>>> THIS IS AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT.
REPORT. HERE’S SAVANNAH GUTHRIE.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
IT’S 9:00 A.M. IN THE EAST.
AS WE COME ON THE AIR, THE HOUSE
SPEAKER, NANCY PELOSI IS ABOUT
TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE
IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION THAT
WILL TAKE PLACE ON CAPITOL HILL
AND FOLLOWS YESTERDAY’S
TESTIMONY IN CONGRESS.
THREE LEGAL SCHOLARS ARGUING
THAT THE PRESIDENT DID COMMIT
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES BY TRYING
TO MUSCLE A FOREIGN COUNTRY INTO
HELPING HIS RE-ELECTION.
BUT ANOTHER EXPERT SAID THERE
WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO
IMPEACH.
IMPEACH. NBC’S PETER ALEXANDER IS AT THE
WHITE HOUSE.
WHITE HOUSE. THE PRESIDENT IS ALWAYSREADY
TWEETING THIS MORNING.
GOOD MORNING, PETER.
>> Reporter: WE WAIT TO HEAR
FROM NANCY PELOSI, WE ARE
HEARING FROM THE PRESIDENT, WHO
HAS ATTACKED THE HOUSE
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY, FOCUSING ON
A LIKELY SENATE TRIAL, WHERE HE
AND WHITE HOUSE AIDES BELIEVE HE
WOULD GET ACQUITTAL MUCH MORE
EASILY.
EASILY. HERE’S THE TWEET FROM THE
PRESIDENT A SHORT TIME AGO
SAYING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IF
YOU ARE GOING TO IMPEACHMENT, DO
IT NOW, FAST, SO WE CAN HAVE A
FAIR TRIAL IN THE SENATE AND SO
OUR COUNTRY CAN GET BACK TO
BUSINESS.
BUSINESS. I SPEAK TO KELLYANNE CONWAY THE
PRESIDENT’S COUNSELOR.
PRESIDENT’S COUNSELOR. SHE DESCRIBED THE HOUSE
IMPEACHMENT PROCESS AS
ILL-CONCEIVED AND ILLEGITIMATE.
BY THE PRESIDENT’S TWEET,
SAVANNAH, IT IS PEERCLEAR THE
PRESIDENT IS GROWING IMPATIENT
WITH THIS PROCESS.
HE WANTS TO GET TO THE NEXT STEP
IN THE NEW YEAR, WHERE IT’S
EXPECTED HE WOULD BE ACQUITTED
BY THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED
SENATE.
SENATE. >> THAT BRINGS US TO GEOFF
BENNETT
BENNETT BENNETT, WHO COVERS CAPITOL HILL
FOR US.
FOR US. IF YOU HAVE ANY INDICATION WHAT
SPEAKER PELOSI MIGHT BE SAYING
ON THAT MICROPHONE RIGHT THERE,
IN A COUPLE MOMENTS.
AND THE ISSUE OF TIMING, HOW
QUICKLY THEY WANT TO MOVE.
>> THAT’S WHAT WE HOPE WE CAN
GET FROM THE HOUSE SPEAKER
TODAY, SAVANNAH, SOME CLARITY,
CONCRETE NEXT STEPS WHERE THE
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY GOES NEXT.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE HINTED THEY
INTEND TO BRING TWO, POSSIBLY
THREE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP.
YOU HAVE A HANDFUL OF HOUSE
DEMOCRATS THAT TOLD OUR TEAM
THAT IT’S THEIR UNDERSTANDING
THAT THE FULL HOUSE WILL VOTE ON
WHATEVER ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
THAT THE HOUSE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE DRAFTS, SOME TIME
BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
SOME TIME BEFORE CONGRESS
ADJOURNS ON DECEMBER 20th FOR
THE CHRISTMAS BREAK.
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW YET IS HOW WE
GET FROM HERE TO THERE.
SO, WE HOPE THAT THE HOUSE
SPEAKER TODAY WILL USE HER
COMMENTS, AT LEAST PART OF THEM,
TO FILL IN THE GAPS.
