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Pelosi to Send Articles of Impeachment to Senate Tomorrow; Six Democrats to Debate in Iowa Weeks before Caucuses; Iran Plane Shootdown; Crumbling Iran Nuclear Deal in Jeopardy; Australian Town Ravaged by Fire; Scott Morrison under Pressure over Climate Change Policy; Royal Separation Drama. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired January 14, 2020 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:00:00]

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Tonight, is the wait finally over?

It's 11:00 am at the White House in Washington. 8:00 at night here. I'm Becky Anderson, it's your world and we're connecting.

The big story this hour, the stage is set. The clock ticking down to the final Democratic debate before the Iowa caucuses.

Meanwhile, in Washington, get set for the start of the Senate impeachment trial. Gridlock looks set to be lifted. Some clarity now on the impeachment

trial, at least in the House. Nancy Pelosi just met with House Democrats, a capital pulsating with political gamesmanship. Lawmakers apparently now

getting down to business.

Sources tell us Pelosi indicated in her meeting that Democrats will name their impeachment managers. They essentially act as the prosecutors and

hand over the articles as early as tomorrow. The Senate could go to trial as early as next week.

A headache for several U.S. senators currently in the race for the White House in 2020, including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy

Klobuchar. Now they will be pulled off the campaign trail just before the first contest in the 2020 election.

Yes, folks, the Iowa caucuses are just around the corner. It's the first event on the U.S. primary calendar that will decide the Democratic

challenger to face Donald Trump in November this year. It starts in Iowa on February 3rd.

But first -- just before that, one last Democratic debate. Tonight only on CNN, six candidates qualified to take to the stage in Des Moines, Iowa.

It's the smallest group to date: Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer making the cut.

Let's get straight to the debate hall, where CNN is standing by. CNN's Leyla Santiago is on standby. We also have CNN's Stephen Collinson in

Washington and legal analyst Elie Honig.

Leyla, you're in Iowa.

What should we watch for tonight?

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think a lot of eyes will be on Senator Sanders and Senator Warren. Not just what they say but from the

moment they set foot on the stage, even the handshake that may come.

A lot of folks wanting to see how they interact, given what's made headlines in the last few days. You have two progressives that, up until

now have said, you know, we're in it together.

And now there are rising tensions, given what CNN's MJ Lee reported about a meeting back in 2018 where Warren says that Sanders indicated that a woman

could not be president.

Now Sanders is denying this, saying that's not the case but again, that marks a bit of a shift in that relationship and what that means for the two

big progressives in the race. How they handle that on stage, we'll have to wait and see. That will be an interesting dynamic.

The other thing to watch for is foreign policy. Given where we are on how President Trump is handling Iran and given that 51 percent, according to

the latest Quinnipiac poll, believe that they don't like the way Trump is handling that.

[11:05:00]

SANTIAGO: We're going to likely see the Democrats going after that as well on this stage here in Iowa.

And the last thing to keep an eye out, I think, is the lack of diversity. Where we started in this race with so many candidates, more women, more

people of color. Right now you're going to have six candidates taking the stage, two of which are women.

But you know, Andrew Yang not on the stage; Cory Booker, out of the race. That just -- physically, the picture that you see there, will be different

on this stage three weeks before the Iowa caucus.

ANDERSON: You're right. Yes. You make a very, very good point. It is clear the race is well and truly on. And there are, of course, more than just the

six contenders who made the cut for the Democratic debate tonight.

Let's look at the fundraising cash flow for last year's fourth quarter. Bernie Sanders tops the list with more than $34 million. Nearly $10 million

more than any other candidate.

Which means what in the grand scale of things?

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That means that Bernie Sanders, Becky, is going to be in this race until the bitter end.

One of the big complaints that Hillary Clinton's partisans had during the 2016 campaign was, even when it was Bernie Sanders was not going to win the

nomination, he stuck in the race and pulled the party to the Left and by the time that the whole thing was wrapped up, many of his supporters had a

great deal of antipathy toward Hillary Clinton.

You can still talk to Clinton supporters who think that Bernie Sanders helped doom her general election campaign because he didn't do enough to

unify the party.

