HER MOMENTUM CONTINUES IN THE LATEST POLLS AND THIS WEEKEND
BOTH SHE AND JOE BIDEN TOOK TO
THE PICKET LINES WITH STRIKING
UAW MEMBERS.
UAW MEMBERS. BUT TONIGHT WE START WITH
GROWING CALLS FOR AN IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP,
CALLS THAT ARE BEING ZRICHB GING
PRESIDENTIAL ADMISSION FOR THE
RECORD BOOKS.
RECORD BOOKS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES APPEARED TO SUGGEST THAT
HE SPOKE WITH A FOREIGN LEADER
ABOUT A POLITICAL OPPONENT AND
IMPLIED THAT HE WANTED THAT
LEADER, THE PRESIDENT OF
UKRAINE, TO INVESTIGATE THAT
POLITICAL OPPONENT.
POLITICAL OPPONENT. IT’S A CONVERSATION THAT SITS AT
THE CENTER OF A WHISTLEBLOWER’S
COMPLAINT ABOUT ALLEGED ABUSE OF
POWER WITHIN THE WHITE HOUSE.
NOW, WE KNOW THAT LAWRENCE
TYPICALLY DOESN’T PLAY A LOT OF
SOUND FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AT
THIS HOUR, BUT THIS IS A
REMARKABLE NOTION, THAT A
SITTING PRESIDENT WOULD PUSH A
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO
INVESTIGATE A DOMESTIC POLITICAL
RIVAL.
RIVAL. IT’S A PIECE OF TAPE THAT YOU DO
ACTUALLY HAVE TO SEE TO BELIEVE.
>> THE CONVERSATION I HAD WAS
LARGELY CONGRATULATORY, WAS
LARGELY CORRUPTION, ALL OF THE
CORRUPTION TAKING PLACE, WAS
LARGELY THE FACT THAT WE DON’T
WANT OUR PEOPLE LIKE VICE
PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS SON
CREATING THE CORRUPTION ALREADY
IN THE UKRAINE.
>> TRUMP AND HIS ALLIES SPENT
DAYS DENYING THAT THERE WAS ANY
THERE THERE AND THEN TRUMP
SEEMED TO ADMIT ON CAMERA THAT
HE HAD RAISED THE ISSUE IN A
CALL WITH THE UKRAINIAN
PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT. AND WHILE WE’RE AT IT WE SHOULD
NOTE THAT NUMEROUS FACT CHECKERS
HAVE NOT FOUND ANY EVIDENCE OF
THE CORRUPTION THAT DONALD TRUMP
CLAIMS EXISTS.
CLAIMS EXISTS. TRUMP SAID AT THE UNITED
NATIONS, "IT WAS A PERFECT PHONE
CALL."
CALL." AND THIS MORNING THE PRESIDENT
TOOK THINGS A STEP FURTHER.
HE SUGGESTED A LINK BETWEEN HIS
ADMINISTRATION’S REVIEW OF
MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE AND HIS
EFFORTS TO PERSUADE THE
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT TO PURSUE
DAMAGING MATERIAL ABOUT A
POLITICAL RIVAL.
POLITICAL RIVAL. >> IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO TALK
ABOUT CORRUPTION.
ABOUT CORRUPTION. IF YOU DON’T TALK ABOUT
CORRUPTION, WHY WOULD YOU GIVE
MONEY TO A COUNTRY THAT YOU
THINK IS CORRUPT?
ONE OF THE REASONS THE NEW
PRESIDENT GOT ELECTED IS HE WAS
GOING TO STOP CORRUPTION.
SO IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ON
OCCASION YOU SPEAK TO SOMEBODY
ABOUT CORRUPTION.
ABOUT CORRUPTION. VERY IMPORTANT.
VERY IMPORTANT. >> THE PRESIDENT LATER DENIED
PROMISING AID IN EXCHANGE FOR AN
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. BUT EVEN IF THERE WAS NO PROMISE
OF QUID PRO QUO IT’S HARD TO SEE
HOW TRUMP ISN’T ABUSING THE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT TO
FURTHER HIS OWN POLITICAL
FUTURE.