I SUSPECT, THOUGH, HAVING SAT
THROUGH MANY PRESS CONFERENCES
WITH SPEAKER PELOSI WHERE SHE
HAS THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNTRY
FOCUSED ON HER, SHE WILL SPEND
PART OF HER TIME TICKING THROUGH
THE HUNDREDS OF BILLS THAT HOUSE
DEMOCRATS HAVE PASSED THAT THE
REPUBLICAN SENATE HAS NOT PICKED
UP.
UP. AND ONE OF THE REASONS SHE WILL
MAKE THAT POINT, IT IS MEANT TO
COUNTER THAT THE WHITE HOUSE
TALKING POINT THAT DEMOCRATS
HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT FOCUS ON
IMPEACHMENT SINCE THE SUMMER,
SINCE SEPTEMBER, WHEN THIS WHOLE
THING STARTED.
THING STARTED. SHE WILL LIKELY SPEAK ABOUT
THAT.
THAT. SHE WILL LIKELY SPEAK ABOUT THE
WORK THAT ADAM SCHIFF AND JERRY
NADLER, THE HOUSE OF THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, AS HOUSE
DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID.
THEY TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
A SOMBER AND SOBER, PELOSI SAYS
SAID, OF PRAYERFUL TONE TO
REMOVE PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM
OFFICE.
OFFICE. >> THE CALENDAR IS SO IMPORTANT
HERE.
HERE. SHE IS EXPECTED TO JUST MAKE A
STATEMENT HERE.
STATEMENT HERE. AND THEN, AT 10:45 EASTERN TIME,
DO HER REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE
AND TAKE QUESTIONS.
SHE SEEMS TO HAVE SOMETHING IN
PARTICULAR SHE WANTS TO SAY HERE
AT THIS TIME, ON THIS MATTER OF
IMPEACHMENT.
IMPEACHMENT. WE’LL HEAR IT IN A MINUTE, AS WE
WAIT HERE FOR HER TO COME TO THE
MICROPHONES ON CAPITOL HILL.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REPORT INGR
GEOFF, WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC
CONFERENCE, THERE WAS AN
INTERNAL DEBATE WHETHER TO
REFINE THIS IMPEACHMENT ISSUE
NARROWLY WITH UKRAINE OR EXPAND
IT TO ENCOMPASS SOME OF THE
FINDINGS IN THE MUELLER REPORT.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE THAT STANDS AT
THIS MOMENT?
THIS MOMENT? >> ONE OF THE REASONS THE
DEMOCRATS CONTROL THE HOUSE IS
BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE DOZENS OF
DEMOCRATS THAT WERE ABLE TO FLIP
DISTRICTS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
WON IN 2016, THAT THE DEMOCRATS
WON IN 2018.
SO, IT’S THOSE DEMOCRATS, THOSE
DEMOCRATS WHO REPRESENT
RIGHT-LEANING DISTRICTS I’M
TOLD, ARE REALLY NERVOUS, ABOUT
POTENTIALLY GOING THIS EXTRA
STEP AND EXPANDING THE
IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY TO INCLUDE
THE FINDINGS OF THE RUSSIA
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. >> GEOFF, WE SEE -- HERE’S
SPEAKER PELOSI, APPROACHING THE
MICROPHONE.
MICROPHONE. LET’S HEAR WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.
>> LET’S BEGIN WHERE OUR
FOUNDERS BEGAN IN 1776.
WHEN IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN
EVENTS IT BECOMES NECESSARY FOR
ONE PEOPLE TO DISSOLVE THE
POLITICAL BONDS WHICH HAVE
CONNECTED THEM WITH ANOTHER.
WITH THOSE WORDS, OUR FOUNDERS
COURAGEOUSLY BEGAN OUR
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
FROM AN OPPRESSIVE MONARCH, FOR
AMONG OTHER GRIEVANCES, THE
KING’S REFUSAL TO FOLLOW
RIGHTFULLY PASSED LAWS.
IN THE COURSE OF TODAY’S EVENTS,
IT BECOMES NECESSARY FOR US TO
ADDRESS, AMONG OTHER GRIEVANCES,
THE PRESIDENT’S FAILURE TO
FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE LAW.
WHEN CRAFTING THE CONSTITUTION,
THE FOUNDERS FEARED THE RETURN
OF A MONARCHY IN AMERICA.
AND HAVING JUST FOUGHT A WAR OF
INDEPENDENCE, THEY SPECIFICALLY
FEARED THE PROSPECTS OF A KING
PRESIDENT, CORRUPTED BY FOREIGN
INFLUENCE.
