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Interview With Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA); McConnell Backs Trump Impeachment?; Feds Fear More Violent Plots In The Works; House Debating Rule To Consider Legislation Calling On Pence To Invoke 25th Amendment. Aired 6-7p ET
Aired January 12, 2021 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[18:00:03]
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: And "The Washington Post" is now reporting that the FBI warned in an internal memo of a violent war at the Capitol just one day before the deadly attack.
Also breaking: On the eve of a vote to impeach President Trump for an unprecedented second time, we have learned that the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is now pleased with the efforts to punish the president, believing impeachment would make it easier to purge him from the Republican Party.
One top Republican, Congresswoman Liz Cheney, just announced -- and this is very dramatic -- she just announced she would vote for impeachment, calling the president's conduct a betrayal.
But President Trump is refusing to take any blame at all for the deadly events he clearly incited.
Let's go to our senior congressional correspondent, Manu Raju. He's up on Capitol Hill.
Manu, I understand there's about to be a moment of silence on Capitol Hill. Tell us about that.
MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, an actual sign of bipartisanship for the two fallen police officers, something that has really shook the Capitol.
Just moments from now, the House will have a moment of silence for the two police officers, including one who was killed in the result of what happened after Wednesday's deadly ride, another one who died over the weekend. That's Officer Brian Sicknick. Officer Sicknick was one who sustained injuries from Wednesday's riot, later was pronounced dead.
And also Officer Howard Liebengood, who's also someone who was pronounced dead from over the weekend. So, a sign of bipartisanship here. Expect members from both sides to be on the floor recognizing these two fallen officers here, Wolf, as they prepare for this big momentous debate in the day ahead.
BLITZER: Do we have a sense, Manu, how many House Republicans, do you think, might actually break with the president tomorrow and join the Democrats in voting in favor of impeachment?
RAJU: It remains to be seen, Wolf.
There's expectation it could be 10. It could be more than 10, potentially up to 20. And one reason why we don't have a very good sense of this yet is because Republican leaders have decided they will not pressure their leadership to fall in -- their members to fall in line behind the leadership.
They will not whip their members, not pressure them, the way they did in 2019, the first time Donald Trump was impeached. And, at that point, no Republicans broke ranks, but, already, two defections that have occurred, one, Congressman John Katko, and another very significant defection.
The number three Republican Congresswoman, Liz Cheney, the Republican from Wyoming, the daughter of the former Vice President Dick Cheney, just announced she will vote to impeach Donald Trump.
She said in a statement: "The president of the United States summoned this mob, assembled this mob and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that was followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the president. The president could have immediately and forcefully intervened 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."
That is a pretty dramatic statement from the number three Republican in leadership. And, Wolf, this comes just as we're learning about concerns that Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader has, about Donald Trump's conduct and concerns -- Mitch McConnell is indicating to his colleagues privately that he believes that impeaching Donald Trump could be a way to push Trump out of the party, get rid of Trumpism altogether.
BLITZER: All right.
RAJU: Wolf, he has not said...
BLITZER: Hold on, Manu, for a moment.
I want to go to the floor of the House of Representatives, where there's a moment of silence right now, in honor of those fallen police officers.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): Pursuant to Clause 12-A, Rule 1, the chair declares the House in resource -- in recess for a period less than 15 minutes.
BLITZER: A moment of silence, a dramatic moment, indeed, in honor of those two police officers who died as a result of what happened in that attack on the U.S. Capitol last Wednesday.
So, Manu, let me just get back quickly to Mitch McConnell. He apparently hates -- and that's a strong word -- hates the president of the United States right now.
We heard Jonathan Martin of "The New York Times" say it's very possible Mitch McConnell might even vote in favor of convicting President Trump in the course of a Senate trial after Trump is -- he's going to be impeached for a second time tomorrow, only the second -- the first president to be impeached twice, and that Mitch McConnell might actually go ahead and vote in favor.
You need 17 Republicans to vote with all 50 Democrats to convict. And that would be a powerful, powerful, historic moment.
[18:05:03]
RAJU: And if he does do -- if he does vote to convict, Wolf, that would be it. Donald Trump would almost certainly be convicted by the United States Senate.
You need 17 Republicans to break ranks. He would bring over a lot of votes, a lot of Republicans who aren't certain which way to go. Already, we expect at least a handful to vote to convict when it does come to that. But if Mitch McConnell comes that way, that will be a very, very key indication.
And that would mean Donald Trump would not be able to run for office, hold a public office ever again. But, Wolf, that still needs to play out. Mitch McConnell has not said what he will do, if he does believe the president should be impeached, if he does believe he should be convicted.
