Griner Pleads Guilty, Speedy Exit for BoJo?

deal around. These kinds of exchanges work best without the public attention. Bloomberg Sound On with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio, Boris Johnson announces his resignation. Welcome to the fastest hour in politics with historic developments from London and big questions about what comes next. Will be joined in a moment by Anthony Gardner, former US Ambassador to the European Union who went to college with the Prime Minister. Later this nas are piling up in Georgia as the investigation into

the election spreads to Donald Trump's inner circle. Will have the latest from Atlanta and Washington. In a conversation with Bloomberg's Billy House our panel today Bloomberg Politics contributor, Democratic analyst Genie Chanzano along with Republican strategist Doug High, former communications director at the r n C. Just another day, nothing going on. Well, that didn't take long. At this time yesterday the headline was Boris Johnson refuses to quit.

Right fast forward twenty four hours and add more cabinet resignations. The Prime Minister acknowledges the facts. It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and that for a new prime minister. But it gets more complicated from there, as Johnson stays at ten Downing and plans to stay

for several more months while his successor has chosen. But Bloomberg is now reporting the rule and Conservative Party is urgently drawing up plans for an accelerated contest to name a new prime minister by the end of summer. So it might be worth pulling out the bags now reaction from the business community. Bloomberg spoke today with Mike Fries, the CEO of Liberty Global Freeze forgive me Mike Freeze, the telecom company that owns Virgin Media O two and

a joint ventures and a lot of work there. We caught up with him at the Sun Valley conference in Idaho. Freeze on working with Boris Johnson's team. His government was very supportive of what we're doing. Is you know, we're building fiber throughout the UK, We're investing in five G were leveling up and upgrading the market in a way that it deserves and requires, and we're spending billions doing it.

So I felt that his government was quite supportive of that investment and giving us a shot at getting a great return on that investment. So let's hope that continues. That's the main focus for us. Everyone's asking what might change here from business to politics. White House Press Secretary Karin John Pierre are a line aunts with the United Kingdom continues to be strong. Our special relationship with the

people UH in the country will continue to endure. None of that changes, And I will I will remind you a week ago, just a week ago today, when the President was in NATO UH in Madrid for a historic Natal summit. As you heard him speak at the press conference and you saw what happened, you saw a reassurance of real affirmation of NATO countries saying again what they are going to continue to do, continue to support Ukraine, but no one quite knows what the timeline will be

and of course who will follow. Tony Gardner was US Ambassador to the European Union from seventeen. He's now senior advisor at Brunswick Group and he joins US. Now, Tony, you tweeted this morning, I've known the man for thirty five years. Hasn't changed one bit since our time at Balliol. So you guys went to college together. Did you not expect him to line? Uh? Not this fast. No, I got to meet him. We were at Bail College, Oxford together.

We debated together at the Oxford Union Debating Society. Stayed in touch in Brussels. I was the European Commission. He was a journalist writing fiction about the European Union. Uh. He was the Spectator magazine and mayor and then Foreign Secretary and introducing John Kerry. So I've known him for a long time his writing fiction. Did did he ever start writing nonfiction? Uh? Well, yeah, he has written nonfiction,

but certainly as a journalist. He was writing stuff about the EU that was mostly half invented because he understood very ale on his career that it was. It was a smart way of getting ahead, and the news people the kind of scratched the itch of a lot of readers of the Daily Telegraph who off of the European Union was kind of the enemy. So he's been very smart and kind of figuring out how to use people

and to promote himself. The tweet that I mentioned you you included the front page of this, uh, this new edition of The Economist that comes complete with the headline clown fall Britain after Boris and there he is looking like a clown with a couple of flags, he's got the helmet on and he's falling off of a zip line. Is that the goofball image that you have in your

head having known him for so long? Well, look, he ran for the presidency of the Oxford Union Debating Society back in six We're obviously young at that time, and he was very clever and that he realized that in order to become president of the Union, he wouldn't win on the image of someone from very privileged background had been to all the right schools and stuff, for which which he definitely had um. He went to eaton, which