INFLUENCE. DURING THE CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION, JAMES MADISON, THE
ARCHITECT OF THE CONSTITUTION,
WARNED THAT A PRESIDENT MIGHT
BETRAY HIS TRUST TO FOREIGN
POWERS, WHICH MIGHT PROVE FATAL
TO THE REPUBLIC.
ANOTHER FOUNDER OF GOVERNOR
MORRIS, FEARED THE PRESIDENT MAY
BE BRIBED BY A GREATER INTEREST
TO BETRAY HIS TRUST.
HE EMPHASIZED THIS MAGISTRATE IS
NOT THE KING.
THE PEOPLE ARE THE KING.
THEY THEREFORE CREATED A
CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDY TO PROTECT
AGAINST A DANGEROUS OR CORRUPT
LEADER.
LEADER. IMPEACHMENT.
IMPEACHMENT. UNLESS THE CONSTITUTION
CONTAINED AN IMPEACHMENT
PROVISION, ONE FOUNDER WARNED, A
PRESIDENT MIGHT, QUOTE, SPARE NO
EFFORT OR MEANS WHATSOEVER, TO
GET HIMSELF RE-ELECTED.
SIMILARLY, GEORGE MASON
INSISTED, THAT A PRESIDENT WHO
PROCURED HIS APPOINTMENT IN HIS
FIRST INSTANCE, THROUGH IMPROPER
AND CORRUPT ACTS MIGHT REPEAT
HIS GUILT AND RETURN TO POWER.
DURING THE DEBATE OVER
IMPEACHMENT OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION,
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, GEORGE MASON ALSO ASKED, SHALL
ANY MAN BE ABOVE JUSTICE?
SHALL THAT MAN BE ABOVE IT WHO
CAN COMMIT THE MOST EXTENSIVE
INJUSTICE?
INJUSTICE? IN HIS GREAT WISDOM, HE KNEW
THAT INJUSTICE COMMITTED BY THE
PRESIDENT ERODES THE RULE OF
LAW.
LAW. THE VERY IDEA THAT A FAIR
JUSTICE, WHICH IS THE BEDROCK OF
OUR DEMOCRACY.
OUR DEMOCRACY. AND IF WE ALLOW A PRESIDENT TO
BE ABOVE THE LAW, WE DO SO,
SURELY, AT THE PERIL OF OUR
REPUBLIC.
REPUBLIC. IN AMERICA, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE
LAW.
LAW. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, THROUGH
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
WORKING WITH THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE HEARD THE
TESTIMONY OF TRULY PATRIOTIC
CAREER PUBLIC SERVANTS,
DISTINGUISHED DIPLOMATS AND
DECORATED WAR HEROES, SOME OF
THE PRESIDENT’S OWN APPOINTEES.
THE FACTS ARE UNCONTESTED.
THE PRESIDENT ABUSED HIS POWER
FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL POLITICAL
BENEFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY, BY
WITHHOLDING MILITARY AID AND
CRUCIAL OVAL OFFICE MEETING FOR
EXCHANGE OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF
AN INVESTIGATION INTO HIS
POLITICAL RIVAL.
POLITICAL RIVAL. YESTERDAY, THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE AT THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
HEARD TESTIMONY FROM LEADING
AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL
AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS, WHO ILLUMINATED
WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THE
PRESIDENT’S ACTIONS ARE PROFOUND
VIOLATION OF THE PUBLIC TRUST.
THE PRESIDENT’S ACTIONS HAVE
SERIOUSLY VIOLATED THE
CONSTITUTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE
SAYS AND ACTS UPON THE BELIEF,
ARTICLE 2 SAYS, I CAN DO
WHATEVER I WANT.
NO.
NO. HIS WRONGDOING STRIKES AT THE
VERY HEART OF OUR CONSTITUTION,
A SEPARATION OF POWERS, THREE,
CO--
CO-- CO-EQUAL BRANCHES, A CHECK AND
BALANCE ON THE OTHER.
A REPUBLIC, IF WE KEEP IT.
OUR DEMOCRACY IS WHAT IS AT
STAKE.
