President Donald Trump Sending Out A Flurry Of Tweets On The Shutdown, Taking Shots At The Democrats; Democrats Are Pursuing A Strategy To Reopen The Government While Denying The President What He Wants; Alleged Russian Spy Maria Butina, Pleaded Guilty To Conspiring To Influence Policy Toward Russia During The Election Campaign; Strange Message That Was Sent Out By The U.S. Strategic Command
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, New Year's shutdown. With much of the government shutdown all around him, President Trump is a White House shut in this New Year's Eve, tweeting like fireworks as he battles Democrats over his border wall. Accused of spying. Russia arrests an American citizen in Moscow, accusing him of espionage. Is that a move to retaliate after an alleged Russian spy pleads guilty to trying to influence U.S. policy during the election campaign? Warren's run. Elizabeth Warren announces an exploratory committee for a Presidential run, but at the same time, she is in all the way, she says. Could she be the Democrat to take on President Trump? And securing Times Square. Thousands of police, assault units and bomb-sniffing dogs will be working to keep New Year's Eve revelers safe in New York's Times Square. For the first time, a drone will provide eyes in the sky. Wolf Blitzer is off. I'm Brianna Keilar. This is the SITUATION ROOM Special Report. It's New Year's Eve, and day ten of the government shutdown. President Trump is again home alone for the holiday. He began his celebration with a twitter tirade, contradicting his outgoing chief of staff by saying he never abandoned the idea of a concrete border wall. Calling the southern border an open wound and saying Democrats should come back from vacation and fix it. Democrats are planning votes to reopen the government without offering new funding for a wall. The President also suggests he should be hailed as a national hero for his stance on Syria, attacking what he calls failed generals who have criticized his troop pullout. I will be speaking with Democratic congressman, Ruben Gallego of the arms services committee. And our correspondents, specialists are standing by with full coverage. We do begin at the White House, and with CNN's Jessica Dean. No movement, Jessica, on this shutdown standoff.</s>JESSICA DEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No. No movement from here at the White House, Brianna. As you mentioned, President Trump here at the White House after cancelling those New Year's Eve plans to go down to Mar-a-Lago. His wife and their son down in Florida tonight, but he, as an aide says, is in the oval office today. We certainly haven't seen much of him, but we have heard a lot from him on twitter. That's been his primary mode of communication throughout these past several days, as he talks about the shutdown. And one thing is certainly clear, he is digging in on the wall and the money that he wants to fund it.</s>DEAN (voice-over): Ten days into the partial government shutdown. Sources involved with negotiations say President Trump is privately telling lawmakers and officials, he will not sign a bill with only $1.3 billion for border security, the current Democratic offer. Today, the President sending out a flurry of tweets on the shutdown, taking shots at the Democrats saying quote "I'm in the oval office. Democrats, come back from vacation now and give us the votes necessary for border security, including the wall." But Democrats appear equally dug in, taking control of the House on Thursday, they plan to vote on a package that maintains the $1.3 billion for border security, but no wall funding. Still, following a two-hour lunch with the President on Sunday, Senator Lindsey Graham remained optimistic a compromise could be reached in the next few days.</s>SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: The President didn't commit, but I think he is very open-minded.</s>DEAN: Meantime, new details about the administration's attempted rebranding of the Trump wall. Outgoing chief of staff, John Kelly, telling the "Los Angeles Times" quote "to be honest, it's not a wall." He went on, explaining, the President still says "wall," oftentimes, frankly, he will say barrier or fencing. Now he is tended toward steel slats. But we left a solid, concrete wall early on in the administration when we asked people what they need and had where they needed it. The comments led Trump to fire back, tweeting, an all-concrete wall was never abandoned, as has been reported by the media. Some areas will be all concrete, but the experts at border patrol prefer a wall that is see-through. Thereby making it possible to see what is happening on both sides. Makes sense to me. The President also brought the Obamas into his border wall fight. Tweeting, President and Mrs. Obama built, has a ten-foot wall around their D.C. mansion compound. I agree, totally necessary for their safety and security. The U.S. needs the same thing, slightly larger version. The U.S. secret service did erect a barrier gate in front of the Obamas' home before they moved in. The house is located on a residential street in Washington, D.C. And he also brought the deaths of two migrant children at the border into the fight, blaming their deaths on Democrats, tweeting, any deaths of children or others at the border are strictly the fault of the Democrats and their pathetic immigration policies that allow people to make the long trek, thinking they can enter our country illegally. They can't. If we had a wall, they wouldn't even try. As Trump seems unmoved on the money he needs for the border wall, his decision to remove U.S. troops from Syria may be slowing down. Senator Graham telling reporters, the President agreed to reevaluate in order to find the best way to move forward with the withdrawal.