A lot of people don't believe that Bernie Sanders, despite his strong showing in polls in Iowa and New Hampshire, is going to win the Democratic

nomination, simply because he doesn't have a great appeal across the wide racial diversity of the party. If he doesn't win the nomination, there's no

sign he'll get out. He'll stack up delegates and want to be a player at the convention and in the Democratic Party going forward.

Unless there is some big shift to the Left that we don't -- we can't predict right now, he may not be the nominee but he's going to be a

powerful force and a great worry to the more centrist Democrats like Joe Biden, who think they're in pole position to win this race.

ANDERSON: Yes. Certainly the latest polling out of Monmouth University, poll dated January 9th through 12th, shows Joe Biden leading at 24 percent

with Bernie Sanders at 18 percent.

You actually look at the kind of wider story, choice for nominee among Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents on a national poll, Joe Biden,

of course, leading at 25 percent at present, with Bernie Sanders at 19 percent. That's the Quinnipiac University poll.

Elie, I want to bring you in. We see what's going on in Iowa as we look toward the beginning of the campaign season, of course and the election in

November of this year. Back on the Hill -- and anytime now, we were expecting to hear from Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House.

She is -- or may certainly have done in the last couple minutes knocked out a few unanswered questions about Donald Trump's upcoming impeachment trial.

Just explain what we know at this point and what we don't.

ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Sure. We know for sure Donald Trump has been impeached by the House of Representatives. That is over. That is for

the history books now.

The next phase is the Senate impeachment trial. The Constitution gives the Senate the sole power to try all impeachments. So once Nancy Pelosi

formally sends over the articles of impeachment, which essentially list the offenses. There's two of them here against Donald Trump. One abuse of power

with respect to Ukraine and, two, obstruction of Congress for defying all of Congress's subpoenas.

Nancy Pelosi will apparently formally send the articles of impeachment to the Senate today or tomorrow. When she does that, the Senate is free to

begin the trial. The Senate will have to figure out the exact procedures they're going to use. Clearly we're going to hear opening arguments from

both sides.

The big question that's going to get really divisive is will there be live witnesses?

Democrats are fighting hard to hear from people like former national security adviser John Bolton, from acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney,

from secretary of state Mike Pompeo. People central to the scheme.

But Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate majority leader, has pushed for no witnesses whatsoever.

The big question is going to be where does the majority vote?

There's 53 Republicans. 47 Democrats or independents. So if four Republicans vote with the Democrats, then we'll have live witnesses at the

trial and things will get interesting at that point.

[11:10:00]

ANDERSON: And Elie, CNN reporting that Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has pressed the White House to make him part of the

impeachment legal team, because he knows the case against the president inside out.

I think it was Stephen, writing in his brilliant newsletter today, that Giuliani is a witness to much of Trump's off the books diplomatic scheme in

Ukraine.

Do you think he would be a gift for Senate Democrats?

HONIG: He'd be a disaster, certainly, for the White House and for Senate Republicans. The reason Rudy Giuliani knows the case inside out is because

he was part of it. That is a wall you are never supposed to breach.

If you are a participant in the case, in the actual conduct, you cannot be a lawyer. That is first day of law school type of stuff. And I think

Stephen sort of called it out precisely in his piece today. It would be an enormous mistake. There have to be cooler heads that prevail upon Donald

Trump and tell him do not go down this road with Giuliani.

ANDERSON: Meanwhile in America, as Stephen's newsletter -- you must sign up for it, folks. It's fantastic.

Stephen, Donald Trump tweeting out this image. I'm just putting it out there.

What do you make of this?

Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi in slightly different GARBER: , it has to be said.

COLLINSON: Well, just from the start, this is a hugely offensive image, you know, to America's Muslim community, a community which the president

has repeatedly targeted. If it was another perhaps ethnic or religious community, this might be getting more play and outrage.

We have to say this is not exactly a surprising tactic by the president. We've seen all sorts of what would previously be thought of as completely

beyond the bounds of presidential behavior during his administration.

I think it does get to the frustration the president is having that this trial, because of Nancy Pelosi and the Senate minority leader, Chuck

Schumer, is not taking place quickly. He was looking for a quick acquittal.

