First Public Impeachment Inquiry Hearings Next Week; Current And Former Top U.S. Diplomats In Ukraine And Key State Dept. Official To Give Public Testimony In Impeachment Inquiry Next Week; Giuliani Hires New Lawmakers As Impeachment Probe Intensifies; White House Adds Two Advisers To Impeachment Team; Sources Say Growing Concern Over Taylor Testimony; Transcript Release Of Diplomat's Testimony About Quid Pro Quo; Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Is Interviewed About Bill Taylor And Impeachment
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: He was leaving the White House on his way to a rally in Louisiana tonight. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @jaketapper. Our coverage on CNN continues right now.</s>WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Happening now, breaking news. Public hearings. House Democrats announce public testimony in the impeachment inquiry starting a week from today. Key witnesses telling what they know about President Trump's Ukraine controversy on live television. White House braces. Sources say President Trump's inner circle is increasingly concerned about the impeachment probe. Tonight details of new hires for the impeachment team and which testimony the White House fears the most. Path to 2020. Democrats claim victory in closely watched elections including one where President Trump's personal appeals apparently failed to save a sitting Republican governor in a strong red state. What did the result say about the President's chances for reelection next year? And massacre manhunt. An intense search for suspects in the brutal slaying of nine American women and children in Mexico. We have new details of the investigation and chilling new accounts of how some children survived. I'm Wolf Blitzer. And you're in THE SITUATION ROOM. We're following breaking news the do public phase of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump moving forward rapidly. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff now says the first public hearings will take place next week with a witnesses including the current and former top U.S. diplomats in Ukraine, Bill Taylor and Marie Yovanovitch. And a short time ago the impeachment committee released Taylor's closed door testimony. He also described a quid pro quo saying it was his clear understanding that U.S. aid to Ukraine wouldn't come until the country's new president publicly committed to investigating Joe Biden and his son. We'll talk about the breaking news with Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of the Judiciary Committee. And our correspondents and analysts are also standing by. First, let's go to Capitol Hill. Our Senior Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju is following all these late breaking developments for us. Manu, this is about to enter a brand-new phase for the first time. The American people will hear directly from these key witnesses who are at center of this impeachment inquiry.</s>MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Significant development as Democrats try to make the case to the American public that the President deserved to be impeached and removed from the office because in their view he abused his office by seeking Ukraine to announce investigations into his political rivals including Vice President Joe Biden. At the same time as vital military aid for that country to help combat Russian aggression nearly $400 million had been withheld. They're going to hear witness testimony from people who came behind closed doors. Current State Department employees who raised concerns about what they saw as a shadow campaign, a campaign led by Rudy Giuliani, the President's personal attorney, at the direction of the President. And concerns being raised about why that aid had not been approved and released to Ukraine. Now, next Wednesday the first two witnesses who will appear will be Bill Taylor who's a top diplomat from the -- U.S. diplomat in Ukraine and George Kent who is a senior State Department official. Afterwards they'll hear from Marie Yovanovitch who is testifying on Friday. She is, of course, have been recalled from that post amid a campaign by Giuliani and his associates to target her, go after her and push her out of the way after she had raised concerns to the highest level of the State Department about Giuliani's efforts to pursue those investigations urged the Ukrainians to announce those investigations. Now Republicans today are pushing back. Pushing back at Taylor's upcoming testimony that Democrats believe will help shape the narrative that the President tried to link Ukraine aid to these investigations. But Republicans say, Bill Taylor, in particular does not have any firsthand knowledge.</s>RAJU: Taylor testified that there could -- he was told that there was -- aid had been withheld in exchange for announcing these investigations publicly. He testified that there was a quid pro quo.</s>REP. JIM JORDAN (R-OH), RANKING MEMBER, HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: It was no announcement about any investigations ever took place. The Ukrainians didn't even know aid had been held up at the time of the phone call. So the facts are the facts and I keep telling you all that those things -- those facts will not change and have not changed despite what some people may say. And Ambassador Volker backed up those four fundamental facts in his testimony. He was the first witness called but he's certainly not going to be the -- based on what we've seen is not going to be the first guy called.