you'll hear the moment as it played out. the candidate has now been charged. a fox news crew witnessing the whole thing, saying it did happen. but tonight, voters at the polls have two very different takes. abc's clayton sandell is in bozeman, montana. >> reporter

he'll stop in the vatican for a visit with pope francis. >> cecilia vega. >>> we turn next tonight to another breaking headline this evening, delta airlines issuing a statement late tonight after another incident caught on video on a plane. at one point you can hear the paern being told they could face jail or lose their children if they refuse to get off. here's abc's gio benitez. >> reporter: tonight, a family of four claiming delta airlines kicked them off a flight with their two toddlers, threatening jail time and even loss of custody. >> this is a federal offense. you and your wife will be in jail, and your kids will be taken from you. >> okay. >> reporter: brian schear and his family were flying home from hawaii when a delta employee asked he give up the seat his 1-year-old was sitting in, suggesting the child sit on one of the parents lap. >> i bought this seat and you need to leave us alone. >> reporter: schear says the ticket was originally purchased his oldest son. but he went home early. he claims he asked delta gate agents to let his one year old use the seat instead, some

cecilia vega is standing by with their response a short time ago and mary bruce at the capitol. where republican senators are calling the headline, troubling and disturbing. >>> the deadly plane crash just outside new york city. the jet coming in over a suburban neighborhood. witnesses watching the plane come down. a fireball erupting. tonight, the audio, the calls from the cockpit. >>> late today, the new horror the images emerging from syria. the u.s. now accusing syria of executing thousands in an alleged crematorium. what the satellite images reveal tonight. martha raddatz standing by with new reporting. >>> and the tour bus crash, more than two dozen students and adults on their way to washington, d.c., and the emergency response. >>> good evening. it's great to have you with us here on a monday night. >>> and we begin with that bombshell headline breaking late today. "the washington post" reporting president trump disclosed highly classified information to the russians. "the post" reporting that the classified material was revealed during a meeting with the russian foreign

>> i think that's a question for the department of homeland security. >> and cecilia vega is with us tonight from the white house. cecilia, we heard sean spicer say there, you should ask the department of homeland security. and so you did. what did they tell you? >> reporter: well, david, they say that, unfortunately, this information is not readily available. we do not expect a ruling on this travel ban case for a few weeks. david, out appeit appears headee way to the supreme court. >> all right, cecilia vega with us tonight. cecilia, thank you. >>> we move onto other news this monday night, and to the investigation under way this evening in boston. the district attorney there holding a news conference just a short time ago. two doctors murdered. the couple was engaged to be married. the suspect was arraigned today in his hospital bed. and at that news conference, the d.a. revealing what they discovered at the scene. abc's eva pilgrim from boston. >> reporter: eyes closed, laying in a hospital bed, the man suspected of killing two boston doctors in their luxury apartment appeared be

cecilia vega live with us tonight. hillary clinton isn't going away. you covered this campaign, you talked to your sources tonight, is there a chance she's considering another run in 2020? >> reporter: well, david, 2020 is still a long way off. this is what i'm told, she no longer wants to sit on the sidelines and while we can expect to hear and see hillary clinton in the weeks ahead it will be as an activist not a candidate. >> cecilia vega with us. thank you, cecilia. >>> we move on tonight to that stunning about-face, that guilty plea from a former police officer in a racially-charged shooting death that made national headlines. the incident all caught on video. that's officer michael slager chasing walter scott, firing eight times as scott ran from him. abc's steve osunsami in south carolina tonight. >> reporter: for nearly two years the officer seen in this traffic stop, claimed he did nothing wrong. today, a stunning reversal. for black americans today, a sense of justice. >> today is a good day for justice. i thank god for justice. >> reporter:

abc's senior white house correspondent cecilia vega tonight. >> reporter: president trump today, surrounded by religious leaders, promising to give churches their voices back. >> under my administration, free speech does not end at the steps of a cathedral or a synagogue or any other house of worship. >> reporter: his new executive order directs the irs to relax enforcement of rules barring churches and other tax-exempt religious groups from political activity, like endorsing and campaigning for candidates. it also promises unspecified relief for organizations that claim a religious objection to an obamacare mandate, requiring them to cover contraception in their healthcare plans. but the order does not go as far as some faith leaders hoped and many activists feared. there is nothing in it that weakens obama-era protections for gays, lesbians and others. >> most importantly, i brought my bible. [ cheers ] >> reporter: for president trump, this is about showing some love to the evangelicals who helped propel him to the white house, the president winning their vote 81% to 16%. >> we will not

