Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Giuliani Under Scrutiny in Georgia Probe; Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) is Interviewed about January 6th; Anson Carter is Interviewed about Arthur Ashe. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired June 24, 2022 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:33:22]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Brand-new CNN reporting. The special purpose grand jury in Georgia has now heard testimony from at least four witnesses regarding Rudy Giuliani's involvement in trying to overturn the results in that state. State Senator Jen Jordan is telling CNN that it seemed clear to her that Trump's legal team and republican lawmakers had conspired to present a false narrative that went beyond just trying to effect public opinion.

Let's bring back Carrie Cordero and Sara Murray, who broke this story.

Tell us what you're learning about this investigation, which is, at a county level, to be clear.

SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, this is an investigation into Donald Trump and his allies' actions to overturn the election. But we've learned that in recent weeks witnesses have been asked a lot of questions about Rudy Giuliani and his role in the state trying to help Donald Trump achieve these ends. You know, he went before panels of state lawmakers on two different occasions where he spread these wild conspiracy claims about voter fraud. You know, he started to lay the groundwork that they could -- the state legislature could pick a different slate of electors.

And we talked to a number of Democratic lawmakers who went before the grand jury and were describing, you know, these hearings came together in a very unusual fashion. It was sort of this surreal, bizarre experience that Giuliani was there, he was sharing this sort of information. And at the time they kind of felt like, wow, this is such an absurd thing that is happening.

Now, as they look back at it, in retrospect, and in the context of everything else we've learned, what they see is that, you know, they sort of narrowly avoid this constitutional crisis when Donald Trump wasn't able to flip the election results there.

Now, I talked to a lawyer for Rudy Giuliani and we had an interesting conversation. He said the district attorney's office there has been in touch, that somebody tried to ask him to accept service for a document for Giuliani. [06:35:06]

And I said, huh, do you think that perhaps might have been a subpoena to maybe, you know, appear before the grand jury? And he said, I don't know, because we didn't accept the service of that document.

KEILAR: Oh, so they're yet to be served.

MURRAY: It's hard to - hard to know exactly what they wanted to deliver to Rudy Giuliani.

KEILAR: Interesting. As of that conversation.

OK, so what happens here? Is Rudy Giuliani potentially going to be charged here and what would that mean for Trump, Carrie?

CARRIE CORDERO, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, I think it's too soon to say that Rudy Giuliani is going to be charged in the state of Georgia. But, you know, one of the things that came out of the hearing yesterday, and I think it was Acting Deputy Attorney General Donoghue, he emphasized the fact that the states are in charge of elections. And so the fact that Rudy Giuliani went down to Georgia and was trying to interfere, trying to overturn their elections in particular gives that state and their state law enforcement authorities the ability to investigate whether their laws, or the constitution of Georgia potentially, or state laws regarding election laws, whether those laws were violated in particular.

So I think, based on the reporting, it's too soon to say whether Rudy Giuliani has exposure. But, look, any of these lawyers who were involved, whether it's at the federal level or in particular states, any of these lawyers, Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, they all put themselves in the position of furthering what is potentially this broader conspiracy to overturn the election. And just because they're lawyers doesn't give them immunity from potential criminal exposure.

KEILAR: Any idea what that nonservice business may be about?

CORDERO: The nonservice, I'd have to see more about what that was. Clearly his lawyer is not going to accept a service if he doesn't have to, so Georgia is going to have to do a more deliberate job if they're intending to really serve him with process.

KEILAR: All right, Carrie, thank you.

Sara, great reporting. Thank you so much.

MURRAY: Thanks.

KEILAR: A surreal split screen in America this morning as the Senate passes the first bipartisan gun safety bill in 30 years, and the Supreme Court makes it easier to carry firearms in public. This is CNN's special live coverage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:41:17]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was Representative Gaetz requesting a pardon?

ERIC HERSCHMANN, FORMER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE LAWYER: I believe so. A pardon that he was discussing, requesting, was as broad as you could describe. CASSIDY HUTCHINSON, FORMER AIDE TO TRUMP WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF

MARK MEADOWS: Mr. Biggs did. Mr. Jordan talked about congressional pardons, but he never asked me for one. Mr. Gohmert asked for one as well.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).

