The Note: Trump owns Moore as Billy Bush raises other issues

— -- The TAKE with Rick Klein

It's not just that the Republican National Committee and President Donald Trump own Roy Moore – though the president's purported “Go get ‘em, Roy” comment makes that slice of the story official.

It’s that the president will now have to own his own past actions. Just as critically, Trump may find himself responsible for his words as well.

Billy Bush is back, saying “that’s your voice on the tape,” appearing to directly address Trump and the now-infamous "Access Hollywood" tape Tuesday night on Stephen Colbert’s show.

Also back in the news is a high-profile Trump accuser. Former “Apprentice” contestant Summer Zervos gets a big day in court today in New York, where the president’s lawyers are expected to try to have a defamation case dismissed – with the possibility that Trump himself would have to testify in a case stemming from alleged sexual misconduct.

It’s an awkward reminder that many of the allegations that surfaced last year in the campaign haven’t been resolved, notwithstanding the official White House contention that every woman who accused Trump of wrongdoing was lying.

Notably, with White House lawyers arguing that the president can’t be guilty of obstruction of justice, other Trump lawyers are arguing that the president shouldn’t face a lawsuit in state court.

The president and his legal teams don’t get the final word, of course, in either case.

The RUNDOWN with John Verhovek

Donald Trump and Mitt Romney may have never faced each other in a political contest, but right now the two men that have both been the GOP's presidential standard-bearer are fighting a not-so-private proxy war.

During his visit to Utah yesterday, Trump urged longtime Utah Senator Orrin Hatch to run for re-election in 2018, a seat that Romney has been speculated to be eyeing. "We hope you continue to serve your state and your country in the Senate for a very long time," Trump told Hatch.

Thus far, Hatch has not made an official decision on whether or not to seek an eighth term in the U.S. Senate, but Trump undoubtedly seems to prefer Hatch over Romney, who offered a blistering critique of Trump during the 2016 campaign, calling him a "phony, a fraud."

The two are also at odds over embattled Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who Trump officially endorsed yesterday and offered "enthusiastic support" to in a personal phone call.

Romney took to Twitter, seemingly to scold Trump and his party, saying: "Roy Moore in the US Senate would be a stain on the GOP and on the nation. Leigh Corfman and other victims are courageous heroes. No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity."

Moore is getting another boost of support from former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.

Bannon is appearing tonight at a rally with Moore in Fairhope, Alabama.

There is now quite a bit of distance between two men who once sat together to discuss Romney becoming the next secretary of state — although we may finally be seeing just how real of a possibility that actually was.

THE TIP with Jordyn Phelps

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, told reporters that President Trump had no choice but to endorse Roy Moore because he needs the Republican vote, during an off-camera gaggle on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews upon the president's return from Utah.

"I don’t think he had any choice but to do that. You know, he needs every Republican he can get so he can put his agenda through. So that’s, you know, the only Republican you can possibly get down there at this time," Hatch said.

Asked about whether Moore had become "untouchable" because of the accusations leveled against him, Hatch said "we'll have to see" what will happens if Moore wins but said it's a matter for the people of Alabama to decide.

"Well, we’ll have to see. We’ll just have to see. Assuming he wins, we’ll have to see. Many of the things that he allegedly did were decades ago. So you know, it’s hard. That’s a decision that has to be made by the people in that state. If they make that decision, who are we to question ‘em?"

Monday night, Sen. Hatch’s communications director, Matt Whitlock, said the senator’s comments were being “misconstrued” in a series of tweets.

“For the record, Hatch has not endorsed Moore, has spoken out harshly against him and urged him to drop out of the race, But again, it is in the hands of the people of Alabama, and he doesn’t get to vote there,” Whitlock wrote.

Hatch declined to say whether he would run again, though he said the president directly asked him to do so.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Democrats refusal to give even one vote for massive Tax Cuts is why we need Republican Roy Moore to win in Alabama. We need his vote on stopping crime, illegal immigration, Border Wall, Military, Pro Life, V.A., Judges 2nd Amendment and more. No to Jones, a Pelosi/Schumer Puppet!" President Trump tweeted Monday morning.

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