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Don Lemon Tonight

President Trump's Anger Over Impeachment Exploded; Impeachment Protests In Towns, Cities Across The Country; Interview With Mayor Kim Driscoll About The President Comparing His Impeachment To The Salem Witch Trials; Schumer And McConnell Clash In Senate On Eve Of House Impeachment Vote. Aired 10-11p ET

Aired December 17, 2019 - 22:00   ET

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

[22:00:00]

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: Officials suspect the ship is mapping undersea internet cables gathering intelligence on U.S. nuclear submarines. The obvious, Putin is not our pal.

All right. That's all for us. Time for "CNN TONIGHT" with the man, D. Lemon. And he and I were talking about the need to awaken people to the reality of what just happened in this city because it is reflective of what's happening around the country with rising crime.

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: I was just reading the latest on the story you were talking about, the Tessa Majors story, and the Barnard student, and immediately when it happened, I mean everybody started texting and talking to each other about it. And there were comparisons to the Central Park Five. And I think --

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: Except they were innocent.

LEMON: They were innocent. But I think there's going to -- I think that -- but look, there's going to be some twists and turns here because he is being represented by, let's see, not exactly the -- the legal aid society.

CUOMO: Yes.

LEMON: And they have concerns about him being questioned without an attorney, so they're going to say, you know, the confession or whatever, they're going to say that they can't be.

CUOMO: Procedures matter, but this isn't a kid to our understanding who says, I wasn't there. This never happen.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: He said yes.

CUOMO: He has a whole story.

LEMON: And there's videotape. CUOMO: About how this came to play and there is surveillance video.

We hear it's not of a great quality, but it's better than what we had back in the day with the Central Park Five and all the wilding that was going on then.

And this is about kids killing over nothing, and it is reflective of what's going on in society. You got to look at it, not that there's some spree of kids killing all over the country. But I haven't seen a case like this in a long time, Don.

LEMON: I haven't either. And you know I live in that area. My neighbors' kids go to that school, and she is distraught. He she says, I cannot believe it. The police -- there were police cars at the kids' school, I think it was on Friday when all of this was sort of going down, Thursday or Friday of last week. She said the cop cars were there and they were waiting for, you know, one of the kids to show up.

I think the 13-year-old had been in custody already, and they were waiting for the 14-year-old to come out. You know, that's a great area. That's, you know, Barnard is up there.

CUOMO: Sure.

LEMON: Columbia University is up there, and everyone knows the area, and the park is right there. And we all, you know, we all travel and walk around. We walk our dogs in that area. And, you know, this is a student, and I think this time of year, parents can relate. Your kids are coming home from school, and you're happy to be with them.

And I just think that this story -- listen, it's awful that anytime a young person dies like this. But just this time of year, being with the family, I think this story resonates with all of our viewers and everyone around the country and around the world, and it's just awful.

And the thing that happened, you know, with the police department, one of the Majors having to apologize because of what he said about the girl being in the park.

CUOMO: Whatever it was about, he spoke out of turnabout what it was. They backed off the statement. Who knows if that was about trying to help themselves not have as much blame for this because that place is supposed to be safe?

There's been a lot of resources put into making Morningside park safer. That's the place where this happened.

LEMON: Yes.

CUOMO: But I'll tell you what. What worries me about this situation, Don, is kids don't hide well. I'm not talking about hide and seek in your house. For the cops not to have found this other kid that's 13, 14 years old.

LEMON: They questioned one, but they're looking for another one.

CUOMO: Right. But they're looking for another one. And if they can't find that kid, it strongly suggests that somebody is helping him.

LEMON: Yes.

CUOMO: And who knew what was going on. If it's just something basically benign like someone loves him and doesn't think he did this and trying to get him lawyered up or whatever, that's one thing. But if it's something else and it leads to a different understanding of what kind of criminal activity this was, it could be much more troubling. They have to find that kid and figure out what this was about and fast.

LEMON: Young lady in college, 13 and 14-year-olds.

CUOMO: Look, the whole part of it galls me. She's 18. She's up from Virginia.

