Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Pelosi "Done" With Trump, But Impeachment Not Off The Table; Senate Intel Committee To Interview Donald Trump Jr.. Behind Closed Doors; Legendary Red Sox Hitter David Ortiz, Who Was Stabbed In The Dominican Republic, Honored At Fenway Park; U.S. Women's Soccer Team Fights For Equal Pay. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired June 11, 2019 - 14:30   ET

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


[14:30:00] MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And the president today, when he was asked about that remark, attacked her again. So at the moment, Pelosi trying to avoid getting into a tit for tat with this president, even as some members want her to take a formal line on impeachment. But she's staving off those calls for now -- Brooke?

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, no going there for now.

And, quickly, you have some scoop on Donald Trump Jr.?

RAJU: That's right. He's expected before the Senate Intelligence Committee tomorrow to come back for a second round of testimony. He first came back in 2017 to testify. Democrats and Republicans had additional questions for him.

He initially resisted calls to come back in the aftermath of the Mueller report's release. The committee sent a subpoena to him and he fought that subpoena. They cut a deal behind closed doors for him to come back voluntarily. Now he is going to come back, we're told, tomorrow for a voluntary interview.

And it could be his last time on Capitol Hill but Democrats want to pin him down on what they believe were inconsistencies in the past testimony -- Brooke?

BALDWIN: Manu, thank you so much.

Moments ago, the president said this about Speaker Pelosi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now, look, Nancy is a mess. The Democratic Party is a mess. They're doing everything they can to win the election in 2020. And all they do is waste time on these investigations where there's no obstruction, no collusion, no nothing. And in the meantime, they can't get a border deal done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: CNN Legal Analyst, Elie Honig, is a former federal prosecutor, is with me. And Dana Bash is back. So, Dana, first to you.

Listening to Manu's interview with Speaker Pelosi, he hit on the right questions. She's obviously not quite ready to go there on impeachment and saying she's not taking it off the table.

What struck you the most about that back and forth?

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICL CORRESPONDENT: Just that. And I thought what Manu just played, of the way that she was very openly talking about the many unanswered questions that even she has about not just the political implications of this, which I think we know where she stands on that but even the process.

BALDWIN: Yes.

BASH: Manu's request about the idea that legally it could help the Democrats if they start a formal impeachment inquiry, we heard that from a lot of people. Maybe Elie heard that or read it in a book in law school. But the speaker of the House is not so convinced that is true, which is noteworthy.

And the fact --

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: I want to hit pause on that, because I wanted to ask you, there's disbelief from Democrats, if they hit the gas on impeachment, that would benefit them in terms of getting in documents and information.

ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Manu is right and Dana is right. Opening an impeachment inquiry strengthens the Democrats' hand in the courts. No question about it.

Here is why. Typically, the way it works is Congress serves a subpoena and the White House said no for whatever reason.

BALDWIN: Yes.

HONIG: Congress then has to show that the subpoena is related to what is called a legitimate legislative purpose, some future law that might be passed. But now, if they open up impeachment inquiry, they can say or it is related to this impeachment.

Take Don McGahn, for example. Testimony from Don McGahn has no connection to any law that Congress might pass. But would it be related to an impeachment inquiry? Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Dana, did you want to pick up on your second point?

BASH: No. I don't remember what it was.

(LAUGHTER)

It was about -- no, I'm kidding. It was just about Trump. It was about Trump. It was about the fact that she's trying to now

(CROSSTALK)

BASH: -- like back off on the Trump thing and not engage. But I think it's -- good luck with that.

BALDWIN: Yes.

Let me stay with you, Elie, because turning to the House vote today, what will that then allow the House Judiciary to do?

HONIG: This is not as dramatic as John Dean yesterday but it is more important as a substantive matter because it will enable Congress to go directly to the court.

So when the subpoenas get defied, Congress has streamlined the process and they no longer have to vote on contempt. The committee don't have to go to the full house but just direct to court. And that is what Congress needs to do to force the hands of witnesses, Don McGahn and Hicks, maybe Robert Mueller, who have been resistant.

BALDWIN: OK.

BASH: And there's one other thing I want to bring up.

BALDWIN: Go ahead.

BASH: Which is, in the legal vain -- and it is the scoop that Manu just talked about that our colleagues got on Capitol Hill. The president's eldest son is going back to Capitol Hill. This has been a huge source of tension between the White House, between Donald Trump Jr. and the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The fact that they have an agreement and that he is going to go back is pretty remarkable. And that, again, is being forced to do so by the Republican majority in the United States Senate.

BALDWIN: Great point. That is happening tomorrow.

Dana and Elie, thank you very much.

HONIG: Thank you.

BASH: Thank you.

BALDWIN: We move on to David Ortiz. His wife has new details about the baseball legend's condition. What we've learned about a second surgery and the difficult recovery still ahead.

