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Nadler on Impeachment; Paul Opposes Declaration; Abdul-Jabbar Raises Money for Charity; Hickenlooper Enters Race; Sanders Kicks off Campaign. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired March 04, 2019 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[08:30:00] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: House Democrats are clearly expanding their investigations of the president.

Joining us now, Kirsten Powers, CNN political analyst and "USA Today" columnist, Jeffrey Toobin, CNN chief legal analyst, and Rick Santorum, CNN senior political commentator and former Republican senator from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

I want to play you what Jerry Nadler, who is chairman of House Judiciary, tells us he will do and won't do just yet. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JERROLD NADLER (D), CHAIRMAN, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Impeachment is a long way down the road. We don't -- we don't have the facts yet. But we're going to initiate proper investigations.

It's our job to protect the rule of law. That's our core function. And to do that, we are going to initiate investigations into abuses of power, into corruption of -- into corruption and into obstruction of justice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: So what's Chairman Nadler's committee going to do, Jeffrey, that the special counsel, Robert Mueller, has not done?

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN CHIEF LEGAL ANALYST: Well, they might do a lot of the same things because Mueller's investigation has been in the grand jury, which is by definition secret. But issues like obstruction of justice, all the issues related to the firing of James Comey, the, you know, issues that Michael Cohen raised yesterday, insurance fraud, bank fraud, all of that seems to cry out for further investigation.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: But isn't Mueller -- is it fair to say that Mueller is more focused on Russia and it sounds like Jerry Nadler is now more focused on abuse of power, things like that?

TOOBIN: Well, it is true that Mueller is more focused on Russia and the House Intelligence Committee, under Adam Schiff, is more focused on -- on the whole Russia constellation of issues. But that still leaves a lot to investigate. And, you know, we don't know exactly what Mueller has done. I mean,

you know, Mueller's -- you know, we've talked a lot and we know what cases he's brought, but in terms of the investigatory results, you know, we'll see how much of it we get to see from his report.

BERMAN: Kirsten, you saw Jerry Nadler, and to a certain extent you see Speaker Pelosi, trying to thread this needle, which is to say, we see evidence of crimes here. We see wrongdoing. There is evidence of obstruction. But, not impeachment yet.

How long can they do this dance for?

KIRSTEN POWERS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, they're just -- they're -- I think people like a Nancy Pelosi, obviously, have this institutional knowledge of remembering, you know, how these things can go. And so I think that they, you know, they saw Bill Clinton actually become more popular during impeachment. And so when you do something like this, if it's just partisan, you can typically -- well, you run a very high risk of seeing a real blow back.

And so they're sort of up against a lot of particularly younger activists, I think, including members of Congress, who don't have that institutional memory. They know about it, but they didn't really live through it. And they feel like the base wants to see Donald Trump impeached. And so they're much more aggressive about it. So I think this is going to be a tension between, you know, people in the Democratic Party who feel like, you know, this is something -- I think -- I think they're right. I mean this is something that you don't -- you don't just go after and impeach a president unless you have, you know, something really major. A major violation and you need to ideally have it be somewhat bipartisan.

CAMEROTA: Rick, is it your take that what Jerry Nadler was saying was that they are going to do these kind of muscular investigations now, but they'll never get to impeachment?

RICK SANTORUM, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I -- first off, I think Kirsten's right that the folks who have been around awhile, and I lived through it. I was a senator during the Clinton impeachment. And so I -- it's very clear memory to me. And it was -- It was an attempt -- you know, the House really pushed it and they wanted their -- the impeachment. The Senate was never going to convict the president because it, as Kirsten mentioned, it wasn't bipartisan. And so there is a lot at stake for them to continue to move forward with this.

I don't understand -- you know, I understand what they're doing. It's purely politics. It's not about impeachment, to get to your question. They're not going to impeach the president in the next year or whatever. What they're doing is trying to set -- set the president up for an election that he will lose.