LEMON: Eighteen.

CUOMO: She's playing in a rock band, punk rock band. You know, she's just living the dream. And these kids, 13, 14, this isn't about being a pickpocket.

LEMON: Yes.

CUOMO: To make a decision to take a blade and stab someone this viciously, this up and close, it's not like pulling a trigger, Don. Psychologically in terms of criminology, this is a different type of criminal who does something like this. And it's scary that someone this age can do it.

LEMON: Just awful. All right, Chris. I'll see you tomorrow.

CUOMO: Got to cover it. It matters.

LEMON: Yes, I agree.

CUOMO: Now we're all in impeachment mode, and we should be.

LEMON: I agree.

CUOMO: But you know, the society, it's not just politics that's ugly.

LEMON: I got to talk about this letter, though.

CUOMO: Yes.

LEMON: Thank you, sir. I'll see you.

This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon.

Just a matter of hours. The president of our United States about to -- it's all but certain he's going to be impeached.

[22:05:03]

The full House is about to vote on impeachment for only the third time in our history and at this very serious and solemn moment for our whole country, what is this president doing? Exactly what you'd expect. Lobbing personal insults. Pushing bogus conspiracy theories. And putting his own personal grievances ahead of what is best for the country. I guess that's business as usual for him. He is not just unhinged.

Frankly we've come to expect that. He's putting -- there it is, the letter for you. He's putting his, you know, angry personal rant in writing. Six-page letter on official White House stationery, addressed to Nancy Pelosi.

Dear Madam Speaker. A letter that sources tell CNN was partly dictated by Trump himself with a little help from -- wait for it -- Stephen Miller.

It's almost as if he strung together his most incendiary tweets, put them all down on paper, throwing in a bunch of exclamation points and weird capitalization from good measure and really some bad grammar, like saying Democrat where it should be Democratic and that sort of thing, but maybe that was on purpose as an insult to Democrats.

This is what happens when the president who views himself as the chosen one and a stable genius, who thinks his own power is limitless runs up against impeachment. Right out of the gate he is resorting to what he could call -- what you could call the I know you are but what am I strategy, calling impeachment an unconstitutional abuse of power by -- you see what I said -- Democrat lawmakers. It should be Democratic lawmakers.

Coincidentally or not at all, the first article of impeachment against the president charges him with abuse of power for his pressure campaign against Ukraine. Funny how he used exactly the same words in his letter.

And as for the president's claim the whole thing is unequaled in nearly two and a half centuries of American legislative history, tell that to the other two impeached presidents, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. And remember when the president said this about impeachment?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: To me it's a dirty word, the word impeach. it's a dirty, filthy, disgusting word.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: He said that, and now he's complaining that Pelosi has cheapened the word that he called dirty, filthy and disgusting? Going on to claim that impeachment, which is provided for in the Constitution, is nothing more than an attempted coup? It's not. It's the constitutionally mandated remedy for serious offenses against our system of government.

The president doubling down on the personal insults aimed at Speaker Pelosi, who has steered impeachment through the House, which makes her enemy number one in his eyes. He claims she has got a full-fledged case of Trump derangement syndrome, and goes on to say that she is unwilling to accept the results of what he calls the great election of 2016.

Seriously, that's what he calls it, the great election of 2016. He charges that she views democracy as her enemy, which is an utterly absurd thing to say about the highest-ranking female elected official in our history, who was first elected to Congress in 1987. But what really seems to have gotten under the president's skin is this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), UNITED STATES SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I still pray for the president. I pray for the president all the time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The president lashing out, claiming that the speaker's mention of prayer is offensive to Americans of faith and incredibly accusing her of not really meaning it. Is it any wonder Pelosi says this tonight?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: His letter?

PELOSI: No reaction. It's ridiculous.

RAJU: You have no reaction? Why not?

