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The Impeachment Hearing; Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ) To Defect To GOP; President At Army-Navy Game; Fatal Stabbing At NYC College; Bevin Pardons Criminals On Way Out; Trump Takes Aim At Another FBI Director; All Qualified Candidates Threaten To Skip Next Democratic Debate; Trump & Giuliani Still Determined To Dig Political Dirt On Bidens. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired December 14, 2019 - 17:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM. Thanks for staying with me. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York.

It's just a matter of days President Trump could become the third U.S. President to be formally impeached. Joining the ranks of Presidents Johnson and Clinton.

But it could make little difference. Because as far as Republican senators are concerned, the ending to all of this is clear. President Trump will not be removed from office. Here's Senator Lindsey Graham speaking to CNN's Becky Anderson earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): I want this to end as quick as possible for the good of the Senate, for the good of the country. And I think the best thing for America to do is get this behind us. We know how it's going to end. I am trying to give a pretty clear signal, I have made up my mind.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I wasn't in any doubt.

GRAHAM: I'm not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: CNN Congressional Correspondent, Lauren Fox is live for us in our nation's capital. Lauren, a bold statement there from the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

LAUREN FOX, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Ana. And this is something that I think a lot of Republicans are trying to decide. If you talk to some Republicans and they'll tell you, I can't comment at all about impeachment. I don't want to talk about the process. I don't want to talk about whether I prefer to have witnesses or not, because I am a juror.

You, basically, see Lindsey Graham here saying, I don't care if I'm a juror. I've pretty much made up my mind how I'm going to vote on the question of removing the president. In which case, he's saying, I support the president. I don't think he's done anything wrong here. So, a very significant departure.

Meanwhile, there is a broader debate happening about how the Senate trial should look. We know the majority leader, Mitch McConnell, has made it no secret that he would prefer a shorter trial with no witnesses. Something that could be done in as little as two weeks.

Meanwhile, you had people, like the president, himself, telling allies he would prefer an opportunity to defend himself. And if that means longer trial with witnesses, that would be his preference.

But here is Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on the coordination that's happening between the Senate and White House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Everything I do during this, I am coordinating with the White House counsel. We'll be working through this process, hopefully in a fairly short period of time, in total coordination with the White House counsel's office and the people who are representing the president. I'm going to coordinate with the president's lawyers. So, there won't be any difference between us on how to do this. I'm going to take my tips from the -- from the president's lawyers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FOX: And, clearly, that is a statement that infuriated some Democrats, especially those in the House of Representatives, who argued he's supposed to be impartial. He's supposed to be a juror. And for the hope of the Senate, they said, you know, this is just an inappropriate comment from the majority leader -- Ana.

CABRERA: We know at least one Democrat in the House, Congressman Jeff Van Drew, will vote against impeachment. And I understand you have new reporting on Van Drew. What more are you learning?

FOX: Well, we expect that Van Drew will change parties as soon as next week. That's according to one senior Democratic aid. And, of course, that, really, just reveals how much pressure these moderate Democrats are under, especially those more than 30 Democrats who won in districts President Trump won in, in 2016. They are really walking a fine line.

I watched that town hall earlier with New Jersey Democrat, Tom Malinowski. He is another member from a swing district. And when he said he supported those two Articles of Impeachment and that he's going to vote for them next week, he really had a mix in the crowd. Some people were standing up applauding. Other people were booing him. It just gives you a sense of the pressure these moderates are under.

So, of course, Van Drew's decision to switch parties, a very significant indication of the kind of pressure those members are under -- Ana. CABRERA: Lauren Fox, thank you.

Former Clinton White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart is here now, as well as Host of "S.E. CUPP UNFILTERED," S.E. Cupp.

Guys, good to have you. How significant, S.E., is this new reporting about Van Drew switching parties?

S.E. CUPP, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Look, I think the heat that moderate Democrats are facing is real. I also think it can be overplayed a little bit. And I think, maybe, the proper way to view Van Drew's move is that it's fairly craven and calculating. He wants to win re-election. And I don't know that it says anything more writ large about the Democratic Party, than it does about this representative in that district, at this moment in time.