</s>GRAHAM: I think we are slowing things down in a smart way, but the goal has always been the same. To be able to leave Syria, make sure ISIS never comes back. Our partners are taken care of, and Iran is contained. And I think that's possible. It's going to take a little longer than everybody thought. But hopefully we can get there.</s>DEAN: The President also tweeting about Syria, saying he plans to slowly bring back the troops while continuing to fight ISIS. And he says, Brianna, this is what he always promised to do when he was on the campaign trail. He's just making good on that promise.</s>KEILAR: All right, Jessica Dean at the White House, thank you. Now Democrats are pursuing a strategy to reopen the government while denying the President what he wants. Let's bring in CNN congressional correspondent, Phil Mattingly. Is this going to work?</s>PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If your baseline is reopening the government, the short answer is probably not. Right now it's been made very clear, Democrats, once they take power in the House on Thursday, speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi always made clear, she was going to pass something right off the bat that would reopen the government. What Democrats have decided to do is basically six of the unfunded agencies at this moment would be passed in a bipartisan way with Senate appropriation bill. The seventh, the department of homeland security, which obviously the most contentious part, because that's where the wall would go. That would be passed at the continuing resolution level. So current fund-raising up until February 8th. Here's the catch. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, has made clear. He is not going to put anything on the floor that the President doesn't support. What do these bills not have? They do not have any extra money for a border wall. They don't have money for a border wall, period. And that means that even though House Democrats are going to move forward on something, this is not the answer. So long as the President maintains his current position. And Brianna, everybody I'm talking to on Capitol Hill has made clear, someone is going to have to blink at this point in time. Democrats have made clear, they feel very comfortable in their current position, and I would just point you to the President's twitter account. If you don't think he is comfortable in his. So the big question becomes, what is the way out at this point in time? This likely isn't it. It's probably going to take another couple of days, maybe even weeks, as well. But more than anything else, it's going to take somebody saying I have to give up, basically, at this point. And nobody is there yet. So ten days right now could go 12, could go 14. I'm told weeks is a real possibility at this point.</s>KEILAR: Weeks. That is stunning. Phil Mattingly, thank you so much. Russia has detained a U.S. citizen in Moscow, accusing him of spying. And this comes after alleged Russian spy Maria Butina, pleaded guilty to conspiring to influence policy toward Russia during the election campaign. CNN's Brian Todd is here with that. So what are you learning? Is there a connection here?</s>BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, neither U.S. officials nor the Russians are saying tonight that there is a connection. But former CIA officers we spoke with say there very likely is a connection. Now Vladimir Putin has denied he would ever retaliate in kind. But we are told Putin has been furious over the Maria Butina case.</s>TODD (voice-over): Tonight, Vladimir Putin's security services could have a key bargaining chip in their ongoing spy operations against the U.S. Russia's federal security service, the FSB, says it has detained an American citizen in Moscow quote "while carrying out an active espionage." The Kremlin identifies him as Paul Nicholas Whelan.</s>TODD: But tonight there's virtually no other information available about him. And the Russians aren't being any more specific on what they accuse Whelan for doing.</s>BOB BAER, CNN INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY ANALYST: I think this is a tit for tat. Our relations with Russia are going downhill very quickly. We have been identifying Russian spies. We have arrested Butina. Putin is furious about it.