CAMEROTA: But why aren't they all -- just, Rick, just one second, why aren't they also just trying to find out what really happened, if crimes were committed? SANTORUM: Well, look, I mean the idea of crimes were committed,

contrary to what Jeffrey said, look, I -- there are plenty of investigators out there, plenty of prosecutors out there looking at everything the president's done from the Southern District of New York to Mueller. I don't think there's any -- there's going to be any shortage of people looking at whether he's done illegal activity. But what we're talking about here are really more public relations issues for the president that, you know, that there are questions as to the president's behavior. And that's what they're going to be driving at, trying to dig up as much, keep this thing -- keep this roiling, keep the president, you know, keep the president focused on this issue, not so much trying to get an impeachment or an indictment. That's -- I don't think that's their objective.

[08:35:13] BERMAN: But Mark McKinnon (ph), who was with us last hour, who at one point was a Republican political consultant, has also advised Democrats in the past, Jeffrey, he says the American people essentially deserve to know if the president committed a felony. And it may take Congress doing this in public for them to get that information.

TOOBIN: Well, and I think that's right. You know -- you know, Rick is shocked to see that there is politics taking place in the -- in the United States Congress.

SANTORUM: Not shocked at all, actually.

TOOBIN: But, you know, it is true that the Democrats would like nothing more than to see Donald Trump defeated in 2020. And they will do whatever they can, including use their powers in Congress.

It is also true that the American public has an interest in learning whether crimes were committed, in learning, you know, how the Trump Organization made its money and if it violated any laws.

So, you know, I -- I think both those things can be true.

CAMEROTA: Kirsten, let's move on.

Rand Paul, Senator Rand Paul, is going to vote to block the president's national emergency, making it the -- he's number four of the Republicans. So that will then go to the president's desk, which he then has vowed to veto.

Here's Rand Paul's rationale for why he is going to block it. He says, I would literally lose my political soul if I decided to treat President Trump differently than President Obama. Every single Republican I know decried President Obama's use of executive power to legislate. We were right then. But the only way to be an honest office holder is to stand up for the same principle no matter who is in power.

As I said before, isn't it comforting that Rand Paul's long-term memory is intact in a way that other people's does not seem to be. He remembers when they went after President Obama for executive power. POWERS: Yes. Well, this was a very big issue for Republicans all

through Obama's presidency that, you know, that he was this sort of tyrant ruling through executive order. So, you know, kudos to Rand Paul for being consistent. I mean he's one of the few people in Washington, frankly, on either side that does that. I don't think it's -- people do seem to shift -- it's very situational what people think in terms of where they are in power. They find one thing offensive when it's, you know, the other side but not offensive when it's their side.

In the end, you know, Trump's going to veto this. So I'm not -- I'm not really sure what difference it's going to make. And I doubt very much that there's going to be enough Republicans to override a veto.

BERMAN: We're up against the clock here, senator, but you were nodding and shaking to the notion of kudos to Rand Paul.

CAMEROTA: Which one is it, a nod or a shake?

BERMAN: I just got to know. I just got to know.

SANTORUM: Yes, it -- because it's a little of both. I mean I agree with Rand Paul and I commend him because, look, I'm not sure I would vote for this, not because I don't think the president has the authority. I think he does have the authority to do it. I just don't like the fact that he is doing it because then I think -- so Rand Paul's point about checking the executive I think is a legitimate point and so I'm -- I'm torn, but I'm -- I certainly don't criticize him for doing what he's doing.

BERMAN: So it was a shake and a nod, explaining --

SANTORUM: A shake and a nod.

CAMEROTA: I get -- I get it.

BERMAN: He's explaining the shnod (ph).

SANTORUM: Yes.

BERMAN: It was a shnod.

TOOBIN: Shnod.

SANTORUM: Yes. All right.

BERMAN: All right, senator, Kirsten, Jeffrey, thank you very much.

CAMEROTA: All right, "Saturday Night Live," good segue, taking jabs at the Michael Cohen hearing. "Late Night Laughs" are next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:41:59] CAMEROTA: Time now for the "5 Things to Know For Your New Day." Number one, at least 23 people are dead and dozens are hurt after

tornadoes have ripped through central Alabama. A search continues for more victims and survivors.

BERMAN: The same weather system is bringing snow to the Northeast. Nearly a foot of snow, more in some cases, has fallen in and around Boston where schools are closed today.

CAMEROTA: The House Judiciary Committee will request documents today from more than 60 people and entities with ties to President Trump. The chairman, Jerry Nadler, says it's, quote, very clear to him that the president obstructed justice.

