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Pompeo: I Was On the Phone Call with Trump and Zelensky; U.S. Lawmakers to Get Urgent Briefing on Ukraine Documents; Former U.S. Envoy to Ukraine to Testify Thursday; CNN Speaks to Former Ukraine President on U.S.-Ukraine Scandal; Trump Calls Impeachment Inquiry a Coup; Putin Jokes About Election Meddling; Boris Johnson Says We Are Leaving the EU on October 31 Come What May; Close Call for Diplomacy Between Trump and Rouhani; Pelosi and Schiff to Hold Briefing on Impeachment Inquiry. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired October 02, 2019 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Key committees on The Hill have reviewed an urgent request from the State Department inspector general.
It feels highly unusual for the inspector general of the State Department to brief this committee.
We don't know what they want to discuss with The Hill we know it has to do with Ukraine and the State Department.
MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We will of course do our constitutional duty to cooperate with this co-equal branch. But we are
going to do so in a way that is consistent with the fundamental values of the American system. And we won't tolerate folks on Capitol Hill bullying,
intimidating State Department employees, that's unacceptable.
RUDY GIULIANI, DONALD TRUMP'S PERSONAL ATTORNEY: We should bring a lawsuit on behalf of the President and several people in the administration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi this is CONNECT THE WORLD, with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: It's 6:00 p.m. here, 10:00 in the morning in D.C. connecting tonight an epic constitutional showdown as the battle
roils between America's Congress and the Trump administration. There is so much to cover. Let's get to it for you.
Here's what we know right now. This is the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump as it stands. In the coming hours, members of the
U.S. Congress will hear from the Inspector General for U.S. State Department. Now a source tells us he will present copies of documents
related to the State Department and Ukraine. This was an unplanned appearance. The inspector asking just yesterday to give an urgent
briefing. One aide called the request unusual. And cryptically worded.
Meantime, in Italy, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke a short time ago. He acknowledged that he was on the phone call in July between
President Trump and the Ukrainian President.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POMPEO: As for what's on the phone call, I was on the phone call. The phone call was in the context of now I guess I've been a Secretary of State
for coming on a year and a half. I know precisely what the American policy is with respect to Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well that is the same call that led to a whistleblower complaint and set off the impeachment inquiry.
Meanwhile in Ukraine, Parliament back in session for the first time since this political crisis Washington erupted. Politicians there facing
questions about their dealings with the United States.
What are we expecting to hear then from the major American players on both sides of this battle today? Well House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who launched
this inquiry holds her weekly news conference about 45 minutes from now. And President Trump himself will be speaking later today in the White House
garden alongside the visiting President of Finland. We'll bring you both of those events live.
Following the story that's all over the world, Suzanne Malveaux is on Capitol Hill covering whatever it is this urgent briefing today. Melissa
Bell is in Rome following Mike Pompeo's visit. Matthew Chance is in Kiev in Ukraine and Joe Johns at the White House.
Let me start with you, Suzanne. Who is Steve Linick and what does he plan to provide Congress today, during this private urgent briefing?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, imagine this if you will, Secretary of State Pompeo is out of the country and this is precisely
the time that the Inspector General of the State Department, Steve Linick says, look, you have to talk to me and you have to talk to me urgently.
I'm going to Congress. I have something to say. And he is going to say that. There are going to be documents we are told that are going to state
the relationship between the State Department and Ukraine.
This was something that happened. He immediately contacting members of these relevant committees when Pompeo yesterday saying that lawmakers were
bullying and intimidating those who had been deposed. So definitely here it is going to be a bipartisan group. It is going to be behind closed
doors. But it is going to be revealing.
One lawmaker thinking that perhaps it's a push-back to this idea that lawmakers are being intimidated. Perhaps he is also going to talk about
the fact that he doesn't have confidence in the Secretary of State. Since so we're going to be watching that unfold. And there are going to be a
number of people in that meeting. And so we should get at least somewhat of an idea and a readout afterwards but very important.
[10:05:00]
Now who is the inspector general? He is somebody who has been the inspector general since 2013. Known as independent. A straight shooter.
Does not need Secretary Pompeo's approval to be up there as an independent lawyer. He was appointed by President Obama, long-time lawyer who served
as former assistant U.S. attorney. Also oversaw the investigation of the former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's emails. So he knows how to be
in the spotlight and to take on tough cases --Becky.
ANDERSON: Suzanne Malveaux is on Capitol Hill. Suzanne, thank you.