is a you know, it's a very accosted environment. So he developed this, uh, this image of kind of uh well, you know, the humorous guy who never did much work, who was a kind of would show up kind of unprepared and unscripted, and people people loved it. As we are reporting Ambassador of the morning meeting with number ten staff as a discussion of his resignation statement and whether he could remain for a period as a caretaker leader. Uh. Some were in tears in the meeting. Others knew the

time had come. How long does he have as a caretaker Well, it's it's a it's a long period of time to stay in that post. Um. Other you know, some people are urging him John Major, former prime ministers, urging him to make that a shorter period of time to find another leader, and I think, you know, it's uh, it's it would be wiser for the country to move on right now, because look, the UK has so much going for it. I'm a huge fan of the country.

I've lived in the UK for for twenty four years of my life actually, and regardless of the leader, this country will continue to thrive in my view, even not not as a member of the EU, but it needs to now move on from a period that's been very turbulent. Shall we say, yeah, what happened overnight? This time yesterday we were talking about his refusal to resign, how long he could hold out. People were, you know, placing bets on the timeline and the whole thing was it. Was

it his conversation with family staff. Did somebody get to him? Was it the resignation's ambassador? What happened in the last twenty four hours. Well, I think we had nearly fifty resignations, which is I think more than either his historic levels are closed his or levels. And I think many of his closest aids and gone to him said, look, if

you're not gonna resigning, you're gonna hold on. There's going to be a rule change in this parliamentary group that you know, typically once he won the leadership contest vote and typically would have been protected for a year, but they could have changed the rules and had another vote which he would have lost. And I think people urged him say, look, this is not the way to leave your premiership. They probably urged him say, look, you can

be remembered for getting Brexit done. Quote unquote, you should do that. You're going to have another career, so don't don't do that. Don't hang on to the bitter end. We're talking with Tony Gardner, former US Ambassador of the European Union and a former classmate of Boris Johnson's uh in college. A lot of people are talking shortlists, Ambassador. Is it too soon to do that. It's it's not like, you know, forecasting a presidential election in the United States.

This could take a lot of different turns. Now, yeah, I could take a lot of different turns. I mean, the bookmakers are making their odds. Um. You know the fact of that there's still very influential people who want to see someone in that post who has been a sworn proponent of getting Brexit done and seeing it through. So that might in fact eliminate a number of the candidates. I'm thinking of Tom tugan Hat, who is extremely competent as a young Tory m P, who's played his interest

in the job. So it's more likely there will be someone who is um, who's a fresh face, who's a facial face of competence, who's perceived to be honest, which is frankly a lot of people are are demanding right now because they're they're frankly tired of being told one thing in the discovering the twenty four hours of the exact opposite happened. Uh. And this has been going on

for years. So a brexitier, but a fresh faced view of competence and frankly U uh you know, I think the former Chancellor Richie Senak is got to be high on in one's list. Name keeps coming up in every one of these conversations. Ambassador, Does the White House have it right that nothing changes here in our relationship? Look, I think it has it right. I mean this is it has been, uh and will remain a key ally of the United States on so many issues, and by

the way, not just security military issues. I lived through some of this when I was at Post your unions. There's hugely important allies on law enforcements, hugely important allies on on other topics as well. Free trade, where the UK is was frankly always on our side in at

least during the Obama years. Um in proposing view of freer, liberalized trade, free competition, trans Atlantic unity, strong supporter of NATO, which already mentioned security, but also a thought leader on the digital economy, which we also care out uh in many other areas besides, and also in climate change. So for sure important and will remain as a country punching above its weight. Fascinating conversation. Lastly, where we began, finishing where we began? Ambassador, do you ever go to a

party with Boris Johnson? Yes? Is it the best party you ever went to? He's an amusing guy, he's right, well, he speaks well, he's humorous. Absolutely, it's good company party gate with the Ambassador. I really appreciate the conversation. Tony Gardner, Senior Adviser Brunswick Can, former US Ambassador to the EU and the Obama years. We assemble our panel next. Never

