NEWS ROCKING THE WHITE HOUSE AND TAKING THE IMPEACHMENT PROBE UP
TO AN 11.
TO AN 11. PRESIDENT TRUMP’S TOP AIDE JUST
CONTRADICTED PRESIDENT TRUMP,
ADMITTING TRUMP PUSHED A QUID
PRO QUO PLOT, CONDITIONING
UKRAINE FUNDING ON A POLITICAL
PROBE INVOLVING THE DNC.
>> YOU WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN
THE DECISION TO WITHHOLD FUNDING
FROM UKRAINE.
FROM UKRAINE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US NOW
DEFINITIVELY WHY?
DEFINITIVELY WHY? >> DID HE ALSO MENTION TO ME IN
THE PAST THE CORRUPTION RELATED
TO THE DNC SERVER?
ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY. NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
BUT THAT’S IT.
THAT’S WHY WE HELD UP THE MONEY.
>> THAT’S WHY WE HELD UP THE
MONEY FOR UKRAINE.
THAT’S THE PRESIDENT’S CHIEF OF
STAFF, WHO ALSO RUNS THE BUDGET
OFFICE, ADMITTING TO THE THING
TRUMP HAS DENIED, THAT THEY DID
CONDITION THE MONEY FOR UKRAINE
ON THE POLITICAL PROBE.
THIS IS ASTOUNDING.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THIS IS RATTLING THE WHITE HOUSE
TONIGHT AND WE’LL GET TO ALL OF
THAT.
THAT. BUT I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT
HAPPENED.
HAPPENED. THIS QUID PRO QUO BRIBE HAS NOW
BEEN ADMITTED IN PLAIN SIGHT BY
THE GUY IN CHARGE OF THE MONEY.
SO THERE ARE TAPES.
WE HAVE THEM.
AND AS REPORTERS TOOK IN AN
ADMISSION SO FRANK AND
SELF-INCRIMINATING IT SEEMED
MORE LIKE A PERRY MASON EPISODE
THAN REAL LIFE, THEY THEN
CLARIFIED TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF,
OKAY, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR.
THE DEMAND FOR THAT
INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEMOCRATS
WAS WHY YOU WITHHELD FUNDING?
AND MULVANEY SAID AGAIN, YES.
>> SO THE DEMAND FOR AN
INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEMOCRATS
WAS PART OF THE REASON THAT HE
ORDERED TO WITHHOLD FUNDING TO
UKRAINE?
UKRAINE? >> THE LOOK BACK TO WHAT
HAPPENED IN 2016 CERTAINLY WAS
PART OF THE THING THAT HE WAS
WORRIED ABOUT IN CORRUPTION WITH
THAT NATION.
THAT NATION. >> THERE IT IS.
QUID MEET QUO.
I NEVER NEW HUSTLERS CONFESSED
IN STEREO.
IN STEREO. THAT’S A FAMOUS LINE THAT REALLY
APPLIES TO THE NEWS HERE, GIVEN
THIS CONFESSION.
THIS CONFESSION. AND IN THAT SONG, MR. DAVIS GOES
ON TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
CONFESS ON VIDEO TURNING OUT
EVIDENCE, CONFESSION AND
FINGERPRINTS, SO WATCH WHAT
COMES OUT YOUR MOUTH OR YOU’LL
GIVE THE D.A. A CASE FROM HERE
TO DOWN SOUTH.
AND WITH ALL THAT BIG WILLIE
TALK, YOU’RE PLAYING YOURSELF.
SO DO YOU THINK MR. MULVANEY
JUST PLAYED HIMSELF?
WELL, TODAY A REPORTER GAVE HIM
ONE MORE CHANCE, NOTING HE
LITERALLY DESCRIBED AN ILLEGAL
QUID PRO QUO.
AND HERE WAS MULVANEY’S REPLY.
>> WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED IS A
QUID PRO QUO.
IT IS FUNDING WILL NOT FLOW
UNLESS THE INVESTIGATION INTO
THE DEMOCRATIC SERVER HAPPENED
AS WELL.
AS WELL. >> WE DO -- WE DO THAT ALL THE
TIME WITH FOREIGN POLICY.
>> WE DO IT ALL THE TIME.
IT’S EASIER TO PROVE A QUID PRO
QUO BRIBE WHEN A SUSPECT ADMITS
IT.
IT. I WANT TO TURN TO THE LEGAL
EXPERTS WE HAVE ON THIS
EXPLOSIVE STORY.
