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McConnell Said To Be Pleased About Impeachment, Believes It Will Be Easier To Purge Trump From GOP; NYT: House Minority Leader Asked Other Republicans Whether He Should Call On Trump To Resign; U.S. Attorney: Looking At Sedition & Conspiracy Charges In Capitol Attack, Range Of Criminal Conduct "Unmatched"; Trump: Speech To Crowd That Attacked Was "Totally Appropriate"; Interview With Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA). Aired 5-6p ET

Aired January 12, 2021 - 17:00   ET

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

[17:00:00]

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Bianna Golodryga with the latest installment of education in a time of COVID. Thank you so much for that report.

You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @jaketapper. You can tweet the show @theleadcnn. Our coverage on CNN continues right now.

I will see you tomorrow for a special coverage of the House impeachment of President Trump.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're following breaking news.

Federal prosecutors saying they're looking at what they call significant sedition and conspiracy charges in connection with a deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol following the range of criminal conduct and imploding up on match.

And just a little while ago, they announced more than 170 criminal cases have been opened with hundreds more expected.

Meanwhile, "The Washington Post" is reporting that the day before the attack, the FBI warned an internal report of violent, "War at the Capitol."

Also breaking this hour, "The New York Times" has just reported that outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is said to be pleased that tomorrow is expected second impeachment of President Trump reportedly believing it will be easier to purge him from the Republican Party.

The President himself is warning against impeachment, while refusing to take any responsibility at all for the riot that he clearly encouraged.

Let's begin with more on the investigation into the Capitol Hill scene. CNN's Brian Todd is working this part of the story for us.

We're getting all sorts of sweeping truly unprecedented developments in this case, Brian, update our viewers.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. Just moments ago, the U.S. Attorney for Washington DC said the range of criminal conduct at the Capitol last Wednesday was, "unmatched in any type of scenario that we've seen."

Tonight, we have new information on the rapidly expanding investigation and the manhunt for suspects.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

TODD (voice-over): Tonight, federal law enforcement is quickly widening the scope of investigations into the violence of the Capitol. Hundreds of charges officials say are forthcoming.

MICHAEL SHERWIN, ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: We're looking at significant felony cases tied to sedition and conspiracy. We're looking at everything from simple trespass, to theft of mail, to theft of digital devices with inside the Capitol, to assault on local officers, federal officers both outside and inside the Capitol, to the theft of potential national security information or national defense information, to felony murder, and even civil rights excessive force investigation. So just the gamut of cases and criminal conduct we're looking at is really mind blowing.

TODD: Law enforcement officials are seeking the public's help in finding suspects.

STEVEN D'ANTOUNO, FBI ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE: We have received more than 100,000 pieces of digital media. The FBI has a long memory and a broad reach.

Agents from all local field offices will be knocking on your door. If we find out that you are part of the criminal activity at the Capitol.

TODD: The FBI says before Wednesday's riot, the bureau tried to coordinate with other law enforcement agencies.

D'ANTOUNO: We shared intelligence through the JTTF motto and we also shared it through our command post structure. And then also through other means of -- they have access to our information readily available because they have access to our systems.

TODD: Meanwhile, a chilling assessment from a congressman briefed by law enforcement on new threats to the U.S. Capitol.

REP. CONOR LAMB, (D) PENNSYLVANIA: They're talking about 4000 armed patriots to surround the Capitol and prevent any Democrat from going in and they have published rules of engagement, meaning when you shoot and when you don't. So this is -- this is an organized group that has a plan.

TODD: Congressman Connor Lamb didn't name a specific group but did say, "They have to be stopped."

Tonight, the perimeters around the Capitol, other government buildings and the monuments are being reinforced and expanded, ringed by high fences and 1000s of National Guard troops. D.C. Metropolitan Police manning checkpoints at key intersections with huge dump trucks providing more barriers.

One of the most dangerous threats up to and on Inauguration Day.

PETER LICATA, FORMER FBI SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT: Primarily it's active shooter, somebody with guns that's going to just start shooting randomly into a crowd or overcrowd. And then you scale it up to snipers with that being snipers and then the use of improvised explosive devices.

TODD: Security at state capitals is ramping up significantly tonight.

Another lawmaker briefed by law enforcement spoke of how those making the threats are being tracked.

REP. TIM RYAN, (D) OHIO: There's a very aggressive response to this. A lot of the communication has dried up for a number of these people because they've been banned from some of the social media platforms like the President has.

TODD: Meantime, man has continued for writers who breached the Capitol last Wednesday. The FBI is asking for the public's help in identifying a man seen in photos carrying a large confederate flag inside the Capitol during the riot.

[17:05:08]

Today, two men were indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in Wednesday's riot, including a man from Alabama alleged to have parked the truck filled with homemade bombs, guns and ammunition, two blocks from the Capitol. And officials say the investigation from this point will be unrelenting.

SHERWIN: We're looking at everything money, travel records, looking at disposition, movement, communication records, so no resource related to the FBI, or the U.S. Attorney's Office will be unchecked.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

TODD: And against the backdrop of the new threats, there's also concern tonight about possible leadership vacuums at key security agencies. The Department of Homeland Security is bringing in a new secretary after the Acting Secretary Chad Wolf abruptly resigned yesterday.