a dull moment, not here. This is Bloomberg. It is clearly now the will of the Parliamentary Conservative Party that that should be a new leader of that party and that for a new prime minister. Very well, good night, and I've agreed with the Graham Brady, the chairman of our back bench MPs, that the process of choosing that new leader should begin now and the timetable will be

announced next week. Very well, I do, Andrew, Andrew, so I want to say to the millions of people who voted for us, in many of them voting conservatives, very well say, I'd like to say and taste my first champagne. I know that there will be many people who are relieved, and perhaps quite a few who will also be disappointed. Very well, good bye, and I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world. But them's the brakes. There's the brakes.

Thank you all very much. But how long does he have? Boris Johnson wants to stay on until the next Prime minister is expected, an idea, as Ambassador Gardner mentioned a couple of moments ago. It was panned by former Prime Minister John Major's calling on Johnson to leave immediately, saying that it's unwise and maybe unsustainable for Johnson to remain in office and that his new cabinet may not be able to restrain him. Some of this sounds familiar, and

so we bring it to the panel. Bloomberg Politics contributors Genie Chanzano, Democratic analyst and Doug his with US Today, Republican strategist, former Deputy chief of staffed Eric Cantor, former r n C communications director, Genie. This time yesterday we were having a very different conversation. How much time do you think he has now that he has acknowledged the facts? Well, you know, I was saying yesterday maybe you could be as short as a day or a couple of weeks,

and it happened very very fast. Um. But I think the concern now is, to the point of your previous conversation, is that as a caretaker, we're even hearing the British press talk about this. Is it possible that he decides not to step down, that he tries to pull up quote unquote Donald Trump? Um, And there is some concern. Do I think that's going to happen? No, But I also think that that's why the committee, probably early next week, because they don't trust him, is going to move to

get him out as quickly as possible. Doug, what do you see happening here in the hours following this announcement? We obviously I didn't know this was going to happen, at least a lot of us until we woke up this morning. It developed overnight, but there's not a lot of patients for him to hang around. Oh and I'll tell you, you you know, if we're using the phrase you know,

this time yesterday, this time yesterday. It was in the UK and I was trading notes with two friends who had previously worked for Boris Johnson, who who I had done some work with Boris on who would who had all along said he won't go, he won't go, he won't go, and then changed their tune and said this is over and it's now just a question about negotiating timing.

What was the resignations, what actually what became too much to ignore It was the the initial two resignations of the cabinet ministers, the Chancellor and the Health minister um and then the snowball and pile on effective that to where it became very very clear that this was just not sustainable. And so look, we'll see what the timetable is now. You know, if he were to resign immediately, not knowing fully the processes processes, would there be an

interim prime minister? Is that more or less stable than what we than what we have right now? And and look, you know I've I've spent a fair amount of time with Boris Johnson, both in London and in in Washington, d C. And Davos as well and I get that people want to, you know, make cracks about his hair and you know, the zip line and all of that.

But you know, if if we look back at the Theresa may Um prime ministership, that was also a very tumultuous time and you know, certainly there weren't the questions about her honesty, but you can't say that that was not a rocky road We have in in not just American democracy right now, in the UK democracy, but if you look throughout the world, Israel, France, you know, democracy is in a very fragile place for a lot of reasons. And so I don't think it's a massive surprise that

the UK, you know, is experiencing this right now. And while there are a lot of people, as Boris Johnson reference, that might be happy for him to go, it's very clear that one person is and that's Zelinsky. Well okay, So with that in mind, Genie, what's the worse idea having a caretaker prime minister somebody comes into the interim or leaving Boris Johnson until it's clear who his successor is. And I'm asking you that through the prism of the war in Ukraine, well, certainly, I mean I agree with