FUTURE. ONE MORE NOTE ABOUT THE
CONTROVERSIAL PHONE CALL IN
QUESTION.
QUESTION. IT HAPPENED JUST ONE DAY AFTER
FORMER SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT
MUELLER TESTIFIED BEFORE
CONGRESS ABOUT RUSSIAN
INTERFERENCE IN THE 2016
ELECTION.
ELECTION. HERE’S HOW FORMER SECRETARY OF
STATE JOHN KERRY DESCRIBED THE
PRESIDENT’S ACTIONS ON "MORNING
JOE."
JOE." >> MY REACTION IS ONE OF
ABSOLUTE SHOCK AND AMAZEMENT
THAT APPARENTLY WITHIN HOURS OF
THE -- OR DAYS OF THE MUELLER
TESTIMONY THE PRESIDENT IS ON
THE TELEPHONE PUTTING AMERICAN
FOREIGN POLICY IN HOCK WHILE HE
EX-TORTS THE LEADER OF ANOTHER
COUNTRY TO RUSSIA’S ADVANTAGE, I
MIGHT ADD.
MIGHT ADD. I MEAN, HERE’S ANOTHER INSTANCE
OF THE PRESIDENT PUTTING THE
HEAT ON SAYING TO THE COUNTRY
WE’RE TRYING TO HELP, RESIST
RUSSIA, AND HE TURNS AROUND AND
SAYS I’M GOING TO TAKE YOUR AID
AWAY UNLESS YOU BECOME THE
OPPOSITION RESEARCH CENTER FOR
MY CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
UNITED STATES. THAT IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROFOUND
ABUSE OF POWER.
>> ALL RIGHT.
TONIGHT NBC NEWS IS REPORTING
THAT HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
HAVE CALLED A MEMBERS-ONLY
CAUCUS MEETING TOMORROW
AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS BOTH THE
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO TRUMP AHEAD OF ACTING
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE JOSEPH MAGUIRE’S
APPEARANCE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE ON
TUESDAY -- ON THURSDAY.
NOW, THAT MEETING WAS ANNOUNCED
AS MORE DEMOCRATS HAVE COME OUT
IN SUPPORT OF AN IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRY AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP
IN THE WAKE OF THESE REVELATIONS
ABOUT HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE.
JOINING ME NOW, DEMOCRATIC
CONGRESSWOMAN DEBBIE DINGELL OF
MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN. SHE’S A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP. AND CONGRESSMAN BILL FOSTER OF
ILLINOIS.
ILLINOIS. HE’S A MEMBER OF THE FINANCIAL
SERVICES COMMITTEE, AND HE DOES
SUPPORT AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY
AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP.
WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.
YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
CONGRESSWOMAN DINGELL, GOOD TO
SEE YOU AGAIN.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
YOU HAVE BEEN -- YOU’VE BEEN
CAUTIOUS ABOUT TALKING ABOUT
IMPEACHMENT.
IMPEACHMENT. YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO
HAS BELIEVED THAT LOOK, MAYBE
YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR
PARTICULAR NEEDS IN MICHIGAN ARE
NOT MET BY AN IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRY.
INQUIRY. NOW MORE TO TALK ABOUT ON THAT
FRONT.
FRONT. DOES THAT HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON
YOUR THINKING?
YOUR THINKING? >> WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE LAST
WEEK GREATLY DISTURBS ME.
I’D SAID YESTERDAY AND I’M JUST
GOING TO BE VERY FRANK TONIGHT,
WE ARE A DIVIDED COUNTRY AND
THAT SCARES ME.
BUT WE CANNOT BE DIVIDED ON
FOLLOWING THE RULE OF LAW.
AND WHAT WE HAVE HEARD IN THE
LAST WEEK IS DEEPLY DISTURBING.
AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WE HAVE A
FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROTECT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
AND TO PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION.
WE HAVE NO CHOICE NOW BUT TO
LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION THAT IS
GOING TO GIVE US THE FACTS.