Melissa is in Italy. According to CNN sources Steve Linick sought this briefing after his boss, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pushed back on
House Democratic demands to turn over documents related to Ukraine. We know who Mike Pompeo is. He took questions on the Ukraine controversy
today in Italy. Melissa, what did he say?
MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: They were very limited questions. I mean clearly any press access for the Secretary of State today of all
days is going to be extremely tight. He would not be drawn though, Becky, on that question of whether he knew about the inspector general reaching
out to Congress or indeed what the contents of the documents that he will be providing was. He simply wouldn't be drawn in on that question.
He did however answer -- as you just played a moment ago -- that crucial question about whether or not he was on the July 25th call. He was, he
said. Although he would not say whether any red flags had been raised in his mind when he heard President Trump speak to the Ukrainian President
throughout the phone call.
He was also asked of course about those accusations from the chairman of the three committees that are in charge of this impeachment inquiry. Who'd
accused last night the Secretary of State of stonewalling essentially. Of simply not cooperating with their inquiry and of getting in the way of
officials at the State Department, whose depositions had been sought. This was Mike Pompeo's response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POMPEO: We will of course do our constitutional duty to cooperate with this co-equal branch. But we're go to do so in way that is consistent with
the fundamental values of the American system and we won't tolerate folks on Capitol Hill bullying, intimidating State Department employees, that's
unacceptable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BELL: Which leaves open fairly substantially, Becky, that question of how closely Mike Pompeo intends to cooperate or not with the committee
chairman's inquiry. Now interestingly, he's just been visiting the Coliseum here in Rome. He was due to go and visit a museum as well, that
has been canceled. Presumably because Mike Pompeo has other things on his mind. And over the course of the next few hours, as these issues continue
to emerge and in particular as the inspector general, we get an idea of what it is he had to say to Congress, Mike Pompeo no doubt will be wanting
to respond to that from here -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Melissa is in Italy. From there to Ukraine connecting the dots for you folks, Matthew is in Kiev. What is the latest there -- Matthew?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well look, I mean, that controversial July 25th phone call continues to be front and center of
this unfolding political scandal in the United States. Now the dirt that President Trump asked President Zelensky of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to
dig up on Joe Biden relates to a period in 2016 when there was another Ukrainian President in charge. His name is Petro Poroshenko. Earlier I
caught up with Mr. Poroshenko as the new Parliamentary session got under way here at the Ukrainian capital. And got a chance to ask him some
questions that up until now we haven't been able to put to him. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE: Did you fire your prosecutor-general because he was investigating Vice President Biden?
PETRO POROSHENKO, FORMER UKRAINE PRESIDENT: Excuse me, excuse me. We definitely do not want to be involved in the political process inside the
United States. This is point number one. Point number two, the all prosecutor general should be completely independent from the President.
And then the Ukrainian constitution, President have no right to fire the prosecutor.
CHANCE: Did Vice President Biden tell you that his son had business interests in that gas company?
POROSHENKO: We never, ever speak with any -- about any commercial company or any person, neither with the President -- Vice President Biden, nor with
the President Obama. Nor with President Trump, nor with the --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you Mr. Biden --
CHANCE: I give, did you sense --
POROSHENKO: Sorry, sorry. Sorry. I know nothing about that.
CHANCE: Did you know your prosecutor general was meeting Giuliani? Did you know your prosecutor general was meeting Giuliani --
POROSHENKO No, that was -- no, I would, no, no information about that.
CHANCE: Have you ever met with Rudy Giuliani yourself?
POROSHENKO Yes. Yes. Yes, I did.
[10:10:00]
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE: Well Ukrainian officials, both former and present are reluctant to give much detail about this issue. Concerned that this country will be
drawn further into this political drama in the United States. And also, increasingly concerned about the impact that -- that this might have on
cross-party support in the United States for Ukraine that it's enjoyed for the past several years -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. I want to get us back to Washington then. Donald Trump will speak, Joe, at around 2:00 o'clock local time which is
about four hours or so from now. He'll be in the Rose Garden with the visiting Finnish President as I understand it. It might be slightly
uncomfortable press conference for that visit. Is there anything that we should expect to hear him say today? Apart from addressing these issues.
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Anything is possible as you know. And he will be appearing with President Niinisto of Finland so
we expect the range of issues there, the Arctic North, Russia, China. They might talk about Huawei. Because Finland has a pretty good 5G system
going.