EXPLOSIVE STORY. PAUL BUTLER AND JENTER TODD,
GOOD TO SEE YOU, AND A REPORTER
WHO WAS IN THAT BRIEFING ROOM.
YOU SEE HER RIGHT HERE TODAY.
WOW, WHAT A ROOM TO BE IN,
FRANCESCA CHAMBERS.
FRANCESCA CHAMBERS. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
>> HEY, ARI.
>> PAUL.
>> PAUL. >> HI, ARI.
>> HI.
>> HI. PAUL, WHAT DID WE JUST SEE IN
THAT BRIEFING ROOM?
AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A
SUSPECT IF YOU HAD THEM ON A
CHARGE AND THEY TALKED LIKE
THAT?
THAT? >> I WOULD THINK THIS IS MY
LUCKY DAY AS A PROSECUTOR.
IT’S NOT EVERY DAY YOU GET THE
CO-CONSPIRATORS ALL ADMITTING TO
THE CONSPIRACY ON NATIONAL
TELEVISION.
TELEVISION. SO HERE’S THE THING ABOUT --
>> IF YOU WERE INVESTIGATING A
CASE THAT INVOLVED A QUID PRO
QUO BRIBE AND YOU GOT THAT, JUST
WHAT WE SAW THERE IN THAT
INTERVIEW, WOULD YOU TAKE THEM
INTO CUSTODY?
INTO CUSTODY? >> I’D ARREST, I’D PROSECUTE AND
I’D GET A BIG FAT CONVICTION,
BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE IS A
CONFESSION.
CONFESSION. SO HERE’S THE THING.
A QUID PRO QUO COULD ACTUALLY BE
LEGAL IN SOME CONTEXTS.
NOBODY HAS A RIGHT TO MILITARY
AID FROM THE UNITED STATES.
AND SO THE UNITED STATES CAN
CONDITION ITS AID ON LEGITIMATE
STATE OBJECTIVES.
STATE OBJECTIVES. SO IF TRUMP REALLY WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT CORRUPTION IN
UKRAINE AND HE WANTED TO MAKE
SURE THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING
ABOUT THEIR OWN INTERNAL
POLITICS AND GOOD GOVERNMENT, HE
COULD SAY, YEAH, GET THAT
STRAIGHT AND THEN WE’LL GIVE YOU
SOME MILITARY ASSISTANCE.
BUT YOU CAN’T DO THAT TO ADVANCE
YOUR OWN POLITICAL OBJECTIVES,
AND THAT’S WHAT TRUMP WAS DOING
AND THAT’S PRETTY MUCH WHAT BOTH
THE ACTING CHIEF OF STAFF AND
SONDLAND, ONE OF THE THREE
AMIGOS IN UKRAINE, THEY BOTH
ADMITTED THAT TODAY.
>> JENNIFER, HOW DO YOU VIEW
THIS ADMISSION IN THE CONTEXT OF
THE IMPEACHMENT PROBE?
HAS MR. MULVANEY JUST PUT THE
WHITE HOUSE AT THE CENTER OF THE
ALLEGED CRIME THAT HE WAS -- I
GUESS HE THOUGHT HE WAS
DEFENDING?
DEFENDING? >> WELL, ARI, I DON’T HAVE RAP
LYRICS TODAY, BUT I DO HAVE
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. AND I THINK THERE’S A METHOD TO
MULVANEY’S MADNESS HERE.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I THINK HE’S
TRYING TO BE A BIT CLEVER.
ALL HE HAS ADMITTED AT THIS
POINT, THAT THE QUID PRO QUO WAS
ABOUT WAS INVESTIGATING THE
DEMOCRATS AND LOOKING INTO
WHETHER THE UKRAINIANS HAVE THE
SERVER.
SERVER. >> I’M GOING TO HAVE TO JUMP IN
BECAUSE WE’VE GOT SOME OF THE
REPORTING HERE JUST TO MAKE SURE
WE’RE ALL CURRENT.
BRAND NEW FROM THE WHITE HOUSE,
A STATEMENT FROM MR. MULVANEY
WALKING THIS BACK.
HE SAYS, QUOTE, THERE WAS NO
QUID PRO QUO BETWEEN THE
MILITARY AID AND ANY
INVESTIGATION.
INVESTIGATION. AND SO WE JUST GOT THIS, WHICH
IS STRIKING.