And as we've reported, the Capitol Hill police has just sworn in a new acting chief after the resignation of Chief Stephen Sund, Wolf. So, against the backdrop of these new security threats, that's a real concern as well.

BLITZER: Yes. Tremendous security threats eight days to go until the inauguration. And the security -- the level of security is intensifying by the hour.

I want to go to Capitol Hill, Brian, standby. Our Congressional Correspondent Phil Mattingly is on the scene for us.

In a truly historic on move, Phil, the President will be impeached tomorrow by the House of Representatives for the second time. And tonight "The New York Times" is reporting that the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is actually pleased, pleased that the President of the United States will be impeached. Update our viewers.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's exactly right. It would be a stunning idea. Mitch McConnell, who is one of the President's sharpest defenders during the first impeachment back in 2019 and earlier in the early part of 2020 now, according to "The New York Times," is open to the idea.

Now, my colleague Manu and I, Manu Raju and I have confirmed a lot of "The New York Times" reporting.

I want to add some context here into what's actually going on right now. Wolf, you will notice Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader has been silent in the wake of the January 6 attacks as it pertains to what House Democrats have been moving towards and that is impeaching the President. There is a reason for that one. One, I'm told he's keeping his options open. He's not committed to voting to convict the President, but he does want to see the article of impeachment that Democrats put together.

More than that, though, and I think this is more important in the broader context of what's happening inside the Republican Party. If you've paid close attention to what the Kentucky Republican has done over the course of the last several weeks, he has steadily made moves to move his conference away from President Trump, just flashback to January 6 before the attack on the Capitol. A blistering speech attacking not just President Trump, but also his own colleagues on the idea of objecting to elect -- to electors in an election that everybody knows Joe Biden had won.

Keep this in mind as well, since Mitch McConnell publicly acknowledged that Joe Biden was the President-elect of the United States back in December 15. He has not spoken to President Trump. In fact, during the kerfuffle, I guess, if you will over whether or not President Trump would sign the stimulus bill, McConnell was not able to get in touch with the President. The President wasn't willing to talk to McConnell.

Since that time, I'm told McConnell has made clear he has no plans to talk to the President now or in the future. So, where does that leave things? Obviously, both the House has the votes to impeach the President of United States.

In fact, one Republican, John Katko in New York Republican just announced he would be joining Democrats. The expectation is, there will be other Republicans that may come along with him, including Liz Cheney, the number three Republican in leadership hasn't said when she's going to vote yet, but did tell colleagues last night on a conference call that when it comes to this vote, vote your conscience.

Also, I'm told Republicans on the House side are not planning to whip this vote. They're not planning to pressure their colleagues, their members of their conference to vote with the President on this. They are truly allowing it to be a vote for conscience. And that leads everything to what McConnell is doing right now.

This will end up in the United States Senate when the trial takes place is still an open question. And that has been discussed by President-elect Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader McConnell.

Our colleague Jeff Zeleny reporting that Biden and McConnell had a phone call on Monday, where Biden raised the possibility of something he mentioned publicly yesterday, bifurcating the process, as in allowing in the morning in the United States Senate the idea of legislation or nominees to be considered and then starting the impeachment trial in the afternoon.

Now, Jeff Zeleny reports that McConnell did not commit one way or another, but made very clear that he would need an answer from the Senate parliamentarian that McConnell would help get for him during that process.

What this all boils down to right now, Wolf, is a couple of things. One, obviously impeachment is moving. Two, obviously a Senate trial is going to happen likely in the opening days of Joe Biden's administration.

But three, the Republican Party has no firm singular position on this. You are seeing members scatter in all different directions.

And why is that happening? A couple of different reasons based on Republicans I'm talk -- I've spoken to. One, the experience on January 6 was so visceral.

And every single day that passes since January 6, members gotten angrier and angrier realizing just how dangerous that moment wasn't just how much worse it could have been, which is saying something given five people were killed on that day or have died because of that day.

[17:10:13]

The other is the future of the Republican Party. You have a number of Republicans right now trying to figure out what a post Trump presidency looks like for the party. None more so than Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, now making clear he might not vote for impeachment, but he's at least willing to consider it, as it soon heads over to the Senate.

BLITZER: You know, when you think about this, you know, Phil, the fact that the President-elect Biden and McConnell, they're talking, they're trying to develop a good relationship. I assume they will at some point. But Trump and McConnell, they're not talking at all and have no relationship right now. It's an amazing development, indeed.

All right, Phil, we're going to get back to you as soon as well. I know you're working your sources.

Even with a truly historic second impeachment looming, President Trump is defiant. Our Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta is joining us.

Jim, I understand you're getting some new information from your sources.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Oh, that's right, Wolf.

Just to pick up where Phil Mattingly left off, I'm talking to a source familiar with the relationship between President Trump and the Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. According to this source. McConnell right now is furious with the President over that siege on the Capitol on January 6. And in the words of this source, McConnell, "hates Trump." He hates Trump right now for what happened on January 6.

Now in the meantime, President Trump is refusing to take any responsibility for the attack on the Capitol. The President is once again amping up his rhetoric predicting the impeachment process will cause what he called, "tremendous danger and tremendous anger."