But beyond there are a lot of questions for the President, if he will take them. Including his tweet just last evening suggesting that what's going
on up on Capitol Hill is not an impeachment he asserts, but a coup to take away power from the people. I'm sure that will be challenged as well by
Nancy Pelosi in just a little while when she speaks. So the President may also have an opportunity to react to both the Speaker of the House as well
as the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
And then there's the issue, of course, of Mike Pompeo. You've already discussed so much about him and the staffers, his concern that they're
being bullied by people on Capitol Hill. The question is, how the President will approach that. What we do know is that the administration
is still trying to figure out how it will respond to all that is going on, on Capitol Hill. And perhaps the President can give us some information
about that as well -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Joe Johns is at the White House. I just want to get to Mr. Kirby who is with us. Who spent many a year backstage at the State
Department. It is an extremely busy day today. We know that there's an awful lot going on. Not least at this urgent briefing from the inspector
general. What do you make of what is going on at present? How unusual is that?
JOHN KIRBY, CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: This is extremely unusual. Obviously, it's sandwiched here between you know Pompeo's letter
to representative Engel, and then of course tomorrow's deposition by Ambassador Volker. So I suspect -- I mean, we don't know exactly what Mr.
Linick is going to want to talk about today. But I suspect it has something to do with the document surrounding this call to Ukraine and what
exists or doesn't exist at the State Department and maybe how they're handling it. We'll have to see.
But it's an extraordinary move for -- I know Mr. Linick, he was working at the State Department before I left office there, very serious, very
composed, very diligent public servant. For him to want to do this at this particular moment, it's significant.
ANDERSON: Right, well we will learn exactly why he felt that that was such an urgent briefing that he wanted to give as the day progresses. Nancy
Pelosi of course, the House Speaker in about a half an hour from now with what is a regularly scheduled news conference, and Donald Trump later on
today. To all of you, thank you.
So the bottom line say, lawmakers will get the first urgent briefing complete with documents related to the impeachment inquiry. What does the
inspector general have to say so urgently? And how will it impact this pivotal moment for the nation? We're following this for you all day. Do
stay with us.
Well of course we'll do it and just don't tell anyone. That is the joke Russian President Vladimir Putin made at a forum in Moscow today. He was
asked about possible 2020 election meddling. CNN's Fred Pleitgen is live from Moscow. What do you make of this?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it seemed as though Vladimir Putin was somewhat trolling the United States there in
those remarks. You could see that he was saying, he was saying it in a joking way. Saying look, I'll tell you a secret, yes, we're going to do
it, just don't tell anyone. So clearly, trying to make a joke of it. Obviously, folks in the United States won't find it very funny.
Considering all the agony that that's caused that nation, for such a long time and all the investigations that have followed as well. They certainly
won't be seeing that as a joking matter.
But Vladimir Putin making a lot of very interesting comments during that panel discussion that he had at the Russian Energy Week.
[10:15:00]
Also saying with some of the questions that are going on, Becky, in the United States whether transcripts of meetings and phone calls between
President Trump and President Putin might be brought to light as well. And whether or not he might be nervous about that. He was saying, look, he's
been a public servant for a very long time. He said in his previous life - - obviously, meaning the time when he was still a Russian agent -- so that he was always of the opinion that all conversations that he could have
could become public at some point in time.
And so therefore, the Russian leader saying look, if they want to release the transcripts of anything from the meeting for instance that he had with
President Trump in Helsinki, then they're free to do that. And apparently, they told -- according to Vladimir Putin -- the White House, that they
could release those.
Now the other thing that Vladimir Putin did, was also quite remarkable. Is that on this issue of the phone call between President Trump and the
Ukrainian leader, Zelensky, he went into a full-on defense of President Trump and also spoke out against the impeachment inquiry in very strong
terms. Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): They began with this impeachment proceeding and they always recall Nixon. Nixon's team was
wire-tapping listening to their rivals. But this is a completely different situation. Trump was wire-tapped. Some anonymous special service staffer
leaked this information and based on what we know from the call, there was nothing wrong there. Trump asked his colleague to investigate possible
corruption schemes of previous administrations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: So there you have President Vladimir Putin of Russia defending President Trump. It was interesting, because it sounds like he was using
President Trump's talking points in some of those defenses. So as we could see here, Vladimir Putin very much in President Trump's corner on this
issue -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Fred's in Moscow for you. Fred, always a pleasure, thank you.
Datelines everywhere you want to be in the world on CONNECT THE WORLD, including getting to U.K. and to Manchester, the big story on Brexit.
Boris Johnson laying down the gauntlet to the rest of the European Union. It's my deal or no deal. The British Prime Minister has just released his
new proposals to the EU on Brexit. We are now just getting these in. Nina dos Santos will digest those for us in a moment.