i want to bring in cecilia vega tonight, traveling with the president. cecilia, let's listen to what the president had to say. >> so many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life. i won't call them monsters. because they would like that term. they would think that's a great name. >> evil losers his words for the attacker and anyone else who might have been behind this. cecilia, the next stop tomorrow is meeting with the pope. >> david, you remember, they had that very public feud during the campaign over the border wall, the pope said that building the border wall was unchristian. then-candidate donald trump called the pope a political person. they are meeting tomorrow for the very first time. it's just a short meeting, 15 minutes to 20 minutes. all eyes will be on the rat can here. if they do past that it could be a sign they're becoming friends. >> cecilia vega, thank you. >>> meantime the president and his team well aware of the headlines back home. another major development today zthe former he

i want to bring in cecilia vega tonight, traveling with the president. cecilia, let's listen to what the president had to say. >> so many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life. i won't call them monsters. because they would like that they would think that's a great name. >> evil losers his words for the attacker and anyone else who might have been behind this. cecilia, the next stop tomorrow is meeting with the pope. >> david, you remember, they had that very public feud during the campaign over the border wall, the pope said that building the border wall was unchristian. then-candidate donald trump called the pope a political person. they are meeting tomorrow for the very first time. it's just a short meeting, 15 minutes to 20 minutes. all eyes will be on the rat can here. if they do past that it could be a sign they're becoming friends. >> cecilia vega, thank you. >>> meantime the president and his team well aware of the headlines back home. another major development today zthe former head of

more on all of this from cecilia vega. >> reporter: two days in saudi arabia, and president trump never once publicly mentioned human rights. and women's rights? just a passing mention in his speech on extremism. >> it means standing together against the murder of innocent muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of jews, and the slaughter of christians. >> reporter: aides say he did address human rights behind the scenes. but publicly, his message was clear. >> we are not here to lecture. we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship. >> reporter: ivanka trump did meet with saudi women leaders, telling them their country's progress is encouraging. but there's still a lot of work to be done. and the first lady visited an all-women business center where she was asked about work/life balance. her response, "you need to balance and find the time." one of the basic rights that women in saudi arabia still don't have, they're not legally allowed to drive. most women rely on a driver or even uber. on the streets of riyadh, women and men liv

i want to bring in cecilia vega tonight, traveling with the president. cecilia, let's listen here to what the president had to say. >> so many young, beautiful, innocent people living and enjoying their lives, murdered by evil losers in life. i won't call them monsters. because they would like that term. they would think that's a great name. >> "evil losers" his words for the attacker and anyone else who might have been behind this. in the meantime, cecilia, you were telling us the next stop tomorrow is a meeting with the pope. >> david, you remember, they had that very public feud during the campaign over the border wall, the pope said that building the border wall was unchristian. then-candidate donald trump called the pope a political person. they are meeting tomorrow for the very first time. it's just a short meeting, 15 minutes to 20 minutes. all eyes will be on the vatican. if they go past that it could be a sign they're becoming friends. david, the white house tells us that the president is looking to find some common ground with pope francis. >>

for more, here's cecilia vega. >> reporter: two days in saudi arabia, and president trump never once publicly mentioned human rights. and women's rights? just a passing mention in his speech on extremism. >> it means standing together against the murder of innocent muslims, the oppression of women, the persecution of jews, and the slaughter of christians. >> reporter: aides say he did address human rights behind the scenes. but publicly, his message was clear. >> we are not here to lecture. we are not here to tell other people how >> reporter: ivanka trump did meet with saudi women leaders, telling them their country's progress is encouraging. but there's still a lot of work to be done. and the first lady visited an all-women business center where she was asked about work/life balance. her response, "you need to balance and find the time." one of the basic rights that women in saudi arabia still don't have, they're not legally allowed to drive. most women rely on a driver or even uber. on the streets of riyadh, women and men living in segregated worlds. and even though the president