CABRERA: What do you think, Joe?

JOE LOCKHART, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, I think the significance is way overplayed. I think he will be forgotten in days. I don't think he's going to be a hero to Republicans or some, you know, villain for the Democrats.

[17:05:05]

It's not really that significant.

CUPP: It's not that important.

LOCKHART: It's not that important. But, you know, listen, I think, you know, a lot of these people who came in, in Trump districts, have a significant amount of their constituents who still have some affection for the president. Many are disappointed but they don't -- but don't like the impeachment process.

But this is very, very different than 1998. And in 1998, Tom Delay didn't have the votes to impeach Bill Clinton, and he went around and twisted arms and broke arms. My Congressman growing up, Ben Gillman, was in for about three decades. Tom Delay told him he would strip him of his foreign affairs chairmanship, if he didn't vote for impeachment. This happened multiple times. He did break enough arms to get impeachment.

You don't see that coming from Nancy Pelosi.

CABRERA: Yes. She says she's not doing any kind of whip.

LOCKHART: You don't see it at all. She's not doing that.

CABRERA: No pressure. Wants this to be a vote of contest (ph).

LOCKHART: And I think -- and I think it's a -- I think it's a reflection of how different and how much more significant the offense is this time. It goes to our national security. It goes to our democracy. It doesn't go to a personal and terrible mistake President Clinton made. I'm not going to defend it. But it is different. And the Republicans seem to be approaching this with a scorched-earth policy, the same way they did in 1998.

CABRERA: What else is different, thought, is, of course, the nature of the impeachable act --

LOCKHART: Right.

CABRERA: -- as well. And even after hearing all of the, you know, debate in the House, all of the fact witnesses that came forward during the intelligence portion of the House impeachment hearings, new polls out this week show that didn't really move Americans. They're split on impeachment; 45 percent say the president should be impeached; 50 percent say he shouldn't.

On top of that, when you look at, among Democrats, especially those 31 Democrats in the Trump-won districts. We've been talking about 21 or so undecided on how they'll vote. Eight have come out and said publicly, they are yes votes. We know at least one. Van Drew is now a no and there's likely another one that's a no because he voted against the impeachment inquiry to begin with.

Meanwhile, I don't see Republicans suffering any defections.

CUPP: In the Senate or in the House?

CABRERA: In the House.

CUPP: No.

CABRERA: Well, let's talk about both.

CUPP: No. Probably not in the House, and that's because I don't think there's any incentive for House members, as of right now, to defect. The Senate, as we've discussed before, is a different, you know, ball of wax. The stakes are higher. History has a much less- forgiving view of senators. And it's what they do in these moments that often write their legacy.

CABRERA: So, you think there will be defections in the Senate?

CUPP: I would not rule out a number of defections, certainly not the 20 threshold that Democrats would need to remove Trump from office. But if you look at the political landscape, Mitt Romney's got the longest, sort of, runway. He's not up for re-election until 2024. That gives him a lot of time, if he's worried about political punishment from Trump or other Republicans.

Well, they don't get to do that for a while. Cory Gardner is another one I'd look at and Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins I would look at. Ben Sasse you might look at. I mean, there are a number of Republicans who are very conceivably thinking long and hard about their legacies here.

CABRERA: So, what do you think --

CUPP: Again, probably not enough. CABRERA: -- so, do you think, Joe, that Mitch McConnell saying, we

already know how this ends. There's no way he's going to be removed. You hear Lindsey Graham today saying, yes, we already know how this ends. This is where I'm implanting my flag, even though the trial hasn't even started and they're supposed to be impartial jurors. Is that what this is about?

LOCKHART: Yes, there's a lot of -- there's a lot of troubling things going on. And Mitch McConnell, a lot of it revolves around him. In 1998 and 1999, Trent Lott and Tom Daschle, you know, went away and they worked out a plan to do the trial that we were very angry with in the White House.

CABRERA: That was the Democrats and that was the Republicans.