BERMAN: Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has joined the 2020 presidential race. He's the second governor to jump into the Democratic field.

CAMEROTA: Two sisters missing for nearly two days in California were found alive. Authorities say they were lost in a wooded area near their house. They found them by tracking their boot prints.

BERMAN: For more on the "5 Things to Know," go to cnn.com/newday for the very latest.

CAMEROTA: OK, here's what else to watch today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ON SCREEN TEST: 10:00 a.m. ET, Supreme Court could issue new rulings.

11:30 a.m. ET, President Trump welcomes North Dakota State football team.

4:15 p.m. ET, President Trump talks to National Association of Attorneys General.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: And thank you to Deter for that musical interlude.

"Saturday Night Live" spoofed Michael Cohen's hearing with Ben Stiller once again playing the president's former lawyer. Here are your "Late Night Laughs."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm so angry, I couldn't even wear a jacket today! And you know something, Mr. Cohen, I've never even heard of you.

BEN STILLER, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": Your mother has.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey.

STILLER: For too many years I was loyal to a man, when I should not have been. Now I know how Khloe Kardashian feels.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just so happens that I brought with me a black woman. And she works for Trump, don't you?

Uh-huh. And her name is Omarosa.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, no, that is -- no, no.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And she has stood by Trump's side since the first season of "The Apprentice."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, oh, that is not me. Can I leave?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes, absolutely. Save yourself.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Trump met with North Korean dictator. And, let's face it, one of his top five closest friends, Kim Jong-un. Talks broke down when the two leaders could not agree on sanctions. Another problem was Kim Jong-un used an interpreter while Trump just spoke English but louder.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: That was good. It looks like a good one. Thank goodness I have it taped. I can't wait to watch it today.

All right, Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar selling the majority of his memorabilia from his playing days, raising nearly $3 million for charity.

Andy Scholes has more in our "Bleacher Report."

[08:45:01] Hi, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, guys.

You know, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had previously said when it comes to choosing between storing a championship ring or trophy in a room or providing kids with an opportunity to change their lives, the choice is pretty simple, sell it all. Kareem auctioning off 234 of his items from his playing days, including four of his six championship rings. The lot netting nearly $3 million. Now, much of the proceeds from that auction going to go to Kareem's Skyhood Foundation charity that helps kids learn about science, technology, engineering and math.

All right, its Mardi Gras and this guy on a float playing catch with some random guy in the crowd. Oh, that's not some random guy. That's actually Peyton Manning. Peyton, of course, from New Orleans. And the people of the city taking a shot at Roger Goodell and the NFL referees during the parades. This group, they call themselves the robin refs and they're all acting like they're blind referees. They also even had a nice choreographed dance and everything. The detail on the float pretty amazing. Refs had hats on that said "I love L.A." and the NFL was even spelled out on braille on that float, guys. So it's pretty clear that the city of New Orleans never going to forget what happened in that NFC championship game.

BERMAN: Nor should they.

All right, Andy Scholes, thank you very much.

Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, the latest candidate to join the 2020 race. He's been in it for all of two hours. We have the other 2020 campaign news, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:50:56] BERMAN: All right, a new Democratic candidate joined the 2020 race this morning. John Hickenlooper, the former governor of Colorado. He's been in the race now for two hours and 20 minutes exactly. Where does he fit into the field?

Joining me now, MJ Lee, CNN national political correspondent, and Astead Herndon, national politics reporter for "The New York Times."

And, guys, you know, I'm old enough to remember where a two-term governor from a purple state, which Colorado was, maybe still is, if that person jumped into the field, it would be a big deal. That person would carry a lot of weight with him or her.

Where does John Hickenlooper fit, MJ?

MJ LEE, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Look, I think that we're seeing a little bit of a why not me phenomenon right now. When you are somebody with even the little bit of -- smallest bit of presidential aspirations, you're seeing how big the field is getting and seeing that anyone and anyone is jumping in. And, by the way, you're also seeing President Trump and just how embattled he is, just how sort of -- how much trouble he seems to be in. You are probably thinking about the possibility of him maybe not finishing out his term and you're thinking, why not me? Why would I not seize this opportunity to get in?

