Republicans Dodge Questions On Giuliani And Smear Campaign Against Ousted U.S. Ambassador
TAPPER: Today, the ousted Ambassador to Ukraine Maria Yovanovitch fired back against the alleged smear campaign that played a role in her removal which was led by Rudy Giuliani, were told. CNN's Manu Raju joins me now. And Manu, you just approached some Republicans about a person they don't really like to talk about much Rudy Giuliani, and the role he played in all of this. What do they have to say?</s>MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. There's really not a full-throated defense of Rudy Giuliani and his role coming from congressional Republicans. Most of them sidestepping questions put directly to them about what Rudy Giuliani did, how he was enlisted by the president to pursue these investigations that the President has sought, and also as he pushed for this smear campaign, apparently against Maria Yovanovitch according to our sworn testimony. Now, I just had a chance to ask the top Republican on the House Oversight Committee, Jim Jordan, who sits now on the Senate -- the House Intelligence Committee about that, whether or not he believes that Marie Yovanovitch was the victim of a smear campaign launched by Giuliani. Now, he would not answer that question. He was silent for a few seconds, shook his head when I asked him if he believed whether or not she was the victim of this smear campaign by Giuliani. He did defend Giuliani overall by saying that the President does have the right to choose who he wants to help pursue his foreign policy. But, Jake, that is certainly not -- we're not hearing much from congressional Republicans about that. Instead, they were focusing today about how the President has the right to do what he wants with his ambassadors, not necessarily defending what Giuliani did.</s>TAPPER: Yes. There's a lot of time spent talking about the President has the right to do things and not whether or not the President is doing the right things. Manu Raju, thank you so much. And let's talk about this, guys, because here is specifically what Ambassador Yovanovitch said about Mayor Rudy Giuliani today.</s>YOVANOVITCH: I do not understand Mr. Giuliani's motives for attacking me, nor can I offer an opinion on whether he believed the allegations he spread about me. Clearly, no one at the State Department did. What I can say is that Mr. Giuliani should have known those claims were suspect, coming as they reportedly did, from individuals with questionable motives.</s>TAPPER: And, Nia, first of all, we should note, President Trump has a long and storied history of believing conspiracy theories.</s>HENDERSON: Yes.</s>TAPPER: Especially ones that benefit him politically, like the racist lie that Obama wasn't born in this country or he saw on T.V. a bunch of Muslim Americans, Arab Americans celebrating 911 in New Jersey, there's no evidence of that either, and on and on and on. Here, we have conspiracy theories infiltrating and affecting foreign policy.</s>HENDERSON: That's right. In a conspiracy theory around Ukraine which Putin pushed as well, right? I mean, you think about Nancy Pelosi saying all roads lead to Putin. This was brought up in the hearing today that part of this theory about the DNC server is all about to exculpate in Russia from their involvement in the 2016 and campaign and say no, it was really Ukraine. Listen, Rudy Giuliani while all this was happening, people thought he was a problem, right? You had John Bolton essentially saying this guy is a hand grenade. He's going to blow this whole thing up. You had Pompeo -- I think he was asked by Volker about Pompeo, he just sort of rolled his eyes about Giuliani's involvement. And you know, Giuliani at some point said he wanted to come before the committee with his charts and graphs. I don't think he's going to come before the committee with his charts and graphs.</s>TAPPER: And Jen, as somebody who's an expert in the State Department because you work there, and then -- and you Chairman Rogers after that, is an expert intelligence, if you know that a president can be manipulated by spreading information even if it's false about this ambassador is a never-Trump, this Ambassador is doing this, can that be exploited?</s>PSAKI: Sure it can. I mean, I think one of the most interesting things Yovanovitch said today was shady actors the world over have learned how little it takes to remove a U.S. Ambassador who does not give them what they want. So the point is, anybody around the world is watching what has happened here, and they can look at it and say, we can flatter President Trump, we can suggest to him we're going to copy his brilliant tactics politically, and in exchange will get rid of U.S. ambassadors who are pushing too hard on us. Maybe we'll get some assistance. That's the lesson they're taking.</s>TAPPER: And very briefly, if you can, Chairman Rogers.</s>ROGERS: We have whole processes in the intelligence community with analysts to make sure that the -- what lands on a president's desk isn't being manipulative of A, for a decision or outcome they want, whole processes. When you have one person who's stumbling around Ukraine who looks I think a little bit more like Dennis Rodman in North Korea's efforts than he does a savvy lawyer and diplomat, you're headed for trouble. Bad decisions are going get made. and I want to just take a quick look ahead to next week. The big testimony will be starting on Tuesday Jennifer Williams, the Vice President pants, a special advisor on Europe and Russia then and also Lieutenant</s>TAPPER: And I want to just take a quick look ahead to next week. The big testimony will be starting on Tuesday. Jennifer Williams, Vice President Pence's special advisor on Europe and Russia, then -- and also Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman who was on the July 25th call, Kurt Volker former Special Envoy to Ukraine, Tim Morrison and the President's top Russia advisor now. Wednesday Gordon Sondland. Everyone is going to want to hear what he has to say. Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary Defense for Russia, David Hill Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and then Thursday, Fiona Hill Trump's former top Russia advisor who expressed concern about the shadow campaign. Be sure to tune in to CNN this Sunday morning for "STATE OF THE UNION." My guests include Republican Congressman Mike Turner, who's on the Intelligence Committee. He's going to join me as well as Democratic Senator Chris Murphy who's been very active in the Ukraine situation. You can see it all at 9:00 a.m. and noon Eastern on Sunday. I'll see you Sunday morning. Thanks for watching.