PELOSI: I haven't really fully read it. We've been working. I've seen the essence of it, though, and it's really sick.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Senator Chuck Schumer tells Erin Burnett this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: Well, he's obviously under a great deal of duress, but if he thinks he can bully Nancy Pelosi into backing off, he's with the wrong customer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The president even claiming -- and this is peak crazy quote -- "more due process was afforded to those accused in the Salem witch trials. Oh, Yes? Well, the Salem witch trials?" Yes? Well, the Salem witch trials?

[22:10:05]

Let's remember when the president said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I'm a student of history. (END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, maybe he was a student of history, but he must have been a really bad one because let's listen to someone who actually does know her history. Her name is Kim Driscoll, she is the mayor of Salem, Massachusetts. And she tweets this. She says.

And I'm quoting here. "Oy vey, again. Learn some history." Going on to point thought that in Salem in 1692, innocent people with no evidence against them were put to death. Contrasting that with ample evidence and admissions of wrongdoing in the Ukraine case.

We're going to talk to Mayor Driscoll. That's later on in the show.

The president ending his tirade of a letter with this. Quote, "I write this letter to you for the purpose of history and to put my thoughts on a permanent and indelible record."

So, he's saying he wants to go down -- this to go down on his permanent record. Well, his wish is granted. And all of this coming at this momentous time in our history. It raises serious questions about the president's fitness for office. But what do you expect from the president who just this afternoon with impeachment looming, refused to take any responsibility for any of it?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, do you take any responsibility for the fact that you're about to be impeached?

TRUMP: No, I don't take any. Zero to put it mildly. They took a perfect phone call that I had with the president of Ukraine, an absolutely perfect call. You know it. They all know it. Nothing was said wrong in that call. To impeach the President of the United States for that is a disgrace and it's a mark on our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And with all of this going on, with the house vote on impeachment just hours away, impeachment rallies are being held all across the country. Marchers taking to the streets. Hundreds of demonstrators holding signs, singing and chanting nobody is above the law.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tell me who's above the law.

(CROWD CHANTING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tell me who's above the law.

(CROWD CHANTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: So, let's get to it now. I want to bring in Kaitlan Collins and Stephanie Elam. Stephanie is at an impeachment rally in L.A. So, Stephanie, thank you so much for joining us. You're at one of those rallies. What is the vibe? What's happening? Tell us what's going on.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, a fairly large turnout here in Los Angeles. I have to tell you that people here are engaged. They're answering back. They're chanting. There have been a few technical issues with the mic and in that time, you've heard people starting to chant and participate.

They've got signs. They've got stickers out here. There are also balloons of Donald Trump and also some papier-mache mock-ups of the president as well. But people here very engaged in this rally, one of several that has been organized around the country by moveon.org.

Obviously since it's a little earlier here still on the West Coast, we're still seeing a lot of people who are out here participating in this. You can see up there, it's pretty dark because of the lights on the bus, but you can see the speakers are up there.

Former California Representative Katie Hill was here. She had some choice words she used to describe the president. And also, others out here as well such as Alyssa Milano also speaking. So, some big names coming out here in Los Angeles to participate in this rally, Don.

LEMON: All right, Stephanie. Kaitlan, let me bring you in now. The president's letter to Pelosi, I mean it's something else. How on earth did this scathing letter even -- how did this see the light of day?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, we're being told by sources it was the president's idea to send this letter to the House Speaker Pelosi, and it was also his idea to keep it as his really close hold. Only a few people inside the White House knew about this letter until it was published today, sent out by the White House while the president was in the Oval Office with the leader of Guatemala.

And essentially the president didn't want a lot of people to be involved in this. And then he essentially, or what we're hearing from sources, wanted to send this direct message to Pelosi ahead of that vote tomorrow.

If you read through this letter, you can clearly see that the president is irate. It's really a summary of all of his objections and frustrations that he's aired publicly on Twitter and in person since September. But this is essentially him putting them all in one record, which he said he realized wasn't going to change the outcome of tomorrow's vote.

But, Don, one thing was interesting about the process of drafting this letter. We're being told that the White House counsel, Pat Cipollone, wasn't brought it on this process until the end of it, on forming this letter. He made a few edits and then of course they released it. But it's pretty notable he wasn't someone who was part of this from the beginning. We don't know why yet. But he is expected to be the person who's leading the president's defense when this goes to the Senate trial.

