Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Pelosi Ally Calls For Impeachment Inquiry Of Trump; Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) Is Interviewed About Impeachment; Buttigieg Cancels SC Stop To Deal With Police Shooting; CNN: ICE Raid Targeting Migrant Families To Begin Sunday; Trump Vows NASA Will Go To Mars: What Mission Would Look Like; Trump: I Called Off Iran Strikes With 10 Minutes To Spare; "Paul The Cat Guy" Has Fixed 1,000-Plus Stray Cats; Nadler: I Misspoke In Calling Hope Hicks "Ms. Lewandowski". Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired June 21, 2019 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00] REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D), ILLINOIS: It was really about my son who said, "Mom, come on, you are a progressive Democrat. Doesn't this President actually meet the criteria, meet the challenges of -- that we're all facing right now to call it impeachable offenses and to say that we ought to have an inquiry, an impeachment inquiry?"

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: So your son, and I want to come back to your point, I'm listening to your constituents in just a moment. I know you are about to leave for recess, but you are a member of House Democratic leadership. I know you talked to Speaker Pelosi before going public.

SCHAKOWSKY: I did.

BALDWIN: How did she respond?

SCHAKOWSKY: You know, Nancy Pelosi is not trying to change anyone's mind. I talked to her about it and gave her a heads up on it. And, look, Nancy Pelosi herself has been one of the most ardent critics, actually, of Donald Trump today dealing with the issue of Iran when -- you know, saying clearly that he has committed crimes. So, she has been a critic and continues to be with the investigations that we're conducting as well as legislation, as well as --

BALDWIN: But she didn't go. She's not going as far as you are, Congresswoman. So, does she mind that you took that step?

SCHAKOWSKY: Not at all. She did not try and talk me out of it. We had more than a cordial, but actually a friendly conversation. I think she is absolutely the more sure footed member of -- speaker of the House than I've ever seen, doing a fantastic job and taking a lot of things under consideration. But certainly not seeing that Donald Trump doesn't have to obey the laws like every other American, and not stopping short of holding him accountable.

BALDWIN: And by the way, she also -- she agrees that she believes that Trump is goading your party into impeaching him and that's one reason why she says it actually shouldn't happen, that lawmakers should continue gathering information. Is she wrong about that?

SCHAKOWSKY: Look, I don't think anybody who is even saying that they're for impeachment really expects that it is impeachment that it is going to get rid of Donald Trump, something that we have to do. We have to have a different president in 2020 and that is the most likely way that it's going to happen.

BALDWIN: But is she, Congresswoman, is she holding Democrats back from fully investigating the President? Because you know all the stonewalling coming out of the White House, the defying of subpoenas, you know, the Hope Hicks testimony yesterday, they didn't get a lot of information. So, is she holding your party back?

SCHAKOWSKY: No. I think it's unclear anyway that even if there were an impeachment inquiry that we would necessarily be able to get more information. But every day with the America --

BALDWIN: You don't think so.

SCHAKOWSKY: Wait, every day that the American people see the kind of stonewalling that we're having, the kind of cover-up that this administration is doing, more and more people are increasingly for impeachment.

And, Nancy Pelosi herself has never said that impeachment is off the table. But if we're expecting that that's actually the way that we're going to replace Donald Trump, unlikely. And so what we all need to do is to prepare for a massive turnout in 2020. That will get rid of him.

BALDWIN: You are all about to go home for recess. You will be meeting with folks in your district who will speak their minds. You mentioned how many of them have already done so with you. I know some polls show Democratic support for impeachment growing.

So do you think when -- collectively when you all come back to Washington, that more of your colleagues' minds might be changed, that they will be feeling more of the pressure?

SCHAKOWSKY: You know, it's possible that there may be more people who call for impeachment, but no one in our caucus is saying that we can't -- that we can stop being vigorous about the kinds of investigations that we're having and pressing.

And, you know, even yesterday, Hope Hicks as much as she tried to stonewall on questions, did answer some of the questions, things about the President saying that he would accept help and dirt from a foreign country.

She said that she didn't think he was kidding about that. So, little by little we are getting more information that I think is going to change the minds of the American people.

BALDWIN: Congresswoman Schakowsky, thank you very much.

Coming up next, Mayor Pete Buttigieg off the campaign trail tonight so he can join a march in his hometown of South Bend. His response to a police shooting there has gotten a bit of criticism. I'll talk to the head of the city's NAACP for his take.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:39:21] BALDWIN: Nearly everyone of the 2020 Democratic candidate will descend on South Carolina tonight for the famous fish fry that's hosted by long time Congressman Jim Clyburn to mark the unofficial kickoff of the election season there.