Obviously, for him, it's clear that he is trying to be -- sort of take the lane of the moderate candidate, the more centrist candidate. And I think when you are seeing that the rest of the field is going so far to the left, you might think to yourself, maybe there is space for me in this field.

BERMAN: Who else is in that middle lane right now?

ASTEAD HERNDON, NATIONAL POLITICS REPORTER, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": We see a couple. I mean I think Senator Amy Klobuchar has tried to occupy that among the senators. Hickenlooper, certainly. But then we might see folks going forward. Folks like Senator Joe -- former Vice President Joe Biden, maybe Congressman Seth Moulton out in Massachusetts. There's going to be a number of folks who try to say, while the Democratic Party may be moving to the left on issues like health care, Medicare for all, or the environment and the green new deal, or something like a federal jobs guarantee on the economy, let's find a lane in more of the center and let's reject that kind of socialist -- Democratic socialist push that some folks think are rising.

Whether that's going to fall to Governor Hickenlooper, whether he can carry that mantel is an entirely separate question from whether there is a lane for that type of moderate.

BERMAN: You brought up Democratic socialists. And, of course, Bernie Sanders is, in fact, a Democratic socialist, an independent who is running in the Democratic primary. He had a big part of his roll-out this weekend, announced some time ago, but a big part of his roll-out this weekend where he went to Brooklyn, he went to Chicago, he went to Selma.

Let's listen to a little bit of what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I did not come from a family of privilege that prepared me to entertain people on television by telling workers you're fired. I came from a family who knew all too well the frightening power employers can have over everyday workers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: I noticed three things different that Senator Sanders is doing. Number one, talking about himself using the first person pronoun "I" a lot more. Number two, reaching out much more to perhaps African-American voters, direct references to racial issues, which he shied away from. And, number three, taking on the president.

LEE: Right. You know, I've listened to a lot of Bernie Sanders speeches and when he started talking about his personal background, I kind of sat up on my couch because I really have not heard him talk about that. And it is a compelling story. I don't know if most people, even the sort of diehard Bernie supporters, necessarily knew about the story about his father coming over without a nickel in his pocket, as Bernie Sanders said, from Poland, and the fact they lived in a rent- controlled apartment and that his mother's dream was to get out of that apartment some day. And he said, that dream was never fulfilled.

I think it goes to show that back in 2016 he absolutely knew what he was doing. He wanted to present sort of the policy contrast to Hillary Clinton. This time around, maybe he sees that that's not going to be enough because the field is so big.

BERMAN: Go ahead.

HERNDON: Exactly. I think that we're seeing a Bernie Sanders 2.0 in this new race. He sees himself as more of -- less of an underdog this time around. Polls proved that out, that he is kind of leading from the front. And that requires a kind of different lane to be operated in. He's trying to create coalitions this time, not just fire up folks around his issues, partly because other senators and other candidates have adopted some of those issues. He's no longer the only one calling for free college. He's no longer the only one saying things like Medicare for all. So that requires him to do something different. He's brought in a new team around him who has pushed some of that and that is going to require an outreach to minority voters. That's going to require a kind of more -- a Bernie Sanders that we may not have seen in the past.

[08:55:28] BERMAN: Some of his old team skipped town a few weeks ago.

HERNDON: Yes.

BERMAN: (INAUDIBLE). We have ten seconds left.

Eric Holder, the former attorney general, just told "The Washington Post" he will not run for president.

The significance there, MJ, may be that Barack Obama doesn't necessarily have a direct ally in this race just yet.

LEE: Well, and it's been reported that he's not going to be somebody who takes a stance anyway.

HERNDON: No.

LEE: He's not going to be taking a position in terms of endorsing somebody, even if that person ends up being former Vice President Joe Biden. The Obama mantel, though, is there and I think there are a number of candidates who might be looking at that still.

BERMAN: MJ Lee, Astead Herndon, thank you for being with us this morning.

HERNDON: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: All right, "NEWSROOM" with Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto will pick up next. We'll see you tomorrow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: A very good Monday morning to you. I'm Jim Sciutto in New York. Poppy is off today.

[08:59:55] The sun is up in Lee County, Alabama, just east of Montgomery, and authorities fear the death toll from yesterday's devastating tornadoes there will soon be rising as well. In addition to the 23 people already known dead in that

END