Now he's saying he wants a complete dismissal of the charges, a step the Republicans are saying is not politically palatable. But although we know

the end result of this trial, there are big political questions, big reverberations that are going to take place, whether the Republicans can

get through this and acquit Donald Trump without taking on any political damage.

Whether Democrats can pursue this trial and make it look like it was an unfair trial and convince the majority of Americans of that fact.

And whether the president, what is the president's state of mind going to be when he's on trial?

This has only happened twice before in American history. It's going to be on TV six days a week and his conduct is going to be on trial. That tweet

suggests that the president is not exactly in a very relaxed state of mind about all of this.

ANDERSON: Well, and his defenders, I assume, would say he's alluding to the way the Democrats have responding to Donald Trump's handling of the

military action against Iran.

This is something that his supporters would call the Trump derangement syndrome, that the Democrats have become so partisan that they can't see

beyond anything Donald Trump does without saying he is wrong.

What do you make of that sort of narrative?

COLLINSON: Well, yes. It is true that Democrats, as soon as this action against Qasem Soleimani was announced, were very skeptical. There are

reasons for skepticism, not just about Donald Trump, of course.

The hangover from the bad intelligence that caused the Iraq War is still a powerful political force. But the administration has had shifting

rationales for this, for the targeted killing of Soleimani.

It started off by saying that it was an imminent threat he posed to Americans. The president then started, without evidence, talking about a

supposed threat to four U.S. embassies.

Now the attorney general is saying the idea of an imminent threat is a red herring, that any kind of threat would have justified Soleimani's killing.

So there's not been a consistent message from the administration. It hasn't provided the public with any evidence to back up its claims, which these

are claims that could eventually lead the U.S. into a hot confrontation with Iran.

And the president is a documented liar, not to have a better word for it. We've had thousands and thousands of untruths uttered by the president.

When he needs the American people to believe him, that belief, perhaps, is not there as it would be for another president just because of his own

behavior. So it's not surprising that there is skepticism about the rationale for the strike.

[11:15:00]

ANDERSON: Stephen Collinson in the house, Elie, thank you, both of you on two incredibly important stories.

All roads it seems in the end lead to Donald Trump. We've got the Democratic candidates who take part in the next presidential debate hosted

by CNN and "The Des Moines Register," tonight at 9:00 pm Eastern, 6:00 am in Abu Dhabi.

The first steps toward the impeachment trial and Donald Trump's behavior.

The Ukrainian company at the heart of President Trump's impeachment trial has been hacked. Yes. The cyber security firm Area One says employees at

Burisma, where Hunter Biden served on the board, were tricked by Russian hackers into giving up their passwords.

It is not clear what information the hackers wanted or how deeply Burisma was compromised. "The New York Times" reporting the hacking attempts first

started in November with the Bidens in the news headlines and, of course, you'll remember back then, the impeachment hearings were well underway.

Make of that what you will.

Still ahead this hour, Iran's president admitting responsibility for his country shooting down a Ukrainian passenger jet. But Iran also threatening

to sue the U.S. government and President Trump over the killing of Qasem Soleimani.

Why Iranian courts are calling the killing an act of terrorism.

Plus three European countries start the process of ending the Iran nuclear deal within weeks if Tehran doesn't start meeting its commitments. The

message, response from Iran up next.

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ANDERSON: It's been another day of fast-moving developments out of Iran. The government announcing the first arrests in connection with Iran

shooting down that Ukrainian passenger plane.

Several people have been detained so far. No word yet on their alleged roles in that incident. Earlier Iran's president said the government is

responsible and will fulfill its legal obligations.

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: Iran preparing to sue the U.S. government and president Donald Trump over the killing meantime of Qasem Soleimani. A judicial spokesman

says President Trump personally confessed to what the spokesman calls "a criminal act."

Meanwhile, the already crumbling Iran nuclear deal is now further in jeopardy. Britain, France and Germany today triggered what's called a

dispute mechanism that could officially kill the deal within weeks.

It cites continued Iranian violations and demands that Iran comply with the deal's provisions or face its termination. Iran is now responding. The

foreign ministry called the joint statement by the Europeans "passive" and "weak" and says those countries must be ready to accept the consequences.