And CNN has learned the President's advisors are urging Trump to lower his rhetoric as he could be prosecuted or even sued in response to the violence. As one source put it, he absolutely can be sued.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): Finally showing his face nearly one week after his supporters terrorized the Capitol, President Trump is back to throwing more gasoline on the fire as he gaslights the country warning that is expected second impeachment looming in the House could enrage his followers.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Be careful what you wish for. The impeachment hoax is a continuation of the greatest and most vicious witch hunt in the history of our country and is causing tremendous anger and division and pain far greater than most people will ever understand.

ACOSTA: Trump even insisted he's not worried that Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet would use the 25th amendment to remove him from office taking a swipe at incoming President Joe Biden.

TRUMP: The 25th amendment is of zero risk to me. But we'll come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden administration.

ACOSTA: Sources close to Trump tells CNN advisors have been urging the President to tone down his language as he could be prosecuted or sued for his role in the insurrection. As one source put it, "Lawyers have been recommending a de-escalation of rhetoric, not just for the good of the country, but also to reduce the risk of legal jeopardy." Which is why Trump is claiming he doesn't want to see more violence as he steps down from office.

TRUMP: As far as this is concern, we want no violence, never violence, we want absolutely no violence.

ACOSTA: But the President is still lying about his role in the siege. TRUMP: You'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength.

ACOSTA: Insisting his speech had nothing to do with a bloody insurrection that followed.

TRUMP: But they've analyzed my speech and my words and my final paragraph, my final sentence, and everybody -- thought it was totally appropriate.

ACOSTA: All the more reason Democrats say to impeach him.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY) MINORITY LEADER: What Trump did today, blaming others for what he caused, is a pathological technique used by the worst of dictators.

Trump causes the anger. He causes the divisiveness. He foments the violence and blames others for it. That is despicable.

ACOSTA: Some Republican leaders aren't standing in the way with Congresswoman Liz Cheney calling the upcoming impeachment a "vote of conscience" for lawmakers. Democrats are pushing back on the notion that impeaching the President would spark more violence.

REP. ERIC SWALWELL, (D) CALIFORNIA: We're not going to negotiate, you know, with domestic terrorists and that's who these people are.

ACOSTA: To avoid another impeachment Democrats had urged Pence to invoke the 25th amendment to force Trump from power.

REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D) MARYLAND: We're trying to tell him that the time of 25th amendment emergency has arrived. It has come to our doorstep. It has invaded our chamber.

ACOSTA: A process that would require the support of cabinet members like Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who declined to say whether Trump is still fit to hold office.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC HOST: Do you believe what the President did last week show that he is able to discharge the duties of his office or not?

ALEX AZAR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: George, the rhetoric last week was unacceptable. I'm not going to get into or discuss the 25th amendment here.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

ACOSTA: And the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley has released a statement to U.S. service members warned that acts of sedition will not be tolerated.

[17:15:01]

The statement from the Joint Chiefs Chairman goes on to state, "We support and defend the Constitution. Any active disruptive constitutional process is not only against our tradition, values and oath, it is against the law." That is from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

And after the President saying that everybody around him approved of the speech he gave before the seat at the Capitol, that is just not true. Some of the President's own advisors tell me they believe his marks -- remarks were dangerous.

And in recent days, the President has been ranting and raving, that the election was stolen from him, he is still doing that, Wolf. So one advisor put it to me this way, Trump has created his own reality. And of course, the danger is there are people living -- millions of people, millions of his supporters who are living in that alternate reality. And that is why things are so precarious and so dangerous right now. Wolf.

BLITZER: So dangerous, indeed right now. It's -- and that's why all of a sudden, here in Washington, we're seeing 1000s and 1000s of military personnel all over this city. It's really heartbreaking to see all this unfold.

All right, thanks very much, Jim. We're going to get back to you, as well.

I want to bring in CNN Political Analyst Jonathan Martin, the National Political Correspondent for "The New York Times" who broke this story in "The New York Times." What a story it is Jonathan.

So, what more can you first of all, tell us about this stunning news about Mitch McConnell? Because it really is pretty amazing when you think about it.

JONATHAN MARTIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Senator McConnell, I think is fed up with President Trump, especially given what happened last Wednesday in the U.S. Capitol Hill, Wolf. You have to remember that Senator McConnell is somebody who cares deeply about the Senate and the institution of Congress. He's never wanted to be president. He's always wanted to be Senate majority leader. That was his lifelong goal.

And two days last week, President Trump basically favored away Senator McConnell's Majority Leader status on Tuesday. And the next day a sort of a pro Trump mob stormed the Capitol and desecrated the building that McConnell revere.

So in a two day span, Wolf, I think Senator McConnell sort of deeply hurt by what happened. And politically, if we're being totally candid, I think he sees no opportunity now to purge President Trump, get rid of him from the Republican Party and move on make a fresh break.

BLITZER: So you think if there's a Senate trial, and almost certainly will be a Senate trial, is it all realistic, Jonathan to think that, then he's got to be the minority leader, but now still the Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could vote in favor of conviction?

MARTIN: Yes. BLITZER: You do.