Doug Zelensky that he would like him to stay. You know, you look at the polls, quite frankly and stunning how popular somebody like Boris Johnson is in the Ukraine Visa VI, how unpopular he is at home. The real the reality is, you know, when Theresa May was a caretaker prime minister, it was okay because while they disagreed on policy, personality wasn't as much of a concern. Here there is a real lack of trust of Boris Johnson and what he's

gonna do. And again I go back to the fact that there is some concern that while he said today he would go, this determination to stay on for the you know, a certain period of time has people concerned, and so I do think that there is going to be an effort next week to push him out. I don't think we will see a massive policy shift here on the Ukraine, but of course that depends on who follows him as well. Doug, you knew him, you worked

with him, Do you trust him, do you believe him? Well, look, obviously there's been some issues of a lot of issues of things that were said that yeah, turned out to not be true, and that's that's ultimately you know why why he is, why he's been pushed out and ultimately had to go. But also here Stormer, maybe leave. It sounds like you might not. It's all right, sit stay

with us, Doug and Genie. This is Bloomberg broadcasting live from our nation's capital, Bloomberg to New York, Bloomberg eleven Frio to Boston, Bloomberg one O six one to San Francisco, Bloomberg nine sixty to the country Sirius x M General one nine and around the globe, the Bloomberg Business app and Bloomberg Radio dot Com. This is Bloomberg Sound On

with Joe Matthew. The District Attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, wants some time with Rudy Giuliani and Senator Lindsey Graham and several others as part of a special grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the election, an investigation that could be a more immediate concern for Donald Trump than what's happening now in Washington. Will discuss that next with Bloomberg.

Congressional reporter Billy how Quite a bombshell when we learned from Cassidy Hutchinson before the January six Committee about a week ago about the pardon request. Did Rudy Giuliani ever suggest that he was interested in receiving a presidential pardon related to January six? He did, pretty cut and dry. But Rudy Giuliani says that never happened. This is him talking on his podcast. Everybody in Washington, Washington wants to make me a liar and a crook, and I'm not.

But I know I have to protect myself. Now, I could have asked for a pardon for a very good reason. I don't want to get framed. I know I didn't

do anything wrong. It goes on to say that he is being framed, not just here in Washington, where, of course we've seen several snippets of his testimonies video testimony before the January six Committee, But what's happening in Georgia is worth your attention, and it's not getting a heck of a lot of coverage here because well, there's just too much going on every day, even outside of the story.

Of course, Bloomberg reporting that Giuliani, along with as I mentioned, Senator Lindsey Graham and five others, called to testify before the Special Grand jury in Atlanta. The d A Fulton County has already taken testimony from George's secretary of State, and we could be about to learn a lot more. Joining us to connect the dots between what's happening here in Washington and this separate investigation happening in Georgia. Bloomberg

Congressional Correspondent Billy House, It's great to have you back, Billy. Uh. This is something that is unfolding in Georgia. UH, and and interesting that it's not getting so much attention because our eyes are trained on what's happening here in Washington. Is Rudy Giuliani in big trouble? Well, the Georgia of Special Grand Jury in Fulton County does seem to be zeroing in on him, if not actually a form of

President Trump. And it does seem to be kind of ahead of what would have been, you know, anything but boring congressional hearings, but also the Justice Department here in Washington. The number of witnesses and the people they're calling seem to be slightly ahead of the pace of both these Washington investigations. So UH, Fulton County District Attorney Fanny Willis

has been at this. She's looking specifically at attempts to overturn the Georgia uh results, and and she seems to be setting the pace and she can actually you know, levy charges as opposed to the January six committee, which some people don't seem to understand. That's correct. I mean, this is a special grand jury right now. So whatever report it releases will then be turned over to her and then she will have to decide whether to go to a regular grand jury and get an indictment that

there are charges to be had. And she says she hopes to uh, you know, not go past October. And that's, uh, that's a pretty pretty fast pace at this point, giving we're almost so in mid July, so a lot of fast another fascinating aspect. And she has the governor of Georgia giving recorded testimony on July. So she's nearing the end because she's going to the big dogs right now.