With the agreement seemingly hanging by a thread, Britain's prime minister today offered a surprising idea for a potential replacement deal. CNN's

international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson with me in the region.

I want to start though with Nina dos Santos, in the British capital.

Lay out where Boris Johnson specifically is with regard to this deal and what we might expect from the Europeans next.

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNNMONEY EUROPE EDITOR: Well, essentially, Becky, what Boris Johnson has said in a television interview he gave a broadcast

earlier today, he thinks there's no point in scrapping this thus far unless something serious replaces it.

He also believes there's no real point it seems -- and I'm paraphrasing him -- in having the JCPOA if the United States hasn't agreed to it and pulled

out of it back in 2018 and Iran has been rolling back significantly over the last year and a half since then on its commitments. Boris Johnson

effectively said it like this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: If we're going to get rid of it, then we need a replacement. Now the problem with the JCPOA is basically -- and

this is the crucial thing. This is why there's tension.

The problem with the agreement is that, from the American perspective, it's a flawed agreement. It expires. Plus it was negotiated by President Obama

and it has -- from that point of view, it has many faults. Well, if we're going to get rid of it, let's replace it. And let's replace it with the

Trump deal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.

JOHNSON: That's what we need to see. And I think that would be a great way forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOS SANTOS: Big name check there for the president of the United States. Becky, you can bet he probably has noticed from his friend, the British

prime minister, Boris Johnson.

Essentially thus far we don't know what the Trump deal includes. We do know that one of the main objections that the U.S. side in the White House has

always had to the deal is the fact that they came and it focuses too much on the single issue of nuclear proliferation instead of other issues that

have affected U.S. allies in the Middle East, like ballistic missiles and also Iran's support for proxy militias in other countries around the

region.

Obviously Boris Johnson apparently appears to be amenable to a more comprehensive deal and one that the United States would back here. However,

his foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, issued the statement on behalf of the E-3, which is the U.K., Germany and France there, essentially activating

this important dispute mechanism, which means this deal could be dead within 35 days if Iran is still deemed to be noncompliant.

ANDERSON: Thank you, Nina.

Whether or not this is -- there's a disconnect between the U.K. prime minister and his foreign minister, the Iranian foreign minister, Javad

Zarif, who we regularly hear from on international issues has just called the Europeans passive and weak.

Look, I mean, to be quite frank, once the U.S. pulled out of this deal at Trump's behest, the Iranians have said we are free to do what we want.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: They saw this -- the terms of the JCPOA as an opportunity to decrease and they telegraphed it.

They waited a year and said we're going to do this and did it, slowly enriching more uranium and stockpiling more above the limits. They saw that

as their right.

ANDERSON: The reason we're having this conversation is, does this put us closer to a nuclear bomb in Iran or not?

ROBERTSON: The argument is absolutely yes, it does, because the whole thing was about creating a pathway and making that pathway a longer pathway

by saying you can only have so much enriched uranium and you can only use so many centrifuges.

The Iranians have said pooh to that. We're going to do what we want to do. So, yes, it does shorten the pathway; however, the caveat is, do they still

allow inspectors in to take a look at what they're doing?

[11:25:00]

ROBERTSON: And that's the sort of get out, if you will, that gives everyone a sort of sense of well, we know what they're doing and if they

start racing for it, we'll see it.

But now interestingly the Europeans have said not so much. Actually, now after having tolerated this for so long, a bit like Trump, essentially

tolerating Qasem Soleimani and his actions, military actions in the region, have said, whoa, that's enough. Take him out. And the Europeans actually

diplomatic (ph) in the same way.

ANDERSON: What's been said by the leadership on the latest in the investigation in Iran into what happened with this Ukrainian plane?

ROBERTSON: Looking like they're feeling the heat from the streets. Some of the big newspapers here have been calling for accountability. The

president's been calling for accountability and this is what he says he'll deliver. He's calling for a senior level judge and a number of experts and

the people have been arrested.

And this is to give the impression -- and we don't know the details -- that the international community will get justice and that the Iranian people

won't have to see another passenger jet shot down.

But we don't know who's been arrested and that's the problem. There isn't transparency on this.

Is it the guys who pushed the button or the people at the top who said we don't need to ground all civilian passenger jets that day?

