1 00:00:02,033 --> 00:00:05,233 JUDY WOODRUFF: The next stage of the impeachment process against President Trump is at hand. 2 00:00:07,266 --> 00:00:10,333 Word came today that the presentation of evidence will take place on Monday, with the formal 3 00:00:10,333 --> 00:00:13,633 crafting of articles of impeachment to follow immediately. 4 00:00:13,633 --> 00:00:17,066 Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins begins our coverage. 5 00:00:17,066 --> 00:00:22,066 LISA DESJARDINS: At a Capitol podium reserved for the most formal or profound moments, the 6 00:00:23,233 --> 00:00:24,700 speaker of the House made her announcement. 7 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:25,933 REP. 8 00:00:25,933 --> 00:00:27,966 NANCY PELOSI (D-CA): The facts are uncontested. 9 00:00:27,966 --> 00:00:32,566 The president abused his power for his own personal political benefit, at the expense 10 00:00:33,433 --> 00:00:35,566 of our national security. 11 00:00:35,566 --> 00:00:39,166 Sadly, but with confidence and humility, with allegiance to our founders and heart a full 12 00:00:41,466 --> 00:00:46,433 of love for America, today, I am asking our chairman to proceed with articles of impeachment. 13 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:53,500 LISA DESJARDINS: Speaker Pelosi said the president's actions have left lawmakers no choice. 14 00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:58,166 But hours after returning from a NATO summit in Europe, President Trump had a few words 15 00:00:58,166 --> 00:00:59,866 about impeachment. 16 00:00:59,866 --> 00:01:02,066 DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: It's a big, fat hoax. 17 00:01:02,066 --> 00:01:05,466 LISA DESJARDINS: He was more verbal on Twitter, writing earlier in the day: "If you are going 18 00:01:05,466 --> 00:01:10,466 to impeach me, do it now, fast," saying he wants to move to a Senate trial. 19 00:01:12,466 --> 00:01:16,033 And on the Senate floor, a key player in any future trial, Senate Majority Leader Mitch 20 00:01:16,033 --> 00:01:19,833 McConnell, joined the president in lashing out at Democrats' process. 21 00:01:19,833 --> 00:01:21,766 SEN. 22 00:01:21,766 --> 00:01:25,700 MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): American families deserve better than this partisan paralysis, 23 00:01:25,700 --> 00:01:30,700 where Democrats literally obsess over impeachment and obstruct everything else. 24 00:01:32,766 --> 00:01:36,266 LISA DESJARDINS: House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy said Democrats have not proven their 25 00:01:36,266 --> 00:01:37,266 case. 26 00:01:37,266 --> 00:01:39,300 REP. 27 00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:40,833 KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): That this is so divisive, you need something overwhelming, you need 28 00:01:40,833 --> 00:01:43,400 something compelling, and it doesn't meet the criteria. 29 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:45,933 The party means more to them than the country. 30 00:01:45,933 --> 00:01:50,633 LISA DESJARDINS: Republicans have pushed the idea that Democrats are acting out of anger. 31 00:01:50,633 --> 00:01:53,866 That led to another remarkable moment today. 32 00:01:53,866 --> 00:01:58,833 As Speaker Pelosi left her weekly news conference, a reporter asked if she hates the president. 33 00:01:59,333 --> 00:02:00,600 REP. 34 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,066 NANCY PELOSI: I don't hate anybody. 35 00:02:02,066 --> 00:02:04,133 QUESTION: Representative Collins -- reason I asked... 36 00:02:04,133 --> 00:02:05,633 REP. 37 00:02:05,633 --> 00:02:07,100 NANCY PELOSI: I don't -- I was raised in a Catholic house. 38 00:02:07,100 --> 00:02:09,133 We don't hate anybody, not anybody in the world. 39 00:02:09,133 --> 00:02:11,100 LISA DESJARDINS: Pelosi stopped in her tracks and firmly said impeachment is not personal. 40 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:13,200 REP. 41 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,900 NANCY PELOSI: This is about the Constitution of the United States and the facts that lead 42 00:02:15,900 --> 00:02:18,533 to the president's violation of his oath of office. 43 00:02:18,533 --> 00:02:22,600 And, as a Catholic, I resent, your using the word hate in a sentence that addresses me. 44 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,066 So, don't mess with me when it comes to words like that. 45 00:02:26,066 --> 00:02:30,166 LISA DESJARDINS: Partisan lines and powerful sentiments will keep mounting. 46 00:02:30,166 --> 00:02:34,700 Next, the House Judiciary Committee plans a hearing Monday to look at the evidence for 47 00:02:34,700 --> 00:02:39,666 impeachment and the 300-page report about that evidence from the House Intelligence 48 00:02:39,666 --> 00:02:41,700 Committee. 49 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:44,833 JUDY WOODRUFF: And now to help walk us through what's next for Congress and its impeachment 50 00:02:44,833 --> 00:02:47,033 inquiry, Lisa joins me. 51 00:02:47,033 --> 00:02:50,633 So, Lisa, as you said, they're holding this hearing on Monday. 52 00:02:50,633 --> 00:02:51,900 How is it going to be different? 53 00:02:51,900 --> 00:02:53,100 What do we expect? 