</s>RAJU: Of course he's referring to Kurt Volker, the especial envoy to Ukraine, who did testified that he did not see a quid pro quo. But in a revised testimony from a separate witness yesterday, Gordon Sondland, the European Union ambassador, revised his testimony to say that he later told a top Ukrainian official that the aid was likely was contingent on these announcement of investigations, that announcement had to be made by President Zelensky of Ukraine. And there's a sign, also Wolf, that Democrats are planning to move forward on these investigation. They announced today that they are withdrawing a subpoena for the -- to push an individual to come and testify, Charles Kupperman, someone who served in the White House who had fought that subpoena in court. They announced today that they are withdrawing that subpoena in part because they're trying to make the case that they want to move quickly on this impeachment inquiry because the court has set a schedule to delay that proceeding until later this year. A statement from an official working on the impeachment inquiry said that they don't want to lead to a schedule that would delay -- result in only delay, which is why they are withdrawing the subpoena. So, Wolf, all of these indications are signs that Democrats are moving quickly, something that could lead to impeachment, potentially, by the end of the year. Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Yes. They clearly want to draft the articles of impeachment sooner rather than later. Manu Raju, up on Capitol Hill, thank you very much. And now more on the newly released testimony of the current top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, Bill Taylor. Our Justice Correspondent Jessica Schneider is working the story for us. Jessica, Taylor also describes a quid pro quo for U.S. aid going to crane.</s>JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: That is right, Wolf. And Taylor was specific to say that he was told that Ukraine would get no military money until the country's President Zelensky announced the political investigations that the President was requesting. Taylor was incredibly detailed in his testimony even telling the committees that he took meticulous notes in a little notebook complete with quotes so he is certain about the accuracy of his recollection.</s>SCHNEIDER (voice-over): The top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, Bill Taylor, told lawmakers it was his "clear understanding security assistance money would not come until Ukrainian President Zelensky committed to pursue the investigation" into the 2016 election and the Ukrainian company where Joe Biden's son served on the board, Burisma. Taylor recounted how top NSC official, Tim Morrison, told him "President Trump did insist that President Zelensky go to a microphone and say he is opening investigations of Biden and 2016." Taylor was alarmed and sent a cable to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, "describing the folly I saw in withholding military aid to Ukraine at a time when hostilities were still active in the east and when Russia is watching closely to gauge the level of American support for the Ukrainian government." Taylor's testimony points to a quid pro quo. Something the President has repeatedly denied.</s>DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There was no quid pro quo at all. I didn't do it. There was no quid pro quo.</s>SCHNEIDER: Taylor was asked if the President ever told Taylor directly why the aid was being withheld. Taylor responding, "I didn't hear it from the President, I can't say what the President was thinking." And that is what Republicans are seizing on as their latest defense.</s>REP. MARK MEADOWS, (R-NC), OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: What they said was, is any information that they had was from whom? Ambassador Sondland. None of them talked to the President. I assure can assure you that there has been no direct link to the President.</s>SCHNEIDER: Taylor also repeatedly criticized the President's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, for his rogue foreign policy on Ukraine. When Taylor was asked if E.U. Ambassador Gordon Sondland was responsible for withholding Ukraine aid in exchange for investigations something former National Security Advisor John Bolton had called a drug deal, Taylor said it was actually Giuliani who was the proxy for Trump. "I think the origin of the idea to get President Zelensky to say out loud he's going to investigate Burisma and the 2016 election, I think the originator, the person who came up with that was Mr. Giuliani." Meanwhile depositions continued behind closed doors today on Capitol Hill before the public phase begins next week. David Hale is a high ranking official at the State Department. And according to the Associated Press, intended to testify that Secretary of State Pompeo was reluctant to defend ousted Ukrainian Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch because it would hurt efforts to get the military aid to Ukraine released. Plus, the AP reports there were concerns about how a public defense would play with Rudy Giuliani.