STAKE. THE PRESIDENT LEAVES US NO
CHOICE BUT TO ACT, BECAUSE HE IS
TRYING TO CORRUPT, ONCE AGAIN,
THE ELECTION, FOR HIS OWN
BENEFIT.
BENEFIT. THE PRESIDENT HAS ENGAGED IN
ABUSE OF POWER, UNDERMINING OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY AND
JEOPARDIZING THE INTEGRITY OF
OUR ELECTIONS.
OUR ELECTIONS. HIS ACTIONS ARE IN DEFIANCE OF
THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDERS AND
THE OATH OF OFFICE THAT HE TAKES
TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
STATES. SADLY, BUT WITH CONFIDENCE AND
HUMILITY, WITH ALLEGIANCE TO OUR
FOUNDERS AND A HEART FULL OF
LOVE FOR AMERICA, TODAY, I AM
ASKING OUR CHAIRMAN TO BESIEGE
WITH ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT.
I COMMEND OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRS
AND OUR MEMBERS FOR THEIR SOMBER
APPROACH TO ACTIONS THAT I WISH
THE PRESIDENT HAD NOT MADE
NECESSARY.
NECESSARY. IN SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE, OUR FOUNDERS
INVOKED A FIRM RELIANCE ON
DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
DIVINE PROVIDENCE. DEMOCRATS, TOO, ARE PRAYERFUL
AND WE WILL PROCEED IN A MANNER
WORTHY OF OUR OATH OF OFFICE, TO
SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES, FROM ALL ENEMIES,
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
SO, HELP US, GOD.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI
WITH COMMENTS OF ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES, IN WHICH SHE ANNOUNCES
THAT THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS WILL
PROCEED WITH ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT AGAINST PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
TRUMP. THOSE ARE ESSENTIALLY THE FORMAL
CHARGES AGAINST THE PRESIDENT
AND THE NEXT NECESSARY STEP, AS
THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS SEEK TO
IMPEACH PRESIDENT TRUMP.
IF THOSE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT
WERE PASSED THEY WOULD GO TO THE
SENATE, WHERE THERE WOULD BE A
TRIAL.
TRIAL. AND HE WOULD HAVE TO BE
CONVICTED BY TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF
THE SENATE TO BE REMOVED FROM
OFFICE.
OFFICE. WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROCESS
HERE.
HERE. LET’S GO TO PETER ALEXANDER.
THIS WAS A EXPECTED STEP.
BUT THERE’S A MOMENTOUSNESS TO
IT WHEN THE HOUSE SPOKEEAKER SAY
THE PRESIDENT LEAVES US NO
CHOICE.
CHOICE. HE HAS TRIED TO KRUPSCORRUPT THE
ELECTION AND SHE FEEL THEY’RE IN
NO OTHER POSITION BUT TO PROCEED
IN THIS MANNER.
>> Reporter: THE WORDS WERE FULL
STEAM AHEAD, FOR HOUSE
DEMOCRATS, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AS
EXPECTED.
EXPECTED. DESPITE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A
HEARING, IT’S A SHORT TIMELINE
THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE WORKING
WITH RIGHT NOW, THEY WOULD
REVIEW THE EVIDENCE, NOW BEGIN
THE PROCESS OF DRAFTING ARTICLES
OF IMPEACHMENT, AND TRY TO HOLD
A VOTE, AS INDICATED BY MANY
DEMOCRATS ON THE HILL RIGHT NOW,
BEFORE LAWMAKERS BREAK FOR
CHRISTMAS.
CHRISTMAS. THAT’S ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AWAY FROM NOW.
SO, THERE’S A SMALL WINDOW IN
WHICH THIS WOULD BE LIKELY TO
OCCUR
OCCUR OCCUR.
OCCUR. IF THERE WAS EXPECTATIONS OR
SPECULATION THAT IT MIGHT BE
MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TO PURSUE
CENSURE FROM THE PRESIDENT, THAT
WOULD DRAW AWAY HOUSE
REPUBLICANS.
REPUBLICANS. NANCY PELOSI’S POSITION IS WE
MUST PURSUE IMPEACHMENT.
THAT WILL LIKELY TEE UP A SENATE
TRIAL IN THE NEW YEAR.
THE PRESIDENT’S TOP AIDS MEETING
WITH SENATE REPUBLICANS.
STRATEGIZING THEIR POSITION ON
THAT.