54 00:02:53,100 --> 00:02:55,066 LISA DESJARDINS: Let's talk about this. 55 00:02:55,066 --> 00:02:57,400 This could be the most substantial hearing that we see before articles of impeachment 56 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:58,400 come out. 57 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,033 So, let's talk about this. 58 00:03:01,033 --> 00:03:03,366 First, this is what we're going to see, presentation of the Democrats' impeachment report from 59 00:03:03,366 --> 00:03:05,300 the House Intelligence Committee. 60 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:10,033 There will be witnesses who will be staff counsel, Republican and Democratic counsel. 61 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:13,300 We don't know yet how many or exactly who. 62 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:17,266 And both sides, Republicans and Democrats, will both be able to question those witnesses. 63 00:03:17,266 --> 00:03:22,266 Essentially, Judy, it's as if a prosecuting team, the counsel for the Democrats, will 64 00:03:24,233 --> 00:03:26,633 present their evidence that charges should be brought, impeachment charges, and then 65 00:03:26,633 --> 00:03:31,166 the defense team, the Republican counsel, will try and present their arguments that, 66 00:03:31,166 --> 00:03:33,200 no, there's not enough evidence for impeachment. 67 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:37,733 JUDY WOODRUFF: So, do we know -- they're going to move ahead, so do we know the timing of 68 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,233 when the full House would vote? 69 00:03:40,233 --> 00:03:42,200 LISA DESJARDINS: No, we don't. 70 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,133 But I am told that the announcement today doesn't change the timing, that they still 71 00:03:46,133 --> 00:03:50,766 seem to be on track for a possible committee vote on articles of impeachment as soon as 72 00:03:50,766 --> 00:03:54,866 next week and a possible full House vote the following week. 73 00:03:54,866 --> 00:03:58,733 I don't know that it is set in stone yet, but that seems to be the track that they remain 74 00:03:58,733 --> 00:04:00,900 on. 75 00:04:00,900 --> 00:04:03,600 One big question of course, Judy, is still whether the president will participate. 76 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:08,133 If he decides to -- and he has until tomorrow night to make that decision, per Democrats' 77 00:04:08,133 --> 00:04:12,866 deadline -- that will change the timeline, because he can try and ask for witnesses, 78 00:04:12,866 --> 00:04:14,233 all of those things. 79 00:04:14,233 --> 00:04:16,166 Will he want to participate? 80 00:04:16,166 --> 00:04:20,466 I spoke to Kevin McCarthy, just asked him personally, will the president participate? 81 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:25,533 McCarthy doesn't usually say yes or no, doesn't give clear answers about the president often. 82 00:04:25,533 --> 00:04:28,333 He indicated to me he doesn't think the president should participate. 83 00:04:28,333 --> 00:04:31,833 To me, that's a strong signal that the president is leaning toward no. 84 00:04:31,833 --> 00:04:33,633 JUDY WOODRUFF: So perhaps he's recommending it? 85 00:04:33,633 --> 00:04:35,033 LISA DESJARDINS: He didn't say that. 86 00:04:35,033 --> 00:04:37,166 I know he's talking to the president. 87 00:04:37,166 --> 00:04:40,233 So I don't know who's recommending what, but he's certainly gauging the temperature at 88 00:04:40,233 --> 00:04:41,500 the White House very closely. 89 00:04:41,500 --> 00:04:43,300 JUDY WOODRUFF: What about the Democrats? 90 00:04:43,300 --> 00:04:45,466 How unified are they on this? 91 00:04:45,466 --> 00:04:47,833 We assume Republicans are still all against it. 92 00:04:47,833 --> 00:04:48,833 But what about that? 93 00:04:48,833 --> 00:04:50,933 LISA DESJARDINS: That's right. 94 00:04:50,933 --> 00:04:53,200 So, if you talk to Democrats, the most interesting group, of course, are those moderates. 95 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:57,433 There are 31 Democrats who are in districts that the president won. 96 00:04:57,433 --> 00:05:00,100 I spoke to several of those offices today. 97 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:03,800 And where they're at is, they are waiting to see exactly what is in these articles of 98 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,766 impeachment. 99 00:05:05,766 --> 00:05:09,900 Multiple offices told me it is very possible that they could vote yes on some articles 100 00:05:11,866 --> 00:05:15,200 of impeachment, those moderate Democrats, and no on other articles of impeachment when 101 00:05:16,066 --> 00:05:17,533 they hit the House floor. 102 00:05:17,533 --> 00:05:21,166 Nancy Pelosi needs 218 votes for any article of impeachment. 103 00:05:21,166 --> 00:05:25,866 We will have to see how they draft them to see if she will get those votes on all of 104 00:05:25,866 --> 00:05:28,333 the articles that they present. 105 00:05:28,333 --> 00:05:30,500 Republicans I'm watching closely too, we will see. 106 00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:33,733 If public opinion changes, some Republican votes could peel off as well. 107 00:05:33,733 --> 00:05:36,866 JUDY WOODRUFF: But what she needs is a simple majority at the House? 108 00:05:36,866 --> 00:05:38,366 LISA DESJARDINS: That's correct. 109 00:05:38,366 --> 00:05:39,566 At this point, the standard in the Senate is much higher. 110 00:05:39,566 --> 00:05:42,400 But, at this point, it's a simple majority. 111 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:43,533 Lisa Desjardins, thank you. 112 00:05:43,533 --> 00:05:43,700 LISA DESJARDINS: You're welcome.