First though earlier today Boris Johnson doubling down, insisting there will be no further delay to Brexit. That's the message he told the annual
conference of his Conservative Party earlier with the U.K. set to leave the European Union on October 31. Now the Prime Minister laid out his Brexit
plan that he will take to Brussels and he's warning if the Brexit talks fail no deal is the alternative.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: That is why we are coming out of the EU on October 31, come what may. Let's -- let's get Brexit done. We
can, we must, and we will. Even though things have not been made easier by the surrender bill.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right. Let's get you to the Tory Party Conference, where that speak was made earlier today. Nina dos Santos there for you and
she's, as she just been going through what is the substance, the detail of this proposal to the EU. What have we got?
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well first of all, Becky, as you can see, they're take downing all the set here in Manchester because the
focus is firmly fixed on Brussels now. What we've heard over the last hour or so is those technical talks taking place between the U.K.'s negotiating
team based on the broad outline to what the Prime Minister said earlier today and what a U.K. newspaper had. And we've had substance of the letter
that Boris Johnson has penned to the head of the European Council and also to his negotiator, Michel Barnier.
More or less is quite similar to what we saw in the newspapers earlier today. What we're talking here about is a further -- is getting the U.K.
out of the EU by the end of this month. Of course, which is what Boris Johnson was promising the party faithful here on the stage earlier today.
But that there would still be with a transition period for a couple of years thereafter.
The crucial bit there is that after that transition period what we could see is two borders essentially for Northern Ireland. So we could see goods
being aligned with EU regulations, especially certain types of goods. And a protection for Northern Ireland to stay inside the single market in terms
of people's travel. But when it comes to customs, there will be checks, but not necessarily at the Irish border.
What's interesting, having a quick skin of the letter so far, is that they're talking about having checks perhaps at the point of manufacture of
some of these goods made inside some of these areas or further along down the supply chain.
[10:20:00]
Anything to try and avoid any physical border infrastructure that of course Ireland would be so dead against and it could scupper the Good Friday
Agreement. Remember that if the U.K. tries to get the United States trade deal Congress has made it very clear that they wouldn't go for anything
that jeopardizes the Good Friday Agreement.
So obviously, this will create lots of food for thought. Boris Johnson is set to speak with Jean-Claude Juncker -- the outgoing head of the European
Commission -- in about 15 minutes time -- skews me, an hour and 15 minutes time over the phone and from there we'll start to get an idea of how people
in Brussels will be digesting some of these proposals. It'll hinge upon whether or not they think it's workable -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. All right. Well October 31 is that deadline. The EU now will be crawling all over the substance of what the U.K. is now
suggesting. Let's just get a sense of what people at Tory Party Conference have to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Inspiring. Gave me a lot of hope.
DOS SANTOS: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I think we might just get out of Europe.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Barn-storming, fabulous. And especially directed at the electorate at the country and the EU.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he was great. And I just hope the EU is listening, because we love Europe and we want to stay part of it. But we
don't want to be part of the EU and I thought it was brilliant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what both the party and the country and I believe the world needed.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's so good, entertaining, intelligent, fairly factual. So this is what people want to hear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was passionate. He electrified the room. Everyone's firmly behind Boris's lead. We're looking forward to getting
out of the EU on the 31st of October and he's moving on to a brighter future outside the EU.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right. Well the Brexit bottom line for you there. Boris Johnson has managed to please his party faithful by digging in his heels.
The question now is, will he be able to make Europe budge. The game of Brexit chicken continues.
Still to come this hour on CONNECT THE WORLD, the phone call that never happened. Find out who was trying to dial up some very delicate diplomacy.
That's next. And we are expecting to hear new details on the impeachment inquiry of the U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. House Speaker and House intelligence chair step up to this podium just minutes from now. We will be there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:25:00]
ANDERSON: A dash of detente could slowly be seeping into a region broiling with conflict. Iran says it welcomes talks with Saudi Arabia. Iranian
state media report that a government spokesperson claims that President Hassan Rouhani received, quote, messages from the Saudi kingdom through a
third state. The nature of those messages well that remains murky at this point.
The Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, calls the claims, quote, inaccurate. He says Saudi Arabia told neighboring countries
seeking to de-escalate, the kingdom's position is to always seek peace and stability in the region.
All this coming after a hoped-for meeting between Presidents Rouhani and Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly never
happened. France's President had been working hard to make that meeting a reality. Take a look at this exchange between Emmanuel Macron, British
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Rouhani last week in New York.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: If he leaves the country without meeting with President Trump, honestly this is a lost opportunity. Because
he will not come back in a few months except if I don't know your projects, and President Trump will not go to Tehran.