MARTIN: I mean, it's possible.

BLITZER: Really?

MARTIN: Yes. I certainly do. And in fact, I think Senator McConnell sees this opening politically. I mean, I think you have to separate these. I think he's deeply offended by what happened at the Capitol and horrified by it. And his own safety was obviously threatened, along with everybody else there.

But I think from a political standpoint, Wolf, looking down the road, I think he sees an opportunity here to, you know, purge our Republican Party of somebody who he believes is a force for bad, a detrimental force in the party. And you know, if you get all 50 Democrats to vote to convict, then you need 17 Republicans. And it makes it a heck of a lot easier, Wolf, to get 17. Republicans, if one of them is named Mitch McConnell.

BLITZER: You're absolutely right. If he votes in favor of conviction, I assume it's going to be a done deal by all accounts.

All right, Jonathan, excellent reporting you and your colleagues at "the New York Times."

MARTIN: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you so very much.

Let's discuss all of these breaking developments. And it's really breathtaking when you think about it. Our Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash is with us. Charles Ramsey, who was the D.C. Police Chief and later the Philadelphia Police Commissioner is with us. Our CNN Special Correspondent Jamie Gangel. And our Senior Justice Correspondent Evan Perez.

So Dana, how incredible is this reporting? And you just heard Jonathan Martin's excellent reporting that the Senate Majority Leader, soon to be the minority leader, Mitch McConnell is, pleased, pleased that the Democrats are moving ahead to impeach the President of the United States. And that McConnell himself might actually vote in favor of conviction.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Mitch McConnell is not somebody who emote in public. And what we saw the anger with which he spoke not once, but twice on January 6, before the riots and the attack effectively on him and all of his colleagues, not to mention the building that they work in, he was incredibly angry.

Another byproduct of that is the fact that his wife, Elaine Chao, who was President Trump's Transportation Secretary, she resigned. Now, you know, you could argue maybe she should have stayed and tried to coordinate other cabinet members to push the 25th amendment, but she decided to quit. But with regard to Mitch McConnell, as Bill said, he has not -- my understanding and our colleagues as well. He has not spoken to President Trump since Mitch McConnell acknowledged the reality that Joe Biden would be president back in December.

[17:20:05]

And it was Trump who wouldn't take McConnell's phone calls. Even and especially when the stimulus bill that was supposed to be signed in and around Christmas, the President decided that he wasn't going to do it. And there was so much drama. McConnell couldn't even get the President on the phone is my understanding.

One last thing that I think is interesting in terms of the politics of this, is that what Phil Mattingly and Manu Raju are hearing is that -- and Jonathan Martin said this, too, that McConnell is seeing this as a way to purge Trump from the party. I'm hearing the opposite from some of Mitch McConnell's Republican colleagues, that they are concerned that impeachment will make him a victim, will make him a martyr. So those are very two different ways of looking at Donald Trump politically and a potential impeachment conviction.

BLITZER: You know, Jamie, the "Times" also is reporting that the House Minority Leader has asked other Republicans whether he should call on President Trump to actually resign. Could all of this give Republicans covered a vote in favor of impeaching the President when it comes up for a vote presumably tomorrow?

JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. I think what we're seeing here with this reporting about Mitch McConnell and some others coming forward, is that may prove to be the tipping point.

You're seeing Liz Cheney, Congresswoman from Wyoming, she has not said how she's going to vote tomorrow. But if you look at her Twitter feed, she posted something the morning of January 6. And there's one line which I think reflects how she's feeling, and a lot of other people are feeling in the Republican Party, she wrote, "We have sworn an oath under God to defend the Constitution. We uphold that oath at all times, not only when it is politically convenient."

I will tell you, Wolf, the thing that I've heard over and over, I know Dana has heard this, that the Republicans experienced this full personally. They were there. They felt their lives were -- that they were in danger. And we've just seen a growing number of them privately say that Trump should be impeached. I think what we're going to see tomorrow is more and more.

BLITZER: I suspect you're absolutely right.

You know, Evan, today, and this was another breathtaking moment, the FBI and the Department of Justice, they laid out the scope of all the crimes stemming from last week's deadly siege on the U.S. Capitol. Just the fact that they're pursuing, for example, sedition and conspiracy charges. That is really significant, isn't it?

EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: It really is, Wolf. And I think that is part of the conversation that will color perhaps what the Republicans in the Senate are going to be looking at just to what Jamie and what Dana were talking about.

You know, if you have people being brought up on charges that accused him of being to -- of sedition and conspiracy, which is what Michael Sherwin, the Acting U.S. Attorney says he's now assigned the team, a task force of prosecutors and federal agents to look into to try to see -- to pursue that possibility, 170 cases that they already have open. They anticipate they're going to be hundreds of cases.

And I'll read you just a part of what the federal law on sedition says. It says that, "It is a crime for two or more people within the jurisdiction of the United States to oppose by force the authority of the United States government to prevent, hinder or delay by force, the execution of any law of the United States."

That is what happened at the Capitol last Wednesday. These were people who were hell bent on preventing the certification. This is a solemn part of the transition of power in this country.