She's already nibbled it at the edges. We're reporting as well, Bloomberg lass as Senator Lindsey Graham is loawyering up and we'll uh fight the subpoena. This is a different case for these two gentlemen. Uh, does Lindsey Graham have a chance to beat this? Oh? I think he does, just on separation of powers arguments perhaps, but even more basic as he can string out the legal battle on this

far past where Fannie Willis wants to go. He's being accused of kind of trying to influence the outcome there with two telephone calls. He can string this out forever. And we've seen that in Washington investigations here separately here in the Capital, as you've been covering. Billy former White House counsel Pat Sipplony, whose name has come up repeatedly. Uh, in the hearing so far, will testify before the committee. It's going to happen tomorrow. We understand behind closed doors.

How important is that development? Oh, it's huge, huge, He's he's emerged as very important witness. He's he's going to testify in person. This isn't going to be remote. He's going to show up at the O'Neil building in Washington

and around ten am. And he has been involved, according to Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony and other testimony and many of the key events that have been unfolding for us in these hearings, including warning please don't let the president go to the Capitol that day as his riotous supporters were on their way there. This is being described as as a transcribed interview. Does that mean we will not see or hear his voice or his image like we have some of the others. Oh, no, anything, But there will

also be video of his testimony. Well that's the aim I believe, as the you is that video. And however many hearings we have one, two or three to go, we don't know, so we could see some of this or hear some of this as soon as next week. Right, it's worth reminding everybody that the next hearing is actually set for Tuesday. Absolutely, the next hearing stept for Tuesday, supposedly focusing on the extremist groups ever behind some of

the violence. But there could also be another hearing next week, and there's always going to be a concluding hearing sometime in September when they unveil their actual report and recommendations. So a video of anything could show up in those next three hearings, and there might be more hearings that we don't know about. They're kind of gone off script

all of a sudden, adding adding chapters they have. I mean it's actually been very compelling because we don't know who's going to be, you know, even appearing as a witness necessarily uh, from hearing to hearing. But to your point, this next session is about connecting the dots to these militia groups. That's the purpose of Tuesday's hearing, that is, and that seems to be a heavy lift for the committee. Uh the even Adam Schiff says, we'll wait and see

what will show you. But uh, they're trying to link the White House or people in the Trump board, but directly to uh some of these people who are arranging for these organizations or these uh people in the organizations to show up that day and create some uh mischief. Uh. So there's a mysterious alleged called that Trump wanted his then chief of staff Mark Meadows to make to the

Willard War Room. We're Bannon and others may have had connections with these groups, but all that has has never been proven, and we'll see what the committee lays out Tuesday. Billy House, it's always our pleasure. We appreciate the updates. Bloomberg Congress reporter who's all over this and will be a busy man for the next hearing. You think the Willard is going to rent out the war room? I mean, should they just put the plaque on the door right now?

People pay extra for that, right am I the first person to suggest that. It's like when you're in Amsterdam you visit the room where John Lennon and Yoko had the bed in. Maybe not. We'll reassemble the panel next. Genie is coming back along with Doug High on the Fastest Hour in Politics. I'm Joe Matthew and Washington. But we'll check traffic and markets for you on the way to stay where you are. This is Bloomberg. This is Bloomberg. Sound on with Joe Matthew on Bloomberg Radio. The headline

on the terminal. Brittany Grinder pleads guilty to drug charges in Russian court. This, of course, just a day after her letter to President Biden was made public. The White House responded, and of course after as well, her supporters held another big rally in Phoenix. Grinder plays for the Phoenix Mercury. Her wife Cherrell, spoke to the Crown, I ask for your help and continuing to fight for BG

safe and quick return home. Let's make sure this ministration knows that they have our support to do whatever is necessary, and that we are not going to ever be quiet until she's home safely. And then she pleads guilty, Grinder saying she mistakenly packed marian A vape cartridges in her luggage when she flew off to play off season in a Russian basketball League. Reaction from White House Press Secretary Karine Sean Pierre. That was a legal advice clearly that