But one candidate, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, had to cancel his appearance. Instead, he will be marching back in his hometown in South Bend, Indiana in the aftermath of a white police officer fatally shooting a black man.

Police say Eric Logan was rummaging through cars when he flashed a knife at Officer Ryan O'Neill. That is when O'Neill shot and killed Logan. He didn't have his body cam turned on at the time. The victim's family is disputing the officer's account saying Logan didn't carry a knife.

[15:40:02] Buttigieg suspended several campaign events since Sunday to address the community.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Part of my job is to promote healing and to make sure that members of the community, especially the black community who are concerned with whether they can trust the police. This evening is one of those moments when a city just needs its mayor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Pastor Michael Patton is the president of the South Bend branch of the NAACP. Pastor, thank you so much for being with me.

REV. MICHAEL PATTON, PRESIDENT, SOUTH BEND NAACP CHAPTER: Thank you for having me, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Now, Buttigieg appears to be taking the community concerns obviously quite seriously. He was notably absent from family vigil for the family of Eric Logan. I know you appeared at a news conference standing by him. How do you think he's handling all of this?

PATTON: Yes. I think he's handling it very well. He has taken steps to draw our community together starting on Sunday after the incident. He's brought community leaders together, our chief of police, and as well as others to the table to begin to bring some calm to the storm. And so in my opinion he's done a phenomenal job up to this point.

BALDWIN: Pastor, on the night of the shooting the victim's mother said that Buttigieg didn't recognize her, didn't say anything to her. So obviously, she is -- there were concerns there. What would you say to the family to convince them that Buttigieg understands how serious this is?

PATTON: He really understands how serious this is. I was not present at that night. However, I do know our mayor to be a person of compassion. And as well working with him the past four days, I've seen his sincere concern in regard to this incident as well. I know that he has reached out to the family. I have been a part of that process as well.

BALDWIN: He's -- Buttigieg's relationship with South Bend's black community has come under scrutiny before. His firing of the city's first black police chief back in 2012, and now the city just swore in six new cadets, all of whom are white. Does he have more work to do?

PATTON: Yes, certainly. We have more work to do in recruiting brown -- from the brown skinned community ensuring that our police department mirrors our community. There is a challenge certainly there within our community, but around the country in bringing the brown skinned community, African-Americans and Latinos on board to be a part of the police departments around the country, most especially here in our city.

BALDWIN: I was reading several articles about all of this, and this is again just pressing you on -- this is what another local leader had to say about how he's handled this whole thing, "If you spill milk on the ground and wipe it up, it doesn't stink. But if you let the milk stay on the ground, it goes sour and stinks up the room. Mayor Pete, let the milk stay on the ground and stink up the room."

Obviously you are standing by him, you are supporting him, you know, through this part of his campaign in which it's being tested. Is he your candidate for president? Are you -- have you endorsed him?

PATTON: So I certainly don't agree with what was shared. We have been proactive after the storm here in addressing the concerns with grief and the pain that our community is experiencing.

I'm saddened and troubled in regards to what has occurred. However, we have been taking steps to address the concerns that are present and I believe that we're on the front end of this and we're making progress to bring in healing to our community. We were not there yet for healing, but there are steps we're taking to address grief and pain at the same time to get us to the place of healing.

BALDWIN: I understand. Are you endorsing him as president?

PATTON: I certainly endorse our mayor. And I certainly see our mayor as someone who potentially could lead our country as well. He's led our community, South Bend, well. And I believe that he has -- I have full confidence that he could lead our nation as well.

BALDWIN: Pastor Patton, thank you, sir, very much.

PATTON: Thank you.

BALDWIN: We are following breaking developments on that threat the President made to deport millions of people over the tweet. CNN is learning an operation targeting migrant families is moving forward as soon as Sunday.

Plus, the President vows if he is reelected, NASA will go to Mars. We'll take a look at what that mission would actually look like.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:49:56] BALDWIN: This Sunday, the new CNN film "Apollo 11" really takes you inside NASA's most celebrated mission. But as we get ready to mark the 50th anniversary of the Lunar landing, there is a debate in the space community, go back to the Moon or straight to Mars.

[15:50:10] President Trump suggested he is in the Mars camp in a recent tweet and NASA says it's onboard too, but NASA is still planning to go to the Moon first as a proving ground to train astronauts for a future trip to the red planet. And CNN Business Innovation and Space Correspondent Rachel Crane has more on the mission.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RACHEL CRANE, CNN BUSINESS INNOVATION AND SPACE CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Nearly 50 years after humans first set foot on the Moon --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's one small step for man.