And that trial may not begin until the beginning days of the Biden presidency -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, stand by, Manu. You're up on Capitol Hill. The news is unfolding dramatically right now.
But I want to go to the White House.
Our chief White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, is getting reaction to all these powerful developments.
Give us an update of the president's response to all these developments. Jim. The president apparently has no remorse at all for his part in the deadly insurrection.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Wolf, and things appear to be unraveling quickly for the president, with the House, Republican Liz Cheney and the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, now airing what appear to be very serious issues that they have with President Trump.
But President Trump, as you know, Wolf, he 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 -- quote -- "tremendous danger and tremendous anger." CNN has learned the president's advisers 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 to me, Wolf -- quote -- "He absolutely -- Trump can absolutely be sued."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
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 his 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 will come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden administration.
ACOSTA: Sources close to Trump tells CNN advisers 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 concerned, 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 will never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength.
ACOSTA: Insisting his speech had nothing to do with the bloody insurrection that followed.
TRUMP: But they have analyzed my speech and my words and my final paragraph, my final sentence. And everybody to the T. thought it was totally appropriate.
ACOSTA: All the more reason, Democrats say, to impeach him.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): 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-CA): Well, we're not going to negotiate 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-MD): 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 NEWS: Do you believe what the president did last week showed that he is able to discharge the duties of his office or not?
ALEX AZAR, U.S. 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 VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: And the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Wolf, Mark Milley, he's released a stunning statement to U.S. service members, warning that acts of sedition will not be tolerated.
[18:10:00]
The statement the Joint Chiefs chairman goes on to state that: "We support and defend the Constitution. Any act to disrupt the constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values and oath. It is against the law."
Those are some strong words from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
And as for the president saying everybody around him approved of the speech he gave before the siege at the Capitol, that's just not true. Some of the president's own advisers tell me they believe his remarks were dangerous.
And, in recent days, we know that the president has been ranting and raving. He still holds on to this belief, still holds on to this lie, Wolf, that the election was stolen from him, despite everything that has happened. And, as one adviser put it, the president has created his own reality.
The danger, of course, is that his own supporters, millions of supporters, are living in that reality. But one notable difference tonight, Wolf, Liz Cheney, influential House Republican, Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, they're not living in that reality. And that may mean reality could start crashing down on this president.
So far, his advisers have said to me he has no plans of resigning. One has to wonder whether the weight of these developments is now coming down hard on this president -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Yes, the fact that General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and the seven other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had to release the statement like this, it says a lot.
I used to be a Pentagon correspondent. I don't remember a time when they have to release a statement saying they want to honor the U.S. Constitution and safeguard our country. It speaks volumes that they even had to release a statement like this as well.
ACOSTA: It shows how dangerous this is right now.
BLITZER: You're absolutely right, a breathtaking moment, indeed.
All right, Jim Acosta, thank you.
We're also following breaking news in the federal investigation of the Capitol riot.
I want to bring in our crime and justice correspondent, Shimon Prokupecz.
Give us the latest, Shimon, on this truly unprecedented investigation.
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf, it is an unprecedented investigation, with almost every FBI agent and analyst and employee now touching this investigation.
The U.S. attorney, the man overseeing this investigation, today said that people will be shocked by what's been uncovered.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL SHERWIN, ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY FOR DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: You will be charged and you will be found.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): That's the message from federal investigators tonight for the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol January 6.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the attack, FBI and DOJ officials announcing over 170 active investigations and possible charges of sedition, conspiracy and felony murder.
SHERWIN: Just the gamut of cases and criminal conduct we're looking at is really mind-blowing.
PROKUPECZ: There is now a nationwide manhunt for those involved, as federal officials conduct an investigation they call unprecedented, but sparing no resources to deliver justice. SHERWIN: We're looking at and treating this just like a significant international counterterrorism or counterintelligence operation. We're looking at everything, money, travel records, looking at disposition, movement, communication records.
STEVEN D'ANTUONO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, FBI WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE: The FBI has a long memory and a broad reach. So, even if you have left D.C., agents from our local field offices will be knocking on your door.
PROKUPECZ: The FBI also responding to questions over an intelligence failure leading up to Wednesday's attack on the Capitol. "The Washington Post" reporting, a day before the January 6 insurrection, a Virginia FBI field office issued a dire warning: Extremists were going to Washington for violence and war.
Despite the warning the FBI says it shared with its law enforcement partners, no preparations were made by the Capitol Police.
D'ANTUONO: All that information was shared with our partners. And then we went from there.
PROKUPECZ: The investigation news comes as chilling new details emerge about what federal investigators fear are more plots to overthrow the government all across the country.
REP. CONOR LAMB (D-PA): They're talking about 4,000 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 an organized group that has a plan.