. >> and cecilia vega is with us tonight. we heard sean spicer say, you should ask the department of homeland security. and so you did. what did they tell you? >> reporter: they said, unfortunately, this information is not readily available. we do not expect a ruling on this travel ban case for a few weeks. david, it appears headed all the oui to the supreme court. >> all right, cecilia vega with cecilia, thank you. >>> we move onto other news this monday night, and to the investigation under way this evening in boston. the district attorney there holding a news conference just a short time ago. two doctors murdered. the couple was ebb gauged to be married. the suspect was arraigned today in his hospital bed. at his new conference, the d.a. revealing what they discovered at the scene. abc's eva pilgrim from boston. >> reporter: eyes closed, laying in a hospital bed, the man suspected of killing two boston doctors in their luxury apartment appeared before a judge. >> the plea of not guilty is entered on your behalf on both cou

> cecilia vega is standing by live and mary blues at the capitol hill. >>> the deadly plane crash just outside new york city. the jet coming in over a suburban neighborhood. witnesses watching the plane come down. a fireball erupting. the calls from the cockpit. >>> late today, the new horror, the images emerging from syria. the u.s. now accusing syria of executing thousands in an alleged cream tourism. and the tour bus crash more than two dozen students and adults on their way to washington, d.c., and the emergency response. >>> good evening. it's great to have you with us. we begin that bam she'll headline breaking late today. the washington post reporting that president trump disclosed highly classified information to the russians. the post reporting that the information was revealed during a meeting with the foreign minister while they visited the white house last week. if true, senators on both sides of the aisle saying this is ararming. let's get to cecilia vega, live at the white house with the very latest for us. >> reporter: david, good evening to you. the allegation here is t

. >> and cecilia vega is with us tonight. we heard sean spicer say, you should ask the department of homeland security. and so you did. what did they tell you? >> reporter: they said, unfortunately, this information is not readily available. we do not expect a ruling on this travel ban case for a few weeks. david, it appears headed all the oui to the supreme court. >> all right, cecilia vega with us tonight. cecilia, thank you. >>> we move onto other news this monday night, and to the investigation under way this evening in boston. the district attorney there holding a news conference just a short time ago. two doctors murdered. the couple was ebb gauged to be married. the suspect was arraigned today in his hospital bed. at his new conference, the d.a. revealing what they discovered at the scene. abc's eva pilgrim from boston. >> reporter: eyes closed, laying in a hospital bed, the man suspected of killing two boston doctors in their luxury apartment appeared before a judge. >> the plea of not guilty is entered on your behalf

cecilia vega live with us tonight. you covered this campaign, you talked to your sources tonight, is there a chance she's considering another run in 2020. >> 2020 is still a long way off. she no longer wants to sit on the sidelines and while we can expect to hear and see hillary clinton in the weeks ahead it will be as an activist not candidate. >>> we move tonight to that stunning about-face, that guilty plea from a former police officer in a racially-charged shooting death that made national headlines. that's officer michael slag. abc's steve osunsami. >> reporter: for nearly two years the police officer stunned he did nothing wrong. a stunning reversal today. >> today is a good day for justice. i thank god for justice. >> reporter: the officer behind the gun, 35-year-old michael slager, now admits he wasn't defending himself when he shot 51-year-old walter scott in the back in 2015, and that he acted "with specific intent to do something the law forbids." saying those words in court, that he's guilty, now puts an en

cecilia vega live with us tonight. you covered this campaign, you talked to your sources tonight, is there a chance she's considering another run in 2020. >> 2020 is still a long way off. she no longer wants to sit eelhilen we can expect to hear and see hillary clinton in the weeks seaahd an candidate. >>> we move tonight to that stunning about-,rocefa a former officer in a racially-charged shooting death that made national headlines. that's officer michael slag. abc's steve osunsami. >> reporter: for nearly two nars the police officer stunned othing wrong. a stunning reversal today. toda justice. i thank god for justice. >> reporter: the officer behind the gun,5-year-old michael slager, now admits he wasn't defending himself when he shot 51-year-old walter scott in the back in 2015, and that he acted "with specific intent to that he's guilty, now puts an end to both the federal and state trials against him. >> today is rare. the garners, the blands, the rice family, they didn't get this type of justice that we got tod