</s>TODD: Maria Butina, the accused Russian spy who just struck a plea deal, is still in jail in the U.S. and is cooperating with federal prosecutors. U.S. officials have suggested in court papers that Butina was specifically tasked by her Russian handlers with infiltrating conservative political groups in America, such as the NRA. Putin recently complained publicly about her case, denying any knowledge of Butina.</s>VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): No one knows anything about her at all. The only thing anyone knows about her, is that she worked at the federation council for one of the deputies. That's it.</s>TODD: As for Paul Whelan, former CIA officer bob Bear says he thinks it's unlikely that Whalen works for the U.S. government, which we says doesn't usually send spies to Moscow unless they are under diplomatic cover. Whalen, he says, could have simply been working for a private company and was conveniently rounded up. Baer says it's possible the Russians will hold Whelan until Butina's case is resolved and she returns to Russia. But he says Putin is under a great deal of pressure inside Russia, and may want more for the American than just Maria Butina.</s>BAER: A lot of the oligarchs are being sanctioned by the United States. They want those sanctions off. They want relief. We are going to have to sit somebody down at the KGB, ask what they want to make this go away. But frankly, the guy is a hostage. And it's up to the Russians how long they want to hold him and whether it's serving Putin's interests.</s>TODD: Putin recently said he would not arrest any quote innocent people for any kind of spy swap.</s>TODD: Now, so far U.S. officials either have very little information on Paul Whelan or simply don't want to say much. A state department spokesman telling CNN, they are aware of the Americans' detention and have requested access. Right now, there is no indication of when and whether the kremlin is going to grant that access - Brianna.</s>KEILAR: Brian Todd, thank you so much. Now President Trump wasn't the only one tweeting today. There has been a rather strange message that was sent out by the U.S. strategic command, which controls the launch of U.S. nuclear weapons. Let's turn to CNN pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr on this. This is something that had us going. Is this real?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Brianna. And it is real. The U.S. military says all they were trying to do is remind everyone in the world that 24/7, the U.S. military is always ready to respond if needed. But get a load of this. It's New Year's Eve. Everyone is looking for a very peaceful, happy holiday. And here's what the U.S. strategic command decided to tweet. And let me quote and then we'll show you the video. But first, they say, Times Square tradition rings in the New Year by dropping the big ball. If ever needed, we are ready to drop something much bigger. Watch to the end. Well, watch the video that they posted with this. This is a b-2 bomber, nuclear-capable, but in this video, it is dropping in a test firing, two of the biggest bombs the U.S. military has, 30,000-pound bombs in this weapons test that was recently conducted. And now attached to this message, saying, if ever needed, we are ready to drop something much bigger than the Times Square ball. Awkward, peculiar, up to everyone to decide what they think about this. Generally understood that the U.S. military is ready 24/7. But they are sending this message out at a time when we're seeing tonight the transition between secretary Mattis and the new acting secretary, Pat Shanahan, when the Russians are testing hypersonic weapons. When the North Korean situation is unresolved. When the Chinese are moving ahead, expanding their weapons arsenal. Peculiar timing, perhaps, to say the least - Brianna.</s>KEILAR: Indeed. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. And joining me now is Democratic congressman, Ruben Gallego of Arizona. He is a member of the armed services committee. He is also an Iraq combat veteran. Congressman, thanks so much for being with us.</s>REP. RUBEN GALLEGO (D), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: Thank you.</s>KEILAR: So we have a lot to discuss. First, that tweet, I saw you raising your eyebrows. What did you think about that?</s>GALLEGO: I think it's very tacky. You know, power whisperers especially comes into</s>KEILAR: Is it the timing of it? Is it making light of something so serious?</s>GALLEGO: I don't know what they are trying to say. But it's really unprofessional. And whoever did that should really be reprimanded.</s>KEILAR: Let's talk about the shutdown. Democrats are planning to vote on Thursday, as you know, on funding bills. From the start of this, they're really going to go nowhere in the end. So what is the end game? Where is the next step and the one after that?