IS STRIKING. YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THESE KIND
OF BREAKING NEWS NIGHTS.
I DON’T KNOW THAT HE’S BEING
CLEVER IF HE HAS TO RUSH OUT
THIS STATEMENT.
THIS STATEMENT. IT APPEARS TO SOME DEGREE HE
GOES IN THERE AND SAYS WE DID A
QUID PRO QUO AND NOW HE HAS TO
CLAIM THE OPPOSITE.
>> WELL, IT’S SMART -- THERE WAS
A METHOD TO HIS MADNESS BUT IT
WASN’T A VERY GOOD METHOD.
WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THIS, I
THINK HE INITIALLY THOUGHT IF HE
ONLY SAID THE QUID PRO QUO WAS
RELATED TO SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENED IN 2016 AND IT WAS
INVESTIGATING WHETHER UKRAINIANS
HAD MEDDLED WITH THE ELECTION
THAT HE COULD GET AWAY WITH IT.
HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE US FORGET
OR DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM THE
OTHER PART OF THE QUID PRO QUO
WHICH WAS INVESTIGATING HIS
POLITICAL RIVAL IN THE UPCOMING
ELECTION.
ELECTION. >> I’M NOT SURE IT’S THAT
COMPLICATED.
COMPLICATED. LET ME PLAY A LITTLE MORE OF MR.
MULVANEY.
MULVANEY. I’M NOT SURE WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
IS SOMEONE PLAYING
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CHESS, JUST
SOMEONE WHO WENT OUT AND SAID
THERE WAS A QUID PRO QUO BRIBE
WHICH IN THIS CONTEXT LOOKS
IMPEACHABLE AND IS NOW WALKING
IT BACK.
IT BACK. TAKE A LISTEN TO HIM TALKING
ABOUT POLITICAL INFLUENCE AND
FOREIGN POLICY AND WHAT PEOPLE
SHOULD THINK ABOUT THAT.
>> KENNY SAID YESTERDAY THAT HE
WAS REALLY UPSET WITH THE
POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN FOREIGN
POLICY.
POLICY. THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS HE
WAS SO UPSET ABOUT THIS.
I HAVE NEWS FOR EVERYBODY.
GET OVER IT.
>> FRANCESCA, WHAT DID YOU THINK
OF THAT, AND WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN
THAT ROOM?
THAT ROOM? >> SO I WAS JUST READING THIS
NEW STATEMENT FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE THAT THEY RUSHED TO US
RIGHT BEFORE THEY KNEW THAT WE’D
ALL BE GOING ON TELEVISION FOR
PRIMETIME TO TRY AND CLEAN UP
HIS REMARKS.
HIS REMARKS. HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT THERE WAS
NEVER ANY CONDITION ON THE FLOW
OF AID RELATED TO THE MATTER OF
THE DNC SERVER.
AS WE HEARD, YOU PLAYED THOSE
CLIPS, THAT IS NOT WHAT HE SAID
WHEN WE WERE SITTING IN THE ROOM
TODAY.
TODAY. >> YOU’RE BUILDING SUCH AN
IMPORTANT POINT, I JUST WANTING
YOU TO SLOW DOWN ON IT.
YOU’RE SAYING THAT PART OF WHAT
HE IS SAYING NOW IS A LIE.
I’M NOT ASKING YOU TO USE THAT
TERM BUT I’M GOING TO USE THAT
TERM BECAUSE I’VE GOT THE
STATEMENT.
STATEMENT. HE WENT OUT, WE JUST PLAYED IT,
AND ADMITTED TO A FUNDING QUID
PRO QUO BRIBE FOR THE
INVESTIGATION OF THIS DNC STUFF
AND NOW WE HAVE A NEW STATEMENT
WHERE HE’S TELLING EVERYONE THAT
DIDN’T HAPPEN?
DIDN’T HAPPEN? >> WELL, THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS
ITS REPORTERS WHO ARE
MISCONSTRUING HIS WORDS, WHICH
IS WHY I GO BACK TO THOSE CLIPS
THAT YOU PLAYED WHERE YOU HEARD
THE QUESTION AND YOU HEARD THE
DIRECT ANSWER TO THOSE
QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS. AND I WAS ALSO GOING TO ADD THAT
THAT WAS THE FIRST BRIEFING THAT
WE’VE HAD, OF COURSE SECRETARY
MNUCHIN HAS BRIEFED A COUPLE OF
TIMES, BUT WE HAVEN’T SEEN THE
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY.
THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A
VERY LONG TIME WE’VE SEEN
SOMEONE BRIEF FROM THAT PODIUM.
SO THEY WERE CLEARLY TRYING TO
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS SURROUNDING
HIS INVOLVEMENT IN WHAT IS A
BILLOWING SCANDAL FOR THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THEN HAD TO EVEN GO BACK TO
THAT AND PLAY CLEANUP WITH THE
STATEMENT WE JUST GOT.
>> IT’S STRIKING AND THEY’RE
CLEARLY BACK ON THEIR HEELS.
I HAVE A LOT OF BREAKING NEWS,
INCLUDING SOME SPECIAL GUESTS SO
I’M BRINGING IN MORE EXPERTS.
I WANT TO THANK JENNIFER VERY
MUCH.
MUCH. OTHER PANELISTS WILL REJOIN ME.
LET ME BRING YOU UP TO SPEED
BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE REPORTING
AS WE WERE JUST COMING ON THE
AIR AND WE’VE GOT REACTION
POURING IN TO THIS UNFOLDING
CRISIS.
CRISIS. BEFORE WE BRING IN THE NEXT
EXPERTS, TAKE A LOOK AT HOW
TRUMP’S LAWYERS RIGHT NOW ARE
HANDLING THIS.
HANDLING THIS. A SOURCE TELLING CNN THEY’RE
BASICALLY STUNNED AT MULVANEY
ADMITTING THIS BRIBERY PLOT.
HERE’S WHAT’S KEY.
DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN
IMPROVISING THIS IMPEACHMENT
DEFENSE.
DEFENSE. HE TALKS, MULVANEY TALKS,
TRUMP’S LAWYERS TALK.
BUT THE LAWYERS CANNOT PROPERLY
DEFEND THE SUSPECTS IN THIS PLOT
FROM GIULIANI PUSHING A QUID PRO
QUO TO MULVANEY ADMITTING AND
EXECUTING IT IF THE SUSPECTS GO
ROGUE AND ADMIT TO THE PLOT IN
PUBLIC.
PUBLIC. TO PUT IT SIMPLY TONIGHT, THE
LAWYERS ARE TRYING TO DEFEND.
ADMITTING IS THE OPPOSITE OF
DEFENDING.
DEFENDING. AND SO TRUMP LAWYER JAY SEKULOW,
WHO WE HAVE INTERVIEWED RIGHT
HERE ON THIS SHOW.
HE’S GOT A NEW STATEMENT OUT
THAT OFFERS A LEGAL DROP KICK TO
EVERYTHING THAT MULVANEY JUST
ADMITTED AND THAT MAKES CLEAR
WHAT WE HEARD, WHAT YOU JUST SAW
FROM MULVANEY, THAT’S NOT THE
PRESIDENT’S COUNSEL’S VIEW,
THAT’S NOT HIS STRATEGY.
SEKULOW SAYING THE PRESIDENT’S
LEGAL COUNSEL WAS NOT INVOLVED
IN ACTING CHIEF OF STAFF’S PRESS
BRIEFING.
BRIEFING. NOW, MULVANEY IS A TOP AIDE TO
DONALD TRUMP.
DONALD TRUMP. SO A LAWYER FOR TRUMP DOESN’T
WANT TO RUSH INTO ANTAGONIZING
HIM OR RISK THEIR ACCESS, BUT
IT’S CLEARLY AN ADMISSION THIS
DAMAGE HAD TO BE ADDRESSED
IMMEDIATELY.
IMMEDIATELY. IT’S NOT JUST MULVANEY.
THE UKRAINE PLOT WAS FURTHER
CORROBORATED TODAY IN CONGRESS.
AMBASSADOR SONDLAND CONFIRMING
THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS BACKING
THE UKRAINE POLICY THAT GIULIANI
WAS DRIVING.
WAS DRIVING. ANOTHER IMPEACHMENT WITNESS
SUGGESTING GIULIANI WAS AIMING
TO BE SOMETHING OF A MASTERMIND
OF UKRAINE POLICY AND DONALD
TRUMP’S POLITICS.
TRUMP’S POLITICS. AND THEN MULVANEY TODAY, YOU’VE
GOT TO SEE THIS, DOUBLED DOWN ON
GIULIANI IN THAT DISASTROUS
APPEARANCE.