HUTCHINSON: Mr. Perry asked for a pardon, too, I'm sorry.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did Marjorie Taylor Greene contact you?

HUTCHINSON: No, she didn't contact me about it. I heard that she had asked White House Counsel Office for a pardon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Former Trump White House aides testifying that six Republican lawmakers sought presidential pardons following the January 6th insurrection.

Here now is Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey. He is the co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus and a member of the Homeland Security Committee and Financial Services Committee.

The testimony, which I'm sure you heard from Trump insiders that these colleagues of yours, Republican congressmen, were seeking pardons after January 6th. What does that tell you?

REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER (D-NJ): I think everyone who hears that should react the same way, this was an attack on our democracy and we need to take -- and this is why we're having these hearings -- every step and every measure to ensure there is not an attack like that again on our Capitol and including making sure we get to the bottom of every fact and all the information on the table. And what we heard yesterday was obviously chilling, as we've heard in all these hearings.

And what you've also heard is Democrats and Republicans coming together and saying, this can never happen again in our country and we need to get -- we need to have total accountability.

BERMAN: What questions do you have about these fellow members of yours, these Republicans, who are asking for pardons, according to the testimony?

GOTTHEIMER: Well, I mean, you're seeing but for those facts on the table now, right? I mean what exactly did they have in mind? What did they - why were they asking for the pardons? What else is -- what else happened in the days leading up to the attack? But what happened that day? And that's what I think all Americans want to know and should know.

But, you know, the whole purpose of these hearings to me is about making sure that we have total accountability and do everything we can, as I said a minute ago, to prevent an attack on our country like that again. So, I think the fact that you - the fact that we're getting this information out there is critically important for the country, but also to make sure that we can move forward and protect our democracy.

BERMAN: In the State of the Union Address, President Biden called for additional funding for police across the country. You signed on to a letter -- were a key figure in sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 32 signatures, to have the House pass some bills that would give more funding for the police, including your bill, the Invest to Protect Act.

Why are you sending this letter?

GOTTHEIMER: Well, I think now, as we've seen, 150 officers this year shot in the country. Murder rates up 30 percent year over year. So many officers shot both in the area where I live, but across the country. You're seeing crime up. We've seen in New Jersey car theft up more than 30 percent this year.

We need to - it just reiterates the importance of investing, not in defunding, law enforcement. And what our package of laws -- proposed laws does, and, by the way, these are all bipartisan bills, what they do is invest in law enforcement, in everything from training and including active shooter trainer and deescalation training to investment in mental health resources for our officers, which are critical, retention and recruitment.

[06:45:05]

Right now we're having trouble recruiting officers and, obviously, keeping officers. More resources for body cameras. More resources to help our smaller departments, obviously, which we have these requirements to make sure we have safer departments. They cost money. We need to help our smaller departments out.

These are all measures that I think have strong bipartisan support. My bill has nearly 80 members on it, including Democrats and Republicans. It was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously. So, all we're saying is, we should vote on this legislation to get the backs of our law enforcement officers so they can protect themselves but also protect our communities. And I think right now it's critically important that we take those steps. And all we're asking for is a vote on these bipartisan bills.

BERMAN: As you know, the Supreme Court, yesterday, issued a major ruling on gun safety and the Second Amendment and made it easier for people to carry weapons in states and cities really challenging New Jersey, New York, other state laws. Does that make the streets safer in your mind?

GOTTHEIMER: Well, obviously, I think that's a step in the wrong direction. But what we're going to vote on today in the House is a step in the right direction, right? I mean -- and the good news from yesterday was historic, right? I mean you've got a bipartisan bill out of the Senate that we're going to vote on in the House that will take measures to make our children, our families safer, make our schools safer and more -- obviously more background checks, more resources to our states for red flag legislation, more investment in mental health.

And I think what we'll see is -- and Democrats and Republicans see, these will lead to safer streets and schools. And that, to me, is what we should celebrate today. Obviously, I disagreed strongly with where the court came out, but that's why we need to keep taking these measures to keep our schools and families safer.

BERMAN: Congressman Josh Gottheimer, nice to see you this morning. Thanks for joining us on NEW DAY.

GOTTHEIMER: It's great to see you. Thanks so much for having me.

BERMAN: So, new developments in the case against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband after he was arrested for a DUI following a car crash.

KEILAR: And we have more on the January 6th hearings. Feds raiding the home of election live promoter Jeffrey Clark amid new testimony that he came close to being installed as the head of the Justice Department.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:51:27]

BERMAN: Legendary tennis star Arthur Ashe not only made history as a black athlete excelling in a predominantly white sport, he changed the way the world looked at social issues from civil rights to HIV/AIDS. Now the new CNN film "Citizen Ashe" takes a fresh look at the impact Ashe had on both - both on and off the court.

Joining us now, Anson Carter. He's an NFL analyst on TNT. He's also a former NHL player and current co-chair of the NHL Player Inclusion Committee.

And, Anson, I do have to say, I'm a Bruins fan, so it's an honor to get to speak to you in-person today.

You know, look, Arthur Ashe was a black tennis player in a predominantly white sport. You were a black hockey player in a predominantly white sport.

What kind of influence do you think Ashe had on you and the sports world?

ANSON CARTER, FORMER NHL PLAYER, CO-CHAIR OF NHL PLAYER INCLUSION COMMITTEE AND NHL ANALYST, TNT: Yes, he had a tremendous influence on myself. And to your point, it was -- you know, the fact that he was a black player playing in a white sport, I could definitely relate to what Arthur Ashe went through. It's easy -- I think it would be easier if I was a football player or

a basketball player to speak out on these issues because you have more support around you with your teammates, people that look like you. But when you're playing a sport like hockey or playing a sport like tennis, sometimes you might feel like you're a - bit of on an island. So I gain a lot of strength and a lot of courage from watching him, listening to what Arthur Ashe went through when he played tennis.

BERMAN: He worked so hard to become and stay a successful player, but also worked so hard and developed over time as an advocate. How hard is it to speak out as an athlete?

CARTER: You know, it's hard if you don't have the support of your team or the organization that you work for. But I've been fortunate, you know, now, especially being at Turner and TNT, that we've got great teammates around us, around me, that have given me the courage to continue to speak. I'm the co-chair of the National Hockey League's Player Inclusion Committee, which we have several brilliant men and women, current and former players, either in the national teams when it comes to the women or NFL players when it came to the men. But having that support system, I think, is so critical.

But now when you see with social media and the development of, you know, the technology that we have today, a lot of athletes, their presence is even larger than even a lot of teams. So, when it comes to the sport of hockey, you're talking -- the name on the front of the jersey is bigger than the name on the back. But with the presence that we see with these athletes today, you have the opportunity to make a positive statement, a positive impact on the youth watching you going forward.

BERMAN: Anson Carter, as I said, an honor to get to speak with you. I look forward to getting the chance to talk to you again. Thank you so much.

CARTER: Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.

BERMAN: And go Bruins.

"Citizen Ashe" premieres at 9:00 p.m. only on CNN.

The documentary filmmaker who sat down with former President Trump, his adult children and Vice President Mike Pence reveals what he discussed with the January 6th committee behind closed doors.

Plus --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD DONOGHUE, FORMER ACTING DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: What I'm just asking you to do is just say it was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the Republican congressmen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Why Trump world is reeling from the revelations of yesterday's January 6th hearing. We have new CNN reporting ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:58:56]

KEILAR: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband formally charged with misdemeanor DUI causing injury in California after a collision with another driver last month. The Napa County DA's office says 82-year- old Paul Pelosi's misdemeanor charge is, quote, based upon the extent of the injuries suffered by the victim. Police determined that Pelosi was at fault after a Jeep struck his Porsche on May 28th. He could serve at least five days in jail and up to five years of probation.

NEW DAY continues right now.

Good morning to viewers here in the U.S. and around the world. It is Friday, June 24th. And I'm Brianna Keilar with John Berman.

We are tracking the fallout from a fifth day of testimony at the January 6th committee hearings. This morning, fingers are pointing, denials are flying and Trump world is reeling.

CNN has spoken to several former Trump administration officials and allies and they acknowledge that yesterday's testimony from former Justice Department officials was damaging. We have much more -- much more damaging, they believe, than the previous four hearings, even bleak.

[07:00:02]

The officials laid out how Trump attempted to weaponize the Justice Department for his political gain, pressuring them relentlessly with demands.