Impeachment. Robin biro, appreciate you on the program. And this is breaking. We just found out Speaker Pelosi will speak at 5 p. M. Eastern right after that meeting with the democratic caucus. Stay tuned to fox. Dana fox news alert. Major developments expected this hour as democrats beat the drums on impeachment amid the ukraine controversy. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she will make an announcement at 5 p. M. After meeting with other leaders this afternoon. Her office now says she will make the announcement at 5 p. M. But first shes set to take questions at a forum in washington. Well also hear from former Vice President joe biden this hour. Hes expected to say congress will have no choice, that the house will have to impeach if the president refuses to fully cooperate with all of their investigations. Hello, everyone. Join me for this wild ride. Im dana perino and this is the Daily Briefing. Complete coverage this hour. We start with chief White House Correspondent john roberts covering President Trump at the United Nations. John, the president gave a big speech this morning. Had nothing to do with impeachment but that apparently is what were going to talk about this afternoon. Over to you. Reporter its what were going to be talking about all day today and likely the next few months depending on what nancy pelosi says. It was confirmed by fox news that the president , back in mid july, put a hold on 391 million in aid that was destined for ukraine. Sources have told me the president was concerned about the amount of historic corruption that there has been in ukraine and whether the United States was throwing good money after bad. Also in the context of all of americas Foreign Policy aid, aid to Northern Triangle countries and central america, other countries oversea, and whether the United States was Throwing Goodmentny after bad. The third concern as articulated by the president today, was whether the u. S. Again was kind
of carrying the world on its shoulders, particularly when it came to ukraine, and whether any of our european allies were going to step up. Listen to what the president said in his bilateral meeting with Boris Johnson this morning. Because i think other countries should be paying also. Why is the United States the only one paying to ukraine . I have been talking about this for a long time. Nobody has given more to ukraine. President obama used to send pillows and sheets. I sent antitank weapons and a lot of things. Reporter now, one thing that hasnt been reported a whole lot in all of this is ohio senator rob portmans role in all of this. August 11th, happens to be the day before that Whistle Blower filed the complaint with the Intelligence CommunityInspector General, portman called President Trump because he is the cochairman of the senate
ukrainian caucus and said ukraine really needs this money, mr. President. I implore you to release it. According to congressional sources that i talked with a short time ago, the president was concerned about whether or not the United States was going it alone here again with ukraine and whether or not any of our european allies were going to step up. I was told that during that phone call, there was no discussion between the president and Senator Portman about joe biden or Rudy Giuliani. In a Statement Issued september 12 after that money was released Senator Portman said, president zalenski is a long ally of the United States and i support his anticorruption agenda. This morning speaking with Prime Minister johnson of the u. K. , the president said there was no quid pro quo in his july 25th Phone Conversation with the president of ukraine. Listen here. There was never any quid pro quo. The letter was beautiful. It was a perfect letter. It was unlike bidens. Who, by the way, what he said, was a horror. Ask how his son made millions of dollars from ukraine, made millions of dollars from china. With us, there was no pressure applied, no nothing. Reporter President Trump suggested that maybe the white house might release the transcript of that phone call. You and i yesterday there on the set of the Daily Briefing talked about all of the reasons not to do it. If nancy pelosi pulls the trigger on putting together a select committee on impeachment, that may push the president to release that transcript. Really, at the moment that is his only form of defense. Dana what about, john, will the president be having any additional meetings that might be of interest, with the ukrainian leader. You know this white house very well. Nancy pelosi expected to speak at 5 p. M. Today. Shell make a statement on impeachment after she makes with democrats. What sort of Counter Programming might we expect from this white