> cecilia vega is standing by live and mary blues at the capitol hill. >>> the deadly plane crash just outside new york city. the jet coming in over a suburban neighborhood. witnesses watching the plane come down. a fireball erupting. the calls from the cockpit. >>> late today, the new horror, the images emerging from syria. the u.s. now accusing syria of executing thousands in an alleged cream tourism. and the tour bus crash two dozen students and adults on their way to washington, d.c., and the emergency response. >>> good evening. it's great to have you with us. we begin that bam she'll headline breaking late today. the washington post reporting that president trump disclosed highly classified information to the russians. the post reporting that the information was revealed during a meeting with the foreign minister while they visited the white house last week. if true, senators on both sides of the aisle saying this is ararming. let's get to cecilia vega, live at the white house with the very latest for us. >> reporter: david, good evening to you. the allegation here is that in tha

vega. the president also coming to new york later today which is why you are here right now. a big, personal effort by the president this week, as well. >> exactly. we are told by the white house that he made between 15 and 20 calls to house members himself. some of them telling us that he was personally responsible for flipping those "no" votes into the "yes" camp. this is redemption for president trump. he was on the line for this and he wanted this passed in his first hundred days. they were pushing privately to get this vote on this floor sooner than actually came up and we know that now he has this delayed trip to new york because he's back at the white house hoping to celebrate with some of these members, but look, you heard mary talk about what's to come next and lindsay graham today tweeting this should be viewed with caution. this is not a done deal. the white house may be celebrating today, but they've got a long road ahead, george. >> jonathan carr, one of our chief correspondent

and jobs, jobs, jobs. >>> and cecilia vega joins us now from riyadh. cecilia, we saw in your piece the incredible welcome he's receiving, but tomorrow president trump is expected to deliver a big speech to the muslim world. he'll be talking about extremism, which was one of the most controversial topics during the campaign. >> reporter: it absolutely was. tom and the big question right now is here in the birthcase of islam, will he say the words radical islamic terrorism? we know that the president has been working on this speech with stephen miller, his aide behind the travel ban and his advisers tell us tomorrow's speech will take a softer tone. >> many in the middle east will be hanging on every word. cecilia, thank you. >>> now tonight, while we follow the president on his trip to the middle east, several damaging stories back home. ousted fbi director james comey will testify before congress after memorial day, this amid emerging reports the president called mr. comey, quote, a nut job in that controversial oval office meeting with top russian off

> cecilia vega is standing by live and mary blues at the capitol hill. >>> the deadly plane crash just outside new york city. the jet coming in over a suburban neighborhood. witnesses watching the plane come down. a fireball erupting. the calls from the cockpit. >>> late today, the new horror, the images emerging from syria. the u.s. now accusing syria of executing thousands in an alleged cream tourism. and the tour bus crash

abc's senior white house correspondent cecilia vega leading us off. >> reporter: tonight, another bombshell at the white house. abc news confirms president trump allegedly suggested former fbi director james comey shut down his investigation into former national security adviser michael flynn. a source close to comey tells abc news, comey wrote a memo in february the day after flynn was fired. i hope you can let this go, the president allegedly told comey. according to the source, he is a good guy, i hope you can let this go. "the new york times" who first reported the memo says it was part of a paper trail comey wanted to leave behind as evidence into what he called improper influence into his investigation. the times didn't view a copy of that memo. but says associates of comey read it to a reporter. tonight, the white house is disputing the story. saying in statement, the president has never asked mr. comey or anyone else to end any investigation, including any investigation involving general flynn. this is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president an

we're going to start with abc's cecilia vega who is at riyadh. cecilia, good morning to you. >> reporter: paula, good morning. the big question right now, here in the birthplace of islam, will the president use a phrase he repeated time and time again on the campaign trail, radical islamic terrorism? but right now, aides tell us this speech he will deliver later this morning is expected to take a different tone than we have heard from him in the past, a much softer one. spell out extremism in the terms of good versus evil. this morning, president trump meeting with one leader after the next. egypt's president laying on the praise, saying president trump has a unique personality that is capable of doing the impossible. it prompted laughter in the room. and the president's response? >> i agree. [ laughter ] >> reporter: with all the controversy back at home, president trump looking glad to be so far away. ♪ doing a traditional saudi dance typically a symbol of peace after a hard-fought war. ♪ and the men fighting with him in that battle back in