PROKUPECZ: With the inauguration on track for next week, the FBI is warning of threats of violence and mayhem on a massive scale in a memo obtained by CNN -- quote -- "Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols and at the U.S. Capitol."
The bulletin warns of a potential uprising if the president is removed from office prior to January 20, Inauguration Day. But even if Trump is allowed to finish his term, the bulletin warns -- quote -- "an identified group planning to storm government offices in the District of Columbia and in every state regardless."
LAMB: We're in the midst of an ongoing series of crimes and an ongoing threat to the United States Capitol, to our institutions, to communities all around the United States.
PROKUPECZ: And inside the walls of the U.S. Capitol, the federal government has conducted readiness drills to ensure a smooth transfer of power, a public event Biden says he's not afraid of.
[18:15:03]
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm not afraid of taking the oath outside.
(END VIDEOTAPE) PROKUPECZ: And, Wolf, one of the things that is really worrying investigators and the FBI is that, because of the success of this attack on the Capitol, it could further radicalize those who want to do more harm.
One official telling CNN that the chatter right now is off the charts. And that is certainly something that has investigators very concerned -- Wolf.
BLITZER: I'm sure it does.
Shimon Prokupecz in Washington, where security is really, really intense, thanks very much.
I want to bring in the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Congressman Adam Schiff.
Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.
So much news unfolding right now. The third-ranking Republican in the House, Congresswoman Liz Cheney, as you know, she now says she will actually vote to impeach President Trump tomorrow, when this resolution comes up for a vote.
The last time you impeached President Trump, you did so with no Republican support in the House, no Republican support at all. So, what does this development mean?
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): Well, it means that she won't be alone. There are going to be other Republicans influenced by her decision. And these things have a way of gathering momentum.
So, I wouldn't be surprised now to see a considerable number of Republicans join in supporting the impeachment resolution. And these reports that Mitch McConnell may be open to the impeachment charges as well is quite a potential earthquake in the Senate.
BLITZER: Well, we have been reporting -- you're absolutely right -- the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is indicating right now that he believes impeaching President Trump will make it easier to rid the Republican Party of what they call Trumpism.
What does that stance tell you about how Senate Republicans might approach an impeachment trial? He will be impeached in the House. A simple majority will impeach him tomorrow. But then you need a two- thirds majority in the Senate to convict, 67 senators. There are 50 Democrats. You need 17 Republicans to vote to convict.
What do you think the chances of that are?
SCHIFF: You know, it's very hard to say.
Two-thirds is obviously a very high bar. And there are senators who even after the attempted insurrection, went back to contesting the election all over again, seemingly shameless and not the least bit circumspect about what they had contributed to, the mayhem in the Capitol.
But one thing that is interesting to me, Wolf, and that is, even those Republicans that have not come out for impeachment or criticized a potential impeachment, none have said that they think that the president's conduct was not impeachable.
They made objections about whether to move forward in the last days of a presidency, or when barring the president is the only remaining remedy, but none have expressed the view thus far that I have seen that this incitement into insurrection was not impeachable.
And so that tells you a lot about the seriousness with which members of the House and Senate take that mob attack on our Capitol.
BLITZER: One hypothetical question, Congressman. Then I want to get into the security threats here in the U.S. Capitol.
But, hypothetically, if the vice president, Mike Pence, and a majority of the Cabinet right now were to implement the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, and force Trump out, would the impeachment resolution and potentially a trial down the road, would all that go away?
SCHIFF: Well, that would be a decision, I think, for our caucus with the leadership of the speaker.
And so I think we will cross that bridge if we get to it. Up until this point, frankly, in the last four years, Mike Pence has shown no willingness, ability to stand up to this president in any way.
And even on certification day, he did his bare minimal constitutional duty. That was a pretty low bar. Whether he will rise to the occasion now is still very much in doubt.
But one thing I can tell you is certain, we're going to do our duty in the House. And if he's not gone, we're going to impeach him to protect this country, because, every day, every minute, every hour he remains in office, this nation is at risk.
BLITZER: We're just getting word that a third Republican in the House, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, has just announced he too will vote in favor of impeaching the president of the United States. So, the numbers are beginning to increase right now.
Let's turn, Congressman, to this very serious ongoing threat to the U.S. Capitol and to lawmakers like you right now. I know you have been briefed on these threats. How concerned are you about the security of the heart of our democracy as we approach Inauguration Day in eight days?
SCHIFF: Well, I'm concerned about it, certainly, and I know my colleagues are.
[18:20:03]
I had a briefing today by the FBI about what the threats are. And I tell you, it's terrible in two respects. It's terrible that we have to deal with these threats. It's terrible that they're proliferating around the country, that, at state capitols now, they're going to have to intensify their security.