JOHNSON: I think, that's an idea. I think I agree with Mr. Macron, we need to be on the side of the swimming pool at the same time and jump at
the same time. I agree.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: As new reporting by my next guest, and friend of this show, Robin Wright, she says a phone conversation between the Iranian and U.S.
Presidents nearly happened. Robin Wright, one of America's foremost authorities on the Middle East and particularly on Iran standing by in
Washington. What do you know about the call led by Mr. Macron and what he intended to do?
ROBIN WRIGHT, CONTRIBUTING WRITER, THE NEW YORKER (via Skype): Well President Macron had mobilized leaders from France, Germany, Japan and
across the U.N. spectrum to try to push President Rouhani of Iran to engage with Donald Trump. And later the same day of the conversation you just
showed, Macron showed up at the Millennium Hotel across from the United Nations where President Rouhani was staying.
His goal was to set up a three-way telephone call between President Trump. President Rouhani and himself to broker the outlines of an agreement where
the United States would promise to lift sanctions in exchange for Iranian agreement to go back to negotiations. It was part of Macron's four-point
plan.
And he showed up at the hotel, he brought a technical team to set up a secure line to talk to President Trump. But President Rouhani had become
increasingly skeptical of Trump's intentions and his commitment to lift sanctions. He had just that morning given a speech to the U.N. world body
and said we intend to impose more sanctions. We're going to be tough on Iran. So Rouhani locked himself in his bedroom and refused to come out.
ANDERSON: OK. That's absolutely fascinating. The phone call then meant to lay the groundwork for a meeting. No Iranian and American President
haven't met of course since '79 Iranian revolution. Rouhani isn't interested in a flashy Summit. We know that. You write, quote, diplomacy
may not be dead. So what do you believe the next step is at this point?
WRIGHT: Well President Rouhani has actually said to his cabinet today that negotiations are still an option, that he's still interested in finding a
way to resolve the disputes. Iran very much wants to lift sanctions and that's why he's held out so hard to make sure that at a time the economy is
really crippled, Iran is selling just a fraction of oil that the United States will follow through. And whether it's issuing waivers so it can
sell some oil for now and pledge to lift full sanctions, once there is a new agreement, that he needs some reassurance.
And he felt that he didn't want a photo op like President Kim Jong-un had with President Trump to get their diplomacy started. He said to the U.N.
body, he later said the picture, the memorial picture is the last thing that happens, not the first. And so, I think there is still that option
open. I think the French are still very determined. The question is, how do you get them any close and are there issues of both sequence and
credibility?
ANDERSON: So that's the U.S. and Iran and Macron -- and this is a sort of European effort led by Macron to try to get these two together.
[10:30:00]
I want to look at these lines between Iran and Saudi Arabia, finally. I suggest they're a little bit murky. It has to be said. But as far as we
can see, they mark a big shift from these pictures of the attacks on Saudi oil facilities a week ago, an event that of course escalated regional
tensions, threatening the possibility of war. What do you make of these latest developments?
WRIGHT: Well I think the Iranians have always been interested in talking to Saudi Arabia. I think Saudi Arabia has played much harder ball with
Iran. Is much more suspicious, after all it's a smaller country. It has much more high-tech weaponry. But Iran's military is much larger and you
know, it does have partial control, in the Strait of Hormuz, I think everybody is looking for a way out of the escalation. A way to prevent yet
another Middle East war. Whether it will, the Saudi outreach, whether it's to Gulf neighbors or to Iran, I'm a little skeptical that anything is going
to come of it any time soon. But I think the European diplomacy has a better chance. It's just how far is anybody willing to go to take that
first big step? And that's the hardest part.
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. Robin, always a pleasure having you on, thank you so much. Your analysis, your deep background on this, incredibly
important as we continue to watch the moving parts on this story, thank you.
Well the bottom line here, there's no rapprochement. That's a fact. But we are seeing a kind of diplomatic dust in the air. There's still a lot of
animosity. But this is important, there's certainly a mood that the region and that's where we are here, needs to pull back from the edge.
I'm Becky Anderson, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson. We're going to take a very short break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We need to get you some Brexit news. Just to remind you that in the next few minutes we are expecting to hear from two of the most senior
U.S. Democrats leading the investigation against Donald Trump. So do stay with us for that.
But to this breaking Brexit news. I want to get you more details on what is a just-released Brexit proposal put out by the U.K. Prime Minister Boris
Johnson.