So, it does make it kind of interesting that he is someone who wasn't directly involved from the beginning on formulating this letter.

LEMON: How does the president and the White House plan to respond after tomorrow's vote, Kaitlan?

[22:15:00]

COLLINS: Well what's notable is McCarthy, the house minority leader, just released a schedule saying they predict the final votes on those articles of impeachment are going to be between 6.30 and 7.30 p.m.

Now of course that could slide. That could change. We really don't know a lot about what's going to happen tomorrow. But if they are around then, Don, the president is holding a rally in Michigan and he is set to take the stage at 7 o'clock tomorrow night.

So, if this goes according to both of their schedules, the president could be taking the stage in Michigan as the House is voting to impeach him.

LEMON: All right. Kaitlan, Stephanie, thank you very much. I appreciate that.

The president's tirade in that letter to Nancy Pelosi tells you just how shaken he is in the White House with the vote on impeachment just hours away. So how will he react in tomorrow's vote? Well, we'll discuss with Wajahat Ali, also Laura Coates and Michael D'Antonio. They're next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A scathing six-page letter to Nancy Pelosi is a window into the president's mood tonight. A source telling CNN the final letter reflects what the president wanted to say. One official saying, quote, "they're his words."

[22:20:05]

Let's discuss with Wajahat Ali, Laura Coates and Michael D'Antonio. Hello. You guys read it, right? Wow. Laura, President Trump is hours away from impeachment. A serious moment for the country, and we get this unbelievable airing of grievances. Clearly despises his new reality. He's getting impeached.

LAURA COATES, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, he absolutely is despising it. I think the word that I picked up on that you said, this was the final version of the letter. Can you imagine what drafts maybe one through three may have looked like?

This is after it's been vetted by at the end, according to Kaitlan Collins, Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel. This at the end of having lawyers interjecting different points in time. And there were so many points in here that were fact checked by CNN who said this is absolutely crazy. But what struck me the most is how much he believes this comes down to

a policy, this agreement between two branches of government. He reduced it in that way as if all of the information that's come forward in the last what, three, four weeks now and the hearings alone have belied that assertion. It's really remarkable that somebody so far ahead in the terms of the count of what senators would actually remove him would still be on the offensive this strong.

LEMON: I got some lines. A couple quick lines for you to read here, Michael. "You are declaring an open war on American democracy. You are the ones interfering in American elections. You are the ones bringing pain and suffering to our republic."

What does this ranting letter say about President Trump's fitness for office on the eve of his impeachment?

MICHAEL D'ANTONIO, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it says at least three things, and those three things are that he's still profoundly narcissistic. He's making this all about himself. He's also self- destructive because there's no lawyer on earth who would advise him to do this. But he's also finally self-pitying. He wants us to really feel sorry for him. He's a victim here.

You know, it's all about the damage being done to him as the kind of embodiment of the nation. So, there's very little concern for the country and very little concern for what ultimately is a dynamic that he created.

Let's not forget he's the one who cooked up this scheme and then set it in motion and then couldn't back off of it. So, you know, he's getting what he's set out to achieve. He's getting impeached.

LEMON: Wajahat, you say his letter sounds like a conspiratorial rage rant, of this rage rant of an authoritarian.

WAJAHAT ALI, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Right. I mean for the --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: I guess we see why his lawyers never want him to testify.

ALI: Yes. I mean honestly if you were his lawyer, I would say never testify, never tweet. I'm taking away your smartphone. Sit in the corner. Wait out your presidency until 2020.

But for the audiences at home, read the letter as if Saddam Hussein or Gaddafi would have written that letter. Just have that voice in your head or have Biff Tannen from "Back to the Future" part 2.

Within that voice, it is the voice of an authoritarian, a narcissist, a man who thinks he's the chosen leader. A person who thinks he has the absolute right to do whatever he can. And he's lashing out against everyone. How dare you, how dare you come against me, me, Donald Trump, the perpetual victim, you know?