I fully plan to attend the inauguration. I'm confident it will go forward without being sidetracked, derailed. Nothing like what we saw, I think, is going to occur again, because we will be prepared for it.
But that doesn't mean there won't be violence. It doesn't mean there won't be large crowds and agitation. It doesn't mean that there isn't real plotting going on, because it is. And it's obviously going to take a long time for us to get through this terrible period of our history.
But we will get through it.
BLITZER: I just want you to be careful. I tell this to every member of the House and the Senate and all the people who work up there. Stay safe right now.
As I drive around Capitol Hill, and I see the enormous security that has been implemented in the aftermath, in the aftermath of the attack on the U.S. Capitol last week, it is so, so disheartening and so concerning, what's going on.
Congressman Adam Schiff, thanks so much for joining us.
SCHIFF: Well, and you stay safe yourself, Wolf, because the press obviously have been very much a target of this president and his supporters as well.
And what a terrible tragedy it is in this country that both our legislators and the members of the press should be threatened by their own presidency.
BLITZER: And, on that point, and it was very alarming when I heard Michael Sherwin, the acting U.S. attorney here in Washington, D.C., at his news conference just a couple hours or so ago, he said that these individuals not only wanted to attack you and your fellow lawmakers, but specifically had targeted the news media as well.
And for that, I blame -- I blame, in part, the president of the United States. For four years, he's accused us of being the enemy of the American people. He says we're spreading fake news, all of which is a total lie.
And for the acting U.S. attorney here in Washington to say there are no specific threats against the news media, my colleagues and a whole bunch of others, it's very alarming.
Do you want to make a final point?
SCHIFF: Well, I do.
About 16 years ago, I formed a bipartisan caucus on freedom of the press with a fellow freshman member named Mike Pence. And to think now that the concerns we had about press freedom around the world and the danger to press around the world, we now have in spades in this country is a terrible and tragic turn of events for the United States.
BLITZER: It certainly. It's an awful moment, indeed.
Congressman, thanks once again for joining us.
We're following multiple breaking stories here in THE SITUATION ROOM right now. We're going to update you on all of them right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[18:26:28]
BLITZER: There's breaking news we're following.
CNN has learned that the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, is pleased with tomorrow's vote to impeach President Trump, as three House Republicans now sign on to the unprecedented effort. They say they will vote in favor of impeaching the president of the United States.
I want to bring in our chief political analyst, Gloria Borger, our political correspondent Abby Phillip, our senior legal analyst Laura Coates and the former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.
Gloria, the president has lost the support of top Republicans on Capitol Hill, the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney, the number three Republican in the House, both expressing their anger with the president. Congresswoman Cheney announcing she will vote to impeach him tomorrow.
Give us a sense of historic significance. How powerful are these developments?
GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think they're quite powerful.
First of all, Mitch McConnell, who has been an ally of the president's politically, saw his control of the Senate disappear, saw his beloved Capitol attacked, is furious at this president. And I don't think he's going to do him any favors.
We don't know what he intends to do, whether he will bring up impeachment conviction any time soon. But we know how he feels. We know that Liz Cheney has been very critical of the president. In fact, our colleague Kevin Liptak just pointed out that the president actually attacked her specifically in the speech he gave on the Ellipse before the attack on the Capitol, where he said, we got to get rid of the weak congresspeople, the ones that aren't any good, the Liz Cheneys of the world.
Well, Liz Cheney came out today and said that he needs to be impeached, and that he was the one who incited the riots. So, I think you have seen now three House Republicans do that. I think you're going to see more senators speak out, Republicans speak out.
They understand that this is a president who may not resign unprompted. And maybe this is their way of saying to him, watch out. If you don't resign, something worse is going to happen to you.
BLITZER: Yes, that's a good point.
Jamie Gangel is with us as well.
Give us your perspective.
JAMIE GANGEL, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: So, Wolf, I have been hearing -- my phone blew up after the announcement by Liz Cheney, with Republican sources, a former White House official saying -- quote -- "Thank you, Liz."
Another one said: "That was not just a statement to vote to impeach. It was a complete condemnation of Donald Trump's actions."
And it's true. If you look at the statement, Liz Cheney did not mince words. She said -- quote -- "The president summoned this mob, assembled this mob, and lit the flame of this attack. There has never been a greater betrayal by a president of the United States of his office or his oath to the Constitution."
To Gloria's point, this may be sending a message to Donald Trump to try to pressure him to resign. I don't think that Donald Trump will pay attention to that message, but this certainly is a tipping point for the Republican Party.
