ADAM SCHIFF SAID HE IS LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE WHISTLE-BLOWER'S
TESTIMONY AS SOON AS THIS WEEK.
ANDREW NAPOLITANO IS HERE.
WE HAD A LOT OF BUSY NEWS DAY'S
BUT GETTING YOUR HANDS AROUND
ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED TODAY IS
VERY DIFFICULT.
I WANT TO BREAK THIS DOWN TO
SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE.
THE PRESIDENT ADMITS THAT ON THE
PHONE CALL WITH THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UKRAINE HE REQUESTED THAT
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UKRAINE
INVESTIGATE HIS 2020 POLITICAL
RIVAL, JOE BIDEN.
IS THAT A CRIME?
>> IT IS A CRIME FOR THE PRESENT
TO SOLICIT AID FOR HIS CAMPAIGN
FROM A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.
>> Shepard: SO THAT TO WHICH
THE PRESIDENT HAS ADMITTED IS IN
AND OF ITSELF A CRIME.
>> YES, IT IS THE SAME CRIME FOR
WHICH THE ORGANIZATION DECIDED
NOT TO SEEK AN INDICTMENT.
>> THAT'S ON THE OBSTRUCTION OF
JUSTICE, WHETHER OR NOT THERE
WAS A CONSPIRACY THEORY.
HE SAID THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE
BUT NOT ENOUGH TO INDICT.
AND IT'S THE SAME CRIME, AN
AGREEMENT OR SOLICITATION FOR
ASSISTANCE FOR AN AMERICAN
CAMPAIGN REGULATED BY THE
FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.
>> Shepard: AT RUDY GIULIANI'S
THAT HE TOO PRESSED HER
UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS TO
INVESTIGATE BIDEN AT THE
SUGGESTION OF THE
ADMINISTRATION.
>> IF IT WAS DONE AS PART OF THE
REELECTION, IF THE PRESIDENT
WANTED -- SAID I WANT YOU TO
INVESTIGATE THE PRINCIPLE.
>> Shepard: THERE
WHISTLE-BLOWER FIRST REPORT OF
THE PRESIDENTS ACTION AND
UNSPECIFIED OTHER ACTIONS.
INSPECTOR GENERAL DEEMED THAT
INFORMATION CREDIBLE AND OF
URGENT CONCERN, RATHER THAN TAKE
THAT COMPLAINT TO THE CONGRESS,
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WENT TO
THE ADMINISTRATION FOR GUIDANCE
AND THE ADMINISTRATION BLOCKED
ITS TRANSFER TO THE CONGRESS.
IS THAT A PROBLEM LEGALLY?
>> YES, THE ADMINISTRATION IS ON
VERY THIN ICE.
THE STATUTE SAYS
INSPECTOR GENERAL, IF HE FINDS A
COMPLAINT TO BE AT CREDIBLE AND
URGENT SHALL, NOT MAY, SHALL,
SHARE IT WITH A GANG OF EIGHT.
THE GANG OF EIGHT IS THE
BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP OF BOTH
HOUSES OF CONGRESS AND THE
BIPARTISAN READERSHIP OF BOTH
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES.
HE DIDN'T DO THAT.
HE GOT -- THE RULING FROM THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS, WAIT A
MINUTE.
THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T WEIGHT,
AND THEREFORE THAT COMPLAINT IS
MOVED.
THE CONGRESS HAS EVERY RIGHT
UNDER THE STATUTE TO KNOW ABOUT
IT AND THAT'S WHERE WE STAND
LEGALLY.
AND, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT
THE PRESIDENT HAS ADMITTED.
THE PRESIDENT HAS ADMITTED THAT,
INVESTIGATING HIS UPCOMING 2020
PRESIDENTIAL RIVAL.
HOW SERIOUS IS THIS MATTER FOR
THE NATION AND THE DEMOCRACY
LEGALLY SPEAKING?
>> ABSOLUTELY IT IS IMPEACHABLE
OFFENSE AND WHY DO I SAY THAT?
IT'S STATED IN THE CONSTITUTION.
TREASON, BRIBERY, OTHER HIGH
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UKRAINE,
THAT WOULD BE AN IMPEACHABLE IN
OFFENSE.
>> FIRST, THERE WAS A
WITHHOLDING OF THE AID, WHICH
THE CONGRESS IN A BIPARTISAN WA
WAY.
THEN THE PRESIDENT WITHOUT
EXPLANATION AT THE TIME DROPPED
THAT TRANSFER OF MONEY.
THEN, IT SITS CONFIRMED BY
FOX NEWS THAT THERE WAS A PHONE
CALL DURING WHICH THE FORMER
VICE PRESIDENT, AND THAT'S WHY
YOU ARE GETTING TO THIS BRIBERY
ACCUSATION?
>> YES.
NOW THE GRAND JURY AS THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THEY
DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THIS
CONSTITUTES BRIBERY.
THE TRIAL JURY IS THE SENATE AND
THEY ALSO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT
THIS CONSTITUTES BRIBERY.
WHAT WORDS TO THE PRESIDENT USE?
DID THE PRESIDENT USE CODE
WORDS, AS ONE OF HIS FORMER
LAWYER SAID HE OFTEN DOES WHEN
HE KNOWS OTHERS ARE YOU
LISTENING TO HIS CONVERSATIONS?
DID THE RECIPIENT OF THOSE WORDS
UNDERSTAND THEM TO BE THE CODE
WORDS?
THE CONVERSATION THAT PRESIDENT
ZELINSKI HAD WITH
SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY OF
CONNECTICUT WILL COME INTO THIS
BECAUSE CHRIS MURPHY OF
CONNECTICUT SAID DON'T DO WHAT
THE PRESIDENT ASKED EACH OF YOU
AND PRESIDENT ZELINSKI SAID,
DON'T WORRY, WE ARE GOING TO DO
IT.
>> Shepard: OFTEN IT'S
DIFFICULT TO SEE THE FOREST FROM