[10:35:00]
Downing Street says that the plan is, quote, compatible with maintaining an open border in Northern Ireland though there will need to be a very small
number of physical checks. Now as you know, checks at the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been the main sticking
point in the negotiations with the EU. Boris Johnson proposing, quote, paperwork to be conducted electrically as goods move between the two
countries. He will take these new proposals to the EU after promising there will be no further delay to the U.K.'s departure from the EU.
Nina dos Santos joining us live from Manchester. Is this proposal something that the EU will see as new and different enough that they want
to play ball with the U.K. at this point?
DOS SANTOS: Well we have to see. We haven't had a reaction from the EU. We did get a reaction earlier on today to suggestions in the "Daily
Telegraph" that were similar to this. But this plan is actually a little bit different and certainly more mollified from the EU's perspective. So
we'll have to see what they make of it. Originally, they didn't appear to be buying this argument as per earlier proposals that were leaked in the
"Daily Telegraph" of basically two sets of checks in Northern Ireland and a time-delayed backstop type arrangement. Which could see the U.K. leaving
the EU by October 31, that would give Boris Johnson his big win.
Because that's what he promised the party faithful here this week here at the Conservative Party conference. And the people of the United Kingdom.
But there would still be a transition period for another couple of years. And thereafter you could see Northern Ireland cleaved off in the special
arrangement area for another few years to come.
What we've seen here is a slight, as I said, mollification of the stance when it comes to previous discussions. These proposals have been put
forward in Brussels, they're subject to a conference call that's set to take place between Jean-Claude Juncker and Boris Johnson in a roundabout an
hour from now.
Previously the negotiations were that the U.K. would abide to what was called Phytosanitary regulations. This meant that they would abide by EU
regulations for certain types of goods, largely agricultural goods, because that's a lot of what is traded on both sides of the Irish border. Now
they've broadened that out to more general regulations, so protecting this part of the single market.
But when it comes to Northern Ireland, it would still come under the U.K. special customs union and that would mean that there would be checks
somewhere along the line. Earlier today we'd heard there would be checks ten miles potentially from the border. It doesn't seem as though according
to this letter that's what we're talking about. The first glance of it seems to imply that they're talked about checks, far further along in the
supply chain. Maybe it was point of origin where those goods are manufactured or maybe further along. But anything to get it away from the
Irish border. Because that is a no-no for the Irish and therefore a no-no for the EU -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Nina dos Santos is on Brexit for you. Thank you, Nina.
Returning to what is our top story and rightly so. We are waiting to hear from the U.S. House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and Intelligence Chairman Adam
Schiff. The podium there, the press gathering. This of course coming a week after the impeachment probe into President Donald Trump was officially
launched. Can you believe it was only a week ago?
The briefing comes ahead of an urgent meeting on Capitol Hill this afternoon. The State Department's inspector general asks to speak
privately with lawmakers over documents related to the Ukraine scandal.
Meanwhile U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Italy where he publicly admitted he was on that July phone call between Mr. Trump and Ukraine's
President. That makes him a witness in the investigation. Our reporters and analysts covering this story from every angle. CNN legal analyst Elie
Honig is live from New York. And in Washington, White House reporter Stephen Collinson. Political analyst Josh Rogin in the house for you and
Pentagon reporter Ryan Browne.
Elie, let's start with you. Because you've been taking impeachment questions all day from CNN's viewers online. And folks, if you've got
further questions that Elie and I don't discuss, please do reach out to him online. Just set the scene for us. Where are we at this point?
ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: So Becky, we are fairly early in the process but it also promises to be a very fast-moving process. What we're
going to see unfolding over the upcoming weeks and I think probably couple months is the House of representatives conducting its investigation.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has described how that investigation will happen.
There are six different House committees which will each conduct their own separate investigations. They will then refer potential articles of
impeachment to the House Judiciary Committee. Which will then go through what they get and recommend articles of impeachment, if any, to the full
House. And here in the United States the way it works is the House has to vote by a majority to impeach.
[10:40:00]
So that's 218 votes. And if that happens, then it goes over to the Senate, where there will be a trial where the Senate will determine whether to
convict or acquit the President. And if he's convicted, then he's removed from office. But that takes two-thirds of the Senate to vote. Right now
we have a 53-47 split. So we would need to see 20 Republican Senators flip over to the Democratic side.
Stephen, this is a regularly scheduled press conference by the House Speaker that we are waiting for, and Adam Schiff. It couldn't be more
regular today. As I suggested, we are only a week into the formal launch of this impeachment inquiry. What should we expect to hear today and going
forward?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well I think this briefing is about the only regularly scheduled thing that's going on in Washington for
about a week. Like shoes have been dropping in this scandal, five or six a day. So every day is frenetic.