Rouhani himself is saying he is backing what the IRGC is saying.

ANDERSON: Trying to draw a line under this. Pretty early for that from the Iranian side.

Nic, always a pleasure. Thank you very much indeed.

Nic Robertson is our international diplomatic editor, normally based in London; could be anywhere in the world, wherever the story is.

It's a no deal from Libya at least for the moment. Russia's military says the commander of the rebellions Libyan National Army has asked for an

additional two days to discuss a cease-fire agreement with supporting parties. The draft was proposed Monday in Moscow during peace talks

brokered by Turkey and by Russia. Another Libya peace summit will be held in Germany next week.

Up next, CONNECT THE WORLD on the ground tracking the bushfire crisis in Australia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK WILSON, WINGELLO FIRE CAPTAIN: It is a feeling like you are losing. You don't realize how much you have saved until the next day.

ANDERSON (voice-over): We speak to firefighters who are refusing to give up hope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON (voice-over): Plus Philippine officials warn people evacuated from near the Taal volcano not to return home. We'll tell you why some are

not listening to warnings that the volcano is about to blow.

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ANDERSON: Residents in southeastern Australia have been breathing in smoke from bush fires now for weeks. Imagine what it's like to play a

professional tennis match in those conditions.

Here you see a player dropping to her knees. She had to quit her qualifying match for the Australian Open because of a coughing fit. Those bush fires

we're seeing, devastating parts of Australia may be, may be the new normal. This is the dire warning from climate scientists in what is a new report.

Unless the world moves rapidly to curb emissions of the greenhouse gases which are driving global warming. The Hadley Center of Britain met -- oh,

sorry. The Hadley Center of Britain's Met office (ph) has found that climate change has led to an increase in weather periods of hotter

temperatures, low humidity, low rainfall and strong winds.

CNN's on the ground in fire ravaged notwithstanding. We've been there for months. Will Ripley and his team went to one small town that refuses to be

defeated by the sometimes overwhelming bush fire crisis. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Wingello, Australia, no one imagined the fire could move so quickly, the front line was miles away

from David Burgerman's (ph) home and store last week.

DAVID BURGERMAN (PH), STORE OWNER: Then we saw the sky go red and we go, that's not normal and we heard the sound of the fire like a furnace, like a

freight train right next to you.

RIPLEY (voice-over): That familiar sound, followed by a terrifying, almost apocalyptic scene, the Morton fire, so intense it created its own weather,

raining down fiery embers on this village of about 500.

BURGERMAN (PH): And there's houses exploding, fire everywhere. (INAUDIBLE) gone for sure.

RIPLEY: That picture you took you thought would be the last you would ever see of this place.

BURGERMAN (PH): For sure, I thought that's it, gone.

RIPLEY (voice-over): A feeling shared by Wingello fire captain Mark Wilson.

WILSON: It is different when it's your hometown. Like I've been everywhere else, helped out everywhere else but the emotions and everything kick in

going, this is my house, my friends, my loved ones.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Wilson's team of volunteer firefighters battled throughout the night.

WILSON: It is a feeling like you are losing. You don't realize how much you have saved until the next day. We saved well over 80 houses that night.

RIPLEY: Even the most season firefighters say it does not make sense how a house like this can be standing and the bushes are green. And yet just a

few steps away, everything next door, gone.

RIPLEY (voice-over): The fire danger is far from over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got a fire over at Peter and Simona's.

RIPLEY (voice-over): As temperatures heat up, small fires reignite.

RIPLEY: How quickly can a hot spot turn into danger situation?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very easily. We still have a lot of unburned trees on this property, very quick, especially with little breeze that picks up.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Here in New South Wales, Australia's hardest hit state, the fire season is only halfway through.

BURGERMAN (PH): We are the shop, there's no other shop here and we are at the center of where everything is.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Burgerman (ph) says he's doing everything he can to help neighbors who have lost everything.

BURGERMAN (PH): (INAUDIBLE) lost about 50 houses and people dead, no one died, no one injured and we lost a dozen houses but all (INAUDIBLE) take

care of now. It's a miracle. I call this the miracle of Wingello.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Nobody knows how long that miracle will last -- Will Ripley, CNN, Wingello, Australia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:35:00]

ANDERSON: As Australia battles these fires the debate over climate change in the country is quite frankly raging. It's a divisive issue, with

protesters taking to the streets, demanding immediate action from the government.