LOCKHART: Yes, that's right (ph).

CABRERA: The top ones in the Senate.

LOCKHART: And the House managers were upset with them. The White House were upset with them. But they did it, because they felt the sense that the Senate was different. The Senate was different than the House. And the Senate had this special responsibility.

Mitch McConnell is not an institutionalist, as much as he tries to say he is. When he held up Merrick Garland, he made -- he made a decision, when he got -- when he invoked the nuclear option on Supreme Court Justice. What he cares the most about is staying Senate majority leader. And he's got six very vulnerable members. And he's going to do, at the end of the day, what's in their interest. And we're not exactly sure there yet.

And I think the big scuffle is going to happen over what the rules are. What kind of trial this is. Whether there's witnesses. Whether it's a show trial or a sham trial. And people that S.E. mentioned, like Cory Gardner and Thom Tillis and Susan Collins, --

CABRERA: Yes.

LOCKHART: -- may need to do more than just something that the country laughs at. The senators do want to appear different. I mean, I was -- I was struck, at the end of this week, when a member of the Judiciary Committee, a Republican, after sitting through all of the hearings, came out and tried to tell Manu Raju that the president didn't bring up Biden's name in the call.

[17:10:12]

CABRERA: Right. When it is in the transcript.

LOCKHART: Now, she had sat through all of the hearings. There were thousands of pages. And she stood there, with a straight face, and said, the president never mentioned Biden. That's their point of view which is facts. We will create our own fact base. The senators, I think, are going to have a little more trouble doing that. CABRERA: I mean, when you talk about, also, just, you know, how this

is playing out, you have Rudy Giuliani going to the White House on the very day that the Judiciary is approving impeachment articles.

CUPP: Yes.

CABRERA: I mean, from just an optics point of view, why?

CUPP: A great question. And when you talk to folks inside the White House, they will tell you, again off the record, that they wish that were not the case. They wish Rudy Giuliani would go away and shut up and stop doing what he's doing. And, yet, here we are.

But I think we have to realize something. To people like you and me, and especially folks in the media for whom facts matter a lot, we have this idea that this should be impartial, fact-based. That we should all just listen to the facts. They will bear out. I believe they have, you know, in Democrats' favor. And then, everyone will decide very fairly. And I think we need to remind ourselves sometimes, and Joe certainly knows this, impeachment is a political, partisan exercise, --

CABRERA: Right.

CUPP: -- inherently.

And so, this idea of impartiality, on either side, is probably a fool's errand. And you don't have to look, you know, past Lindsey Graham on the right or some of the Democratic Congressmen and Congresswomen who said they planned to impeach the president even before he was elected.

CABRERA: Right.

CUPP: To see that that is true.

CABRERA: (INAUDIBLE.) Yes. OK, guys, thank you, both. Good to have you.

CUPP: Thanks.

CABRERA: S.E. Cupp and Joe Lockhart. Be sure to stick around. S.E.'s show is at the top of the hour, "S.E. CUPP UNFILTERED."

And as impeachment engulfs the White House, President Trump is not there today. He's attending today's Army-Navy game in Philadelphia. And just last hour, he met with players in their locker rooms. He did the coin toss.

CNN's Sarah Westwood is there for us -- Sarah.

SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ana, perhaps this was a welcome distraction for President Trump, coming here to the Army-Navy game, where he received a warm welcome from this audience. Many of the people attending this game here are current, former, future military service members so a really warm reception for the president here.

This is his third time attending the Army-Navy game. He came here last year. He also came once in 2016, when he was president-elect. And he's the 10th president to come to this matchup, so it's, sort of, a tradition, at this point.

And the president, as you mentioned, went to the Army locker room, went to the Navy locker room, upon on his arrival, rallied the players. And he also touted a new reform from the Pentagon that would allow the graduates of military service academies to play sports professionally before they go and do their service, if they're good enough to go pro. The president said that idea was brought to him by the coach of the Army team.

We also saw him at center field, participating in the coin toss. Attending this game with him, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who, as we know, the president loves to mention graduated first in his class from West Point.