Urged on by the president, they marched over there, they invaded the building destroyed offices and they were trying to disrupt and prevent the certification of Joe Biden's victory. And that is a big deal in terms of federal law. And that's the reason why the prosecutors are looking at this in that way.

And again, this may color the -- what happens in the Senate, because they'll, you know, perhaps they'll have some more information to go on.

BLITZER: Yes. And the D.C. Attorney General announced today that they're looking at possible crimes not just by the president, but his son Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani, Representative Mo Brooks and others for what they said in the minutes before that mob left the area near the White House, marched up Pennsylvania Avenue with stormed into the U.S. Capitol. So that we're watching as well.

Chief Ramsey is with us. Chief Ramsey, how difficult is an investigation like this? They're looking to bring charges against literally 100s of people who commit -- clearly committed crimes when they stormed into the Capitol?

[17:25:07]

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, it's difficult because it's going to take so much time to go through all the video and photographs and all the evidence that they've collected to be able to identify the individuals responsible for breaching security at the U.S. Capitol on the sixth. And so it's going to take a lot of time.

I'm sure they have many, many agents, combing through all the evidence, but that's what makes it difficult. And then, of course, the prosecutors have to review all the evidence and decide which charge would be most appropriate for that individual.

So, it's going to take some time. BLITZER: Yes. And we heard today from the U.S. Attorney, the Acting U.S. Attorney here in D.C., as well as the top FBI agent saying they're willing to go as long not just weeks or months, maybe longer, they want to arrest a lot of people. That's Michael Sherwin, the acting U.S. Attorney and Steven D'Antuono from the FBI. He was there as well. And they were very, very determined to get to the bottom of this, a truly unprecedented moment when American citizens stormed the U.S. Capitol.

These were foreign terrorists, or anything like that. These were American citizens who clearly had been inspired to do so by the top political leadership, including the President of the United States.

You know, Dana, earlier today, and this was pretty remarkable. President Trump said his speech on that morning, that inspiring that violent crowd, the President actually said, get this, he thought his words were totally appropriate. So how do members of Congress, many of whom were in clear danger, they were worried about their lives. How do they feel when they hear the President, all these days later, almost a week later defending his repulsive words?

BASH: They're angry. They're angry. And part of the reason why not just Democrats, but more and more Republicans are getting angrier and angrier is because there is no contrition.

Now, if you look at the President's history, there's no expectation that we would see contraction, because that's just not who he is. It's not who he was taught to be. But this is different. This is a different situation.

And as we said, as Jamie said, these members of Congress experienced the ramifications of the President's inciting the violence that we saw.

If he thought that those words were appropriate, he's got even bigger problems than anybody even could have imagined, because they were absolutely atrocious. And the thing that Republicans who I'm talking to who are, again, getting more and more angry, remind me is that this is probably the kind of thing that as time goes on, is going to feel and look worse, not better. And that in the immediate action and reaction to what happened it was hard to absorb, because the information wasn't there.

As we're getting more information, like Evan was just reporting, it's clear it was so much worse than anybody could have anticipated. And that is why the President not showing any kind of remorse at all, acknowledging any kind of reality of his role in what happened is backfiring by the minute.

BLITZER: The fact that we're hearing that the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hates, hates President Trump is very, very powerful, indeed.

All right. All you guys stand by. I want to bring in Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu of California, a key member of the Judiciary Committee. Congressman, thank you so much for joining us.

As you heard today, and it's pretty remarkable, both the FBI and the Department of Justice say their extensive investigation into last week's deadly riot at the Capitol includes felony charges tied to sedition and conspiracy. But we know the threats to the Capitol and to the lawmakers like you are ongoing right now.

Are you satisfied with the response to last week's attack on the steps being taken to prevent further violence and make sure that all members of Congress and their staffs are safe?

REP. TED LIEU (D-CA): I was on a conference call yesterday and we were briefed by various levels law enforcement. So, they are very aware of what happened January 6, and make sure that never happens again. And also they've increased steps to protect members of Congress.

But at the end of the day, this is really a question about what to do when our nation's Capitol was attacked. And Donald Trump incited a violent mob to attack our Capitol, to prevent Congress from accepting, to certify Electoral College results and multiple people died. And we need to respond to that in a strong and swift manner.

BLITZER: One Democratic, Congressman, told "The New York Times" that briefing you and your fellow House Democrats received by the Acting Capitol Police Chief yesterday was the most terrifying hour and I'm quoting now, "The most terrifying hour of my entire life."

[17:30:02]

Were you similarly rattled by what you learned?

LIEU: I was rattled, I was also angry because Donald Trump could put a stop to it right now, if he simply went on TV, apologize for spreading the big lie and said that election was not stolen, said that thousands of dead people did not vote, that it was false that more people voted than were registered in their voting machines and that switch votes, if he would just say that, it will come down his base and what stop and prevent future violence. Instead, he's inflaming it even more. He has a clear and present danger to the republic. He needs to be removed immediately.

BLITZER: The House will vote tomorrow to impeach President Trump for the second time. He would be the first U.S. President to be impeached twice. And as you've been hearing, the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he believes President Trump did, repeat, did commit impeachable offenses. And he's pleased that you and your fellow Democrats are actually moving to go ahead and impeach him for a second time. Do you expect we're now going to see a whole bunch more of your House Republican colleagues voting to impeach the President tomorrow?

