IT’S REALLY UNFORTUNATE. SO TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE, WE
DON’T KNOW.
DON’T KNOW. --
-- >> WELL WE SORT OF DO.
THE PRESIDENT HAS IN SO MANY
WORDS SAID THAT HE’S RAISED
THESE QUESTIONS WITH THE
UKRAINIANS.
UKRAINIANS. AND ADMITTED HE INTERVENED ON
THE QUOTE UNQUOTE BIDEN ISSUE.
>> IF THAT IS THE CASE THAT THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
WOULD ASK A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT
TO ASSIST HIM IN A POLITICAL
WAY, THAT WOULD BE WRONG.
>> WOULD IT BE IMPEACHABLE?
>> LET ME JUST SAY THAT
EVERYTHING WE’VE BEEN DOING UP
UNTIL NOW IS ABOUT PRESERVING
THAT REPUBLIC.
THAT REPUBLIC. THAT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SAID
REPUBLIC IF WE CAN KEEP IT.
AND HE, THAT MEANS IT’S NOT A
MONARCHY, A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND
BALANCES IN OUR CONSTITUTION.
A CHECK ON EACH OTHER.
AND THAT, THAT IS OUR RUBEPUBLIC
IS A DHOKSY.
IT’S NOT A MONARCHY.
THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID ARTICLE
II SAYS I CAN DO WHATEVER I
WANT.
WANT. THAT IS IN VIOLATION OF THE
SPIRIT OF THE INSTITUTION.
NOW OUR FOUNDERS WANTED TO
PROVIDE FOR SHALL WE SAY SOME
ACTIVITIES THAT THEY MIGHT NOT
ENGAGE IN AND THEY PUT UP
GUARDRAILS BUT COULD NEVER
SUSPECT THAT THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES WOULD JUMP
OVER THOSE.
OVER THOSE. >> I WANT TO WIDEN OUT THE
ANTURE AND TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE
OF THIS PRESIDENCY, BUT LET ME
JUST STAY ON THIS FOR A MINUTE.
IF WHAT WE’RE DESCRIBING IS
ACCURATE AND IF IT’S NOT
IMPEACHABLE, IF YOU’RE NOT
WILLING TO SAY IT IS, WHAT IS
IMPEOPLEABLE TO YOU?
>> I’LL BE MAKING AN
ANNOUNCEMENT AT 5:00 TODAY.
NOT HERE, NOT NOW.
>> YOU’RE MORE THAN WELCOME
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> IT’S REALLY SAD TO THINK THAT
OUR PRESIDENT WOULDN’T --
PERFORM AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
IT’S HARD.
IT’S HARD. IT’S HARD TO SAY WE’VE GOTTEN TO
THAT PLACE.
THAT PLACE. BUT THE, WHAT WOULD BE
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE WOULD BE
THAT WHICH IS PROVEN IN AN
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> THE CALLING FOR CONVENING A
SELECT COMMITTEE ON AN
IMPEACHMENT IS A PROCESS.
THE BEGINNING OF A DISCOVERY
PROCESS, NOT THE END, SO YOU
DON’T HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH PROOF
TO CONVICT AT THE OUTSET OF THE
PROCESS.
PROCESS. AND MY QUESTION I GUESS IS --
>> YOU SAID IS IT IMPEACHABLE
OFFENSE AND THAT ISN’T A
VERDICT.
VERDICT. >> GIVEN WHAT WE KNOW AND GIVE P
WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID, THE
ANALOGY HERE IS CRUDE, BUT WE
SEEM TO BE IN A SITUATION AT THE
MOMENT IN WHICH RICHARD NIXON
AFTER THE WATERGATE BREAK IN,
SAID SOMETHING AKIN TO YEAH, I
BROKE INTO THE WATERGATE.
I NEEDED TO SEE WHAT THE DNC
KNEW.
KNEW. DONALD TRUMP SAYS OUT LOUD WHAT
MOST PEOPLE SAY TO THEMSELVES.
I MEAN -- AND SO I’M NOT GOING
TO BELABOR THIS FOREVER.
>> I THINK YOU ARE.
>> NO.
>> NO. >> LET ME JUST SAY, IN TERMS OF
THE NIXON ANALOGY.
THE PRESIDENT IS MAKING
LAWLESSNESS A VIRTUE.
IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND THAT CALL, HE SORT OF IS
TRYING TO EXPORT SO UNDERSTAND
THAT.
THAT. SO WE HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT IN TERMS OF
OUR DIFFERENCES IN POLICY AND
I’D LOVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT ALL
THE LEGISLATION WE HAVE PASSED
WE ARE HOPE INGING THE SENATE WI
TAKE UP.
TAKE UP. STARTING WITH GUN VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE A BIG, WEAR BLACK
TOMORROW, GUN VIOLENCE
ACTIVITIES ON CAPITOL HILL AND
BEYOND.
BEYOND. AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.
SO WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENCES IN
TERMS OF POLICY.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW THE
PRESIDENT CALLED ME THIS MORNING
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND SAID THAT
WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO A
SOLUTION.
SOLUTION. >> OPEN PARNENTHETICAL.
WHAT IS THAT CALL LIKE ON A DAY
LIKE TODAY?
LIKE TODAY? >> SOMEBODY SAID TO ME LAST
NIGHT, THEY SAID GIVE US A
SURREAL MOMENT WITH ABOUT THE
PRESIDENT.