Now, at half time, we saw the president cross the fields. He viewed the second quarter of this game from the Army side. The third quarter of this game he viewed from the Navy side. Now, that's a tradition. When presidents come to the Army-Navy game, they split their time viewing from both sides of the stands, because they don't want to seem biased, as commander-in-chief, toward one branch of the military represented here over the other.

And on a more somber note, Ana. The three Navy sailors who were killed at the naval station in Pensacola, at that shooting earlier this month, they are being honored at the game today, not only by their fellow Navy military service members, but also by players on the Navy team -- ana.

CABRERA: And also worth noting, the last person who's still in the hospital from that incident, that shooting, was just released today. Sarah Westwood, thank you for that reporting.

We have new details in a brutal murder of a college student that has rattled New York City. What we've learned about the 13-year-old in custody and other suspects still not charged.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

[17:14:29]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: New details tonight on the brutal stabbing of a New York college freshman. A 13-year-old suspect in the case reportedly is telling police he watched as two of his friends grabbed the young woman in an attempted robbery and then slashed her. 18-year-old Tessa Rae (ph) Majors was a freshman at Barnard College. She was walking in New York City's Morningside Park Wednesday afternoon, when she was attacked, just blocks away from the campus. Right now, we know there is a second person in custody. CNN's Polo Sandoval is following all of this for us. Polo, the suspect talking to police is just 13 years old. What more are you learning?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And because of what we -- he is telling police, Ana, we now have some more perspective of what likely took place in those horrific events that took place in that park in Upper Manhattan earlier this week. Police saying that this teen was found with a knife and admitted to being involved in Wednesday's attempted robbery and deadly stabbing. But the question is, to what extent?

They say, according to "The New York Times," the 13-year-old faces a felony murder charge, meaning that he is -- he is not accused of stabbing Tessa Majors, but did, reportedly, or at least allegedly, take part in the robbery. "The Times" also reporting a detective testified that the 13-year-old suspect says that he was going into that park, along with two other teenage accomplices, with the intention of robbing people.

The boy telling detectives that he watched his friends, essentially, hold down this young woman. And then, essential -- and then, removed items from her pockets and then, eventually, did slash her repeatedly with a knife, according to investors. A source saying that a second person is in custody but has not yet been charged.

The boy's attorney telling CNN that there is no allegation against her client claiming that he actually touched the victims. That he was merely present when this took place, according to what this attorney is saying.

[17:20:02]

So, the big question, exactly how will they prosecute this? In the meantime, obviously, this, certainly, sending shock waves across the entire university community and, really, around the world, since there are students from 57 different countries who attend. This young woman's family releasing a statement earlier this week, saying that they have lost a very special, very talented, a very well-loved young woman. Tess shone brightly in this world and our hearts will never be the same.

As they're mourning, the investigation is pressing forward. And, of course, questions as to what should -- what kind of security measures should be in place in that park? The NYPD had initially identified several issues there, when it comes to major crimes. They have implemented various strategies, like added patrols.

But, as we heard, Ana, this week, Mayor Bill De Blasio calling this an unacceptable reality that something like this would happen in a park that's frequented by so many young students.

CABRERA: A horrible story all around. Thank you for that, Polo Sandoval.

Still ahead, outrage as the ongo -- outgoing Kentucky governor pardons a slew of violent criminals, including convicted murderers and a convicted child rapist.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:25:00]

CABRERA: Democratic Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear took the oath of office this week, after defeating Republican incumbent, Matt Bevin, in last month's election.

But while Beshear was preparing to move into the governor's mansion, Bevin, on his way out, was pardoning and commuting the sentences of hundreds of criminals, including a child rapist, a man who killed his parents, and a mother who dumped her newborn in a septic tank. Bevin's decision to set these people free is drawing widespread backlash and anger. And CNN'S Natasha Chen is joining us now. How is the former governor explaining this, Natasha?

NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Ana, he took to Twitter last night, defending his decisions. He tweeted a series of 20 messages, mostly about his belief in second chances. Here are two of his tweets. He says, am I perfect? No. Never have been. But I did my very best over many hours, days, weeks and years to reach fair and just decisions. Not one person receiving a pardon would I not welcome as a co-worker, neighbor, or to sit beside me or any member of my family in a church pew or at a public event.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(voice-over): Before walking out of the governor's mansion this week, Kentucky Republican Matt Bevin pardoned this man, who sexual assaulted a 15-year-old boy, a drunk driver who killed a pastor and his wife, a man who decapitated a woman and left her body in a barrel, a woman who threw her newborn in a septic tank at a flee market, a man who, at age 16, killed his parents and left their bodies in a basement. And this man, who raped a nine-year-old girl, and served less than 18 months out of his 23-year sentence. The victim's mother says, it's a slap in the face.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It feels like we're going through it all over again. We just got to the point where we felt safe leaving the house.

CHEN: Kenton County prosecutor, Rob Sanders, told CNN the men hadn't served enough time to even begin sex-offender treatment.

ROB SANDERS, PROSECUTOR, KENTON COUNTY COMMONWEALTH: It shocks the conscience. It's offensive. It's mind boggling how any governor could be this irresponsible.

CHEN: Now, there's also a question of political favoritism.

MORGAN MCGARVEY (D), KENTUCKY STATE SENATE MINORITY LEADER: We have someone who was convicted of killing someone in front of his wife at his home, who pulled the trigger.

CHEN: State lawmakers say they want to investigate this case, because the family of the man pardoned raised more than $20,000 last year to help Bevin.

MCGARVEY: Bottom line, if it looks like a duck and talks like a duck, you've got to look into whether or not it's a duck.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHEN (on camera): And we're not sure, yet, if the attorney general elect in Kentucky will take up the case. But the Kenton County prosecutor told us that there are some former Bevin administration staff working with the attorney general elect now. So, it's possible he may have to hire a special independent prosecutor, or it could be left to federal prosecutors or the commonwealth attorneys -- Ana.

CABRERA: And, Natasha, we heard from some of the victim families in that piece. But I understand you talked to somebody today --

CHEN: Yes.

CABRERA: -- who actually believes the governor did the right thing, even though their family was hurt in such a deep way.

CHEN: Yes. So, I spoke to one family that -- the family of the young man who killed his parents when he was 16 years old. So, that family is connected to both the victims and the murderer, in this case. They -- this cousin, who spoke to me, said he was angry for a long time. But, over time, realized that this man showed a lot of promise and rehabilitation. And he said that if his -- if that man's mother could see what was happening today, she would be the happiest person involved to see her son back with the family and in a safe place -- Ana.

CABRERA: OK, thank you very much. Natasha Chen.

As impeachment moves forward, President Trump is on the attack. One of his targets this week, the FBI director he picked, Christopher Wray.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

[17:28:53]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:32:55]

CABRERA: The showdown over President Trump's financial records and tax returns is headed to the Supreme Court. The court announced late Friday they'll review the case. At issue: Can a president face legal action while in office? Lower court judges who earlier ruled against Trump grounded their decisions on decades-old Supreme Court precedent that would allow a president to be subpoenaed or sued.

The president versus the FBI, this is an all too common battle in this administration. We watched it play out all over again this week as President Trump took direct aim at the bureau's director, Christopher Wray. CNN's Brian Todd has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump vents his anger at another FBI director. In a Twitter broadside, the President saying, "I don't know what report current director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, was reading, but it sure wasn't the one given to me. With that kind of attitude, he will never be able to fix the FBI, which is badly broken."

A reaction after Wray spoke of how pleased he was that the Justice Department's inspector general found the Russian election interference investigation was properly launched and there was no political bias influencing decisions in the probe.

Wray brushed back on the President's claims that some in the FBI were part of a deep state conspiracy against him.

CHRISTOPHER WRAY, FBI DIRECTOR: I think that's the kind of label that is a disservice to the 37,000 men and women who work at the FBI who I think tackled their jobs with professionalism, with rigor, with objectivity and with courage. And I think it's an affront to them.