When you have Liz Cheney, part of the House Republican leadership, when you have Mitch McConnell indicating that he might be willing to convict with treason from the New York Times reporting by Jonathan Martin.
[18:30:04]
A message is being sent loud and clear to Republican members, you have a hall pass. Donald Trump is the pass. You can vote to impeach him.
BLITZER: All right, everybody stand by, because these are really historic moments and very dangerous moments here in the United States as well.
I want to bring in the Washington, D.C. mayor, Muriel Bowser, to get some thoughts from her. You're right at the heart of what's going on in our nation's Capitol, Mayor. One senator briefed today on the threats in the inauguration in, what, eight days.
That senator warned of a potentially violent million militia march on the city, said we have no idea how many will come. Can you assure D.C. residents, members of Congress, everyone, that the lessons have been learned from last week, that everyone will be safe just ahead of next week's historic inauguration?
MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER (D), DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: Well, I can assure you, Wolf, that there is an unprecedented federal response to this inauguration. The national security special event status has been expanded. In fact, the perimeter related to the inauguration is going up in and around D.C. now. At my request, the perimeter has been expanded to also include the Capitol grounds.
The United States Secret Service is the lead agency in making sure that those events run smoothly. And I know as well that there will be additional National Guard troops from various states to make sure that the federal properties are secure in the district.
BLITZER: On the National Guard troops, I take it, what,15,000, maybe more, National Guard troops are already being deployed to the nation's Capitol, is that right?
BOWSER: We have about 6,000 troops on the ground now from states nearby the district, Maryland and Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. And we understand that the Army will make up to 15,000 available to respond to the request from the Capitol, our request, and all of the federal facilities in the district.
BLITZER: Will they be armed?
BOWSER: The tactics that will be deployed will certainly be up to United States Secret Service and the Army so that those troops are prepared to respond to any number of incidents.
BLITZER: The FBI acting director for D.C. said today at that news conference that they immediately shared -- his words -- immediately shared intelligence that individuals were planning to come to D.C. on January 6th to commit violence. Was that shared with you? You're the mayor of our nation's Capitol. Are you getting fully briefed on all of these ongoing threats?
BOWSER: Well, certainly, part of my request to the federal government was that we have a daily briefing with the FBI. I confirmed that and we have received that. I spoke with the acting attorney general today. And I think what's also important is that the FBI's analysis, our own local analysis, looks at these domestic terror groups as what they are, not as a group of blustering people who are coming here for a rowdy rally.
I think what we saw last week at the Capitol was that these are trained people, they're armed and they are seemingly organized and intent on serving Donald Trump no matter what the means or the consequences.
BLITZER: Mayor Bowser, you and I have discussed on many occasions the president, what he's doing, what he's not doing. You've actually called for him to resign or be removed through the 25th Amendment of the Constitution. How worried are you are you right now that he'll use his megaphone during his final eight days in office as president to incite his supporters and to go ahead and do what so many of them are now threatening to do, commit violent acts here in Washington?
BOWSER: Well, I'm worried, Wolf, about these eight days. I'm worried about D.C. I'm worried about states around our country. But I'm also worried beyond that. Trumpism is not dead, and it won't die on January the 20th.
I was very happy to see the very strong remarks of Liz Cheney, Congresswoman Cheney, because I think that Republicans need to speak up like she did and not compete to replace Trump. They need to be better than Trump.
[18:35:00]
And to speak to his followers and let them know that our allegiance as Americans is to our Constitution, to the freedoms that our Constitution promises, but not to any single individual. And we are, in my view, in a very dangerous time in our country if we don't have leaders who speak up and do that.
BLITZER: We heard the FBI, the Department of Justice today commit to pursue what they describe as hundreds of criminal cases stemming from last week's deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol, everything, from trespassing, to murder, to sedition, conspiracy. How much faith do you put right now in this federal effort that is underway from the FBI and the Justice Department?
BOWSER: Well, they have a big job. We heard the acting U.S. attorney lay it out. And I am pleased to see that they're looking at very serious crimes. Somebody needs to be held accountable for the death of a United States Capitol police officer and certainly for the assaults on the Metropolitan Police Department. I have 58 officers who were injured, some seriously injured, and injured in mind, body and spirit. And people need to be held accountable for what happened at the Capitol.
I think the strike force is a good idea to build the very serious case -- the very serious cases that are going to find the conspiracy and the organization behind this. And that's going to be important for us to stop the radicalization of young white men across our country.
BLITZER: Mayor Muriel Bowser, thank you so much for joining us. I know you have a lot going on. These are dangerous moments here in Washington, D.C. Good luck to you. Good luck to everyone trying to keep this city, the nation's Capitol, safe, I appreciate it very much.