LIEU: I'm pleased that Republican Congress member Katko said he's going to vote to impeach. I'm pleased that the Republican leadership said they're not going to prevent members or whip votes to have members not vote to impeach. They're calling this a vote of conscience. And I hope a lot of Republicans show that they do have a conscience

and vote to impeach because at the end of the day, it is not acceptable to incite an insurrection, a violent attack on the Capitol. And there is a federal law specifically, that makes this a felony. And so, we've not only have a high crime, we also have a felony.

BLITZER: Yes. Remember a year ago when he was impeached the first time, no House Republicans voted in favor of impeachment, but I suspect there will be a bunch that vote with you tomorrow. We've also just learned, Congressman Lieu, of Congress and staffers that members of Congress staffers, they're going to have to walk through metal detectors in order to get to the House floor. This came as CNN is learning and multiple House Democrats are so worried that some Democrats who insist on carrying firearms will be around up. Do you support this new security measure?

LIEU: I do. While we still have a sitting President, it is adding fuel to the fire --

BLITZER: I want just clarify, I met Republicans insist on carrying firearms that Democrats go.

LIEU: Yes. So while we still have a sitting President adding fuel to the fire, we need to take additional precautions to make sure that the Capitol is safe, that the adjacent congressional office buildings are safe. So I do support these increase precautions.

BLITZER: And that's never happened before that you actually have to go through metal detectors to enter the floor of the House of Representatives, is that right?

LIEU: I think that's correct, but at the same time, you had Republican members of Congress who not only spread the big lie, they gave essentially incitement to this mob. They were members of Congress, Republicans who spoke prior to this joint session to that mob. And I believe that the Federal Bureau investigation needs to investigate whether they violated any of their federal criminal laws.

BLITZER: So you're talking about Representative Mo Brooks, for example. What do you think will happen to him?

LIEU: No one is above the law, not the President, not the President's attorney, and certainly not any member of Congress. If any member of Congress may have committed the violation of inciting and insurrection, which is a felony, they need to be investigated by the FBI. And then the prosecutors need to decide whether or not to charge them.

BLITZER: Congressman Ted Lieu, thanks so much for joining us. Be careful up on Capitol Hill. I was driving around a little bit today and it's really, really a very sensitive area. You see thousands of U.S. military personnel here in the nation's Capitol, more on the way as well. It's pretty unprecedented. Thank you so much for joining us.

LIEU: Thank you. BLITZER: The breaking news continues next day. One of the main organizers of the attack on the Capitol now says he was getting help from three members of Congress. CNN investigates right after.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:38:08]

BLITZER: We're following multiple breaking stories tonight including word just coming in from our Ryan Nobles that U.S. Capitol Police have now closed roads around the U.S. Capitol building until further notice. Meanwhile, we're also learning more about contacts between the key figure in the attack with some lawmakers. Our Senior Investigative Correspondent Drew Griffin reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The siege on the Capitol started with a protest just like dozens of Stop the Steal rallies across the country since the election.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 17-76.

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER (in unison): 17-76.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): And one of the main organizers extreme right winger Ali Alexander, who says he was getting help from three members of Congress.

ALI ALEXANDER, PROTEST ORGANIZER: But I'm the guy who came up with the idea of January 6, when I was talking with Congressman Gosar, Congressman Andy Biggs and Congressman Mo Brooks.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): The plan according to Alexander, to march to the Capitol as a huge, loud crowd to try to overturn a democratic election.

ALEXANDER: It was to build momentum and pressure. And then on the day change hearts and minds of Congress peoples who weren't yet decided or saw everyone outside and said I can't be on the other side of that mob.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Who helped? Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar, has been working with Alexander since the election, firing up crowds with lies about the election results.

REP. PAUL GOSAR (R), ARIZONA: Lit for your Don (ph).

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Gosar replied to or mentioned Ali in dozens of tweets including, "I'll be in D.C. with @Ali and the rest of America", adding we will fight back against the leftist who have engaged in sedition. Another tweet, on January 6, we fight for Trump. On the morning of the siege, he would send followers this image stating, "Biden should concede. I want his concession on my desk tomorrow morning. Don't make me come over there". He promptly went to Congress, stood up and oppose the certification of the Electoral College results.

[17:40:06]

GOSAR: I rise up both for myself and 60 of my colleagues to object to the counting of the electoral ballots from Arizona.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): The end of his speech interrupted by the very mob he helped stir up. Former Republican Congressman Denver Riggleman has been warning about the impact of lies being fed to the public by America's own leaders.

DENVER RIGGLEMAN (R-VA), FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: I think there's a massive issue here with education facts, that these individuals don't have addition information is being pushed by people in positions of power.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Gosar's Arizona colleague Andy Biggs was near Gosar on the House floor January 6 and met with President Trump along with others protesting election results, even provided a tape message to be played at one of the Arizona rallies.

REP. ANDY BIGGS (R), ARIZONA: We're fighting for the freedoms that made this country great.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Biggs now strongly denies any involvement in the protest. His staff stating Biggs can't even recall meeting with Ali Alexander. Mo Brooks is more direct.