TODD: But Wray's boss, Attorney General William Barr, doubled down on President Trump's criticisms of the FBI's Russia investigation.

WILLIAM BARR, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: They kept on investigating the President well into his administration. After the case collapsed.

TODD: Trump's had some notorious public battles with FBI directors and other bureau officials. He fired his first FBI director, James Comey, after clashing with him over the Russia investigation.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Comey, lies and leaks. He's a liar and he's a leaker.

TODD: Trump then accused Comey's immediate replacement, Andrew McCabe, and top FBI lawyer, James Baker, of being out to get him.

[17:35:08]

He repeatedly eviscerated former FBI agent, Peter Strzok, and former FBI lawyer, Lisa Page, who had a relationship with each other, accusing them of being part of a cabal of Trump haters inside the bureau, after their personal texts critical of Trump were made public.

TRUMP: Lisa Page, who was forced to leave the FBI, and her lover, Peter Strzok, who we got their text messages and what they said in those text messages were shocking, when you talk about bias.

TODD: In one tweet, Trump called Comey, McCabe, Strzok and Page, "clowns and losers," wondering aloud, "Will the FBI ever recover it's once stellar reputation."

A Trump biographer says the president simply doesn't tolerate being challenged by those around him.

MICHAEL D'ANTONIO, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It doesn't matter if it's a spouse who's telling the truth about his infidelities or if it's a law enforcement officer trying to do his duty, the right thing to do where Donald Trump is concerned is to serve him. Any other duty is superfluous. And he'll be angry at you and really try to destroy you if you cross him.

TODD: Analysts are concerned that Trump's repeated attacks on FBI directors and their aides have serious security consequences.

CARRIE CORDERO, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: The president's statements are harmful, because what he's doing is he's undermining the credibility of the FBI with the public. And the FBI needs the public in order to satisfy its law enforcement and national security mission.

TODD (on camera): CNN has reached out to the White House to ask if President Trump has or will ask for Christopher Wray to resign as FBI director. White House officials told us that's unlikely, but they acknowledged Trump could act without warning.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Still ahead, seven Democrats candidates have qualified for the next Democratic debate this coming week. Why are they threatening to skip it?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:41:00]

CABRERA: The next Democratic presidential debate is scheduled for Thursday night. Get ready to see more room than before on the debate stage. Just seven candidates made the cut for the next debate. Here they are in alphabetical order.

It is set to take place in Los Angeles, that is, if they agree to show up. That's because there's a worker's strike under way at the debate site, and all the candidates say they won't cross the picket line.

Meantime, CNN Political Writer and Analyst, Harry Enten, is with us to give us the state of play, where things stand as far as all of the candidates in the race now.

You've kind of boiled things down to a couple of states, California and Texas. What does it tell us?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN POLITICAL WRITER & ANALYST: We spend all this attention on the early states, but Super Tuesday, California, Texas, the two biggest delegate prizes. What we see as separate races in each state. In California, you have Biden, Warren, Sanders in the top tier, between 17 to 21 percent of the vote.

But in state of Texas, Joe Biden is well out ahead, 35 percent. Bernie Sanders in second place at 15. Elizabeth Warren at 13. And Pete Buttigieg in these states with a lot of non-white voters not doing well.

Why are California and Texas so important? There are so many delegates. I looked at the delegate map. What we see here is that Joe Biden will get a massive swell of delegates, about 300 out of the necessary 1,990. That gets him 15 percent of the way there.

If the polls are exactly right, and let's say the results match perfectly, these are very good poll numbers for Joe Biden.

CABRERA: Also states with the largest Hispanic population, California and Texas. When you factor that in what does the polling show?

ENTEN: I think this is interesting. If you look at Hispanics versus non-Hispanics in California, where we had a large enough sample size to do so, we see, among Hispanics, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are leading the pack, 27 percent, 25 percent.