house . Reporter well, Rudy Giuliani intimated in a tweet that he sent out earlier today that today was going to be all about iran, but that tomorrow theyre going to roll out more evidence about joe biden. As to nancy pelosi, i dont expect that the Speakers Office would say that shes going to make a statement about impeachment at 5 00, if it wasnt a statement that was going to be very, very significant. So well see. Again, though, the president can talk all he want, but unless you see the transcript and unless that transcript doesnt contain anything, that might be his only form of defense. Dana john, i had one other question. I floated an idea let me get your take and ill let you go. I think there is some reason to be against releasing this transcript. Because precedent reasons and because the president has to have confidential discussions with world leaders. What if three reporters from the White House Briefing room were
selected by the white house. One print, one broadcast, one wire, to all go in and look at the transcript. To then have reporting on it. Do you think thats something the white house might do and that reporters would be willing to do . Reporter that sounds like an idea that a former Press Secretary to george bush would come up with. Dana doesnt mean its a bad idea. Reporter im not saying it might be a good idea in terms of communication. If you were to invite the pool in, because the pool does go into all of these things. And they were to read out the letter and to report on it and their reporting was all to line up, then maybe you might have a sense of authenticity of the reporting and you might have a sense that that is all that there was in that transcript rather than releasing it broadly. I think the democrats arent going to accept anything short of full publication of everything in that transcript. I dont think the democrats will buy it. Dana might not. John roberts, thank you. We are also waiting to hear from joe biden. He will be speaking minutes from now, as the ukraine controversy involving his son continues to grow. Mark meredith is live in bloomington, delaware. You made your way to delaware just in time. Reporter absolutely, dana. Never a dull moment. About half hour from now, the Biden Campaign said the former Vice President will be making a statement. Its unclear if hes going to be taking questions. As john was just talking about, theres a lot of questions about not only his thoughts on this Whistle Blower complaint, but also what President Trump alleged with biden as well as his son hunter biden and Hunter Bidens relationship with a Natural Gas Company that was in ukraine when the former Vice President was in office. Now, biden has, for his part, called for President Trump to release a transcript of the call, something you and john were just talking about. Biden said he wants to see a copy of that transcript. But President Trump said the
pressure should be on biden to talk about what ties his son may have had to ukraine back a few years ago. My colleague peter doocy, had chance to speak with the Vice President on saturday. Here what he had to say. How many times have you ever spoken to your son about his overseas Business Dealings . I have never spoken with my son about his overseas Business Dealings. You should be looking at trump. Trump is doing this because he knows ill beat him like a drum. Hes using the abuse of power and every element of the presidency to try and do something to smear me. Everybody looked at this and everybodys looked at it and said theres nothing there. Ask the right questions. Reporter we are hoping to get chance to ask the former Vice President some questions as he has that News Conference about half hour from now. Well also be looking to see whether he sheds any more light on congress about that impeachment talk. Well look for what the former Vice President has to say. Dana thank you very much. For more on the impeachment, mike emanuel is live on capitol hill. What is the latest . Theres been movement that we havent seen before, especially overnight, by some house democrats. Reporter dana, good afternoon. Senior House Democratic sources say there has been talk about setting up a select committee to conduct an Impeachment Inquiry into President Trump, but several sources say this is all very fluid. They are waiting to hear from nancy pelosi. When she speaks at 4 p. M. Eastern time and then make hers Public Statement at 5 p. M. She seems to be heading in that direction, of at least an Impeachment Inquiry. House Democrat John lewis of georgia said the democracy is at stake and the time to act is now. I believe, i truly believe the time to begin Impeachment Proceedings against this president has come. To delay or to otherwise would
betray the foundation of our democracy. Reporter Last Night Seven Freshmen Democrats wrote in the Washington Post they are joining as a unified group as lawmakers face unprecedented allegations against President Trump, in their words. They wrote, quote, these new allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect. We must preserve the checks and balances envisioned by the founders and restore the trust of the American People in our government. And that is what we intend to do. The additional members now coming forward saying they favor at least an Impeachment Inquiry, sets the stage for this 4 p. M. Eastern house caucus meeting and then, koufrs of course, statement after that wraps. Dana tell me how intense the pressure is on the speaker. I feel like at 5 p. M. She is just going to nod for reality and be for whats going to happen. Reporter weve seen some offer this top lieutenants come forward saying they definitely favor an Impeachment Inquiry, if