And the perpetual victim who by the way will, for the purposes of history, will have a permanent and indelible mark as being the only the third president in this nation's history to be impeached. And by the way, if Nixon did not resign, he would have been the fourth.

So, some friendly advice, you know, there's still a day left, Donald Trump. You can resign before the impeachment. But this is also -- I mean we joke about did, but I again say this. Read this like an authoritarian. It's as if an authoritarian wrote it, but thankfully we still live in a democracy. There's accountability. There's checks and balances.

And if you're a fan of the Constitution and the intent of the framers of the Constitution, you should celebrate tomorrow because we are holding a president accountable. He's not the chosen one. He's a servant of the people.

LEMON: Yes. So, he called, Laura, he called Pelosi's actions spiteful right after he says that she is offending Americans of faith, and he says it's a terrible thing you are doing. But you will have to live with it, not I. And then Pelosi responded, calling the letter sick. I mean, what is it about strong, powerful women that really puts Trump over the edge?

COATES: Well, you know, it appears that there is a trend here, and the idea that a strong, powerful person in general who dares to have the audacity to say, I'm going to call to attention, call you to account of what has happened here.

In particular Pelosi, who just a week ago -- actually yesterday, he was talking about her teeth or physical appearance and different things he was talking about over the course of time.

[22:25:01]

This is a theme for the president. But what also is a theme here for the president, which is pointed out in the articles of impeachment by a number of people, including the House Representatives at this point in time, the judiciary committee and intel, has been there has been a pattern of behavior that the American people need to pay attention to.

And a pattern of behavior involves your taxpayer dollars. And that is what we're actually talking about in this impeachment. The president wants to deflect away for personal attacks. He wants to be insulted because somebody has had the audacity to offer him prayers for himself and his family and his children especially.

And so, he is trying to deflect, but you cannot deflect from the core argument here, which is that there is a pattern of behavior. There was the Zelensky call he has admitted to. There has been obstruction of Congress because if you do the math on either side, you've asked for documents. You've got none.

So, you have all these things he's trying to combat and doing it in the Biff sort of way that Wajahat is talking about. But at the end of the day, he is on the offensive, and one more point. The silver lining here to me is that it must be that the attorneys and Mitch McConnell have said, you will not have the soapbox you're looking for at trial. Therefore, get it out now.

LEMON: Yes. It's interesting too, you guys are going to come back. We're going to take a break. But it's interesting he's questioning her about he doesn't believe that she prays for him. I thought it was conservatives who said you shouldn't question people's faith. So, interesting.

Everybody, stay with me. Senator Chuck Schumer calling out Senator Mitch McConnell tonight. What's he saying?

Plus, new details on what to expect from tomorrow's big impeachment vote.

[22:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Breaking news, impeachment protests in towns and cities across this country tonight. You're looking at marchers taking to the streets. This is Philadelphia. There's also Kalamazoo, Michigan. We're going to show you more throughout the show. That as we have breaking news on tomorrow's historic impeachment vote.

The House rules committee just approved six hours of debate on the resolution to impeach President Trump. It will be divided between the two parties and controlled by the Judiciary Committee leaders. Wajahat Ali is here, Laura Coates, as well as Michael D'Antonio, all back with me.

So, Michael, we're going to start with you. You know the president cares a lot about crowds. How do you think he feels about seeing people take to the streets supporting his impeachment?

D'ANTONIO: Well, you know, I think he's going to look at the crowds and underestimate them that same way that he overestimates his own crowds. So, he'll use this to whatever advantage he can imagine. The thing, though, that I wanted to say before we go too far into this is that I spoke to a number of members of the House today on the Democratic side. They're very sober about all of this. They know they have to cast these votes. They're very upset that no Republicans are willing to break out of the Trump cult to deal with this.

So when they see these protests, they're hoping that it represents a groundswell of support that the American people will continue and perhaps even focus on those Senators on the GOP side who are in states like Maine and Colorado where they could be pressured to listen to the evidence and perhaps do the right thing.