REP. MO BROOKS (R), ALABAMA: Today is the day American patriot start taking down names and kicking ass.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): This is the Alabama Congressman the morning of January 6th in Washington, D.C. A few days later, he told an Alabama news service, "I make no apology for doing my absolute best to inspire patriotic Americans to not give up on our country and to fight back against anti-Christian socialists". Former Congressman Charlie Dent says the actions of his former colleagues show it's time for a serious reckoning with the Republican Party.

CHARLIE DENT (R), FORMER PENNSYLVANIA REPRESENTATIVE: We have to rid ourselves of these radical elements. I would recommend to every one of my Republican colleagues, sometimes you have to risk your job in order to save it. Well, this is the time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Wolf, CNN has learned Democrats are discussing censuring those Republican colleagues, but it's -- so I'll just talk so far. As for Ali Alexander and his staff, the Steal group, he's in hiding yet raising money. A fundraising page linked to his Stop the Steal rally has brought in $184,000, all based on lies far exceeding its goal. He vows this campaign will continue which means, Wolf, the danger will continue.

BLITZER: Yes, these are dangerous, dangerous days here in the United States of America. Drew Griffin, excellent reporting. Thanks very much.

Joining us now, the former U.S. Attorney, the CNN Senior Legal Analyst Preet Bharara. Preet, what do you make of this reporting that we just heard? How culpable could some of these Republican members of Congress like Mo Brooks, for example, be here?

PREET BHARARA, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Look, it sounds very serious. Hour by hour, we're getting information and more people who are involved, more conspiratorial conduct, people agreeing with others, to engage in what is arguably, depending on what the facts show seditious conspiracy. I think that what you've heard so far in the reporting that you just showed, I think is very serious. I think you don't want to jump to conclusions when you have something as serious as this and you're talking about a member of Congress.

But I think you need to look at other communications. You need to take other testimony. And I think, you know, I'm not wanting to quickly say someone is guilty of a particular crime. But what we're seeing and hearing that you just reported, I think is as serious as it gets.

BLITZER: Certainly is. Now, stand by for a moment, Preet. We're getting major breaking news coming into THE SITUATION ROOM right now. CNN's Dana Bash is joining us. Dana, tell our viewers what you have just learned.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: This is from Liz Cheney, the number three ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. She just released a statement saying that she will vote to impeach President Trump, that she will vote to impeach President Trump.

She says, talking about the insurrection that the inter -- this insurrection caused injury, death and destruction in the most sacred space in our republic. She said, the President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing.

She said the President could have immediately and forcefully intervene to stop the violence, he did not. There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution. I will vote to impeach the President.

Again, this is Liz Cheney, the top-ranking woman in the Republican Party, certainly the top of the third ranking woman in the House of Representatives. She has been the one who has been the most critical of the President when he has done things and said things that were antithetical to just basic democratic values, never mind the areas where she has agreed with him on policy. This is a very, very big deal.

And let's be clear, this is the whole thing to do.

[17:45:01]

As a Republican I talked to earlier today reminded me, you know, even now, even with everything that we have seen on Capitol Hill, and everything that has come out since that attack on Wednesday, all the videos, all the information from law enforcement, and just what we've seen on social media, the feeling among most Republicans in the House is that this is not the right thing to do, is to side with the President said that it is a witch hunt.

The thing that Liz Cheney is doing is the opposite of that, and trying to lead the people in her caucus, who say, you know what, we got to stand up for the Constitution. And so, this is obviously a major moment. And we'll see how many people follow her when this vote takes place tomorrow.

BLITZER: The number three Republican in the House of Representatives, I mean, I'm reading her statement here, together with you Dana, and it sounds like it could have been written by one of the most liberal Democrats out there, especially when she says the President of the United States summon this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack, everything that followed was his doing. And that refers to the deaths that occurred when these thousands of individuals went up Pennsylvania, and stormed Capitol Hill in a brutal, destructive way.

BASH: Yes.

BLITZER: I just want to get your thoughts as someone who covered the House of Representatives for quite a while, Dana. I assume, with this statement, from Liz Cheney, a whole bunch of other Republicans will join all the Democrats tomorrow and vote to impeach the President.

BASH: I'm not sure, it's still unclear how many will follow her. She will give a lot of Republicans political cover to do so if they want to do what they believe in their mind is right as opposed to what they believe and when it comes to principle, when it comes to the oath that they took as opposed to what they think is politically expedient. But I think the other thing, when you mentioned that it could have been written by a Democrat, it's important to take this moment to say Liz Cheney is very conservative.

BLITZER: Yes.

BASH: She is no liberal. And there are a lot of very conservative Republicans who agree with her on this, because it's not about ideology in the political spectrum, on the spectrum within the American democracy, it's democracy itself. And that's what she's trying to -- the point she's trying to make in this statement.

