Political fallout from subpoena showdown between the House Democrats and White House

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Political fallout from subpoena showdown between the House Democrats and White House

Impeachment talk heats up as the president's former White House counsel skips a House hearing; reaction and analysis from the 'Special Report' All-Stars.

This is a rush transcript from "Special Report," May 21, 2019. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MAXINE WATERS, D-CALIF.: My position on impeachment is what it has always been, and that is the president of the United States of America needs to be impeached.

REP. KATIE HILL, D-CALIF.: The reality is that I don't believe that impeachment, opening impeachment would pass at this point. These investigations are the trial. That is the way that we are proving or even trying to find the truth, trying to make the case one way or the other. And hopefully it shows that we don't need to go down the path of impeachment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BAIER: To impeach or not to impeach, that's the question on Capitol Hill? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will have a meeting with the Democratic Caucus tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. to talk about that very thing.

Meantime, the Fox News polls, the latest, should the president be impeached, yes, now, 42 percent, and then you see the difference there since January, no is 50 percent. But when you break it down by a party, it's not to be surprised here, but Democrats 72-20, Republicans 87-nine. But the key one is independents, 33-45 no.

Let's bring in our panel, Matthew Continetti is editor in chief of the "Washington Free Beacon," Susan Ferrechio is Chief Congressional Correspondent for the "Washington Examiner," and Charles Lane, opinion writer for "The Washington Post." Matthew?

MATTHEW CONTINETTI, EDITOR IN CHIEF, "WASHINGTON FREE BEACON": Pelosi has a big problem on her hands, and the problem is that the initial strategy of presenting voters a pseudo-impeachment by dragging out these hearings was thwarted by President Trump and his policy of no cooperation across the board. And so this has now put the Democrats in a box where the only way that they can attempt to get some of the answers or some of the big publicity they want is through opening an impeachment, even though Pelosi knows impeachment would be futile and likely to backfire politically.

BAIER: Chuck, it seems like they would like impeachment without the actual impeachment. They'd like to have the hearings and all the stuff but not really go down the road just for the political side of things.

CHARLES LANE, OPINION WRITER, "WASHINGTON POST": And that is what Katie Hill, the Congressperson who was just on tape was basically saying. We were going to have these investigations through the committees to get the truth. And that strategy is no longer holding. I think there is a little bit more going on here than just what Matthew was talking about, which is that Katie Hill represents the people who come from swing districts who are probably at risk if they are seen as going too far toward impeachment. Maxine Waters and the other who are pro-impeachment come from pure blue districts where they are getting pressure from the other side. Why are you taking so long to impeach him? And frankly there are more Democrats like that then there are like Katie Hill, and for that reason I think Nancy Pelosi is feeling the heat.

BAIER: Susan?

SUSAN FERRECHIO, "WASHINGTON EXAMINER": Pelosi knows that their majority was made by Katie Hill and others from swing districts where voters aren't coming up and talking to them in grocery stores about collusion and impeachment and obstruction of justice. They are talking about drug prices and health care costs. And that is what they want to focus on.

So Pelosi is playing a double strategy here. On the one side she is letting these oversight hearings carry on. We are talking about subpoenas, contempt citations, perhaps some very big floor action on this. I wouldn't say she's putting it all aside. And then on the other hand she is not consuming the entire floor with an impeachment proceeding, allowing them to move forward with an agenda they think can win in 2020.

BAIER: A lot of talk today about Don McGahn, the White House Counsel, former, not showing up for testimony. Some Republicans pointing back to a time when they asked for someone to show up, Ben Rhodes, former Obama advisor, deputy national security adviser. This is "POLITICO," House Oversight Chairman," May 2016, "Jason Chaffetz invited Rhodes to appear before his panel on Tuesday for a session titled "White House Narratives on the Iran Nuclear Deal." In a letter to Chaffetz White House Counsel W. Neil Eggleston writes that Rhodes will not appear before the committee because it would raise significant Constitutional concerns. The appearance of a senior presidential adviser before Congress threatens the independence and the autonomy of the president as well as his ability to receive candid advice and counsel in the discharge of his Constitutional duties." Again, that is the White House Counsel for President Obama. If you listen today, Matthew, it was like unprecedented that this would be a fight.

CONTINETTI: A lot of selective memory among congressmen who have been there, in Nadler's case, for decades. This is a longstanding issue, the legislature demanding answers from executive officials, present and former. But what is new is this leap to the subpoena process at the very beginning. And I think that really strengthens Ranking Member Collins' argument today that what Nadler is really out for is headlines.

BAIER: I want to talk about the Chinese ambassador to the U.S., spent a lot of time with us here on the show. Here he is talking about Huawei and the actions the U.S. has taken.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CUI TIANKAI, CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: This is just a normal Chinese private company. So all of these actions taken against Huawei are politically motivated. These accusations are groundless, as I said. And we are very worried such actions will really undermine people's confidence in the normal function of the market, will disrupt normal flows of trade and investment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BAIER: Chuck, your thoughts on that answer and the overall interview?

LANE: I don't disagree with him that a lot of people are worried about the impact this will have on global commerce, but I do think he wasn't being entirely candid about the relationship between the Chinese government and Huawei. There is a lot of evidence that the origins of Huawei lie in the Chinese military, the People's Liberation Army.

BAIER: Which I asked but he did not really answer.

LANE: Of course. But the U.S. under previous administrations as well as this one has been very concerned about the impact of Huawei influence on the 5G technology that is emerging around the world and their ability to use that for surveillance on behalf of the Chinese intelligence. And this matter is now being brought to a head by President Trump. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets some Democratic support for it, as you saw Chuck Schumer saying on the Senate floor, it's time to get tough.

BAIER: Susan, said some optimistic thinks about the possibility of a trade deal, but it does seem like China is preparing for the long haul here.

FERRECHIO: Yes, they certainly signal that. But tonight the ambassador talked about an open-door policy, that he is hoping the talks can continue, and he also said that China was willing to buy more U.S. products which is going to be instrumental in any ultimate trade deal with the United States.

BAIER: All right, panel, sorry for the short time. A lot happening today. Final thoughts when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BAIER: Finally tonight, a busy night here at “Special Report.” The Chinese ambassador to the U.S. not shutting the door on trade talks, but it is saying the Uighur confinement camps don't exist, job training centers, he says. We would love to come to China to see all of that, and have asked for that access. We will see what happens. You can see my full interview with the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. on our Web site.

Thanks for inviting us into your home tonight. That's it for the “Special Report.” Fair, balanced, and still unafraid. "The Story" hosted by Martha MacCallum, starts right now.

Hey, Martha.

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