</s>SCHNEIDER: And at the same time the testimony keeps pointing fingers at Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani announcing on Twitter tonight that he has hired a new team of lawyers. Giuliani previously told us that he would not be seeking a new lawyer unless he felt one was needed. But in the weeks since, sources have told CNN Giuliani has been approaching defense attorneys. And of course Giuliani isn't just being brought up in Congress, Wolf, we've learned that federal prosecutors in New York are looking into his business dealings in Ukraine in addition to a counterintelligence probe.</s>BLITZER: Yes. He's clearly hired a team of lawyers, criminal defense attorneys to help him get through what is clearly a very, very serious investigation. All right, Jessica Schneider thanks very much. There is growing concern inside of the White House over all these really fast-moving developments. Our Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta is joining us with that part of the story. Jim, you're in Louisiana where the President will be holding another political rally later tonight.</s>JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf. President Trump is on his way to Louisiana to campaign for the Republican candidate for governor in the state. The White House is obviously very concerned about these fast-moving developments in the impeachment inquiry. The President may be campaigning down here but that didn't go so well for him last night as there were big losses for the Republican Party in contests across the country. Still the White House has its focus on impeachment, hiring new officials to respond to the inquiry. Still Republicans are getting jittery about impeachment and 2020 with one source close to the White House telling me that last night's elections and impeachment are sizing up to be a bad omen for the President.</s>ACOSTA (voice-over): President Trump is escaping to the campaign trail with a cloud of impeachment hanging over his every move. The White House is bracing for the upcoming public hearings and the inquiry and getting more nervous about the newly-released testimony from senior officials like the top diplomat in Ukraine, Bill Taylor, and European Union Ambassador, Gordon Sondland, who resized his recollections to say there was a quid pro quo with the Ukrainian President. But aides to the President say they still don't see a quid pro quo.</s>KELLYANNE CONWAY, COUNCELOR TO THE PRESIDENT: That is the White House's position and I don't think that his latest revision has changed that.</s>ACOSTA: White House is bringing on new staffers to beef up the counter impeachment message despite Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham's claim last week that Mr. Trump can handle all that.</s>STEPHANIE GRISHAM, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: He is the war room. The difference between Clinton and Nixon which is what people constantly compare us to, is that those two did something wrong. The President has done nothing wrong. So at this time he feels confident with the people that he has in place.</s>ACOSTA: President's loyalist are changing their tune on the inquiry, now claiming the administration was too incoherent to engage in a quid pro quo.</s>SE. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: What I can tell you about the Trump policy toward the Ukraine, it was incoherent. It depends on who you talk to. They seem to be incapable of forming a quid pro quo. So no, I find the whole process to be a sham and I'm not going to legitimize it.</s>ACOSTA: Contrast that with the excuse that the whistleblower's account was all hearsay.</s>GRAHAM: This seems to me like a political setup. It's all hearsay.</s>ACOSTA: Other Trump loyalist are saying they no longer believe what Sondland says preferring the account of former Ukraine envoy, Kurt Volker.</s>JORDAN: You all want to make a big deal out of Mr. Sondland's presumptions that he had in his statement yesterday, but Mr. Volker is the one has -- in my mind defending the account.</s>ACOSTA: But hold on. The President once said Sondland could be trusted.</s>TRUMP: The text message that I saw from Ambassador Sondland who is highly respected was there's no quid pro quo. He said that.</s>ACOSTA: The President is licking his wounds after campaigning for Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin who lost a close battle for reelection.</s>TRUMP: If you lose, they're going to say Trump suffered the greatest defeat in the history of the world. This was the greatest. You can't let that happen to me.</s>ACOSTA: One of the slew of contests that swing to the Democrats from Kentucky to Pennsylvania to Virginia. A source close to the White House told CNN the results were "totally bad. Kentucky and Virginia signal to the GOP they are underestimating voter intensity against Trump, and it could be terrible for them next year. A bad omen for impeachment." The President is spinning it all as a big win tweeting, "Our big Kentucky rally on Monday night had a massive impact on all of the races. The increase in governor's race was at least 15 points and maybe 20. Will be in Louisiana." The President is betting his most vocal supporters will remain loyalr no matter what he does.</s>ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: If he shot someone on Fifth Avenue, would you vote for him?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have to know why he shot him?</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, why did he shoot him?