There is more breaking news we're following right now. Take a look at this. We're learning that the House of Representatives is now actually debating the rule to consider legislation, calling on the Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would remove President Trump from office, and Pence would be the acting president during these final eight days.
Let me get reaction. Let me start with Andrew McCabe, the former acting FBI director. It's a dangerous moment right now, but what's your reaction when you hear all of this, Andrew?
ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Wolf, it's startling. I mean, this is -- the inauguration -- put last Wednesday's events aside, the inauguration is a massive undertaking that the agencies involved spend about a year preparing for.
Now, on top of that you have an attack on the capitol by thousands of individuals. You've got an FBI and a Department of Justice that are concentrating on tracking people across the country by the hundreds and running people down. It's a huge piece of work to do on top of the very big important business of trying to keep this inauguration safe. So I'm sure they're working very hard, but they have a lot of serious things to do.
BLITZER: Do you think, Abby, there is any real chance that the vice president might actually do this and get a majority of the cabinet? We know several members of the cabinet have quit in recent days, but do you think there is a chance that Pence might do this?
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think at this stage, Wolf, no. It's very unlikely that Pence will do this. He's made it clear that this is not his preference. And despite the resolution that Democrats introduced today pressuring him, frankly, to do this, he hasn't responded.
Now, our colleagues at the White House have reported that Pence is explicitly not, you know, saying he is absolutely not going to do it. He hasn't released a statement to that effect.
But look where we are. We are about seven days until the end of the Trump Administration. If Pence were going to lead this effort, he would have done it by now before several members of the cabinet have already resigned.
So I think that is highly unlikely. He would much rather probably this happen without his involvement whatsoever, whether that is President Trump resigning or impeachment and conviction in the Senate.
BLITZER: So assuming, Laura, the vice president and the majority of the cabinet don't go ahead and invoke the 25th, the president is going to be impeached tomorrow in the House, and then it goes to the Senate where you need a two-thirds vote to convict.
Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, soon to be the minority leader, but right now the majority leader is making it clear he's open to impeachment and we heard from Jonathan Martin of the New York Times, he might even -- this is McConnell -- might even vote to convict. He absolutely hates the president of the United States right now. Give us your thoughts.
COATES: Wow, what a difference a year makes. I remember covering the impeachment, the first one of Donald Trump, and having to talk about the idea of how there was such abstinence, let alone, reluctance on behalf of Mitch McConnell and the Republican members of the Senate save Mitt Romney about this very issue.
[18:40:02]
And now, you've got this one article of impeachment that really is galvanizing so many. Why? Because the people who would be the witnesses, of course, are those who would be in the decision-making seats, they don't need to have the witnesses. They were actually eyewitnesses and firsthand observers.
And, of course, the president's statement today have done him no favor. He has lacked contrition. He has not sought to clarify his words even after or during the actual insurrection. And so he really leads them down the path of perhaps thinking that the ultimatum that was in place and imposed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi might be the best one.
But I might just say, this idea, what if the words of Congressman Jamie Raskin had been heated months and months ago, let alone those -- of those who actually had the 25th Amendment, they could have had a congressional committee who could have stood in the place of the cabinet members to work with the vice president to actually decide whether to remove the president.
Now, they did not form that committee. They left with the only option that having a loyal base of cabinet members who either resigned or do nothing. And now, they're left with this particular choice. It's really of their own making. And it seems that the GOP members are going to now only be led to water, but they just might drink this time.
BLITZER: You know, Gloria, I just want to read the final sentence in the impeachment resolution. It's now been officially released. And let me read it, put it up on the screen. Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy and the constitution if allowed to remain in office and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self- governance and the rule of law. Donald John Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States.
Strong statement, this is the impeachment resolution right now, they're debating a resolution calling on the vice president to invoke the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. I suspect that's not going -- it won't get supported, but I think, much more realistically, the resolution to impeach the president, Gloria, will be passed and sent to the Senate.
GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Right. And, you know, you talk about simple and direct resolution, this is it. It is not complicated at all. It is effectively what Liz Cheney said, that the president of the United States led an insurrection against his own government.
And as Laura pointed out, the witnesses are the people who are going to be judging him right now on this. They were there. Their lives were threatened. They know what happened, as even Mr. McCarthy told the president when the president suggested to the leader, oh, it was Antifa, and McCarthy said, no, it wasn't. I was there. It was your people. It was MAGA. I know who was there. So his judges are the people who were threatened. And not only were they threatened, but the Constitution was undermined.
And so very simple, very direct, nothing complicated here, you don't deserve to be president anymore and you don't deserve to hold office anymore.