Brittany received from her from her lawyers. I cannot speak to why the decision was made, Okay, remembering in light of the the plea. Today, this administration has said repeatedly that Grinder is being wrongfully detained. We believe that the Russian Federation is holding uh is wrongfully details wrongfully detained Brittany Grinder, and she is in intolerable circumstances right now, and we are going to do everything that we can. The President has this top of mind to make sure

that we get Brittany home safely. And also Paul Whaling is now reportedly a prisoner swap in the works as we reassemble the panel. Bloomberg Politics contributor, Democratic analyst Jeanie Schanzano is here today along with Doug high Back, with US Republican strategist former r n C communications director to these add up to you, Doug, if the White House is getting involved here publicly pushing for her releasing she's being wrongfully detained only for her to plead guilty to

drug charges, what are we doing well? I mean, clearly what's going on in Russia is the definition of a kangaroo court, and clearly she's being used as as a bargaining chip. And I think, you know, for Biden, this presents a potential opportunity for him. So much of the Democratic base has been demoralized with Biden, sometimes I think unfairly because he's not seen as being angry enough or fighting enough, even when his hands are often tied, say

on Supreme Court decisions and so forth. This gives him an opportunity to not just get her back home him, but to demonstrate his outrage, and to do so at Vladimir Putin, who the world is already outraged with for the actions in Ukraine. I hope he takes advantage of this situation. Does a does a prisoner swap make you uncomfortable? Though obviously we're going to have to let go a

bad guy to get a good guy back. Yeah. Look, it's obviously not ideal, um, But this is unfortunately the situation that we found, you know, that we found ourselves in as a nation where one American essentially can be held hostage so that Vladimir Putin, you know, can extract pain points. So this is where Biden should talk tough and be tough. What's your take, Jennie, Again, this is for every story today. We refer to this time yesterday because the message was a bit different out of the

White House. We heard about the letter President Biden called Brittney Grinder's wife, who we just heard from, only for a day later. For her to plead guilty, does that change the story at all for you? It does to a certain extent. I mean, when I heard about the guilty plea, it became clear that there is a sense among her counsel that she needs to admit guilt. She will, by all, uh, you know, by what we can fathom, she would be convicted almost certainly nine out of ten

times and be convicted for ten years. But she needs to do that so they can have this discussion about a potential prisoner swap, and I don't think we can forget. And this is something I wanted to underscore yesterday, that this is a black woman and a gay black woman. Identity matters here because she's serving in a jail in Russia, in a country with some of the cruelest lgbt Q laws in the world, and so you can't under we can't underscore that enough. And so I'm not surprised that

she decided to plead guilty. She has now said she packed in a hurry, that's why she mistakenly carried the cannabis oil in. But you know, I disagree slightly with Dog, just to the extent that while I hope Biden does everything he said, I think that there is a chance that the pressure, the public pressure on Biden, this demand for action, also makes it less likely that Russian officials

are willing to play ball. And that is a real problem for Joe Biden, and more importantly at this point for Grinder and Whalen, And that is a real concern, or should be for all of us. Doug, is the time to send Bill richardson overseas or what? Well, I you know, the short answers I don't know. I actually agree with with what you need. This is not a perfect situation um for for Biden in any needs. So you know, I hope that two things can happen, and

they're not necessarily all going to happen. One is that we get our home um and the two that Biden, you know, is able to demonstrate to his base that he can get upset, that he can get outraged and stand up to somebody who needs standing up to. Vladimir Putin is going to get away with everything that he's allowed to get away with. And this is where it's important to you know, as best we can, as imperfectly

as we can draw a line in the sand. If you're curious about the letter, by the way, that we discuss yesterday, at this time, Karine John Pierre again, the Press secretary at the White House, says it has been delivered. Officials again attended Britney Griner's trial today and delivered to her a letter from President Biden. We will not relent until Brittany Paul Whalen and all and all other wrongfully detained Americans are reunited with their loved ones. And that