APPEARANCE. >> DO YOU BELIEVE THAT RUDY
GIULIANI’S ROLE AS AN OUTSIDE
ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT IS
PROBLEMATIC?
PROBLEMATIC? >> THAT’S THE PRESIDENT’S CALL.
THE PRESIDENT GETS TO SET
FOREIGN POLICY AND HE GETS TO
CHOOSE WHO TO DO SO.
>> DID THE PRESIDENT DIRECT YOU
OR ANYONE ELSE TO WORK WITH RUDY
GIULIANI ON UKRAINE?
>> THE PRESIDENT ASKED RICK
PERRY TO WORK WITH MR. GIULIANI.
>> IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR A
PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO BE WORKING
IN UKRAINE ON ISSUES THAT ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE NATIONAL ISSUES?
>> I DON’T KNOW IF ANYTHING
INAPPROPRIATE ABOUT THAT.
>> AS PROMISED, I’M ADDING TO
OUR LINEUP, FORMER FEDERAL
PROSECUTOR GLEN KIRSCHNER,
FRANCESCA CHAMBERS IS STILL WITH
US.
US. GLENN, YOUR REACTION TO THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE
ADMISSIONS?
ADMISSIONS? >> YOU KNOW, ARI, WHEN MULVANEY
STARTED TO TALK AND STARTED TO
CONFESS THAT THERE WAS A QUID
PRO QUO, I WASN’T THAT SHOCKED
BECAUSE TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE ONE
OF OUR SORT OF TESTED, TRIED AND
TRUE TRIAL TACTICS.
WE CALL IT DRAWING THE STING.
WHAT YOU DO IS -- AND HE’S
TALKING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
BECAUSE AT LEAST AS LONG AS BILL
BARR IS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AIN’T
NOBODY GETTING CHARGED WITH A
CRIME WHO IS A CRONY OF THE
PRESIDENT, RIGHT?
PRESIDENT, RIGHT? >> DO YOU THINK IT ADDS TO THE
IMPEACHMENT EVIDENCE AGAINST
DONALD TRUMP TO HAVE THE GUY IN
CHARGE OF THE BUDGET SAY THAT
THEY WITHHELD FUNDING FROM
UKRAINE TO GET A POLITICAL
INVESTIGATION?
INVESTIGATION? >> IT ADDS TO THE IMPEACHMENT
EVIDENCE.
EVIDENCE. I’M NOT SO SURE IT ADDS TO THE
REMOVAL EVIDENCE.
REMOVAL EVIDENCE. AND HERE’S WHY.
ONCE WE GO FROM IMPEACHMENT IN
THE HOUSE TO A REMOVAL TRIAL IN
THE SENATE, HE’S ACTUALLY
BLUNTING THE FORCE OF WHAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
HEAR IN THAT SENATE TRIAL.
>> YOU THINK HE’S TRYING TO GET
SOMETHING NEGATIVE OUT?
>> HE IS TRYING TO DRAW THE
STING FROM THAT INFORMATION.
>> IF THAT’S RIGHT, WHY IS HE
BACKING OFF IT?
>> WELL, THAT’S WHAT I DON’T
UNDERSTAND BECAUSE ONCE HE HAS
DRAWN THE STING, IT’S TAKING THE
STINGER AND REINSERTING IT IN
HIS OWN ARM.
NONE OF THIS MAKES ANY SENSE TO
ME NOW.
ME NOW. >> I’VE GOT LAWYERS THINKING
THREE MOVES AHEAD.
IT LOOKS LIKE MICK MULVANEY IS
ABOUT TWO MOVES BEHIND.
>> THESE ARE KEYSTONE CROOKS AT
THIS POINT.
THIS POINT. >> I WANT TO BRING IN
CONGRESSMAN SWALWELL.
CONGRESSMAN SWALWELL. WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SAW TODAY?
>> GOOD EVENING, ARI.
FIRST, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I
DIDN’T QUICKLY PAY TRIBUTE TO MY
COLLEAGUE, ELIJAH CUMMINGS, WHO
WAS A THUNDEROUS PRESENCE FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORAL
CLARITY.
CLARITY. >> WE’RE HITTING THAT A LITTLE
LATER IN THE SHOW BUT LET’S
BEGIN WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU
RAISE SUCH AN IMPORTANT MOMENT
FOR OBVIOUSLY YOU, YOUR
COLLEAGUES.