LEMON: Yes. Again, you're looking at crowds for that are in favor of the president being impeached. These are protest crowds. Looking at Denver now. There was some from Nashville earlier. There was Pittsburgh. There was also, I think Denver and I think Philadelphia was up earlier. But, again, all over the country tonight there are protests in favor of impeaching the president of the United States.

We'll continue to cover them and put the pictures up as we get them throughout the evening here on CNN. Wajahat, I want to get to you. And again, this is about impeachment. The Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer was on with Erin earlier tonight. He is disappointed in his colleague, the Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Watch this and then we'll discuss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: By announcing that he doesn't want to have witnesses, he doesn't want to have documents, he's not rising to the level that a Senator should rise to. He's being a pure partisan. All we need is four Republicans to vote with us to produce these witnesses, to produce the documents, and I expect that some will. I expect that some will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, he went on to say that McConnell is defying the constitution. You share Schumer's optimism that a few Republicans will join him? Listen, I'm not -- I don't know. But I'm not so optimistic, but do you share his optimism a few?

ALI: No, I'm not optimistic at all. And you know, what gave it away? Merrick Garland? What gave it away? Mitch McConnell in 2009 saying he's going to obstruct Obama and then saying it was the proudest thing he's ever done?

I mean, these guys, McConnell and Lindsey Graham and the Republicans are like James Bond villains. They're literally telling you the plot, exactly what they are going to do in the Senate that they're going to defy they're oath. They're going to defy the constitution. They're going to be the rubber stamp for Donald Trump. They're going to be the jury foreman and the judge working with the defense counsel.

So, Democrats have to play hardball, and also what they have to see is this groundswell that you just showed. It's stunning. About a half of this country, Don, according to all the polls wants Trump impeached and removed. And for the purposes of history, when the beginning of Watergate hearings, it was only 19 percent. About 13 months later after the secret tapes, the highest level for support for impeaching Nixon was 57 percent. That was without Fox News. And Roger Ailes said if Nixon had Fox News, he would have never been impeached, 50 percent of this country want him impeached and removed, 61 percent of women. So keep attacking women, Donald Trump.

Seventy percent think what he did was incorrect, improper. And 71 percent of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, want Trump's aides, the people like Mulvaney, and Pence, and Perry to come and testify, and McConnell said that he's not going to allow it.

[22:35:14]

So hang this over their head. You've got 2020 coming up. You've got vulnerable Republicans running. Sink them. Go after Gardner. Go after Ernst. Go after Colmes. Go after Tillis. If I was a Democrats, you know they're going to acquit him. Make it cost something. LEMON: Laura, he just stole the question I was going to ask you. It's

an ABC poll, 7 in 10. And yet the White House says not going to do it. Mitch McConnell says as Wajahat said, not going to do it. What do you think?

COATES: I mean you almost prove what they're actually arguing if you're not going to allow your aides to testify, that is the essence of obstruction of Congress. Congress, whether you like it or not, has been trusted by the founding fathers and it's actually in the constitution that they have this constitutional directive and duty to actually impeach a president or other higher official if they are derelict in their duty.

So, you have these allegations right now. And if anyone thinks for one second that the founding fathers did not envision that the Senate would be impartial and receive additional evidence. Now why would there be a two-part system to even have an impeachment process? It would just reside in one chamber. It would remain there. If there was a foregone conclusion that one would be able to decide everything.

For the purpose of having a presentation of evidence and the articles of impeachment is to present that to the Senate body for them to decide whether or not there was sufficient information to actually remove a president of the United States or other higher official. So, to essentially negate at this point and say, well, you know what? There's no point in us doing our duty here, then why was it a two-part system to begin with?

They can't answer that question because there's a partisan motivation. And I think frankly as a prosecutor, my -- the pursuit of justice was as important if not more than any conviction rate. If you don't pursue separation of powers, well, then, you have convicted and condemned the United States to having democracy not be in its future.

ALI: That's right.

LEMON: Thank you all. I appreciate it.