Warren all the way back at 10 percent. Pete Buttigieg is not in the top five, which is a real problem I think going forward from Iowa to New Hampshire, as we head into the states with significant non-white populations.

Among white voters, see a top tier, Warren, Biden, Sanders, all very close to each other, at least in California.

CABRERA: That's interesting when you talk about Buttigieg. He struggled with African-American voters when you looked at South Carolina.

Let's stick with these two states. General election, head-to-head matchup with President Trump, what do we see?

ENTEN: In Texas, this is a state that hasn't gone Democratic since 1976. Before I was born, I can proudly say. What we see is that Joe Biden is quite competitive with the president in Texas, only down by a point. The other Democrats on the other hand are all trailing by 7 percentage points.

So Joe Biden wants to make this electability argument. He wants to say, I can go and I can win a state like Texas. This poll demonstrates that.

What's important about Texas? If you add Texas to the states Hillary Clinton won in 2016, you get to exactly 270 electoral votes.

To me, again, this is a good poll for Biden insofar as he can make the case as, hey, I am the electable Democrat, elect me, we have a chance in Texas. If you win Texas, you can easily win the presidency if you're a Democrat.

CABRERA: For what it is worth, I wasn't born in 1976 either. We are young. At least young at heart.

ENTEN: Oh. Young at heart. CABRERA: It is all relative.

ENTEN: Sounds like a Jewish man that tries to send soup back.

CABRERA: I never thought that. Now I do.

Thank you, Harry Enten.

ENTEN: Thank you.

CABRERA: You always throw a curve ball my way.

(CROSSTALK)

CABRERA: OK. Quick programming note, 2020 presidential candidate, Andrew Yang, will be joining us for a live interview in our 7:00 Eastern hour tonight, right here on CNN.

We want to show you how to help the top 10 "CNN Heroes" of 2019 continue their important work. Your donations will be matched dollar for dollar.

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Just go to CNNheroes.com and click "donate" beneath any 2019 top-10 "CNN Hero" to make a direct contribution to that hero's fundraiser. You'll receive an email confirming your donation, which is tax deductible in the United States. No matter the amount, you can make a big difference in helping our heroes continue their life-changing work.

[17:45:17]

And right now, through January 2nd, your donations will be met dollar for dollar up to $50,000 for each of this year's honorees. CNN is proud to offer you this simple way to support each cause and celebrate all of these everyday people changing the world.

You can donate from your laptop, your tablet or your phone. Just go to CNNheroes.com. Your donation in any amount will help them help others. Thanks.

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CABRERA: Do you know someone great who deserves to be a "CNN Hero?" Tell us about them. Nominations for 2020 are now open at CNNheroes.com.

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CABRERA: Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban was ruled unconstitutional Friday. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down this ban. It's the latest legal blow to an effort by a conservative-leaning state to restrict abortions. Mississippi is also fighting a federal ruling on a six-week abortion ban. That's before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals as well.

The Pearl Harbor commander says there's no known motive in a December 4th shooting, according to a message obtained by the "Honolulu Star Advertiser." Gabriel Antonio Romero, an active-duty U.S. Navy sailor, open fire at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, killing two people and wounding a third. The Navy said there were no disciplinary charges of any kind pending against Romero, and that he was assigned to armed watch at the time.

[17:50:21]

In New Zealand, police divers are searching murky waters contaminated by Monday's volcanic eruption on White Island. A specialist team was able to recover six bodies from the island Friday, leaving two people still unaccounted for. Both are presumed dead. That brings the death toll to at least 16. The volcano erupted Monday while dozens of people were visiting the popular tourist spot.

Meanwhile, today we learned the name of one of the victims. Crystal Browett (ph), a 20-year-old from Australia. A GoFundMe page says she, her sister and father were all on the island while her mother stayed onboard their cruise ship. Crystal's (ph) sister and father are both comatose and being treated in a hospital in a burn unit.

Actor Danny Aiello has died. You may remember him from the hitman movie, "The Professional." He's also well known for his roles in "Moonstruck" and "Do the Right Thing," along with appearing in more than 100 movies and TV shows.