I think what we're going to hear about perhaps is the fact that the Democrats are opening a new front here. They are going to subpoena
documents from the White House which will put this confrontation up several registers. I think you'll hear Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff be asked
questions about whether the State Department and Mike Pompeo is trying to obstruct their investigation. And what steps they will take if Pompeo
tries to continue to stop people testifying. Although several former officials, including Kurt Volker, the former and now -- envoy to Ukraine
who resigned last week, says he's going to show up tomorrow. So you're going to hear all of those sort of process questions about this.
I think the thing to take away from this -- and we'll hear from the President later today as well in a press conference -- is that President
Trump has completely lost control of this process. It's unfolding at a staggering rate and the White House simply cannot keep up. And their
defense strategy of hysterical tweeting, putting Trump supporters on TV, and coming out with conspiracy theories is not stopping the mechanism of
impeachment.
ANDERSON: And I want you all to stand by as we await the arrival at the podium of Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff. I want to take a very, very short
break and get to all of you after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: As we await the arrival for a news conference by the House Speaker, and Adam Schiff in the U.S., our reporters and analysts on this
story for us. CNN legal analyst Eli Honig live from New York. In Washington White House reporter Stephen Collinson, political analyst Josh
Rogan and Pentagon reporter Ryan Browne. I'm going to come to you Ryan shortly.
Josh, let me just put this to you as we await to hear from Nancy Pelosi. We've just got a new tweet from Rudy Giuliani. Who is the President's
personal lawyer of course. It says this.
[10:45:00]
We're carefully considering our legal options to seek redress against Congress and individual members for engaging in an organized effort to
exceed their limited powers under the Constitution and to trample on the constitutional rights of citizens in an illicit plan carried out by illegal
means to remove the President of the U.S. on deliberately falsified charges.
This is a man who has spent years reading his legal tomes, so this will be a tweet that he has thought about I'm sure. Your thoughts?
JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, Rudy Giuliani has lawyered up and I think we can translate that tweet pretty easily to mean I'm not going to
cooperate unless I absolutely, absolutely have to. And what we see is all of the people connected to this scandal, who are now rooked into this
impeachment inquiry starting to look out for themselves. And you know you're going to see a lot of rats jumping off this sinking ship. And
everybody has to calculate what their vulnerability is and what their liability is and then what their strategy is.
You see Mike Pompeo doing that. You're going to see Mick Mulvaney doing that. You already see Kurt Volker doing that. And of course, Kurt Volker
is going to testify because he believes that he didn't do anything wrong. And so, he's just going to say what he knows. We'll see how that turns
out.
And Rudy is at the center of the scheme. And you know, if they can get him to testify under oath, that's going to be a fascinate day in Congress. But
I think Rudy is going to avoid that if he at all can.
ANDERSON: New developments coming out thick and fast. Ryan as we wait for the U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and intelligence chair, Adam Schiff, sources
telling CNN as I understand it the Trump administration has informally notified Congress that it's about to approve an arms sale to Ukraine,
involving Javelin anti-tank missiles. Now the Ukrainian President mentioned his country's desire to purchase those missiles from the U.S.
during this controversial July call with President Trump. What more do you have?
RYAN BROWNE, CNN PENTAGON REPORTER: Well exactly, you're right. President Zelensky in his call with President Trump specifically requested the
authority to purchase additional Javelin missiles from the U.S. This is something that Ukraine sees as very valuable given its current fight
against Russian-backed separatists in the east.
Now it was after that request that President Trump said I'd like to you do a favor for me, for us first. So that you know, that's kind of the key
line from that conversation transcript that was released by the White House that a lot of people have focused on. So the fate of these missiles, there
was a bit of a question mark. These negotiations have been long. Have been keep going on for some time prior to that call.
But given the freezing of the separate $250 million worth of aid, there have been a lot of questions about whether or not the White House would
allow that sale to go through. We're being told that the sale will in fact be going through and officials are saying that it was not impacted by the
call. Despite President Zelensky mentioning it on call. We're told there isn't an impact there. But this much sought-after sale that was the key,
that led to the key line in the transcript is going forward we're being told.
ANDERSON: I'm going to get you guys to stand by once again. We're going take a very short break. Pay for this show. Back after this lots going
on, folks.
[10:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Right, and as we await Nancy Pelosi, The U.S. House Speaker and Adam Schiff to address the gathered press. I just want to fill you in on a
U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, who is in hospital after having and arterial blockage, as we understand it. He
had two stents inserted and he is canceling his upcoming campaign events. That is Bernie Sanders hospitalized and has had two stents inserted after a
blockage in an artery. More on that of course as we get it. Our reporters and analysts are covering Washington and everything that is going on there
as you would expect us to.