The president comparing his impeachment to the Salem witch trials, but Salem's mayor has a problem with that, and she's going to tell us about it. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:40:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: (CHANTING) Impeach and remove. Impeach and remove. Impeach and remove. Impeach and remove.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: In his rambling, ranting six-page letter to the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the president on the eve of almost certain impeachment saying this. Quote, more due process was afforded to those accused in the Salem Witch Trials. The Salem Witch Trials where innocent people were put to death. Well, that statement caught the eye of none other than the mayor of Salem, and she is Kim Driscoll, and she joins me now. Mayor, thank you so much. I appreciate you joining us.

MAYOR KIM DRISCOLL, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS: Happy to be with you.

LEMON: Well, you gave the president a quick lesson, a history lesson on Twitter, and here's what you wrote. You said, Salem 1692 equals absence of evidence plus powerless, innocent victims were hanged or pressed to death. The Ukraine gate 2019 equals' ample evidence, admissions of wrongdoing plus perpetrators are among the most powerful and privileged. I guess with how many times he has called this a witch hunt falsely, it was only a matter of time until it turned into a witch trial.

DRISCOLL: I mean it's been pretty frustrating and offensive to see what's happening in Washington be compared to what happened in 1692. There's a big difference between innocent victims, you know, spectral evidence, and a full impeachment inquiry with the rule of law, you know, playing a major role.

LEMON: Yes. Listen, I mean honestly, mayor, unlike the trials, the president was offered the opportunity to present a defense but refused to do so. It's not even close to what happened in Salem.

DRISCOLL: I mean, the whole point of the witch trials is there was no rule of law, and you're talking about very marginalized people who were accused, these victims. They were women. They were elderly. They were poor. Anyone who, you know, was different or odd in any way, shape, or form versus 2019 we've got expressions of wrongdoing. We've got transcripts. We've got a rule of law.

In fact, the most important rule of law, the constitution of the United States, that's serving as a guide. The witch trials were a lesson that if anything is going to inform how this president will in fact receive a very fair trial, an inquiry process.

LEMON: Yes. I think I know the answer to this next question but I'll ask it anyway. Did you ever think in a million years that you'd need to explain the difference to the president of the United States between, you know, a legitimate impeachment trial and a Salem witch trial?

DRISCOLL: It's really disheartening. No, of course you never think that you're going to have to retell this history to, you know, a leader of our country. But to see both the president and his supporters using the witch trials, it's offensive to the descendants, those victims, that their legacy is being twisted in this way to sort of portray an innocent victim when, in fact, we're going to have a pretty fair process. There's no doubt about that. Whether you agree or disagree with the outcome is for somebody else to decide. But what's at stake here and what was at stake in 1692 were two very obviously very different options.

LEMON: I understand that you're worried about him setting a precedent. Tell us about that. Why is that? DRISCOLL: Setting a precedent with respect to using the witch trials

as evidence of some way for him to get out of thinking he's doing something wrong. I think it's dangerous for us. As a City, the witch trials informed a lot about our community, how we feel today, and certainly our modern day jurisprudence.

[22:45:00]

And when we hold this up in this 30-second sound bite and somehow considering himself a victim, it's really an important part of that legacy is lost and why it is so important that we know that history. It's not about a sound bite. It's about recognizing that the very nature of our modern day jurisprudence is based on what came -- that lessons learned from the Salem witch trials. And that's a pretty important aspect of the history that we don't think should be forgotten.

LEMON: Listen, you wouldn't have done what you did, this history lesson on Twitter, you wouldn't be here tonight if it didn't mean a lot to you and the people of Salem. How does this comparison -- how are people feeling in Salem about this comparison from the president?

DRISCOLL: Well, I think we're at a point in our history where we need to be reflective of what transpired and I think people in Salem want this history remembered so that it acknowledges going forward what never, ever should happen again. That people who are different, people who are marginalized, being really victimized, and we don't want that to happen. If the president bears any resemblance to the history of 1692, it's in fact the men who were in charge who wanted to silence people who had different views than themselves and used the power of a so-called trial to do so.

LEMON: Yes.