[14:35:48] You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Legendary Red Sox hitter, David Ortiz, is in intensive care in Boston after undergoing a second surgery in the U.S. Surveillance video shows the moment he was ambushed at a nightclub in

his native Dominican Republic on Sunday. The gunman can be seen shooting Ortiz from behind at near point-blank range in the back as Ortiz mingled with friends.

We could tell you that one suspect is in custody after bystanders tackled and beat the man at the scene. And a manhunt is under a way for the second suspect as police try to pinpoint a motive.

Meantime, back in Boston, at Fenway Park, where Ortiz played for 14 seasons and led the Red Sox to, not just one or two, but three World Series titles, the team and fans honored the home-town hero.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[14:40:06] ANNOUNCER: Please join us as we offer a moment of reflection, thought and prayer for a complete healing and a full recovery for our beloved Big Papi.

(PAUSE)

ANNOUNCER: Thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Dan Shaughnessy is a legendary sports columnist at the "Boston Globe" and has covered the Red Sox since '81.

Dan, nice to see you.

DAN SHAUGHNESSY, SPORTS COLUMNIST, BOSTON GLOBE: Good to see you, too, Brooke.

BALDWIN: I was going back, old articles, and you've been writing about him for years and that is ups and downs and that is small potatoes. And looking at the video from Fenway last night, all anyone cared about was David Ortiz. He got that police escort to Mass General last night. Could you could talk about how Boston is his family?

SHAUGHNESSY: Well, he is a huge figure in this town. Sports means a lot to this town. They've won 12 championships and he delivered three of them. And great clutch hitter and great to everybody, his fans and teammate, and good to the media and, surprisingly, when not everybody is. And he's Father Christmas here in Boston for like 20 years now.

This is his second home. They love him and they're embracing him. And the Bruins are in the Stanley Cup final and this is the main story in sports, in Boston, all of Boston, since David was shot Sunday night.

BALDWIN: I know all of you had to pivot to this from the hockey. But we think back to the tragedy that was the Boston bombing. So many of us were in that city for weeks and weeks after the fact. And I'll never forget being at Fenway and seeing David Ortiz walking

out in the middle of the field and saying this:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID ORTIZ, FORMER RED SOX BASEBALL PLAYER: This is our (EXPLETIVE DELETED) city.

(CHEERING)

ORTIZ: And nobody's going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong. Thank you.

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Dan, you remember what the city felt like at that time. It was a city reeling from terror. What did that moment mean?

SHAUGHNESSY: Yes, that -- that had been a horrible week, starting with the marathon on Monday and the bombing tragedy leading up to Friday shelter-in-place and all of the police activity in Watertown. This was Saturday.

This was the first kind of coming out for Boston that the event was behind us, to get back on our feet. And to have this iconic sports hero walk out there and take the microphone and drop an F-bomb, which was later approved by the chairman of the FCC. That is how much love David Ortiz is in town.

(CROSSTALK)

SHAUGHNESSY: And it became a historic moment of the town.

That team went on to win the World Series. It stayed with Boston the whole year. And the love for David Ortiz has stayed ever since that moment and, of course, even before and forever.

BALDWIN: We remember the moment when the Sox then went on to the White House and President Obama and the infamous selfie.

And I just want to point out, that the president tweeted about this -- former President Obama tweeted six years ago, "David Ortiz's spirit and resolve helped us heap from the Boston Marathon bombing. And today I want to join many others in wishing a speedy recovery of his own. Get well soon, Big Papi."

And, Dan, just the question on the shooting is why. It doesn't seem random. I know so many people are digging on this. Have you heard anything?

SHAUGHNESSY: Well, there's always kind of rumors out there. This is clearly -- we wonder about the motive, because it is not a random. It is not a robbery. It's targeted. This is an assassination. So somebody wanted to hurt him. And I don't believe that the shooter is the individual. I believe the

shooter is a hired person. But we don't know. It is all speculation. A lot of activity down there and rumor and innuendo.

It could be uncomfortable where that leads. I don't know. All I know is in this moment in Boston, folks are praying for David's recovery, and that is the focus right now.

But, yes, the investigation is going to lead into other places and, why did someone want to hurt him.

BALDWIN: One of the big questions investigators will work to answer.

Dan Shaughnessy, thank you very much, from Boston this afternoon.

[14:44:18] Let's move on and talk soccer. U.S. women's soccer team kicking off their World Cup campaign today. I'll talk to two-time champion, Julie Foudy, about the big battles the U.S. women's team is facing, on the field and in the courtroom.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: This afternoon, the U.S. women's soccer team will be chasing the World Cup title in France starting against Thailand.

And fighting to defend the title is only part of the fight they're putting up. Off the field, they are fighting for equal pay, all 28 players are suing their bosses for gender discrimination. And the squad filed a lawsuit on International Women's Day back in March. It is a fight with broader social implications.

This is a team that is considerably the most successful in the history of women's soccer. Ranked number one going into this World Cup, three World Cup titles, four Olympic gold medals. But apparently, that is still not enough to be paid the same as men.