COLLEAGUES. SO WE’LL GET TO IT LATER BUT
LET’S GET TO IT NOW AS WELL IF
YOU WANT TO TELL US A MOMENT OR
TWO OF YOUR REFLECTION ON IT.
>> SURE.
>> SURE. I’LL JUST SAY THERE WAS -- HE’S
BEEN A PART OF THIS
INVESTIGATION AND THERE WAS SOME
THOUGHT AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD
DELAY TODAY’S HEARING, BUT ALL
OF US KNOW THAT HE HAS BEEN SUCH
A FORCE FOR PROTECTING OUR
DEMOCRACY THAT HE WOULD HATE IF
WE DELAYED JUST ONE DAY OF
GETTING TO THE TRUTH.
SO WE ARE MARCHING ON, YOU KNOW,
DOING WHAT HE WOULD WANT US TO
DO.
DO. SO YES, TODAY ON A BREAK FROM
HEARING FROM AMBASSADOR
SONDLAND, I’M STANDING RIGHT
OUTSIDE THE SKIFF, THE SECURE
ROOM, AND ON THE BIG SCREEN YOU
SEE MICK MULVANEY HOLDING THIS
PRESS CONFERENCE AND THERE WAS
JUST JAWS ON THE FLOOR,
INCLUDING MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES, AS MICK MULVANEY
SAID THAT.
SAID THAT. >> SO YOU SAW REPUBLICANS IN
REALTIME --
REALTIME -- >> YES.
>> YES. >> IT’S NOT LIKE THEY HAD EXTRA
TIME TO FRAME IT.
YOU’RE SAYING THEIR FIRST
REACTION WAS WHAT?
>> THEY’RE SHAKING THEIR HEADS
AND LIKE DID HE JUST SAY THAT?
I PATTED ONE OF THEM ON THE
SHOULDER AND SAID HAVE FUN
CLEANING THAT ONE UP.
BUT ARI, THE WAY I SEE IT, MICK
MULVANEY TODAY CO-SIGNED ON
DONALD TRUMP’S CONFESSION TO
EXTORTION.
EXTORTION. >> YOU VIEW IT AS A TYPE OF
CONFESSION?
CONFESSION? >> YES.
>> YES. WE’VE ALWAYS -- DONALD TRUMP
SAID IT WAS A QUID PRO QUO
ESSENTIALLY AND THEN THEY TRIED
TO BACK OFF ONCE THEY RECOGNIZED
WHAT THATMENT FOR IMPEACHMENT
REMOVAL AND POTENTIAL CRIMINAL
LIABILITY.
LIABILITY. GOING BACK TO GLENN KIRSCHNER’S
POINT, OFTENTIMES IT’S SAID IN
COURT HOW COULD THE DEFENDANT BE
SO STUPID?
SO STUPID? AS MY BROTHERS WHO ARE POLICE
OFFICERS TELL ME, WE DON’T CATCH
THE SMART ONES.
SO I DON’T THINK THAT THERE’S
ANY BRILLIANT LEGALESE GOING ON
HERE OR JEDI TRICKS.
SOMETIMES THEY JUST SAY THE
QUIET PARTS OUT LOUD.
>> YEAH.
>> YEAH. WOW.
WOW. YOU PUT IT VERY STARKLY AND I
THINK THE EVIDENCE OF THAT, AND
WE WERE SORT OF HAVING THAT
DEBATE OUT HERE ON THE SHOW
BECAUSE WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH
DIFFERENT IDEAS AND TALK IT OUT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW QUICKLY
THEY’RE BACK TRACKING, THE
LAWYERS SAY THIS WASN’T OUR
ADVICE AND MULVANEY SAYING
MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THIS
BRIEFING, I TOOK 25 QUESTIONS.
I REFERRED TO TRUMP’S INTEREST
IN ROOTING OUT CORRUPTION AND
THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO QUID PRO
QUO.
QUO. NOW WE HAVE MULVANEY ADMITTING
QUID PRO QUO.
THEN LATER CLAIMING HE DIDN’T.
AND THAT’S A LIE.
AND THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES
WHAT DO YOUR COMMITTEES DO ABOUT
THIS?
THIS? DO YOU FEEL ANY NEED TO HEAR
FROM MULVANEY UNDER OATH BEFORE
YOU MOVE TO VOTES AND WHAT
HAPPENS IF HE DOESN’T SHOW
BECAUSE THE STONEWALL STRATEGY
WE’VE SEEN CRACKING A LITTLE
BIT?