cecilia vega is standing by with their response a short time ago and mary bruce at the capitol. where republican senators are calling the headline, troubling and disturbing. >>> the deadly plane crash just outside new york city. the jet coming in over a suburban neighborhood. witnesses watching the plane come down. a fireball erupting. tonight, the audio, the calls from the cockpit. >>> late today, the new horror the images emerging from syria. the u.s. now accusing syria of executing thousands in an alleged crematorium.

. >> our senior white house correspondent cecilia vega at the white house right now. cecilia, when did the white house know? what do they know right now? >> a pretty extraordinary 30 minutes heads up, george. i've also been in touch with sources on capitol hill who you think would have seen this coming there is complete shock right now in both sides of washington from here at the white house down to capitol hill. this is a white house in complete crisis mode right now. we're talking about a third bombshell three days in a row. right now the scene that have i seen every night so far this week inside this west wing, reporters camped outside of sean spicer's office, waiting for answers to yet another explosive story line. well don't have a response yet from the white house. we do know, as i said, that they know that this has happened, that this special counsel has been pointed. they have been on the record. the president himself said an independent commission is not needed. the white house has said that this would be a waste of resources. this is a white house that canno

former campaign manager, robby mook, told cecilia vega the president should not have fired comey. >> i think we're all so blown away at the gall that he would do this, how it appears he is simply holding himself above the law. >> this is about the future of the fbi's investigation into russia, that's what concerns you the most? >> that's what deeply concerns me. under our system, the president is not above the law. he can't fire somebody investigating him. >> reporter: voters were aware of the russia probe before the election but not aware of the possible involvement by trump associates, including the attorney general, jeff sessions. >> therefore i will recuse myself in the matters that deal with the trump campaign -- >> reporter: that's why democrats now say it's not right for the attorney general to recommend firing comey. the fbi director serves at the pleasure of the president. but his 10-year term gives him independence and power. the last time an fbi director was fired was nearly 25 years ago. 1993. the first year of the clinton administration. bill clinton ousted william sessi

> cecilia vega is standing by live and mary blues at the capitol hill. >>> the deadly plane crash just outside new york city. the jet coming in over a suburban neighborhood. witnesses watching the plane come down. a fireball erupting. the calls from the cockpit. >>> late today, the new horror, the images emerging from syria. the u.s. now accusing syria of executing thousands in an alleged cream tourism. and the tour bus crash

here's cecilia vega. >> reporter: when president ump arrives in the morning, this will greet him. streets lined with american flags, giant billboards showing his face with the saudi king. we just landed, most of the white house press corps flying ahead of the president.prident message to the muslim world by making this his first stop. but the chaos at home is casting a shadow. and his comments from the political trail hurting, too. us i think islam hates there's a tremendous hatred. >> reporter: nine days, five countries.he birthplace of islam, to israel, then the vatican. the pope and the the p firstred following their public clash over the border wall last year. >> i am a christian. i'm proud of it. for a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful. >> and cecilia, the white house sees this first foreign trip as a chance to reset. but the president told me yesterday, he's aware the world leaders are watching. >> reporter: yes, and in fact, jared kushner has been working on this trip since day one. i'm told the highlight will be a speech where the president talks

here's cecilia vega. >> reporter: when president trump arrives in the morning, this will greet him. streets lined with american flags, giant billboards showing his face with the saudi king. we just landed, most of the white house press corps flying ahead of the president. the president hoping to send a message to the muslim world by making this his first stop. but the chaos at home is casting a shadow. and his comments from the political trail hurting, too. >> i think islam hates us. there's a tremendous hatred. >> reporter: nine days, five countries. from saudi arabia, the birthplace of islam, to israel, then the vatican. the pope and the president meeting for the first time, following their public clash over the border wall last year. >> i am a christian. i'm proud of it. for a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful. >> and cecilia, the white house sees this first foreign trip as a chance to reset. but the president told me yesterday, he's aware the world leaders are watching. >> reporter: yes, and in fact, jared kushner has been working on this trip since da

the latest from our senior white house correspondent cecilia vega. cecilia, you're on the scene in those moments late yesterday. the white house so clearly blindsided by this blow. >> reporter: completely blindsided, george. i'm told they only got about a 20 to 30-minute heads-up which is virtue cal knock before the justice department made this announcement. after the doj called them and alerted the white house counsel sources told me the entire senior staff went in to talk it over with the president. that is everyone from vice president pence to chief of staff priebus to kel reaction was measured, not angry. that surprised some of the people who were there for that. you know, the white house and the president have pushed back strongly over the last couple of months about this notion of an independent commission and saying it was a waste of resources. take a look at what the president said in his statement he put out. he said, quote, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know, there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign

first to rome where senior white house correspondent cecilia vega has more on the pope and the president. good morning, cecilia. >> reporter: hi, george. good morning from rome. as you know these are two leaders who don't see eye to eye on a number of issues. they had that very public feud during the campaign over immigration. but today that first face-to-face at the vatican and both seem to genuinely get along. president trump at the vatican this morning, a ceremonial arrival complete with the red carpet and swiss guards. his first meeting with pope francis, first lady melania wearing a veil here too. a slow procession to meet the holy father, president trump seeming to take it all in. >> because he will come out in honor of you. >> reporter: the president's entourage including daughter ivanka and son-in-law jared waiting outside as the president entered the pope's public library, a hand shabetween the world leaders before they got down to business. >> welcome. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: the meeting lasting about 30 minutes. at times the president beaming alongside a very seri

. >> yeah, our cecilia vega asking that question and getting actions moments later. thank you, janai. >>> thousands of additional troops may soon head to afghanistan. senior military and intelligence officials reportedly recommending the expansion to pressure the taliban into working out a deal with the afghan government. the extra troops would offer advice and training to afghan forces and it's said to be supported by top cabinet officials. still has to be approved by president trump. >>> and today voting for their new president. the vote comes weeks after a corruption scandal ended the current president's term and closer to north korea conducting another test. election results set to be confirmed tomorrow. >>> and emmanuel macron, the newly elected president of france is set to take office sunday, a week after his landslide victory over candidate marine le pen. he will likely meet president trump for the first time at a nato summit in belgium later this month. >>> a scare in a busy train station in paris. dozens started evacuating passengers. it focused on a train

. >> reporter: tonight clinton's former campaign manager, robby mook, told cecilia vega the president should not have fired comey. >> i think we're all so blown away at the gall that he would do this, how it appears he is simply holding himself above the law. >> this is about the future of the fbi's investigation into russia, that's what concerns you the most? >> that's what deeply concerns me. under our system, the president is not above the law. he can't fire somebody investigating him. >> reporter: voters were aware of the russia probe before the election but not aware of the possible involvement by trump associates, including the attorney general, jeff sessions. >> therefore i will recuse myself in the matters that deal with the trump campaign -- >> reporter: that's why democrats now say it's not right for the attorney general to recommend firing comey. the fbi director serves at the pleasure of the president. but his 10-year term gives him independence and power. the last time an fbi director was fired was nearly 25 years ago. 1993. the first year of the clinton administration. b

first to rome where senior white house correspondent cecilia vega has more on the pope and the president. good morning, cecilia. >> reporter: hi, george. good morning from rome. as you know these are two leaders who don't see eye to eye on a number of issues. they had that very public feud during the campaign over immigration. but today that first face-to-face at the vatican and both seem to genuinely get along. president trump at the vatican this morning, a ceremonial arrival complete with the red carpet and swiss guards. his first meeting with pope francis, first lady melania wearing a veil here too. a slow procession to meet the holy father, president trump seeming to take it all in. >> because he will come out in honor of you. >> reporter: the president's entourage including daughter ivanka and son-in-law jared waiting outside as the poresidet entered the pope's public library before they got down to business. >> welcome. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: the meeting lasting about 30 minutes. at times the president beaming alongside a very serious pope. this face-to-face comes aft