</s>GALLEGO: Well, our end game is always been to be the responsible party and keep government open. And that's why we actually struck a deal with the Republicans and the senators. They have got 100 percent support from the Senate. About 99 percent of members of Congress and then was rejected by this President when a couple right wing pundits decided they did not like the deal. At the end of the deal, we are going to bring border security money to the fold and fund government. Now, what we're not going to do is support a irresponsible use of money for a border wall that is not needed, specifically because the President has not truly used the money we already allocated in the last funding.</s>KEILAR: So you are putting up votes on funding bills that aren't going to be taken up by the Senate. So does that mean doing something, clearly sending a message, but in the end not getting something accomplished. Does that mean that you as Democrats are very comfortable with where you are? You are not going to blink in this?</s>GALLEGO: I think the most important thing we are comfortable with, we know that we are standing in the right position for this country. We are going to do the best we can to open portions of the government that we think we could find some consensus in. Just because we can't come to an agreement when it comes to homeland security funding, does not mean we have to keep the rest of government closed. Hopefully, Senator McConnell agrees with us and hopefully Donald Trump -- President Trump agrees with us also, so we can continue negotiating. I think this stance we are taking is deeply irresponsible.</s>KEILAR: You also serve on the armed services committee. After announcing a full withdrawal of troops from Syria, the President is now saying this quote. "We are slowly sending our troops back home to be with their families, while at the same time fighting ISIS remnants." Are you encouraged by what seems to be a modifying of the time line, even if the total withdrawal stands?</s>GALLEGO: Well, I think what we should do is actually have a proper authorization of use of military force in Syria, so we can actually project what our goals are to both our enemies and the citizens of the United States. I have actually have been for a withdrawal of our troops from Syria. I would have done it in a manner that is more consistent and predictable and working with our allies and protecting them at the same time. But the best way to do it for all sides, whether it's the President's position or whether it's a war hawk like Lindsey Graham, is for us to actually have an authorized use of military force, a real one. One that clearly defines what our goals are. Not exactly what we have right now, which really has been, I think, a total mistreatment of the 2003 authorized use of military force. And I think that's why you are having a lot of confusion both from the President and from the Senate.</s>KEILAR: Doesn't seem to be a series, a chorus of calls, for that, though.</s>GALLEGO: Well, there should be. And I certainly will be leading that in the house. And I think there's going to be a lot of senators, both Democrats and Republicans, that will be doing that. And I think we should have done it under Obama. We didn't. And we should continue pushing that under here, President Trump.</s>KEILAR: I want to ask you about a video that CNN just obtained. I do want to warn our viewers, this is tough to watch. This is upsetting. It shows staffers at an Arizona facility pushing and dragging migrant children, and the company that ran this facility, Southwest Key, it's the largest provider of shelters for migrant children in the country. We knew that this had happened, that bad behavior had happened. We knew this back in October. But this video is new. I wonder, what's your reaction to this? Also, this seems to, I think, increase awareness and more concern. But also the idea of this is what we have now seen. There are other things, perhaps, that are unseen.</s>GALLEGO: Well, I think this plays to a couple of things that are important. Number one, we need to have oversight. Especially the way that DHS and the President have been rushing the separation of families and separation of children from their parents. We, as government, are the acting parents. And if we have a cavalier attitude, such as John Kelly, when he was asked first time that they are going to be separated or something of that nature or the President's current attitude, where he is trying to lay blame on everyone but himself, we need to have oversight both for us in Congress, the Senate, the President, as well as local officials. And what finally actually happened here, local journalists that got hold of this video and forced the Maricopa County sheriff to actually file charges. And it's unfortunate that's what we had to do. But that is a really good example of true checks on something that is probably going a lot of times across this country.</s>KEILAR: All right. Congressman Gallego, thank you so much. Really appreciate you being with us. Happy new year to you, as well.</s>GALLEGO: Thank you. You too.</s>KEILAR: Up next, Paul Manafort reportedly came under heavy pressure from Russian associates, including a former spy. The payback, heavy debts. Could this have affected his actions while he was Trump campaign chairman? But first, we are tracking some celebrations around the world. Take a look at how the New Year rolled in just moments ago in Athens, Greece.