Cher tweeted this about her "Moonstruck" co-star: "Good-bye, dear Danny Aiello. Danny was a great actor, but a genius comedic actor. We laughed so much making 'Moonstruck.' It was one of the happiest times in my life, and he was a part of that happy time."

According to his family, Danny Aiello died Thursday night after a brief illness. He was 86 years old.

President Trump is on the verge of an all but certain impeachment over a shakedown of Ukraine. But it looks like he and his attorney are still determined to dig for political dirt on the Bidens. So much so that Giuliani was in Ukraine last week. And before his plane even landed back in New York, the president was reportedly calling him for the lowdown.

Here's Jason Carroll with more.

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JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal attorney, showed up at the White House early Friday with notebooks in hand. The timing of his arrival -- (GAVELING)

CARROLL: -- the same morning the House Judiciary Committee voted to impeach President Trump on two articles of impeachment, abuse of power and obstructing Congress.

And while critics say Giuliani is partly to blame for what happened to Trump, Giuliani and his client, President Trump, remain intent on his quest to dig up dirt on Trump's political rival, Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter.

Last week, Giuliani travelled to Ukraine to meet with officials, while back at home, constitutional experts were testifying on Capitol Hill about the parameters for different articles of impeachment.

On Monday, Giuliani appeared on a podcast and promised to reveal what he says he has found in Ukraine.

RUDY GIULIANI, PERSONAL ATTORNEY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP (voice-over): I was going to do an outline of it and try to present it at the convenience of the Republicans in the Congress and the attorney general at the end of this week. I should probably have it ready on Wednesday or Thursday. I don't know exactly when it will be made public, but it should be ready by then. I worked on it all weekend.

CARROLL: According to the "Wall Street Journal," Trump called Giuliani Saturday, as soon as Giuliani's plane landed in New York, and asked, "What did you get?" "The Journal" reports he replied, "More than you can imagine."

TRUMP: He's going to make a report, I think, to the attorney general and to Congress. He says he has a lot of good information.

CARROLL: Giuliani is a central character in the House's impeachment inquiry into Trump and a constant source of fuel for conspiracy theories seized on by right-wing media.

He has made a number of unsupported allegations, asserting corruption by former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, though there is no evidence of wrongdoing by either of them.

And he continues to push unsubstantiated claims Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election when the entire Intelligence Community concurs it was Russia.

FBI Director Christopher Wray is cautioning Americans to be careful about where they get their information.

WRAY: There's all kinds of people saying all kinds of things out there. I think it's important for the American people to be thoughtful consumers of information, to think about the sources of it, and to think about the support and predication for what they hear.

CARROLL: Giuliani was a loyal lieutenant to the president even before he was hired as an unpaid personal attorney in April 2018.

But lately, there are debates in political circles as to whether Giuliani should be sidelined.

Two Giuliani associates linked to his efforts in Ukraine pleaded not guilty for allegedly funneling foreign money into U.S. elections. Prosecutors accused one of them, Lev Parnas, of failing to disclose that he received $1 million from a Russian bank account the month before he was charged.

[17:55:02]

According to the "Washington Post," in several conversations in recent months, Attorney General William Barr counseled Trump that, "Giuliani has become a liability and a problem for the administration."

CNN has previously reported investigators have been looking into Giuliani's business dealings in Ukraine and have dug into everything from possible financial entanglements with alleged corrupt Ukrainian figures to counterintelligence concerns raised by some of those business ties, according to people briefed on the matter.

Giuliani has denied any wrongdoing and Trump has his back.

TRUMP (voice-over): Rudy Giuliani was one of the great crime fighters of all time. He's also a friend of mine. He's a great person. He's like an iconic figure in this country.

CARROLL: There is a long list of one-time Trump allies that have since been written off by the president. Just ask Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen.

For now, the Giuliani/Trump bond seems intact.

Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: Thanks so much for being with me. I'm Ana Cabrera, in New York. I'll see you back here in just an hour from now.

My colleague, S.E. Cupp, continues our coverage of today's news after a quick break.

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