first to rome where senior white house correspondent cecilia vega has more on the pope and the president. good morning, cecilia. >> reporter: hi, george. good morning from rome. as you know these are two leaders who don't see eye to eye on a number of issues. they had that very public feud during the campaign over immigration. but today that first face-to-face at the vatican and both seem to genuinely get along. president trump at the vatican this morning, a ceremonial carpet and swiss guards. his first meeting with pope francis, first lady melania wearing a veil here too. a slow procession to meet the holy father, president trump seeming to take it all in. >> because he will come out in honor of you. >> reporter: the president's entourage including daughter ivanka and son-in-law jared waiting outside as the poresidet entered the pope's public library before they got down to business. >> welcome. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: the meeting lasting about 30 minutes. at times the president beaming alongside a very serious pope. this face-to-face comes after their very public feud last

here's cecilia vega. >> reporter: the first woman, and second african-american to serve as the chief usher at the white house tonight is out of a job. >> i'm able to walk here now, and 100 years from now, the first lady or some of my ancestors did. >> reporter: angella reid was fired after more than five years in one of the most important behind the scenes roles in the white house, where she managed its staff and residence and worked closely with the president and first family. >> the fact that slalaves built this house. and i now work in this house as a leader, something out of my wildest dreams. >> reporter: after the inauguration, in president trump's first interview at the white house, he led the chief usher out of the elevator to introduce her to david muir. >> i'm gong to put you on camera. >> sir? >> this young lady has done such a fantastic job in terms of transition, and -- >> reporter: angella, nice to see you. >> very nice to meet you. >> reporter: you didn't know this was going to happen. >> no. >> no, she didn't know. but she's a great person and has done just a great jo

. >> so let's get to cecilia vega live tonight from the white house. when do we expect a decision. >> the president today david said it could happen very soon. behind the scenes lobbying is fierce right now. one environmental group tells me they called the white house 30,000 times this afternoon alone. >> the lobbying on both sides tonight. our thanks to you, cecilia >>> image coming in after a terrifying incident on board a passenger plane just off takeoff from melbourne, australia. here's abc's david kerley. >> reporter: australian airport security, heavily armed, quickly carrying the subdued passenger off the jetliner. a dramatic end to a short flight. just after take off from melbourne, the malaysian airlines crew tells the captain a passenger is trying to breech the cockpit door, as the pilot recounted to controllers. >> screaming to have an explosive device, tried to enter the cockpit, has been over powered by passengers, however, will try and land and have the device checked out. >> reporter: that device apparently some kind of power pack. a hal

. >> so let's get to cecilia vega live tonight from the white house. when do we expect a decision. >> the president today david said it behind the scenes lobbying is fierce right now. one environmental group tells me they called the white house 30,000 times this afternoon alone. >> the lobbying on both sides tonight. our thanks to you, cecilia >>> image coming in after a terrifying incident on board a passenger plane just off takeoff from melbourne, australia. here's abc's david kerley. >> reporter: australian airport security, heavily armed, quickly carrying the subdued passenger off the jetliner. a dramatic end to a short flight. just after take off from melbourne, the malaysian airlines crew tells the captain a passenger is trying to breech the cockpit door, as the pilot recounted to controllers. >> screaming to have an explosive device, tried to enter the cockpit, has been over powered by passengers, however, will try and land and have the device checked out. >> reporter: that device apparently some kind of power pack. a half hour after taking off,

here's cecilia vega. >> reporter: the first woman, and second african-american to serve as the chief usher at the white house tonight is out of a job. >> i'm able to walk here now, and 100 years from now, the first lady or some of my ancestors did. >> reporter: angella reid was fired after more than five years in one of the most important behind the scenes roles in the white house, where she managed its staff and residence and worked closely with the president and first family. >> the fact that slaves built this house. and i now work in this house as a leader, something out of my wildest dreams. >> reporter: after the inauguration, in president trump's first interview at the white house, he led the chief usher out of the elevator to introduce her to david muir. >> i'm gong to put you on camera. >> sir? >> this young lady has done such a fantastic job in terms of transition, and -- >> reporter: angella, nice to see you. >> very nice to meet you. >> reporter: you didn't know this was going to happen. >> no. >> no, she didn't know. but she's a great person and has done just a great job.