is the focus of the UH Secretary of State. That's the focus of the president national National security team and his focus as well. All Right, so Genie Paul Whalen's name is now part of the official response to Brittney Grinder questions. We got into this as well. His family says they have still not heard from President Biden. Is that phone call in the works? Should it be? It

should be, and I would suspect it is. Um you know, there's another aspect to this which is really hard to discuss as we talk about both Whalen and Grinder in these horrific conditions, which is that does this incentivize more of these kinds of unlawful attempts by governments like Russia to detain Americans unlawfully and illegally overseas if they get a sense that the United States will then negotiate these trades, that can be a very very dangerous road for the

United States go down. We've long resisted that, and I'm not saying, you know, we should not negotiate on with these on these two, but that has long been a concern of the United States. But to your point, I suspect there is a call to Whalen's family and rightly should be from the White House some of the talk today, and there have been reports on this, Doug Uh that they could in fact be part of a prisoner swap together.

Can you envision a world? I mean, I think this gets back to your initial point and the politics behind securing the release even for a bad guy. Of these two people, Grinder and Whalen in one pop. Yeah, I mean, that's that's the reality of where we find ourselves. And

there's politics involved here. Obviously their domestic politics, there are international and geopolitics, and I think Biden is at some point going to remind himself will be reminded of the domestic politics in this that his base, especially because we're talking about, you know, a black gay woman and exactly what Jeannie was talking about, the experience that you're going

to have in Russia. Um, you know, with that being so difficult, that Biden is going to have to do something domestically politically to his to demonstrate to his base that he's fighting for them, even if it's just one person at a time. Our story on the terminal updating all of this says, Russia hits at US hype on prisoners. Uh. This is the idea from Russia that we're making a big deal out of this, uh when she's actually going through their uh, their legal process. You can qualify that

as you want. But the hysterics which they love accusing Americans of apparently the last that we've heard here, there is a chance Genie now having pleaded guilty, she could serve ten years in prison. She could and again having pleaded gil t I might understand the number is nine out of ten. Some people say it's as close as from her situation, will be convicted and it will be found guilty and have to serve ten years, of course, barring some kind of swaps. So you know that has

she has got to be frightened. And we heard in that that, you know, the pleas to the president and her letter from her wife. I mean, this has got to be an incredibly difficult situation for her. Her lawyer, as we are reporting via a Jents France Press, had urged the court to impose quote as soft a sentence as possible unquote. We'll let you know, of course, as we learn more. Doug High, I want to bring you back uh to where we were just a little while

ago this hour talking about Boris Johnson. You have a unique view here. You've worked with him, you consulted with him when he was mayor of London. To your point, you spent time with him here in Washington, and I didn't have a chance to hear your question just because we were running out of time here. Your answer rather, Um, Look, do you take him at his word having spent time with him, because obviously this has become a story of trust. Yeah, And and look he's lost that trust to a lot

of his members. That's why he's going, and ultimately why he should go. When that trust is gone, you know, you don't get it back, and so they're clearly going to move on, however they decide to. Um. My experience is he is one of the shrewdest, smartest operators I've ever seen. Um. The last two times I was in London, I had people who despise Borist Johnson, who would say, and this was in February and in September, say, but

this guy is a winner. He always figures a way out and he essentially, did you know, until he ran out of time, just needs to keep his shirt tails in and stuff. Right, I mean, wouldn't I just he what a character? You know? I asked the Ambassador this earlier Dodge. You ever go to a good party with Boris Johnson? I mean I have not been to a good party with I've been to some receptions the embassy here and so forth, but not what I would call a good party or or anything like that. All above

board as right now. I would have expected nothing less from Doug High, A straight shooter, Republican strategist, and back with us today on the panel with Jennie Chanzano. Thank you both for the insights. We'll meet you back here tomorrow the Friday edition. To sound on this is Bloomberg