THAT IS OUR MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
RESPONSIBILITY. SO I GUESS I’M JOINING WITH MANY
OF MY OTHER COLLEAGUES.
AND I HOPE MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES WILL THINK ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE THEY TOO NEED TO BE
CONCERNED ABOUT RULE OF THE LAW.
>> WHEN YOU SAY THIS TO YOUR
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, WHAT’S
THE THING ABOUT THIS THAT PUSHES
YOU INTO THAT CAMP THAT SAYS WE
NEED TO BEGIN AN INQUIRY?
WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS?
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT
REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE UNTIL NOW
NOT BUDGED ON THIS WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF ONE MEMBER OF
CONGRESS, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR REVELATION THAT MAKES
IT SO MUCH MORE SERIOUS FOR YOU
AND OTHERS?
AND OTHERS? >> SO I REMEMBER A LONG TIME
AGO -- NOT THAT LONG AGO, BUT I
WORKED FOR SENATOR BOB GRIFFIN.
AND I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH
SCHOOL, ACTUALLY, BUT AT THE
TIME THE WATERGATE INVESTIGATION
WAS GOING ON, AND I FLEW BACK
WITH HIM FROM MICHIGAN TO
WASHINGTON THE DAY HE ANNOUNCED
THAT HE THOUGHT THAT RICHARD
NIXON SHOULD RESIGN.
AND HE HAD A LONG TALK WITH ME
THAT DAY ABOUT HONESTY AND
INTEGRITY.
INTEGRITY. BUT AFTER, WHEN PEOPLE HEARD
THOSE WATERGATE TAPES AND SAW
THE FACTS, REPUBLICANS, THERE
HADN’T BEEN A SINGLE REPUBLICAN
IN THAT DIRECTION.
THEY HEARD THE TAPES AND RICHARD
NIXON RESIGNED IN 17 DAYS.
WE ARE BEING GIVEN FACTS NOW.
WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT OUR
PRESIDENT IS TALKING TO A LEADER
OF ANOTHER COUNTRY TAKING
DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN
APPROPRIATE BID THE UNITED
STATES CONGRESS TO PROTECT US
MILITARILY AND PART OF THE WHOLE
FOREIGN POLICY AND IS USING THEM
TO BLACKMAIL A PRESIDENT OF
ANOTHER COUNTRY.
ANOTHER COUNTRY. THAT’S SIMPLY NOT OKAY.
>> CONGRESSWOMAN, YOU ARE NOW
SAYING THAT YOU DO FAVOR AN
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TECHNICALLY
FOR YOU?
FOR YOU? DO YOU TELL -- YOU’RE A MEMBER
OF LEADERSHIP.
OF LEADERSHIP. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
YOU’RE HAVING THIS MEETING WITH
CAUCUS MEMBERS TOMORROW.
DO YOU DO SOMETHING AHEAD OF
THAT?
THAT? DO YOU TELL SOMEBODY?
>> I TOLD LEADERSHIP TONIGHT
THAT I WAS GOING TO BE TALKING
ABOUT THIS TONIGHT.
AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU READ "THE
NEW YORK TIMES," YOU HEARD I WAS
GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.
BUT I PROBABLY TALKED TO 30 OR
40 MEMBERS IN THE LAST 48 HOURS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF MEMBERS THAT
ARE DEEPLY DISTURBED ABOUT WHAT
IS HAPPENING.
IS HAPPENING. AND BY THE WAY, WE STILT HAVE TO
MAKE SURE.
MAKE SURE. RICHARD NIXON CREATED THE EPA.
HE WENT TO CHINA.
TITLE IX.
TITLE IX. HE DID A LOT OF THINGS AS THIS
INVESTIGATION WAS GOING ON.
WE STILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY
TO LOWER DRUG PRICES FOR OUR
CONSTITUENTS, TO GET A TRADE
DEAL THAT’S GOING TO HELP THE
STRIKING UAW WORKERS.
BUT WE HAVE A MORAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR
CONSTITUTION.