We are waiting on the arrival of Nancy Pelosi at this point. Let me just get back to you, Stephen Collinson. We've been talking to our viewers
about so the stories coming thick and fast. I was on the call said Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State. The inspector general at the State
Department calling for an urgent briefing behind closed doors. Today, President Trump speaking at 2:00. Tweets coming thick and fast from
Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. Step back for a moment, just what, what is the take-away at this point?
COLLINSON: Well I think it's only a week remember since Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, formally called for an impeachment investigation. The
Congress is supposed to be on recess this week but things are moving exceedingly quickly as you say. And I think that's one of the reasons why
the White House has struggled to keep up with all of these multiple opening fronts.
The strategy here for Democrats is to try to get this impeachment process over as soon as possible. They don't want it to bleed into next year. The
beginning of the primaries for the Democratic race when candidates who want to be President are going to want to talk about health care and economic
equality and the issues that matter to voters.
Having said that, we have seen a growing level of support for impeachment and the removal of the President. Even though the country remains deeply
split on that question especially among independent voters. So that could be a sign of alarm for Republicans.
But I think the pace of this and the fact that the White House, which has been very successful so far in frustrating Democratic efforts to conduct
oversight over the presidency, to tease out the main details of the Mueller report. They're not having the same success, now this has moved to the
more significant level of impeachment. The White House wants this to go on as long as it can. It wants to gum it up in legal challenges. Claims of
executive privilege to stop witnesses testifying. The longer this goes on, paradoxically, the better is probably is for the President. Democrats want
this to be sharp and to make a very direct case to the American people.
ANDERSON: Yes, Josh, let me just read to our viewers, tweets from the President overnight.
As I learn more and more each day, I am coming to the conclusion that what is taking place, he said, is not an impeachment, it is a coup. Intended to
take away the power of the people, their vote, their freedoms, their second amendment, religion, military, border wall, and their God-given rights as a
citizen of the United States of America.
That is a shopping list. It's extraordinary language, isn't it? What do you make of it?
ROGIN: It's clear that the President is very upset about his impending impeachment. All right and he's lashing out, hundreds of tweets. It's
manic, actually. You know, but basically what he's doing is he's giving marching orders to the legions of like pro-Trump media personalities and
Twitter trolls and lord knows who else who will follow what he says. And you know, and if he can access these voters and these pundits and sort of
tell them what the talking points are. Well then, they can create enough chatter to like muddy the waters.
[10:55:00]
And his goal by the end is nobody will really know what the heck is going on. And I think he has a good chance of achieving that goal. But you
know, none of that is going to stop what's going on and, in the end, this is going to be decided by Congress. And the President is going to have to
eventually decide whether or not he's going to make his case in that forum or not. OK, and meanwhile, he's going to tweet manically, that seems
pretty well assured.
ANDERSON: Yes, so tweets from Donald Trump, tweets from Rudy Giuliani. We await the arrival of Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff. Elie, what do you make
of where we are today to date?
HONIG: So both Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani I think in the tweets that we just saw are way off base as a legal matter and politically. But let's
just be clear legally. A coup is an illegal seizure of power typically involving violence. Impeachment is a legal process set forth in our
constitution. So that is what we see happening here is something that was prescribed by the founders of this country. There is nothing illegal about
it.
As for Rudy Giuliani, out there threatening we're going to sue Congress to stop them in the tweet we looked at before, I don't know what on earth he's
talking about, frankly. And he's going to get nowhere. But it seems what the strategy is, slowly coalescing is Donald Trump's sort of theory that he
adopted from people he looked up to. Which is deny everything and counterattack. Admit nothing, deny everything and launch counterattack.
And we're in the counterattack phase here. As we said, we're going to see a big struggle over discovery, over documents.
Congress needs to get this information. I think we're going to see stonewalling from the White House and throughout the administration. They
can go to the courts, but that's going to take a long time. And as Stephen said, there's a real race against the clock here. Democrats need to move
quickly. So I think the Democrats are going to have to consider other options, such as contempt, such as simply returning an article of
impeachment for obstruction rather than going through the slog of the courts. Because time is of the essence here for the Democrats.
ANDERSON: The world's eyes are on the White House. CNN viewers around the globe are getting in touch with their impeachment questions. You had to
CNN.com. CNN legal analyst, Eli Honig, who just spoke to me there is answering many of those. You can submit your own question or join the
global conversation on Twitter. I'm @BeckyCNN. Let's take a very, very quick break. Back after this.
[11:00:00]
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