BIT? >> WELL, SUCHES WHOSPECTS WHO CO
A CRIME ARE STILL ENTITLED TO A
FAIR HEARING.
FAIR HEARING. YOU CAN MOVE A LOT FASTER WHEN
YOU HAVE CONFESSIONS FROM THE
SUSPECTS AND OTHER WITNESSES
AROUND IT.
AROUND IT. BUT YES, WE’LL BRING IN THE
RELEVANT WITNESSES AND CONDUCT
THIS FAIRLY BUT EXPEDITIOUSLY.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY THIS,
ARI, ABOUT WHAT WE HEARD FROM
MICK MULVANEY, WHICH IS OF
COURSE THIS IS THEY WERE DOING.
AND THE PROCESS ATTACKS THAT I
HEAR FROM REPUBLICANS REFLECT
THAT THEY DON’T WANT TO DEFEND
WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON, THE
EXTORTION SCHEME WITH OUR
TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
TAXPAYER DOLLARS. AS YOU KNOW AS A LAWYER, LAW
PROFESSOR TELL YOU WHEN THE
FACTS ARE AGAINST YOU, ARGUE THE
LAW.
LAW. WHEN THE LAW IS AGAINST YOU,
ARGUE THE FACTS.
WHEN BOTH ARE AGAINST YOU, POUND
YOUR FISTS ON THE TABLE AND
SHOUT REALLY LOUD AND THAT’S
WHAT WE’RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU’RE INVOLVED IN THIS,
YOU’RE AN INVESTIGATOR AND
AROUND ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS.
WE WERE WATCHING THIS IN THE
NEWSROOM TODAY AND WE WERE JUST
ASTOUNDED.
ASTOUNDED. I MEAN I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND
HOW THE PRESIDENT’S TOP AIDE,
WHO’S BEEN LISTENING TO DONALD
TRUMP RUN AROUND SAYING NO QUID
PRO QUO, NO QUID PRO QUO COULD
COME OUT AND ADMIT IT AND WE
JUST PLAYED THAT SOUNDING.
WHEN PRESSED BY THE REPORTERS,
WAIT, HE SAID HE DID.
DOES IT MATTER TO YOUR
INVESTIGATION TO HAVE A THEORY
OF WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING?
IS THERE A BUBBLE?
IS THERE A LACK OF REGULAR PRESS
BRIEFINGS MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE
SOFT?
SOFT? IS THERE REALLY A LACK OF
EXPERIENCE AT THIS POINT WITH
MR. MULVANEY AT THIS POINT
TAKING STRAIGHTFORWARD
TAKING STRAIGHTFORWARD INQUISITIVE QUESTIONS AND THUS
FUMBLING THEM?
FUMBLING THEM? BECAUSE IT SEEMS IN A VERY
APPRECIABLE WAY, SOME OF THE
BEST PUBLIC EVIDENCE THAT THERE
WAS A BRIBERY PLOT WITH UKRAINE
JUST BURST OUT TODAY AND IT CAME
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S TOP AIDE.
>> THAT’S A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK YOU CAN SUM IT UP WITH
THE FACT THAT THIS JULY 25
SHAKEDOWN CALL WAS MADE THE DAY
AFTER BOB MUELLER TESTIFIED TO
CONGRESS.
CONGRESS. THEY THINK THEY CAN GET AWAY
WITH IT.
WITH IT. THAT’S REALLY WHAT’S AT STAKE
HERE.
HERE. THERE’S NOT REALLY A DISPUTE
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
AND SO WHAT I SUBMIT TO MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES IS OUR
CHILDREN ARE WATCHING WHAT WE DO
NEXT WITH OUR DEMOCRACY.
DONALD TRUMP SAID HE COULD SHOOT
SOMEONE ON FIFTH AVENUE AND GET
AWAY WITH IT.
WE AS AMERICANS HAVE TO ANSWER
WHETHER HE IS RIGHT ABOUT WHO WE
ARE.
ARE. I AM BETTING THAT HE’S REALLY,
REALLY WRONG.
REALLY WRONG. >> YOU LAY OUT THE STAKES.
IT’S REALLY STRIKING AND IT WAS
INTERESTING ALSO WHAT YOU’RE
SAYING YOU SAW FROM YOUR
COLLEAGUES AND I ALSO APPRECIATE
YOU SPEAKING ABOUT A COLLEAGUE
THAT YOU LOST.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME