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Dem Judiciary Committee Chair Subpoenas Full Mueller Report; Dem Divided Over Whether To Impeach The President; Mueller Report Shows McGahn Protected Trump From Obstruction Charges; Rep. Madeleine Dean (D) Pennsylvania Is Interviewed About Her Thoughts If House should Initiate Impeachment Proceedings Against President Trump; More Than 110,000 Measles Cases Reported Worldwide; Dem Judiciary Committee Chair Subpoenas Full Mueller Report; S.C. Student Died Of natural Causes Due To Birth Defect. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired April 20, 2019 - 07:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[07:00:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For obstruction.

REP. CHRIS STEWART (R-UT): Frustration is not obstruction. I think for those who are pursuing this; I think the American people are exhausted by it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Total B.S., as the president rages against the Mueller report, he appears to be singling out one particular person who spoke to investigators. White House Counsel, Don McGahn, watch out for people that take so-called notes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The defendants Louis and David Turpin saw, listening to toned-down testimony of torture and captivity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sometimes I have nightmares of things that have happened, such as my siblings being chained up or getting beaten.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My parents took my whole life from me, but now I'm taking my life back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY WEEKEND with Victor Blackwell and Christi Paul.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. Now, that they've read the redacted Mueller report, Democrats are divided over what they're going to do next. The Democrat aide tells CNN, that they feel they are "only at the beginning of this thing."

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Now, this is just the beginning, then what is the end? Some Democrats say impeachment, but the party is divided on that issue. 2020 candidate, Elizabeth Warren says it's time for the House to start the proceedings.

PAUL: But leaders in the House say, they are not there, yet. In a conference call scheduled for Monday to talk about what they do next. Here's CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Democrats opened a new phase in their push to investigate President Trump -- aided by the redacted Mueller report, detailing Trump's efforts to thwart the Russia probe.

REP. JERRY NADLER (D-NY): I believe he committed obstruction, yes.

RAJU: First, the House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena to the Justice Department demanding the full Mueller report and underlying evidence by May 1st. Next Democrats plan to sue and issue subpoenas for records from five former White House officials, including former White House Counsel, Don McGahn, who was ordered by Trump to fire Mueller -- and disobeyed the president's demands. Democrats say the Mueller report gives them a road map to investigate the president for obstruction. Said it states that: Congress may apply the laws to the president's corrupt exercise of the powers of office, and that it accords with their constitutional system of checks and balances and the principal that no person is above the law. But Republicans said, it's time to move on.

STEWART: Frustration is not obstruction. I think, for those who are pursuing this, I think the American people are exhausted by it.

RAJU: The Mueller report also suggests the probe did not dive into the president's finances -- an area that House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff wants to investigate to determine whether the president has any financial ties to foreign interests. Yet some Democrats are trying to tamp down calls from the left to pursue impeachment proceedings saying they ultimately will be unsuccessful because of GOP opposition.

REP. JAMES RASKIN (D-MD): We need to see that the Republicans actually have an open mind about the situation rather than acting like members of a religious cult.

RAJU: That was top Democrats in the House -- are unwilling to go down the route of impeachment, at least yet. One top Democrat contender for the 2020 president nomination, Elizabeth Warren, made very clear that she believes that impeachment proceedings should begin in the House. She argued in a series of tweets that there's ample evidence to begin impeach proceedings. But the man who is in charge of those proceedings, Jerry Nadler, the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, said that his goal right now is not to debate articles of impeachment, but is to understand who did what, when. It's part of his own investigation into the potential of obstruction of justice. And when asked if he's willing to open up impeach proceedings, he said that not what he's planning to do at least now, but they could certainly go down that route once their investigation concludes. Manu Raju, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler has already formally requested the full Mueller report, unredacted with all the underlying evidence. But the Justice Department is unlikely to hand it over without, at least a court filing.

PAUL: So, let's talk about why Democrats say they need the unredacted report. CNN Reporter Kara Scannell with us now. What reasons are they giving you and are they -- are you hearing it all, how far they're willing to take this?

KARA SCANNELL, CNN REPORTER: Well, the Democrats are saying that they need to see this full report because they have to examine the underlying evidence, including the evidence that is redacted; such as this grand jury material, which relates to other ongoing investigations. And so, Democrats are saying that the reason they need to do this is that they are a co-equal branch of government and they have the authority and the right to review this, to consider it for impeachment proceedings if they go down that road.

Although, it is very early in that, and there's a lot of caution amongst a lot of Democrats against jumping the gun in doing that. But they are saying they have an absolute right as a co-equal branch of government to look into this, to go over the evidence themselves, and the Justice Department, you know, is pushing back -- they said that this is too early and unnecessary for them to have to give them this information and that they're willing to offer certain members of Congress a look at the underlying documents at DOJ, but in a much more contained environment. You know, but the Democrats are not willing to take that.

[07:05:32] We saw Jerry Nadler's committee; the House Judiciary Chairman subpoena the Justice Department for that information. The Justice Department is not willing to give that back. They want a response by May 1st. Bill Barr is going be before the committee the very next day. It's going to be expected to be a very robust discussion, to put it mildly. So, we're going to see this play out both, I think, on the hill and public and could ultimately end up in the courts if DOJ refuses to comply with the subpoena. Victor and Christi?

PAUL: All right. Kara Scannell, good points. We know that Speaker Pelosi has not been so sure about impeachment. We'll see how far they'll push her. Thank you so much, Kara Scannell, for us.

BLACKWELL: All right. Joining me now to talk about where the Democrats go next: Error Louis, CNN Political Commentator and Host of the "You Decide" podcast. Errol, welcome back.

ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning.

BLACKWELL: So, let's start here. Chairman Nadler says that -- that it's evident. It's very clear, he said, that President Trump obstructed justice. Chairman Cummings, of House Oversight said, it appears President Trump committed crimes while in office. Now, Democrats were very critical of Republicans of not exercising oversight during the two years, first two years of the Trump administration. How do they convince Democrats that this is any better? If they believe that the president committed crimes while in office, they are reluctant to take the next step of exercising some consequence, some accountability in the only way they can.

LOUIS: Yes, it's an interesting question, Victor. I talked to a couple members of Congress, and what the Democrats are saying is that the one thing they want to avoid is energizing Trump's base, helping him get re-elected indirectly 2020, and then having to put up with another four years of him. So, if the choice is between two years of relative silence compared to the aggressive investigation that they could conduct and that the Democratic base wants them to conduct or trying to see it through, try to deal with Trump at the polls next year and maybe be done with him come 2021, that they are inclined toward the latter strategy. It's an interesting question. It's a dilemma that I wouldn't wish on anybody. I mean, it's a really kind of a tough call. I mean, just charging ahead, starting impeachment hearings, getting subpoenas to get the information and going full steam ahead could really backfire, I think is the judgment that a lot of members of the Democratic conference are wrestling with.

BLACKWELL: So, let's look at 2020 then, and the candidate to what the nomination. We got Medicare for all, Green New Deal, reparations -- I mean, does the Democratic base want impeachment badly enough that this impeachment question could be another progressive Litmus test for these candidates?

LOUIS: Well, you know, it's an interesting question, because, really, what they're getting at when you talk impeachment, there's a narrow kind of, almost technical legal sense in which you want to get all the facts out, bring to account -- hold accountable anybody else who maybe was engaged in wrong doing. But then, for the average person, I think for the average voter, the average Democrat, impeachment just means get the guy out of there. Again, what Democratic leaders are saying is: we've got a way to do that. We've got a couple of -- you know, we've got over a dozen candidates, we've an election that's coming up.

If we can make sure that the election is held in a free and fair manner, we could really just kind of move past this chapter of American history without getting bogged down in what could be a very divisive set of hearings. And then, there are those I'd probably will put myself in this category, who just really want to know what happened. You know, I mean, all of those redactions, the fact that, you know, there have been 14 referrals to other parts of the Justice Department, 12 of which we don't know about. I'd like to know what the heck is going on. And you know, people do have a right to know that as well.

BLACKWELL: So, let's talk about Republicans now. We've got this statement overnight from freshman Utah Senator Mitt Romney, in which he says this -- let's put it up. He says, he's sickened at the extent and pervasiveness of dishonesty and misdirection by individuals in the highest office of the land, including the president. What is the value of Romney disdain these days, considering the pendula relationship that he's had with the president?

LOUIS: Yes. First of all, let's take him at his word, Victor, that he actually believes that and that there remains something of a wing of the Republican Party that never really was all that thrilled about Donald Trump, doesn't like the way he conducts himself and would, in fact, rightly be sad and sickened, disturbed by much of what was in that report. I mean, we really -- you know, if all of us arrived in one fell swoop, I think we would understand what a crisis we have in the White House, as far as personal conduct, lies, convictions, all kinds of different forms of corruption. So, that's where he starts out. But then, let's keep in mind, this is somebody who was the Republican nominee for president back in 2012 and he still wants to be a leader in the party and, who knows what he might be thinking about not just next year, but four years after that.

[07:10:39] BLACKWELL: And I think there's actually more value in the fragment of his statement before that. Let's put it up. It's good news that there was insufficient evidence, he says: "To charge the president of the United States with having conspired with a foreign adversary or having obstructed justice. The alternative would have taken us through a wrenching process with potential for constitutional crisis, the business of government can move on." But on obstruction of justice, insufficient evidence is expressly not what Mueller said here. I mean, he found ten episodes, and then served it up to Congress.

LOUIS: Look, there's plenty of evidence. In fact, look, Mitt Romney stands out because he said something as opposed to nothing, which is what most of the Republican leadership has said. In so saying, however, he's also kind of signaling that he's not going to be so opposed to the president that he's actually going to do something about it. If it should come to his desk, he would not be a vote for impeachment for example. He's not going to rally, sort of, rally the troops; he's not going to back a candidate against the president. You know, he's sickened, he's saddened, he's very upset, but you know, this has been the dilemma of the Republican Party. What are you going to do about it is the Question and the answer for Mitt Romney, frankly, and the rest of the leadership is nothing at all?

BLACKWELL: Yes, Democrats and Republicans are actually in the same situation in some ways, saying something, but the question is then: what are you going to do about it? We'll see if with we hear from more Republicans. Errol Louis, thanks so much.

LOUIS: Thank you, Victor.

PAUL: You know, so many thing have been dissected in the Mueller report but there's one thing that is not in that report that Democrats now have their eye on talking about investigating. We'll talk to you about that.

BLACKWELL: Plus, we're hearing from two of the children rescued from what's called the house of horror in California. What they said in court to their parents who routinely tortured and starved them. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:16:38] BLACKWELL: President Trump is frustrated with his former White House Counsel, although, some say that he may have actually saved the presidency. The president is now lashing out at Don McGahn over details released in the Mueller report, specifically the part about McGahn taking notes on the conversations with the president. Here's CNN's Tom Foreman to explain.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Total B.S., as the president rages against the Mueller report, he appears to be singling out one person who spoke to investigators -- former White House Counsel Don McGahn. "Watch out for people that take so-called notes," Trump tweeted, when the notes never existed until needed.

DON MCGAHN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL: It is a big turnaround considering McGahn role during the Russia probe. It was McGahn who refused to fire the special counsel when Trump said Mueller has to go. McGahn who refused to lie about it later. The Mueller report indicates both protected Trump from obstruction charges, but Jack O'Donnell, a former executive in the Trump organization says Trump's anger is typical.

JACK O'DONNELL, AUTHOR AND FORMER EXECUTIVE IN THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION: In this case, where Don McGahn really saved him, it's not relevant because the bigger picture makes Donald look bad.

MCGAHN: I don't have a list of enumerated powers. I can look to and advise the president on what he can and can't do. That's the more general --

FOREMAN: The Mueller report suggests Trump was always suspicious of McGahn's potential power. "Why do you take notes," Trump reportedly said in a meeting. Lawyers don't take notes. When McGahn said he was a real lawyer, Trump shot back: "I've had a lot of great lawyers like Roy Cohn. He did not take notes." Cohn served Senator Joe McCarthy during his infamous campaign to root out communists and he worked for Trump in the 1970s when Trump's company was accused of discriminating against African-Americans. Cohn had to settle in that legal battle and eventually lost his license for unethical conduct. Still, before McGahn left the White House last fall, Trump said he would not be a rat.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's had an excellent job.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he deserved what you said about the Mueller report?

TRUMP: No, not at all. Not at all.

FOREMAN: Perhaps the president had reason to think that, after all, when he was trying to get his casinos up and running years ago, battling politicians who regulators and more, who helped manage every detail, no matter how small? Don McGahn's uncle, Pat.

O'DONNELL: Because literally, Donald could ask Pat McGahn to do anything and he would do it for him. Obviously, Don McGahn had his limits with Donald Trump.

FOREMAN: So, Trump fans are facing something of a puzzle right now -- what should they think of Don McGahn. Sure, the president is putting him down, but he's also the very man who appears to have saved the Trump presidency. Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: Well, with the report out now, Democrats are plans to pursue a line of investigations that Robert Mueller pretty much avoided. We're talking about the president's finances. With us now to talk about this: Business Politics Correspondent, Cristina Alesci. So, Cristina, talk to us first of all about what are the Democrats want to know specifically?

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Well, simply put, they want to follow the money. And let's run through those democratic probes. The House Intelligence and House Financial Services Committees are teaming up to subpoena banks, including one of Trump's lenders -- Deutsche Bank. Now, these committees are examining slightly different things. Intelligence is looking into whether the president is compromised by foreign entities while the Financial Services Committee is scrutinizing elicit activity like money laundering and whether any of Trump's businesses are somehow implicated in that.

Now, a separate committee, Ways and Means, is pressing for Trump's tax returns. This group oversees the IRS, which does audit the president's tax returns and these lawmakers want to make sure that is happening properly. Lastly, House Oversight, it issued a subpoena to Mazars, this is the accounting firm that compiled the president's financial statements. And all of this happening against the backdrop of House Judiciary issuing a subpoena, of course, for the unredacted Mueller report.

PAUL: So, what are the chances, really, at the end of the day that Democrats are going get the information they want on his business and finances?

[07:21:02] ALESCI: Great question. That really depends on the individual request or subpoena. For example, the highly politicized fight over the release of the president's tax returns is probably going to head to the courts. Remember, the Treasury Department, which oversees the IRS has already rejected the committees request. Another deadline is happening this week and we'll report on that. But treasury is likely to continue to resist that request.

Now, the House Financial Services might have more luck subpoenaing or issuing the subpoena for the banks. That committee does oversee the banks. So, they are less likely to flagrantly ignore requests from lawmakers. Now, as for the subpoena of Trump's accounting records, Trump's attorneys already have argued against it. They argued that Chairman Elijah Cummings overstepped his congressional authority and these lawyers -- the Trump's lawyers told the accounting firm, Mazars, that they will pursue legal action if it complies with the subpoena.

PAUL: So, are there any risks to the Democrats, really, at the end of the day, if they're launching all these investigations? Because some of these Democrats, they just want to look ahead at 2020.

ALESCI: Yes, you're right. And the risk is that the American public grows tired of democratic investigations. They want Congress to address health care, and economic policy, but that doesn't seem to deter the Democrats -- they are intent on pursuing these investigations, Christi.

PAUL: All right. Cristina Alesci, thank you so much for the report. Good to see you this morning.

ALESCI: Good to see you, too.

BLACKWELL: A California couple who routinely tortured their children for years, learned their fate in court. Coming up, the emotional testimony from two of the couple's 13 children.

PAUL: And listen, a new warning from health officials regarding another case of the measles -- a patient who traveled through Los Angeles airport. This is the latest example of what international experts are calling a global crisis now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:27:06] BLACKWELL: For the first time, we are hearing from two of the children rescued from an abusive home in California.

PAUL: David and Louise Turpin are each serving 25 years to life in prison now, after they pled guilty to holding captive and torturing their children. During the sentencing hearing, two of the couple's children talked about how their lives have changed since they've been away from their parents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sometimes I still have nightmares of things that had happened, such as my siblings being chained up or getting beaten. But that is the past and this is now. I love my parents.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My parents took my whole life from me, but now I'm taking my life back. I believe everything happens for a reason. Life may have been bad, but it made me strong. I fought to become the person I am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: Now, the couple, remember, was arrested last year after one of their 13 children, and these children range in age from 2-29. But that one, I think she was seven or nine years old was able to escape the filthy home and call police.

BLACKWELL: All right, health officials in California are warning travelers of a possible measles exposure at Los Angeles airport. That's the third warning in two months.

PAUL: Officials say, the patient traveled in the airport on a United Airlines flight, this happened April 3rd. Now, so far, there are no reported cases of measles linked to that patient.

BLACKWELL: This is the third or rather the latest case, I should say, in the most recent surge of confirmed cases of measles reported this week. In New York, health officials are concerned to travel, large gatherings, for the past over holiday, could fuel the spread of measles in a community that's already been hit pretty hard. World health leaders are calling measles a global crisis.

PAUL: In an opinion piece for CNN.com, in fact, the leaders of the World Health Organization and UNICEF say, "We are in the middle of a global measles crisis." Cases have soared across the world including in places where measles had previously been eliminated, such as the United States. Now, according to the World Health Organization, so far this year, there've been more than 110,000 measles cases reported. That's worldwide. But that's four times the number of cases that had been seen globally this time last year.

BLACKWELL: Jacqueline -- it's Jacqueline Howard, writer for CNN Health and Wellness joins us now. Put it into perspective -- first, where are we now with the measles outbreak in the U.S.?

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH AND WELLNESS WRITER: So, as of this week, there have been 555 measles cases reported so far this year in the United States and that's across 20 states. So, this is a growing concern. That number now puts us at the second largest measles outbreak since the measles virus was eliminated in the United States in the year 2000. So, on Monday, we're going to hear from CDC officials who will have updated numbers and we're expecting to see even more numbers reported on Monday.

[07:30:09] PAUL: OK, so, I want to ask you about the vaccines. There are lot of people such as this airline attendant in Israel, who is older. She got the one dose of vaccine, didn't get the other one. Now, she's in a coma, she's been in coma for days.

A lot of people are wondering. Do I vaccinate my kids? Can I do it early? Do I get a second dose for myself if I fallen into that category before they were giving double doses? What is the guidance in terms of vaccinations now?

HOWARD: So, so, the current recommendations are for children to get two doses of the MMR vaccine that's the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. The first dose is typically given between 12 and 15 months old. The second dose is given between four and six years old. So, that's for children.

Now, if you're an adults and you're concerned, you have two options. You can check your vaccination records to make sure that you are immune or you can have your blood tested for measles immunity. And, of course, it's important to talk to your doctor, but it's often OK, to go ahead and get vaccinated if you're still unsure.

PAUL: A second time? Or at all if you hadn't been obviously (INAUDIBLE).

HOWARD: We'll definitely get vaccinated at all.

PAUL: Right. HOWARD: This CDC, says if you're not sure and you do get vaccinated the second time, there is no harm in that. But, of course, talk to your doctor.

PAUL: OK.

BLACKWELL: So, looking at these numbers, thus far, and the numbers will likely change on Monday. 550 cases in the U.S., 110,000 around the world?

I mean, where are we seeing this the worst around the world?

HOWARD: Yes. So, we're seeing this across several countries. Israel, Ukraine, Japan, Brazil. And outside of the U.S., the measles has been circulating. So, so, this isn't you know something that is really -- you know, a rare thing but the numbers are what's concerning.

And travel is the most common way the virus can spread. So, any travel that's planned for this spring, travelers are encouraged to look into where outbreaks are, and to be mindful of that. Because the virus is so contagious.

PAUL: Yes.

HOWARD: If someone coughs or sneezes, it can linger in the air for up to two hours. Even if that person leaves the room. So, so, this is definitely a concern.

PAUL: And makes a plane look really attractive to that. My goodness.

BLACKWELL: Yes, and you know, this flight attendant who came down with a -- with a sickness --

PAUL: They still don't know how she contracted it.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

PAUL: Where she contracted it. Jacqueline Howard, thank you so much.

HOWARD: Thank you.

PAUL: Great information.

BLACKWELL: Well, House Democrats: they've subpoenaed the attorney general for the unredacted version of Robert Mueller's report. And a democratic aide tell CNN they feel that they are only at the beginning of this thing. So, what are the next steps? Democratic Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, joins us next.

PAUL: Also, life on Mars here on earth. Where you can experience the red planet without even leaving this orbit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:37:09] PAUL: Oh, there is a showdown brewing between House Democrats and the Justice Department it seems. House Judiciary chairman Jerry Nadler, subpoenaed Attorney General William Barr for a full unredacted version of special counsel Robert Muller's report.

Now, Barr previously said, he would not provide the full report to Congress. Arguing, he can't legally turn over grand jury information.

In the meantime, there are Democrats who are calling for impeachment proceedings against the president. An issue that is really divided in this party.

Let's talk to democratic congresswoman from Pennsylvania, Madeleine Dean. Congresswoman, thank you so much. She sits on the House Judiciary Committee, by the way.

I want to read to you something that 2020 democratic candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeted earlier yesterday. She said the severity of the misconduct demands that elected officials in both parties set aside political considerations and do their constitutional duty. That means the House should initiate impeachment proceedings against the president of the United States." Do you agree that has to happen?

REP. MADELEINE DEAN, (D-PA): Well, those words tell you where we are, Christi. We're at a grave moment. The Mueller report reveals a tremendous number of turns and twists where the president or his colleagues or his associates attempted to obstruct justice and attempted to interfere with this investigation into Russia's interference.

So, I understand and take the senator at her word. She's expressing the severity and the seriousness of what's going on. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I'm determined that we will do our job.

Chairman Nadler has charted a course for us to get the entire Mueller report and all of its supporting documents so that we can see all of the evidence. Right now, we have a very difficult read here with the Mueller report, but it is redacted. And there's probably even more troubling information in the redacted version.

So, we've got to do our job and collect the evidence and tell the American people exactly what happened.

PAUL: OK. So, are you saying that you are not yet ready to push for impeachment?

DEAN: I think we're not at that spot yet. I think, the judiciary actually has the awesome responsibility to do the investigation, and that's what we're going to do. Impeachment is not yet on the table, but it is certainly not off the table.

PAUL: So, what do you need to see in that report that would convince you to pull the impeachment lever, so to speak?

DEAN: Actually, just a full display of the report. Anytime, there's shadowing or a charade that is going on here about what actually took place, I don't think it would be wise to move forward. What we need to do is have all of the facts. And then, when we have all of the facts, we would move forward. But I think, until we have everything, America deserves the entire report.

Attorney General Barr has mischaracterized the report. He has misled the American people. And what it -- what our job is, is to make sure we get -- we shine a light of truth on exactly what happened.

[07:40:06] PAUL: So, if you sit down or if Attorney General Barr sits down in front of you, what do you want to ask him specifically?

DEAN: Why would he have shrouded the report? Why would he had put together a scant summary? Why would he have held a press conference about nothing, because he didn't even release the report? Why is it that he doesn't seem to be serving in the public interest as he promised during his testimony before the Senate confirmation committee? Why does he appear to be serving the president's best interests?

PAUL: There's a phone call that's going to be made on Monday, we understand, amongst democratic leaders to discuss the strategy moving forward here. So, we have -- you know, Elizabeth Warren and several others calling for impeachment already. We know that there are other Democrats; Speaker Pelosi, in fact, not quite ready, as you are, to jump onboard that train.

And Democrats who have ardently and heartily tried to quash the idea of impeachment. They say they want to focus on legislative priorities on investigations on the 2020 election.

Realistically, how much support do you think Democrats will have for impeachment?

DEAN: Well, on the Monday call, I don't know. We are diverse, broad caucus, but we are a brand-new majority. And take a look at what's happening with this majority. We are doing robust oversight and investigation of an administration that had no oversight for the past two years.

So, what I expect on that call is our leadership will talk about our plan to methodically do the oversight that we have to do. But at the same time, and I don't think this should be lost on the American people, as grave as this situation is, we also have other responsibilities of substantive legislation.

Legislation that we will pass and that have already passed. And then, it is up to the Senate to take up. But I'm certain this will be a robust conversation with the leadership, about next steps, and what the role of oversight from various committees are, but most especially from judiciary.

PAUL: Speaking of next steps, the Mueller report -- despite whatever it said about President Trump itself, one of the big takeaways from the Mueller report was the fact that it proclaims Russia did, indeed, attempt to manipulate the 2016 election. What is Congress prepared to do to make sure it doesn't happen in 2020?

DEAN: I'm glad you raised that. Because, isn't it stunning that this administration, knowing that, has never spoken up and said America must never be attacked in that way again? And in fact, what the president tried to do, as you read in this report is over and over again, try to thwart the investigation.

We know that Russia interfered in the 2016 election in sweeping ways, as Mueller says. And we will legislatively make sure that we take some action. But I think the absence of the administration's outrage about that is incredibly telling.

PAUL: But the absence of their -- of their rage about it, doesn't change the fact that there is work to be done in 2020. Is there some sort of plan crafted in Congress to keep it from happening again next time around?

DEAN: Absolutely. We're crafting legislation around that. But again, take a look at what happened here. The administration welcomed the interference by Russia. Notice what Russia is doing right now.

PAUL: Right.

DEAN: They are analyzing where this Mueller report stands. Because they are going to do it again. Make no mistake about that. And there are other bad actors that will want to do the same thing.

We will fortify our election process in a very complicated world. But it is stunning that the leader of the free world, this American president has called out this problem loudly and clearly. And, in fact, he and his associates spent a lot of time meeting with the Russians.

PAUL: All right. Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, appreciate your time this morning on this holiday weekend. Thank you for being here.

DEAN: Thank you, Christi.

BLACKWELL: An overnight explosion, sends a group of firefighters to the hospital. We have an update on their conditions.

PAUL: Also, the medical examiner in South Carolina, says a birth defect is what caused the death of a South Carolina student who died after a fight in her classroom. An attorney for the girl's family says, there's still a lot to investigate here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:48:38] BLACKWELL: I'll tell you about this tense moment at the southern border. Defense officials tell CNN that two U.S. soldiers who were conducted surveillance operations on the U.S. side of the border last week near Clint, Texas were stopped and questioned by a group of armed Mexican troops.

Now, officials say during the incident, the Mexican soldiers pointed their assault-style weapons at the U.S. troops and removed a U.S. soldier's sidearm.

PAUL: Now, we're told the U.S. soldier allowed the weapon to be taken, "in an attempt to de-escalate a potential volatile situation." And let's go to Arizona here, where four firefighters are recovering this morning after an explosion at an electric company. Officials say the firefighters were responding to a hazmat call. They entered the building and that's when the blast happened.

One firefighter is in critical condition after being knocked unconscious. Two others are in serious condition. And we're told, the force of that explosion was so strong it knocked all the helmets and face masks of the crew.

BLACKWELL: The mother of a fifth grader in South Carolina who died after a fight at school, says she will continue to press for answers in her daughter's death.

PAUL: According to a medical examiner, 10-year-old Raniya Wright's death was due to a birth defect. It had nothing to do, he says, with the fight that happened in that classroom. The family's attorney, however, says that conclusion doesn't match witness accounts. Here's CNN's Dianne Gallagher.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[07:50:01] ASHLEY WRIGHT, MOTHER OF RANIYA WRIGHT: I miss my daughter. I am not able to hold my daughter again, kiss her. I'm not able for my child to go to the prom --

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In the nearly one month since 10-year-old Raniya Wright died after a fight at school, her family has been asking the same questions. What happened inside that fifth-grade classroom on March 25th, and why did their little girl die two days later? On Friday, South Carolina investigators announced their surprising conclusions.

DUFFIE STONE, SOLICITOR, FOURTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT: Raniya Wright died of natural causes. There was no evidence of trauma on or inside the body of Raniya Wright that would indicate that any fight in any magnitude contributed to her death. As a result of those findings, there will not be criminal charges brought in this matter.

GALLAGHER: The pathologist determined Raniya's death was caused by a relatively rare birth defect called an AVM. It's a tangled mass of blood vessels on her brain. The solicitor said that during the last two years, Raniya had visited a doctor, at least, six times complaining of headaches and dizziness. Her final visit, just 13 days before she fell unconscious at school.