here's cecilia vega. >> reporter: when president trump arrives in the morning, this will greet him. streets lined with american flags, giant billboards showing his face with the saudi king. we just landed, most of the white house press corps flying ahead of the president. the president hoping to send a message to the muslim world by making this his first stop. but the chaos at home is casting a shadow. and his comments from the political trail hurting, too. >> i think islam hates us. there's a tremendous hatred. >> reporter: nine days, five countries. from saudi arabia, the birthplace of islam, to israel, then the the pope and the president meeting for the first time, following their public clash over the border wall last year. >> i am a christian. i'm proud of it. for a religious leader to question a person's faith is disgraceful. >> and cecilia, the white house sees this first foreign trip as a chance to reset. but the president told me yesterday, he's aware the world leaders are watching. >> reporter: yes, and in fact, jared kushner has been working on this trip since day one. i'

here's cecilia vega in saudi arabia, where the president hopes to turn the page. >> reporter: tonight, air force one en route to saudi arabia. when president trump arrives in the morning, this will greet him. streets lined with american flags, giant billboards showing his face with the saudi king. we just landed, most of the white house press corps flying ahead of the president. every move, every word of his will be under a microscope on this trip. the president hoping to send a message to the muslim world by making this his first stop. but the political chaos at home is casting a shadow. his comments from the campaign trail hurting, too. >> i think islam hates us. there's something there, there's a tremendous hatred. >> reporter: nine days, five countries. the world's great religious centers. from saudi arabia, the birthplace of islam, to israel, then the vatican. the pope and the president meeting for the first time, following their public clash over the border wall last year. pope francis called building a wall unchristian. [ speaking foreign language ] >> i am a christian. i'm pro

abc senior white house correspondent cecilia vega starting off us off from riyadh. >> reporter: with all that controversy back at home, president trump looks like he's relishing being so far away from home. participating in a traditional saudi dance, typically a symbol of peace after a hard-fought war. men fighting with him in that battle back in washington, secretary of state rex tillerson and commence secretary wilbur ross right here today, too, dancing with swords. never before has an american president set foot on saudi soil for his first trip abroad. when air force one touched down, the saudi king personally greeting the president and firstly day. melania trump forgoing a headscarf, following in the foot steps of first lady michelle obama. whose bare head sparked controversy back in 2015. among her critics at the time, donald trump who tweeted we have enough enemies. today, the saudis bestowing on president trump the kingdom's highest honor. lining the streets with american flags. but what he's not seeing, as a woman here in saudi arabia i this door of mcdonald's. i would have t

cecilia vega leading us off. >>> tonight, another bombshell at the white house. abc news confirms president trump allegedly suggested former fbi director james comey shut down his investigation into former national security adviser michael flynn. a source close to comey tells abc news, comey wrote a memo in february the day after flynn was fired. i hope you can let this go, the president allegedly told comey. according the the source, he is a good guy. i hope you can let this go. the "the new york times" who first reported the memo said it was part of a paper trail that comey wanted to leave behind as to what he called improper influence into his investigation. the times didn't view a copy of that memo. but associates of comey read it to a reporter. tonight the white house is disputing the story. saying in statement the president has never asked mr. comey or anyone else to end any investigation involving general flynn. this is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and mr. comey. president trump said comey was fired because

cecilia vega leading us off. >>> tonight, another bombshell at the white house. abc news confirms president trump allegedly suggested down his investigation into former national security adviser michael flynn. a source close to comey tells abc news, comey wrote a memo in february the day after flynn was fired. i hope you can let this go, the president allegedly told comey. according the the source, he is a good guy. i hope you can let this go. the "the new york times" who first reported the memo said it was part of a paper trail that comey wanted to leave behind as to what he called improper influence into his investigation. the times didn't view a copy of that memo. but associates of comey read it to a reporter. tonight the white house is disputing the story. saying in statement the president has never asked mr. comey or anyone else to end any investigation involving general flynn. this is not a truthful or accurate portrayal of the conversation between the president and mr. comey. president trump said comey was fired because he was n competent. calling he ima s