12.18.2019

An Expert Panel Discusses the House Impeachment Vote

To assess the impeachment efforts and the constitutional and political implications, Christiane speaks with a transatlantic panel of expert journalists and commentators in New York, Washington D.C. and London.

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THE TIME OF LIVING IN A DEEP POLARIZATION IS KEEPING A NARRATIVE BASED ON A FACT AND NOT BASED ON COUNTER CLAIMS THAT ARE WILDLY EXAGGERATED AND I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ONLY BEEN MODERATELY SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT AND IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE TESTIMONY IT SEEMED LIKE THEY DID HAVE A SEQUENCE OF WITNESSES THAT WERE LAYING OUT A TRAIL BUT IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WE SORT OF LOST THAT A LITTLE BIT.

IT PLAYS TO THE PRESIDENT'S ADVANTAGE.

THE ENDLESS DEBATES TELEVISED AROUND THE WORLD BUT ALSO SO HAVE THE REPUBLICANS.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN VERY UNIFIED.

HE ADMITTED HE'S NOT AN IMPARTIAL JUROR.

LET ME PLAY THIS AND I'LL GET YOUR REACTION TO IT IN A MOMENT.

THERE'S NOT ANYTHING JUDICIAL ABOUT IT.

IT'S A POLITICAL DECISION.

THE HOUSE MADE A PARTISAN POLITICAL DECISION TO IMPEACH.

I WOULD ANTICIPATE WE WOULD HAVE A LARGELY PARTISAN OUTCOME IN THE SENATE.

I'M NOT IMPARTIAL ABOUT THIS AT ALL.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT SITTING STATE SIDE?

THEY HAVE TO TAKE AN OATH SAYING I SOLEMNLY SWEAR I'LL DO IMPARTIAL JUSTICE.

I DON'T THINK HE THINKS HE'LL DO ANYTHING TO VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTIONS AND THE LAWS BUT HE'S RIGHT.

THIS IS A POLITICAL PROCESS WITH LEGAL TRAPPINGS.

THE FOUNDERS DIDN'T DIVIDE THE SYSTEM WHERE YOU GO OUT AND CREATE A JURY THE WAY YOU USUALLY DO.

YOU FIND PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO OPINION ABOUT IT AND ASK THEM TO DECIDE.

IT'S INHERENTLY A POLITICAL PROCESS SO YOU HAVE ELECTED -- THEY WEREN'T ELECTED AT THE TIME OF THE FOUNDING BUT YOU HAVE ELECTED SENATORS AND IT'S RIDICULOUS TO THINK THAT PARTISANSHIP GOES ONE WAY.

IT'S BEEN PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT IN THE HOUSE AND PARTISAN ACQUITTAL IN THE SENATE AND THIS IS NOT ANYTHING NEW IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

YOU HAVE A VERY SMALL SAMPLE SIZE OF PRIOR SENATE TRIALS, PRESIDENTS WHO WERE IMPEACHED BUT NEVER IN THE PREVIOUS TWO TRIALS DID ANY PARTY, DID ANY MEMBER OF THE SAME PARTY AS THE IMPEACHED PRESIDENT VOTE TO CONVICT HIM AND WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT THIS TIME EITHER.

I EXPECT THERE WILL BE ZERO REPUBLICAN VOTES TO CONVICT.

About This Episode EXPAND

Today is a historic day for the American presidency, as the House votes on the impeachment of President Trump. Scott Walker joins Christiane Amanpour to outline the GOP point of view of the situation, then Mark Landler, Susan Glasser and Rich Lowry discuss the constitutional and political implications. Plus, Chinonye Chukwu and Alfre Woodard join Michel Martin to discuss the new film “Clemency.”

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