Despite the fact, polls showed that as impeachment dragged on more and more people were souring on it, ABC, CBS, and NBC were excited for the possibility of even more House hearings. Their Monday excitement was spurred on by the ruling of a federal court judge, who said former White House Counsel Don McGahn had to testify before Congress. The ruling went against what the White House was hoping for and the broadcast networks were absolutely giddy thinking about this could affect impeachment.
“Now, this is a potential game-changer in the impeachment inquiry,” proclaimed CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell with a giggle. “Paula Reid is at the White House and has been reading through this 120-page ruling as quickly as she can. But Paula, break down, what's the significance of this?”
White House correspondent Paula Reid noted the ruling was a “long-awaited decision” and “a win for Democrats, because it effectively pierces the White House's long-standing effort to block current and former officials from cooperating with House investigators.”
The two were also invested in figuring out how this development could impact the testimonies of other people they (and the Democrats) wanted to grill (click “expand”):
O’DONNELL: But Paula, this not only affects the former White House Counsel Don McGahn, right? Does this mean we could hear from other top administration officials who have refused to testify to Congress?
REID: That's the big question tonight: Will this apply to, for example, acting Chief-of-Staff Mick Mulvaney or former National Security Adviser John Bolton? Now, a source familiar with Mulvaney's legal strategy tells me he will not comply with any of these decisions. His team believes that if executive privilege applies to anyone it's Mick Mulvaney.
Over on ABC’s World News Tonight, chief White House correspondent and White House Correspondents Association president, Jon Karl reported: “Late tonight, in a blow to President Trump, a federal judge ordered former White House Counsel Don McGahn to comply with a subpoena to testify before Congress.”
Karl also touted how impeachment was placed on a “fast track” by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA):
It comes amid a new sign impeachment is on a fast track. House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff announced today he will release a report shortly after Thanksgiving revealing, quote, “a fact pattern that is overwhelming, unchallenged, and damning.”
But Schiff insists, “the investigative work continues, and we are learning additional information almost every day.
Meanwhile, on NBC Nightly News, White House correspondent Kristen Welker used softer language to tout the ruling: “This ruling is a setback to President Trump's efforts to keep his top aides from testifying.” “The outcome could lead to renewed efforts by House Democrats to compel testimony from other top officials like former National Security Advisor John Bolton,” she added.
Clearly, they’re invested in a certain outcome.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
November 25, 2019
6:38:47 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Next to that developing headline involving the White House tonight. A federal judge in Washington late today ruling that former White House Counsel Don McGahn must testify in the House, despite orders from the White House not to. What could this ruling now mean for other potential witnesses? Here's ABC's chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl tonight.
[Cuts to video]
JON KARL: Late tonight, in a blow to President Trump, a federal judge ordered former White House Counsel Don McGahn to comply with a subpoena to testify before Congress.
The White House had attempted to block his testimony and the Justice Department has already announced it will appeal the judge’s order, setting up a precedent-setting case at the Supreme Court, with implications for other witnesses in the impeachment inquiry.
It comes amid a new sign impeachment is on a fast track. House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff announced today he will release a report shortly after Thanksgiving revealing, quote, “a fact pattern that is overwhelming, unchallenged, and damning.”
But Schiff insists, “the investigative work continues, and we are learning additional information almost every day.
(…)
CBS Evening News
November 25, 2019
6:36:58 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: More breaking news. A federal judge has just ruled that former White House Counsel Don McGahn must testify before Congress. Now, this is a potential game-changer in the impeachment inquiry. Paula Reid is at the White House and has been reading through this 120-page ruling as quickly as she can. But Paula, break down, what's the significance of this?
PAULA REID: Norah, this long-awaited decision is a win for Democrats, because it effectively pierces the White House's long-standing effort to block current and former officials from cooperating with House investigators. And Norah, in reading through this I was struck that the judge specifically said, that “no matter how busy or essential a presidential aide might be, the president cannot excuse that official from complying with the law.”
But CBS News has learned that the Justice Department intends to appeal this ruling. So, this decision, which many Democrats tonight are celebrating, may just be a temporary win.
O’DONNELL: But Paula, this not only affects the former White House Counsel Don McGahn, right? Does this mean we could hear from other top administration officials who have refused to testify to Congress?
REID: That's the big question tonight: Will this apply to, for example, acting Chief-of-Staff Mick Mulvaney or former National Security Adviser John Bolton? Now, a source familiar with Mulvaney's legal strategy tells me he will not comply with any of these decisions. His team believes that if executive privilege applies to anyone it's Mick Mulvaney.
But it's still a question as to whether it will impact former National Security Adviser John Bolton. He's recently reemerged on Twitter, seems to be man with something to say, but so far his lawyer has not replied to my questions about whether they intend to comply with this. But ultimately, this is a question, Norah, that could go all the way to the Supreme Court.
O’DONNELL: A significant development tonight. Thank you, Paula.
NBC Nightly News
November 25, 2019
7:07:25 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: And just in tonight, a federal judge ruling that President Trump's former White House Counsel Don McGahn must testify before Congress. NBC's Kristen Welker is at the White House. What do we know?
KRISTEN WELKER: Lester, that's right. This ruling is a setback to President Trump's efforts to keep his top aides from testifying. A federal judge has ordered that former White House Counsel Don McGahn must appear before Congress. Now, late tonight, the Justice Department saying it will appeal.
The outcome could lead to renewed efforts by House Democrats to compel testimony from other top officials like former National Security Advisor John Bolton. Meanwhile, top Democrat Adam Schiff writing about the impeachment investigation, quote, “the evidence of wrongdoing and misconduct by the President that we have gathered to date is clear and hardly in dispute.” Though, Republicans argue no evidence directly ties President Trump to a quid pro quo, Lester?
HOLT: Kristen Welker, at the White House, Thank you.