</s>ACOSTA: Now the Trump campaign released a statement saying that the President had to drag the governor of Kentucky Matt Bevin across the finish line but if the President keeps losing some of these races in places like Kentucky and Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, other candidates may pass up the opportunity to be dragged by the President. And just a few moments ago, Wolf, we noticed the President did not stop to talk to reporters as he was leaving the White House for this rally down here in Louisiana. Something he often does when he leaves the White House in the early evening hours. That may mean, Wolf, that he is saving things up for tonight. Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Jim Acosta, thank you very much. Let's get more on all of this. Democratic Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York is joining us. He's a member of the Judiciary Committee, he's also a chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us. And as you know the House has released the transcripts now from the deposition of the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine Bill Taylor. Lawmakers will have the chance to question Bill Taylor once again next week during the first round of public televised impeachment hearings. How valuable do you believe Ambassador Taylor is as a witness?</s>REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): Well, it's good to be with you again, Wolf. And Ambassador Taylor is an important witness, one, because of his inherit credibility. This is somebody who served the country incredibly well, who's a Vietnam War veteran, decorated hero, West Point graduate, a diplomat of impeccable credentials. [17:15:004] And his testimony will confirm that the underlying narrative which is that the President betrayed his oath of office, that he abused his power by pressuring a foreign government to target an American citizen for political and personal gain by soliciting foreign interference in a 2020 election. Betrayed the integrity of our elections in that process and violated the Constitution.</s>BLITZER: What would you like to hear from some of the lawmakers when these televised hearings begin next Wednesday and millions of people across the country will be watching?</s>JEFFRIES: Well, the focus, I think, is going to be on the witnesses and communicating to the American people why Trump's wrongdoing implicated and undermined our national security interest. Three hundred and ninety-one million dollars in military and economic aid was withheld from Ukraine that had been allocated in a bipartisan way. Ukraine is a friend, Russia is a foe. Ukraine is a democracy, Russia is a dictatorship. And the United States right now may be the only thing standing between Vladimir Putin and Ukraine being completely overrun by Russia as part of Putin's fantasy of recreating what he views as the glory days of the Soviet Union. Right now you have Russian-backed separatists at war in Ukraine. That is why Congress allocated this money in a bipartisan basis, yet it was withheld as part of a pressure campaign to target an American citizen and try to compel this phony investigation into Joe Biden.</s>BLITZER: Once the hearings go public next week, Republicans at those hearings, they'll be able to cross-examine some of these witnesses even use staff attorneys to ask questions as well. As you know, the President and his allies have tried to paint witnesses like Bill Taylor as never Trumpers, they've gone after them personally. Do public hearings carry some level of risk potentially for Democrats?</s>JEFFRIES: Not at all. I believe it was Justice Brandeis who once said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. And what you have right now as evidence of wrongdoing by Donald Trump is hiding in plain sight. That evidence needs to be presented to the American people in a clear and comprehensive and compelling fashion and that is exactly what is going to happen. We're going to continue to follow the facts, to apply the law and be guided by the Constitution. And make sure that the truth is presented to the American people.</s>BLITZER: What's the timeline, and I understand it's not specific, but give me a sense of the timeline for holding a vote on articles of impeachment?</s>JEFFRIES: Well Speaker Pelosi who continues to do a fantastic job in leading us forward in a real serious solemn and sober fashion has made clear that we won't put a specific timeline on our proceedings, but that we will proceed in a fashion that is expeditious, that's comprehensive and that is fair. We are going to be guided by the facts as they exist and as they unfold and are presented to the American people. Sooner rather than later, I think it's fair to say in terms of moving forward and ultimately coming to a decision that the Intel Committee will have to make as to whether they're going to recommend articles of impeachment to the House Judiciary Committee. But the Intel Committee has been proceeding in a way that is consistent with simply trying to uncover the entirety of the story, present that wrongdoing engaged in by Donald Trump to the American people and then see where it leads.</s>BLITZER: Congressman Jeffries, thanks as usual for joining us.</s>JEFFRIES: Thank you, Wolf.</s>BLITZER: We're going to learn a lot more ahead on all of the breaking news. Will next week's start of public televised hearings in the impeachment inquiry sway public opinion about removing the President from office?