CRANE: -- NASA is planning to go back. This time, to stay.

JIM BRIDENSTINE, NASA ADMINISTRATOR: We're going to prove how to live and work in another world and then take all of that knowledge to Mars. That's the goal.

CRANE: Dubbed Artemis for Apollo's twin sister, NASA hopes to send a woman this time. The space agency originally planned a Lunar landing for 2028. But in March, the Trump administration moved the deadline up by four years.

(on camera): Were you blindsided at all by the new time line?

BRIDENSTINE: Not at all. No. We have the opportunity to do this. A lot of things have to go right. I'm not saying that there's no risk here, but it can be done. It's good for our country. It's got NASA moving in a very serious way.

CRANE (voice-over): NASA has already spent years working on a new rocket booster and a crew capsule for the mission. Once beyond Earth's orbit, astronauts will duct (ph) with the small space station.

Lunar landers built by commercial partners like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will carry astronauts back and forth from the moon. There are still a lot to work out, but the biggest obstacle probably isn't technology.

LAURA FORCZYK, FOUNDER, ASTRALYTICAL: As the saying goes, it's not rocket science that's the hard part, its political science, convincing the politicians that they need to fund this adequately. Whatever it is you think it might cost, it's probably actually going to be more. CRANE: NASA estimates total cost could hit $30 billion over five years. So far, the White House has only asked for an additional $1.6 billion, but it wants that money to come from the Federal Pell Grant Program.

REP. KENDRA HORN (D-OK): I think that proposed source of funding is a non-starter for many people. Quite frankly, I was scratching my head as were many other people. If we are going back to the Moon, Mars and beyond, we're going to need more rocket scientists, not fewer.

CRANE (on camera): What do you think it's going to take to get that bipartisan support and also to get the American public jazzed about going back to the Moon?

BRIDENSTINE: I think when it comes to science, there's not partisanship in Congress. When it comes to exploration, there's not partisanship in Congress. You walk around this agency, you talk to scientists and engineers, they can tell you exactly where they were on when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, July 20th, 1969.

I'm the first NASA administrator that was not alive. I don't have that memory. I'll tell you what I do remember. I remember where I was in fifth grade, Ms. Powers' class when Challenger exploded. The whole world was watching.

Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space was on the mission, so all teachers were interested on -- I'm sorry I'm getting a little emotional here, but the reality is that's my kind of moment where I know where I was.

I want to be clear, shuttles, amazing program. International space station, amazing program. But I don't remember where I was on each one of those launches. I remember where I was on that day. We need to do these stunning achievements to inspire the next generation.

CRANE (voice-over): 50 years ago, the Apollo 11 mission changed the world. Now, the Artemis program could inspire a whole new generation.

Rachel Crane, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Rachel, thank you. And, again, do not miss this award winning CNN film, "Apollo 11," featuring never before seen footage and pristine audio from that mission. It premieres this Sunday night at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

Coming up next, President Trump explaining that he called off a strike on Iran 10 minutes before it was scheduled to happen because he says, he learned as many as 150 people could be killed. He is still under pressure to act. We'll discuss what options are still on the table.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:58:50] BALDWIN: Before we go, I wanted to honor this week's CNN Hero, Paul Santell, noticed a lot of stray cats living in his Queen's neighborhood in poor conditions. Now, he spends nearly 40 hours a week trapping these cats and getting them spayed and neutered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL SANTELL, CNN HERO: My main focus is trap, neuter, return, TNR, and rescue and grabbing cats off the street, saving lives.

That's one.

With TNR, this is the last generation that has to suffer outside.

Come on, come on.

Now, I've probably fixed and returned at least 1,000 feral cats in about four and a half years.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So that is Paul's story. You can read much more about him or nominate someone you know. Go to cnnheroes.com.

And just in to CNN, House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler telling CNN that he "just screwed up" when he referred to former White House aide, Hope Hicks, as Ms. Lewandowski. Nadler says he misspoken three separate occasions during Wednesday's closed door meeting with Hicks and that he "meant nothing" by that.

Nadler said he was running through a series of questions that included some about former Trump campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, and that he had two different councils who were "whispering in my ear" while he was seeking to question her and erroneously refer to her as Ms. Lewandowski.

That is it for me. Thank you so much for being here. I'm Brooke Baldwin. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.