Here's some striking statistics. After the women won the 2015 World Cup, they made just over $1.7 million in bonuses. That is essentially a third of what the men made after losing in the 16th round in 2014. Does that sound fair to you?

According to the lawsuit, the women's team earns just 38 percent of the male player for the same kind of work. And if the women's team won every single game in the year, they would earn a maximum of $99,000. And that is equal to what the men's team would make if they lost every single game.

[14:50:12] With me now is two-time World Cup champion, Julie Foudy. She played on the women's team until 2004 and the former captain, played in in four World Cups and led the team to, not just one, but two Olympic goals.

Julie Foudy, a pleasure to talk to you.

We just set up all of the numbers and the lack of equality between the women's players -- women players and the men. Why? What do you make of all of this?

JULIE FOUDY, FORMER U.S. WOMEN'S TEAM SOCCER PLAYER: Oh, Brooke, we need a couple of days for this one, actually. A lot of it has to do with not just equal pay that they're fighting for, of course. Everyone talked about that.

But the thing that really tugs at my heart, too, because it is something we fought for, for so long, as well, is it is equal investment. It is equal marketing and staffing and equal resources. And these have been areas that have been an issue for a long time and mind you to be fair, U.S. soccer has made great strides.

And by far, the U.S. team on the women's side is the model that all of the countries are trying to emulate and tells you how far below other countries are. So they are leading the charge, the U.S. women, knowing that model is something that other countries should be emulating and wanting to spur on sport globally as well.

BALDWIN: I want to ask you about other countries and also other sports, looking to U.S. women's soccer to be this model and to demanding this.

But when you -- why is it that U.S. soccer, when you read their statements and they're asked about this, they're essentially arguing that the women are not entitled to equal pay because it is not equal work. Not equal work. What do you say to that?

FOUDY: Well, you know, what often the argument is they'll say, well the market is bigger on the men's side, or the viewership is bigger on the men's side and what we often say is, yes, but the market hasn't been created on the women's side. And it is equal work but that hasn't been equal investment.

And that is part of the problem, right. Because you have a model of systemic discrimination that goes way back where they haven't been supporting the women's side. So what would that market be like if it had invested in it and it is not to say it would be equal to the men, but I'll tell you what, it would be a lot further along than it is now.

And we know we're still spending the same amount of time training and the same time amount of time playing games and so that work is very equal.

BALDWIN: You mentioned a second ago, this is -- this is an old fight, right? You dealt with a lot of this when you played. So my question is, what has changed or why do you think the moment is now for these ladies to fight for this change?

FOUDY: Yes, that is a great question.

Our fight, back in the '90s and early 2000s, was more for equitable support. It was more you're changing mindsets within your own federation of, how can you not see that there's a market here. This would be our argument. Tap into this. You're missing out on this entire market. So our fight was more for equitable support. Now the fight is

progressed as it should and it is for equal support. And these women literally have to win a World Cup or win an Olympics to make what they're male counter parts are making and if they don't win in Olympics or win the World Cup, then the pay is considerably less.

And so there -- that argument as well. You shouldn't have to win absolutely everything to even come comparable to what your men are making. And so that is why they're now fighting for equal pay as well.

BALDWIN: I also think it is important to point out and we've spoken offline about this that this is a fight that the U.S. women's soccer team is waging. But other sports, other women's sports in the U.S. and also abroad, are noticing what these ladies are doing and they're asking for help. Can you give me examples?

FOUDY: Yes. You look at -- I'll give you an example domestically, USA women's ice hockey. They've been in contact for years with my generation of soccer players and now this current generation of soccer players as well.

And you see other countries in soccer, specifically, where you're having -- for example, Denmark, who is not at this World Cup, they were fighting their own contract, the women's soccer team, they ended up boycotting a World Cup qualifier, which is why they are not at World Cup. It meant that much to them.

And so you're seeing, sadly, athletes and female athletes saying, I'm going to risk my career and rick giving up an Olympics or World Cup because it matters this much to me.

[14:55:16] BALDWIN: You are in France. Of course, all eyes on game today. It is the World Cup. What -- get us excited. What are you watching for?

FOUDY: Well, the U.S. has never been in the last group, Brooke. So we've been waiting a long time for this first game to take off. And the players, we've been in -- if you're an American, you call it Rinse (ph), and if you're French, you all it the city of Rance (ph). But they're been sitting and having a lot of coffee. They've been watching a lot of games. They're ready to get this party started.

BALDWIN: We're ready for them to rock and roll.

Julie Foudy, you are the best. Thank you so much for joining me from France. Good to see you.

Jon Stewart is the guy who usually makes us laugh. He's making people cry today. Still ahead, the comedian chokes up during an emotional speech to Congress.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, COMEDIAN: They did their jobs. Courage, grace, tenacity, humility. Eighteen years later, do yours! (END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Welcome back. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

[14:59:58] We begin with a glimpse of what could be. What the general election could look like if Joe Biden has his way. The former vice president and President Trump were holding dueling events in Iowa, the first in the nation caucus state, and the gloves are off.