THAT. THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF INDICATED
TODAY, IN EFFECT, LET’S GET ON
WITH THIS AND DO THIS NEXT YEAR,
WITH A SENATE TRIAL, WHERE THE
PRESIDENT BELIEVES HE WILL HAVE
A MORE FAIR TRIAL.
THE WHITE HOUSE INDICATING IT
WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS,
INDICATING FROM AIDES THEY WOULD
WANT JOE BIDEN TO BE CALLED.
ADAM SCHIFF, TO BE CALLED AS
WITNESSES.
WITNESSES. IN MUCH THE SAME WAY THAT
REPUBLICANS HAVE CRITICIZED THE
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IS PARTISAN,
IT’S LIKELY THE DEMOCRATS WOULD
SAY THE SAME OF REPUBLICANS IF
THE TRIAL WERE TO TAKE PLACE IN
THE NEW YEAR.
>> THAT BRINGS ME TO GEOFF
BENNETT, WHO COVERS THE HILL FOR
US.
US. IN THE HOUSE IMPEACHMENT
PROCESS, THE DEMOCRATS CONTROL
THE HOUSE AND THE PROCESS.
ON THE SENATE, THE EXACT
OPPOSITE IS TRUE.
IN THE SENATE, THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER, MITCH McCONNELL, WILL
SET THE RULES FOR A PROCESS OF
ANY TRIAL.
ANY TRIAL. AS PETER JUST ALLUDED TO, THAT
COULD LEAD TO A DIFFERENT
SITUATION UNFOLDING AND THE BAR
FOR REMOVAL IS MUCH HIGHER.
YOU NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY IN
THE HOUSE TO PASS THE ARTICLES
OF IMPEACHMENT.
OF IMPEACHMENT. IN THE SENATE YOU NEED
TWO-THIRDS VERDICT, AS IT WERE,
TO REMOVE A PRESIDENT.
>> YOU NEED 67 OF THE 100
SENATORS.
SENATORS. AS I TALK TO YOU, THERE ARE NOT
20 REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO ARE
GOING TO JOIN WITH THE 45
DEMOCRATS AND 2 INDEPENDENT
SENATORS WHO CAUCUS WITH THE
DEMOCRATS.
DEMOCRATS. WHAT’S INTERESTING ABOUT
LISTENING TO HOUSE SPEAKER
PELOSI’S COMMENTS IS SHE
TELEGRAPHED TWO ARTICLES OF
IMPEACHMENT.
IMPEACHMENT. THE FIRST ONE BEING ABUSE OF
POWER, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DEALINGS WITH
HIS UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART, WHICH
IS THE EXTORTION OR THE BRIBERY
SCHEME.
SCHEME. AND THE OTHER IS STONEWALLING
CONGRESS.
CONGRESS. WHERE THE WHITE HOUSE HAS NOT
MADE WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE
AVAILABLE TO HOUSE DEMOCRATS FOR
DEMOCRATS TO DO THEIR OVERSIGHT
WORK, EVEN UNDER SUBPOENA.
SO, WHAT WE EXPECT NEXT WEEK,
THERE WILL PROBABLY BE AN OPEN
SESSION.
SESSION. THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
WILL HEAR THE EVIDENCE.
AND FROM THERE, THEY WILL WRITE
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT THAT
THE HOUSE SPEAKER IS NOW
DIRECTING HOUSE DEMOCRATS TO
MOVE FORWARD WITH.
>> GEOFF BENNETT, THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
MUCH. PETER ALEXANDER, THANK YOU TO
YOU, AS WELL.
THE NEWS THIS MORNING, HOUSE
SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, FROM THE
STEPS OF CAPITOL HILL,
ANNOUNCING THE NEXT FORMAL STEPS
IN THE HOUSE IMPEACHMENT
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. THAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL DRAFT
THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT,
FORMAL CHARGES AGAINST PRESIDENT
TRUMP.
TRUMP. SHE’S SAYING SHE DID SO
SOMBERLY, PRAYERFULLY, AND WITH
HUMILITY AND INVOKED THE
FOUNDERS WHO PUT THE IMPEACHMENT
CLAUSE IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
WE’LL HAVE MORE ON MSNBC AND
NBCNEWS.COM AND ON "NIGHTLY
NEWS."