CONSTITUTION. AND OUR JOB IS TO PROTECT OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
NATIONAL SECURITY. >> AND WHEN YOU CALL FOR AN
INVESTIGATION
INVESTIGATION INVESTIGATION, IN YOUR MIND IS
THAT THE SAME AS AN IMPEACHMENT
INVESTIGATION?
INVESTIGATION? >> IT’S THE SAME THING, YES.
>> REPRESENTATIVE FOSTER, THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> YOU HAD BEEN IN FAVOR OF AN
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY OR
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION UNTIL
NOW.
NOW. TELL ME WHAT YOU MAKE OF WHAT
YOU HAVE LEARNED.
>> I THINK FOR MOST MEMBERS IT’S
NOT AN ISSUE REALLY JUST OF
CRIMINALITY.
CRIMINALITY. AFTER ALL, MICHAEL COHEN IS IN
JAIL TODAY FOR THINGS HE DID AT
THE DIRECTION OF PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
TRUMP. BUT THE WAY OUR SYSTEM WORKS IS
IT IS A POLITICAL DECISION
JOINTLY HELD BETWEEN THE SENATE
AND THE HOUSE.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE BOTH
BRANCHES OF THE LEGISLATURE COME
TOGETHER WITH AN AGREEMENT THAT
THE CRIMINALITY EXISTS AND IS OF
A HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL THAT THE
PERSON SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM
OFFICE SO THAT HE CAN STAND
TRIAL IN THE NORMAL CRIMINAL
COURTS.
COURTS. THAT IS THE TOUGH PART OF THIS I
THINK FOR MANY MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS BECAUSE THERE’S FRANKLY
A POLITICAL DANGER HERE.
IF WE VOTE ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT IN THE HOUSE AND
THEN THE SENATE DOESN’T ACCEPT
THEM, THEN THERE’S A DANGER THAT
WE WILL HAVE ESTABLISHED THE DE
FACTO PRECEDENT, THAT IT IS OKAY
TO DO THIS AS LONG AS YOU CAN
INTIMIDATE 51 MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE INTO IGNORING THE
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM. >> LET ME JUST BRING YOU UP TO
SPEED ON MORE BREAKING NEWS WE
HAVE ON THIS STORY.
THE "WASHINGTON POST" IS NOW
REPORTING TRUMP ORDERED A HOLD
ON MILITARY AID DAYS BEFORE
CALLING UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT.
THIS IS ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS.
THIS IS JUST BEING REPORTED BY
THE "WASHINGTON POST."
IT SAYS THAT -- CONGRESSWOMAN
DINGLE
DINGLE DINGDALE, IT SAYS PRESIDENT
TRUMP TOLD HIS ACTING CHIEF OF
STAFF MICK MULVANEY TO HOLD BACK
NEARLY $400 MILLION TO UKRAINE
AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE A PHONE
CALL IN WHICH TRUMP IS SAID TO
HAVE PRESSURED THE UKRAINIAN
PRESIDENT TO INVESTIGATE THE SON
OF FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE
BIDEN ACCORDING TO THREE SENIOR
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS.
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS. THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT
HAS GOT PEOPLE TURNING THEIR
HEADS, THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN
A FAIRLY ABSOLUTE AND CLEAR QUID
PRO QUO IMPLIED BY THE PRESIDENT
IF THERE WAS AID GOING TO A
COUNTRY THAT THE UNITED STATES
AND THE CONGRESS HAD DECIDED IT
WAS SUPPORTING, PARTICULARLY IN
SOME OF ITS EFFORTS TO STAND UP
AGAINST RUSSIAN EXPANSIONISM.
AND THEN THIS WAS HELD OFF AND
THEN A REQUEST GOES TO THE
PRESIDENT OF THAT COUNTRY.
IT’S SORT OF UNHEARD OF IN
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. >> THAT’S WHY WE HAVE TO SEE THE
COMPLAINT.
COMPLAINT. WE HAVE TO SEE THE
WHISTLEBLOWER’S COMPLAINT.
WHISTLEBLOWER’S COMPLAINT. WE HAVE TO SEE THE DETAILS.