BLITZER: You know, Andrew McCabe, I'm just curious, and I'll get your thoughts. You're the former acting FBI director, you were the deputy director of the FBI. We heard today, two of major representatives, Steven D'Antuono from the FBI, a senior FBI agent, Michael Sherwin, the acting U.S. attorney here in Washington, D.C. Why didn't we hear from the acting attorney general of the United States, Andrew? Why didn't we hear from the FBI director?
MCCABE: Yes, that's a great question, Wolf, and I just -- I don't know that I have a good answer for you. I think the two gentlemen who took the podium today did a fine job of talking to us about the status of that ongoing investigation. But what we didn't get was an understanding of how that senior most levels of the Department of Justice and the FBI think of the face the threats we are facing over the next week. And that's a message that you have to hear from the top, from Director Wray, and from the acting attorney general, Jeff Rosen, and they weren't there today.
BLITZER: Yes. And it spoke volumes to me, and I'm sure a whole bunch of other people, Andrew, that this is such a sensitive, historic, dangerous moment here in the United States. And at a time like this, you want to hear from the FBI director and you want to hear from the attorney general in this particular case, because Bill Barr resigned in the end of December, you want to hear from the acting attorney general. And they were silent, and I don't know what that means, but it was a pretty depressing moment, I thought.
MCCABE: Yes, I agree with you 100 percent. It was a notable absence. You know, it's been six days since the attack on the Capitol, and today was the first time we heard anything at all, which is strange.
[18:45:02]
And then to not have those two key leadership figures there was a notable absence.
Yes I totally agree with that. Well, let me get Laura Coats to weigh in on as well. What did you think?
LAURA COATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it's odd because we definitely heard from Mr. Rosen who we're talking about over the summer, because remember he along with Attorney General Barr at the time were talking about seditious conspiracy violations and pursuit of those charges as it related to peaceful protestors and those who were hijacking the protest as well who were engaged in behavior that no one condones, like looting and the like.
So the notion here that we're silent on an issue where we actually saw an insurrection is shocking. I will say I'm an alum of the office of the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., and they are the ones who would have the jurisdiction primarily, in tandem with other U.S. attorneys who may have residents who engaged in behavior that began in other states.
But probably because they are the ones to have the immediate jurisdiction, they're going to be the ones to be the face of this. Also, the person who spoke from the field office, remember, there was a reporting that the FBI on January 5th out of Norfolk was aware of there being a plan and even instructions that were circulating.
And so it was briefing the Washington field office, perhaps that's why they were the ones to be there to answer the questions. But I agree with Andrew McCabe wholeheartedly that this -- there is more symbolism and more of a need for even the figureheads who might be more removed from the daily prosecution to speak out about what happened.
Attorney General Barr, the former Attorney General, has now spoken out. Why hasn't the current? That is surprising, as is the FBI Director.
BLITZER: Jamie, we're just getting word now from a White House official suggesting that perhaps as many as 20 and maybe even more Republicans tomorrow will vote tomorrow in favor of impeaching the President of the United States. Three so far are on the record, but maybe 20 or more. This is what they're bracing for over at the White House. What's your reaction to that?
JAMIE GANGEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm actually not surprised because of the reporting about Mitch McConnell, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger. I think we now have three house members and then this reporting about Mitch McConnell being so angry. I think this is the tipping point.
I think that the other thing to keep in mind, long term, is if Mitch McConnell wants to be done with Donald Trump, if he is looking at the future of the Republican Party, if the senate convicts, obviously the House has to vote to impeach tomorrow, but they have the numbers to do that, if the Senate votes to convict, they can also vote to keep him from ever running for federal office again.
That takes away what Donald Trump has been teasing about, that he will be back in 2024. So there's both the desire to move the Republican Party on, but there seems to be a growing sentiment that they are willing to do this, Wolf.
BLITZER: Let's not forget since the election, since the day he lost the election, he's gone ahead and raised what, more than $200 million, maybe $300 million...
GANGEL: Correct.
BLITZER: ...for -- in political campaign contributions, so he's going to have money to do something along those lines.
Gloria, in the days leading up to Richard Nixon's resignation as a result of Watergate, what really impelled the then president to resign was when all these Republican leaders from the House and the Senate, Senator Barry Goldwater, for example, conservative republicans went to the White House and told him, Mr. President, it's over. Could you envisage a situation like that evolving and becoming reality now?
BORGER: It's hard. If Mitch McConnell should somehow say, well, I'm going to vote to convict the president, and should he announce that, then I think all bets are off. Then I think there would be a bunch of people going to the president saying, you might not be able to survive this. But I don't know if that scenario would ever happen, and I think
that's the only way I can envision it. But let me also say one thing about these Republicans now who are starting to stand up to the president. Liz Cheney is somebody who has stood up to the president many times in the past.