BLITZER: And not just Democrats but Republicans, they felt endangered by this mob. They felt threatened. They were worried about their own lives, as these individuals were attacking the U.S. Capitol. Let me get Gloria in on this as well. Gloria, this is a dramatic moment.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, it really is. And in many ways, you know, she has become the conscience of the Republican Party in the House. And she has told people that this is a vote of conscience, and she has expressed what her conscience is. And don't forget that this isn't the first time Liz Cheney has spoken out against this President. And what he did, she said about five days ago that he lit the flame for the riots. And she was very critical of the President's phone call with Brad Raffensperger, the Secretary of State of Georgia, and she said that it's deeply troubling.

And remember, she said to people, you know, you really ought to listen to that entire call. Because what you will hear on it will be deeply troubling to you. And she is not even talking about that. In this statement. What she's talking about is the President inciting the insurrection. And the people who attacked the U.S. Capitol herself included.

BLITZER: Jamie Gangel is watching all these unbelievable developments unfold right now. Jamie, I read the line that she says, Liz Cheney, there has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution. You've covered up a lot of these Republicans and Democrats, but a lot of these republicans over the years. This is powerful.

JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Look -- and I've covered and interviewed Liz Cheney for years, many, many times. This was, I think, very clear, as both Dana and Gloria have said that it was to be a vote of conscience. I think that there was no question that after she, like many other members felt that the President did not respond, as she says in the statement that that was key in real time when the attack was going on.

And then as Dana was saying earlier this evening, he never showed any contrition or remorse. There was no question in my mind that this was the way she was going to vote in the end.

[17:50:07]

I also think we've been talking in the last week about a growing split in the Republican Party. And I think her vote tomorrow and her announcement of that vote today speaks volumes about what you're going to see going forward. There is going to be the Republican Party of Donald Trump, the people who will stay with him forever, and then there are going to be Republicans like Liz Cheney who are going to move away from him.

And as we were just reporting from the New York Times with Jonathan Martin's reporting, Mitch McConnell has made it very clear that he is -- by the New York Times reporting -- how angry he is at President Trump, and he's giving the Republicans in the House tomorrow, a hall pass. He is saying it's OK to vote for impeachment. And as Jonathan Martin said earlier on the air to you, he thinks that Mitch McConnell would vote to convict in the Senate. So, this is a tipping point, Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes. Mitch McConnell clearly right now hates President Trump. And Liz Cheney is making it clear she is blaming President Trump for that brutal assault on the U.S. Capitol and all the deaths that followed.

Everybody stand by, these are historic moments that we're watching with only eight days to go until Joe Biden is the next President of the United States. We'll take a quick break much more right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:56:18]

BLITZER: We're following breaking pandemic news tonight as well including the U.S. death toll now topping 379,000 people as the country faces more than 22.7 million confirmed cases. And now the surge is prompting the Trump administration to adjust its lagging vaccine rollout. CNN's Erica Hill has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A major shift in the government's vaccination plan.

ALEX AZAR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: We are releasing the entire supply we have for order by states rather than holding second doses in physical reserve.

HILL (voice-over): In line with plans announced last week by the incoming Biden administration.

DR. LEANA WEN, EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: This briefing today was so important to hear that they're saying, OK, we know that there are problems so let's help to problem solve.

HILL (voice-over): HHS Secretary Azar calling on states to expand eligibility to those 65 and over and with underlying conditions, citing current state restrictions as roadblocks, though several states have already begun vaccinating more groups of essential workers and younger seniors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the first time in my life I look forward to getting a shot.

HILL (voice-over): More mass vaccination sites coming online. Disneyland will be ready by the end of the week. Welcome news in California now the epicenter of this pandemic. Essential workers and their families especially vulnerable in hard hit L.A. County.

BARBARA FERRER, DIRECTOR, LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Right now because there is so much spread, we're also recommending that people keep their face coverings on while they're in the inside the home.

HILL (voice-over): Hospitalizations in L.A. County soaring up more than 680 percent since November 1st. Daily reported deaths skyrocketing more than 1,400 percent.

FERRER: This slide is a very real reminder of our failures to protect each other.

HILL (voice-over): Meantime in Tuscaloosa overnight, massive crowds celebrating Alabama's national title, prompting super spreader concerns. The state's mass mandate still in place though, in the crowd, tough to tell. Rising hospitalizations in Central Texas triggering new rollbacks. Nationwide, they're hovering around 130,000. The country adding more than 200,000 new cases a day for the last seven days. In that same time reporting more than 20,000 COVID deaths, including this 37-year-old mother, who died just three days after giving birth to her sixth child.

RABBI STEVE LEDER, AUTHOR, "THE BEAUTY OF WHAT REMAINS": Death is the great teacher to impel us all to lead a more meaningful life and a life in which we take care of each other more not less than. God knows this country needs that now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: And the note, we're now learning from the CDC that all passengers arriving by air into the United States must have proof of a negative COVID test within 72 hours of their departure or proof of recovery from the virus. They have to have that documentation with them. And if they don't have it, airlines must deny them boarding. Wolf?

BLITZER: Thank you, Erica.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

BLITZER: Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world, I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're following breaking news this hour, federal authorities announcing that significant sedition and conspiracy charges are now on the table in response to the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. At least 170 cases have already been opened, hundreds, hundreds more could be on the way.

The top prosecutor in Washington, D.C. meanwhile, is calling the range of criminal conduct unmatched and warning Americans will be shocked by their findings.