AND WE HAVE TO SEE THE
POTENTIALLY MULTIPLE ACTIONS
THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN
WHICH HAVE BEEN ALLUDED TO IN
SOME OF THE PRESS COVERAGE HERE.
>> CONGRESSWOMAN DINGELL?
>> YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE
READ THAT MAY NOT UNDERSTAND IS
THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
LISTENED TO THIS WHISTLEBLOWER’S
CASE, WAS SO CONCERNED, REPORTED
TO THE CONGRESS THAT THERE WAS A
THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
AND THE ADMINISTRATION BLOCKED,
SENDING WHAT THEY FOUND TO THE
COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. WHAT IS THIS ADMINISTRATION
HIDING?
HIDING? IF THERE’S NOTHING TO HIDE, THEY
SHOULD HAVE SENT THAT LAST WEEK.
WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON
THURSDAY.
THURSDAY. BUT THIS IS JUST VERY DEEPLY
DISTURBING.
DISTURBING. AND NO, NONE OF US THAT HAVE
BEEN SWORN TO PROTECT THIS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SHOULD
BE ABLE TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO
WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE.
>> CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF SAID
YESTERDAY THAT THIS BECOMES A
DIFFERENT CONVERSATION, THIS IS
NOT JUST ABOUT THE PRESIDENT
SEEKING HELP IN DIMINISHING A
POLITICAL OPPONENT, BUT IT ALSO
HAS TO DO WITH THE IDEA THAT WE
ARE DOING EXACTLY THE VERY
SPECIFIC THING THAT THIS WHOLE
RUSSIA INVESTIGATION, THE WHOLE
MUELLER INVESTIGATION WAS ABOUT.
ARE WE ACTUALLY INVITING A
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE
IN OUR CONVERSATIONS, IN OUR
NATIONAL DIALOGUE, CONGRESSMAN
FOSTER?
FOSTER? >> WELL, I THINK THAT A LOT OF
THIS DEPENDS ON THE DETAILS OF
EXACTLY WHAT WAS ASKED.
AND I THINK, AGAIN, WE JUST NEED
TO GET -- WE NEED TO GET MORE OF
THE DETAILS ON WHAT WAS
REQUESTED.
REQUESTED. I’M ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
WHAT GIULIANI HAS APPARENTLY
DONE IN ACTING AS THE
PRESIDENT’S LAWYER AND DIRECTLY
CONTACTING THE UKRAINIAN
OFFICIALS.
OFFICIALS. >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. WHICH IS A LITTLE UNUSUAL.
RIGHT?
RIGHT? BECAUSE RUDY GIULIANI,
CONGRESSWOMAN DINGELL, IS THE
PRESIDENT’S PERSONAL LAWYER AND
A LOT OF THE APPEARANCES WE’VE
SEEN FROM HIM ON TV HAVE BEEN
RELATED TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT
DID AS PRESIDENT OR NOT IN AN
OFFICIAL CAPACITY OR AT LEAST
THAT’S BEEN HIS ARGUMENT.
THERE COULD BE NO ARGUMENT ABOUT
A PHONE CALL THAT OCCURRED IN
THE MIDDLE OF 2019 ABOUT WHETHER
THIS IS PRESIDENT DONALD --
DONALD TRUMP AS CITIZEN OR
DONALD TRUMP AS PRESIDENT.
>> NO, THERE CAN’T.
YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY WORRIES ME,
IF YOU READ THE MUELLER REPORT,
AND VERY FEW PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
THIS, IS THAT RUSSIA IS TRYING
TO DIVIDE US AS A COUNTRY.
WE ARE MORE DIVIDED THAN I’VE
CERTAINLY SEEN IN MY LIFETIME.
AND WE’VE GOT A -- A FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT’S TRYING TO DO THIS
TO US.
TO US. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING TIME.
AND WE ARE REALLY PROTECTING WHO
WE ARE AS AMERICANS AND THE
FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
>> CONGRESSWOMAN --
REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE DINGELL
WHO HAS NOW SAID ON THIS SHOW
THAT YOU WILL BE SUPPORTING AN