She has disagreed with him openly, not only on foreign policy, but also on the question of whether to wear a mask, also on the question of whether he has the ability to lock down states during COVID, which she said he did not.
And let me point out that in her state of Wyoming, Donald Trump won with 70% of the vote in her state. So she is standing up to Donald Trump at some political peril, but she is willing to do it because she believes he has undermined the constitution.
[18:50:00]
BLITZER: And if you take a look, Abby, at the Congressman Adam Kinsinger state, (bent-over) Republican who also now just said I will vote in favor of impeachment, I think those numbers are going to grow and that White House official, Abby, who says maybe 20 republicans, maybe more, will vote in favor of impeachment, that's significant.
PHILLIP: Yes, it is significant to some extent, considering that the last impeachment was entirely along partisan lines with no republicans joining democrats to impeach President Trump in the House.
So this is a change from where Republicans have been, but we should remind people that about 140 republicans voted to attempt to overturn the results of the Electoral College a week ago, even after, after the Capitol was under siege and rioted by a violent mob.
So there is definitely an imbalance in the Republican Party and the perception, I think, among a majority of Republicans is still that President Trump is a powerful force and the Liz Cheney's of the world, they're speaking up at great risk, frankly, because I think many Republicans in the party still back this president and Liz Cheney herself, even as a member of leadership, has been attacked by President Trump directly and by name repeatedly.
But she's doing it because it's the right thing to do and there ought to be more of them. And there are some big questions now about what this means for the Senate as well because with so many Republicans in the House speaking up, I think there will be much more pressure on Senate Republicans to do the same.
BLITZER: Yes, I think all the Democrats will vote in favor of impeachment. There you see the three Republicans who have now publicly released statements saying they will vote in favor of impeaching the president, Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, Representative John Katko of New York and Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.
These are breathtaking events that we're covering right now and we'll continue our breaking news coverage right after this.
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[18:55:00]
We're also following breaking news in the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. death toll now tops 379,000 with over 22.7 million confirmed cases. And as vaccine distribution lags behind, the Trump administration is now making some major changes to try to speed up the rollout. CNN's Nick Watt is in Los Angeles with details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After four weeks of faltering vaccine rollout, a new phase.
ALEX AZAR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: The next phase has several components. First, we're expanding the groups getting vaccinated.
WATT: Everyone 65 and over can get one and anyone under 65 with a co- morbidity. Next.
AZAR: We are releasing the entire supply we have.
WATT: No more holding back second doses. Team Biden also planned to release them. Next up, where vaccines will now be given.
AZAR: States should move on to pharmacies, community health centers and mass vaccination sites.
WATT: Plans already in place for Citi Field in New York, Dodgers Stadium in L.A. Also time today for buck passing and Trumpian praise for the federal distribution effort.
AZAR: Which has now successfully delivered to over 14,000 locations, essentially without a hitch. State restrictions on eligibility have obstructed speed and accessibility of administration.
WATT: Latest data, more than 27 million distributed, just over 9 million actually administered. The pace must pick up now.
DR. ROBERT REDFIELD, CDC DIRECTOR: As we're seeing the post holiday surge surge.
WATT: Pre-Thanksgiving, on average, around 1,000 people were reported killed by COVID every day in this country. That daily toll has now tripled. Never been higher.
The president hasn't uttered a word in public about COVID since December 8th. The domestic terrorists who stormed the capitol are almost certainly spreading this virus and the mobilization of the national guard to stifle them?
REP. TIM RYAN (D-OH): This is also probably going to take away from some of the vaccine distribution issues in some of these states where the National Guard was involved.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WATT (on camera): And this just in, starting two weeks from today, anyone flying into this country is going to have to have proof of a negative test. The CDC is worried about these variants popping up in various parts of the world. Well, that contagious variant, first found in the U.K., it's already here. We've just discovered it's actually been here since before Christmas. Wolf?
BLITZER: All right, important developments, indeed. Nick Watt in L.A for us. Thank you very, very much.
Finally tonight, we share more stories of people who died from the coronavirus. Joe Markt of Ohio was 58 years old. Despite being born with Down Syndrome, Joe enjoyed a vibrant social life and was an avid sports fan. His sister-in-law Pam describes him as the life of the party who enriched the lives of their family.
Linnea Hicks-Rondeau of Michigan was 68. As a direct care worker, she worked to help young women who were the victims of abuse for over 20 years. Linnea had a giving heart and was a -- the glue for her family. She loved spending time with her younger relatives and would take them to Christian camp every year.
May they rest in peace and may their memories be a blessing.
"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts right now.
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