Now, officials say, based on interviews and medical evidence, it does not appear a fight of any kind contributed to Raniya's death.

STONE: There were no bruises, no cuts, no scrapes, no busted lips, no black eyes.

GALLAGHER: But Raniya's mother and her legal team, say they hired a private investigator who also interviewed children inside the classroom that day. And got a very different description of what the district labeled a scuffle and county officials called a, "five to 10 seconds slap fight between Raniya and another student.

MARGIE PIZARRO, ATTORNEY TO ASHLEY WRIGHT: Each punch to Raniya's head made a loud sound. What Raniya's hand in a chokehold. Student to slung Raniya into an orange file cabinet, all the while hitting her in the head.

GALLAGHER: They believe there is still much more to this investigation.

PIZARRO: While we certainly respect the efforts and the initial. And I'm going to stress the word, initial findings that have been presented to us today, we certainly know that this does not where the story ends.

WRIGHT: I'm angry and I'm going to get to the bottom of it. I promise you, I am going to get to the bottom of it. If I got it every breath of my body got to come out, I'm going to find out what happened to my baby.

GALLAGHER: Dianne Gallagher, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Well, the school district superintendent told reporters Friday that officials found district employees acted appropriately and safety procedures were followed during Raniya's medical emergency.

PAUL: And we'll keep you posted on -- you know, more information that comes from that as well because you heard a parent say, their investigation itself is not over.

So, let me ask you this question. Have you ever wondered what it's like to live on Mars? Are you willing to go there? Well, there's a place on earth now where you can get the real-deal experience.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:57:16] ANNOUNCER: "STAYING WELL", brought to you by Aleve P.M. Aleve P.M. for a better A.M.

BLACKWELL: Have you heard of ASMR or A, S, M, R? Well, in this week's "STAYING WELL", we'll taking a look at how people claim it gives them this brain tingling sensation that helps relieve stress, anxiety, and insomnia. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HALEY, SUFFERS FROM INSOMNIA: So, this is my favorite ASMR, the only one I go to for sleep. It's just like the soothing sound of the cutting. Brings me to a relaxed state, takes me all that anxiety, and constant thinking. So, I'm just focused on this.

LAURI LEADLEY, FOUNDER, VALLEY SLEEP CENTER: ASMR is Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. And it's actually a sensation that some people get, but it happens with certain triggers, certain sounds. HALEY: And it brings this sensation -- relaxing sensation to my body. I have a tingling in my head and a tingling in my spine when I listen to it.

LEADLEY: The studies are still out there, we're waiting. We should note that ASMR doesn't work for everybody, and there is no guarantee. There's hundreds of YouTube channels out there.

MARIA, GENTLE WHISPERING ASMR: ASMR has become fear popular in the last couple of years. For example, my YouTube channel Gentle Whispering at this time has over 600 million views. There is a wide variety of different ASMR triggers that you can explore.

Talking it into your ears.

There are soft-spoken voices, there are tactile triggered by just tapping, crinkling, tender sounds such as slime, hoarse, and cutting. It's just a very comforting sensation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL: All righty, space enthusiasts, listen to this one. There's a place on earth where you can experience life on Mars.

BLACKWELL: And while you don't have to leave the atmosphere, you will have to travel to China. The country opened its one-of-a-kind Mars based simulator earlier this week. The simulator is located the Gobi Desert where the landscaping and harsh conditions are able to simulate the Red Planet as much as possible. Right now, the experience is only open to students who want to learn what it's like to live in space. It will be open to tourists next year.

PAUL: OK, this next story, I said I wanted to do it, but I thought the sports department was going to do it.

BLACKWELL: Oh I might -- is this mine?

PAUL: Yes, you said it.

BLACKWELL: So, there is this particularly ominous odor that cause players of Philadelphia 76ers to scatter a bit.

PAUL: We just wanted to make sure you had a smile on your face. This is during a game Thursday night against the Nets. You see one guy there, he's roofing his face. Oh, no. Another guy, sweatshirt covering his nose, and other ones covering up it only spreads from there.

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