DRISCOLL: This is a history that we can't forget.

LEMON: Mayor, you can't believe that you are giving this lesson. I can't believe I'm having this conversation. Yet here we are, and I am grateful and thankful that you at least came on the show. And I appreciate it. Merry Christmas to you. Thank you so much.

DRISCOLL: Same to you. Thanks, Don.

LEMON: What happens once impeachment moves to the Senate? I'm going to get some insight from someone who's seen this process before from the inside. Former Senator Max Baucus is next. That as we keep an eye on all the video that's coming in to us from protests that were held all across the country tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROWD CHANTING): Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go. Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:50:00]

LEMON: So here's our breaking news right now. You can see it in our screen. Impeachment protests it towns all -- in cities all across America tonight. You are looking at marchers taking to the streets, Salt Lake City and St. Paul. We are going to keep on top of the protests throughout the show. These are people who are -- they want this president impeached. Just hours away now from the full House vote on impeachment tomorrow. I want to bring in someone who has seen the impeachment process from the inside. That's former Senator Max Baucus, who served during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

Senator Baucus, thank you so much. I appreciate you joining us. You were in the Senate during Clinton's impeachment. How would you compare what is unfolding now with what you experienced then?

FMR. SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): It was pretty much a foregone conclusion then that Bill Clinton would not be convicted. Whether they have Senate back then was a little less partisan than it is now. You have to remember that five Republican Senators back then voted against convicting President Clinton. Today, I think, frankly no Republicans is going to vote to acquit Trump and every Democrat could vote to convict Trump. So, it's more partisan now than it was then.

LEMON: Yes. There are vulnerable Senate Republicans facing reelection next year in swing states or blue states. When Clinton is facing impeachment, you were right in there shoes. Montana had gone for dole over Clinton, so, how do you decide what to do in that situation?

BAUCUS: Well, it can sounds corny, but you do what's right. You just say to your voters after all they are the people that elect you. What you think. And look at them straight in the eye and tell them why. You do the best job you can on other issues as well. It was not an issue for me. I didn't give it second thought.

But, you know, for some Senators and some other state it is an issue that frankly I think that Mitch McConnell has got this thing pretty wired. Republicans have done such a good job if it's good, unifying the party. Mitch McConnell is working with the Trump White House because he wants the Party even more unified. It's going to help him in his reelection in Kentucky. And he thinks it's going to help other potentially vulnerable Senators by just sticking together. And to basically not allow Trump to get -- make sure that Trump get -- make sure that Trump is acquitted.

LEMON: So, McConnell says he wants a short witness free trial in the Senate. Why do you agree with the majority leader? The majority -- the country thinks that we should hear from witnesses.

BAUCUS: Well, I think we should hear from witnesses. That would help. But Senator McConnell controls the Senate. He'll if he wants a short trial he'll have a short trial.

LEMON: So, you don't agree with him? You think we should hear from witnesses? BAUCUS: If he wants a short -- well, get this behind him. I think we

should hear from some. But this should not be protracted. It should not be delayed too much. Because it's a foregone conclusion. So, I think that, yes, a few witnesses. You know, do what's right. But this is over. And the big question for me is what's next?

And I believe very strongly that it's up to voters when Trump is acquitted and I talked to people overseas. I go to China often. I go to countries that -- I got to tell you, leaders overseas are very concerned about another Trump victory. They see America decline. They think if Trump is reelected, America is going to be further declined.

[22:55:00]

And frankly it happened in America too. If he's reelected -- I mean, because I'm on prayers, I'm just trying to be objective about this. There's been more division in America. It's going to be a more deeply divided America if he is reelected. So, post Senate trial the big question is the election. And I just hope that Americans think deeply by all of these. So that they make the right choice in November.

LEMON: I appreciate you joining us. Senator Max Baucus, thank you so much. Thanks for your time and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

BAUCUS: Thank you. Bye-bye.

LEMON: A huge historic day tomorrow and in true Trump fashion the president isn't taking the prospect of impeachment well, that as impeachment rallies like this one are spreading in cities and towns all across the country.