not full blown impeachment. You had Congress Woman alexandria ocasiocortez tweeting saturday night late night basically blasting her own democratic leadership writing, quote, at this point the bigger National ScandalIsnt The President s law breaking behavior, it is the Democratic Partys refusal to impeach him for it. Now, prominent republicans are cautioning against a rush to judgment. Bottom line is, i dont think he should have done it but thats a far cry from what some are claiming to know is fact when we dont know fact. Reporter some republicans are questioning the push for impeachment on a Whistle Blower report that none of these lawmakers have read. Dana . Dana one other question. Tell us about this process. Theres an Impeachment Inquiry. Where does that go . What happens next . Reporter well, that can be stretched out for a long period of time. You remember the ben ghazi select committee. That could give all kinds of
investigative staffing and resources to that effort. It would take it away from the House Judiciary Committee headed by jerry nadler, so he may not be happy about that. Some of the sources i have spoken with said lets see how this plays out at 4 p. M. This afternoon before we say conclusively 100 whats going to happen. A select Committee Process could take months, could lead to a massive report, as youve seen many times here in washington. Then based on what they find, could eventually head to an Impeachment Process on the house floor. It also could buy some time for leadership, who want to have their ducks in a row. Dana interesting to think about the timing of that. Its like a word problem. I wasnt very good at these. If the train is leaving at this time and it takes them this long to do the inquiry. They could end up next april or may right in the middle of the president ial election try to do this . Reporter absolutely. If youre talking ab
interviewing dozens of witnesses and transcripts, you know here in washington, that takes a great deal of time. It could take an extended period of time. Dana well be back to you, too. Thank you very much. Joining me for more on this, Donna Brazile and matt schlapp. I want to play for you a little bit of sound from President Trump this morning about impeachment. Watch this. Its a witch hunt. Im leading in the polls. They have no idea to stop me. The only way is through impeachment. When you see a readout of the call, youll understand. That call was perfect. It couldnt have been nicer. Dana contrast that with a Congress Woman who has not been for impeachment up until now. Heres what she said. In our op ed what we stated is every tool that the u. S. Congress has, every tool that we as members of congress have should be employed at this point
in time to ensure that we know the facts and that we can either completely prove or disprove these stunning allegations against the president. Dana donna, let me start with you. Speaker pelosi has been tapping the brakes on impeachment. She does not like the politics of it. Is she basically now having to accept the numbers on her side and the pressure is going to be so intense that she has to move forward with impeachment . I think last week when she signaled that she wanted to have the complaint, the Whistle Blower complaint, come to capitol hill, she signaled once again to the Trump Administration that, look, comply with the request of members of congress. They have Constitutional Authority to hold the administration accountable. Once again, the president is stone walling. I think nancy pelosi is in a rock and a hard place right now. There are more than 155 members of her caucus that would like to
go directly to impeachment. There are still other, about 75, that would like to have an inquiry or a select committee. You heard from john lewis. What you didnt hear from john lewis today, and hes someone i truly respect. He said, we need to get to the truth. This is about protecting the integrity of our future elections. More importantly, its about protecting our democracy. At the end of the day, it will be a heated conversation. Nancy pelosi, who knows how to count, she will come out and tell the American People exactly what the house will do. Dana while you were speaking, donna, the president has tweeted. Im going to read this and have matt respond to it. I am currently at the United Nations representing our country, but have authorized the release tomorrow of the complete fully declassified and unredacted transcript of my Phone Conversation with the president of ukraine. You will see it was a very friendly and totally appropriate
call. No pressure and, unlike joe biden and his son, no quid pro quo. This is nothing more than a continuation of the greatest and most destructive witch hunt of all time. Matt, i believe the three of us were all on capitol hill last time impeachment was attempted. The politics of this for the presi