And while polling stations are -- polling suggests that most Australians do want tougher action on climate change, this concern doesn't seem to

translate at the ballot box. In May of last year, to the surprise of many, Australia voted to elect prime minister Scott Morrison, even though he was

once a climate skeptic and that even though conservative governments have a poor record on climate change.

The bush fires, though, may prove to be a turning point.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE). You're an idiot.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are out. You are out. Good night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Remember that moment. Scott Morrison heckled by bush fire victims for his handling of the crisis response and he has been slammed

over his government's climate change policies and the touting of Australia's massive coal industry.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON (voice-over): This is Mr. Morrison back in 2017, when he was treasurer of what many countries call finance minister. Watch the moment

when he famously brought a lump of coal into parliament, telling the opposition not to be, quote, "afraid of it."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Flash forward two years to 2019. The newly elected prime minister Morrison gave the green light for the mining giant Adani to build

their biggest coal mine in Australia's history.

The controversial project located in central Queensland has got environmental campaigners arguing that the runoff from the mine would have

an devastating impact on the Great Barrier Reef that lies downstream. That's one of the long list of reasons why they want to keep coal in the

ground, not out of it.

Well, that coal rush has meant Australia has enjoyed economic growth that is the envy of the Western world. Take a look at this graph. It shows

quarterly economic growth since Australia's last recession. That was back in 1991, nearly 28 years of prosperity.

But as the chief foreign affairs commentator of the "Financial Times" wrote today, "Blessed by economic good fortune, the country now faces a future

blighted by climate change by participating so eagerly in the mining boom, Australia might also have been helping to dig its own grave."

The picture is this right now in the Philippines. Toxic ash spewing out, covering everything. Scientists warning the Taal volcano is likely to erupt

with explosive force. Entire towns covered in debris. Almost a million people are living in what is the so-called danger zone, about a 17

kilometer radius.

The president, Rodrigo Duterte, has been visiting the affected areas. Right now he's inside that danger zone, in Batangas City. He has commended local

governments and agencies for their emergency response.

Tens of thousands of people have been relocated to shelters like gyms and schools. The number of evacuees is much higher, as many have gone to stay

with families or friends elsewhere in the country.

The prime minister of Pakistan says he's asked the National Disaster Management Authority and the military to step in to help victims of deadly

avalanches in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON (voice-over): Here you see villagers searching for anyone who may be buried alive, at least 50 people died. Most of them were inside their

homes. Roads have been blocked by the snow and communication lines are down. We will continue to monitor that situation for you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Weeks of gridlock over Donald Trump's impeachment appear to be over. And the U.S. president is headed for an historic trial.

What happens next when Republicans in the Senate take the reigns?

We will discuss that after this.

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[11:40:00]

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ANDERSON: In limbo for weeks, the impeachment trial against President Trump is finally set to move forward. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has just

wrapped up a closed door meeting with her -- what's known as Democratic caucus. And sources say she is indicating she will hand over the articles

of impeachment as early as tomorrow.

She's also signaling that the House will vote tomorrow to name the impeachment managers. They will essentially act as the prosecutors for the

Senate trial. As for the White House, it's getting ready for a fight finalizing for the trial.

Let's get you a look at what happens next through the prism of history. Through an historic lens, if you will. I want to bring in Ross Garber, a

CNN legal analyst.

And let's look back at where things stood with the Clinton impeachment and see whether we might be able to project forward today. When the House

managers decide it and announce, their first job, as I understand it, Ross, is to hand carry the articles of impeachment to the other side of the

capital.

This is what that moment of historic looked like in 1999 when the Clinton impeachment trial was about to begin. Let's start with these House

managers.

How critical is their role?

ROSS GARBER, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes. It's very important. And you've explained it exactly right, Becky. This is an incredibly historic moment

for the United States. This has happened only twice before in the nation's history. And so this is a big deal.

The chief justice will preside over the Senate and the House managers will act as prosecutors. It's their job to take the case that has been developed

in the House of Representatives, bring it to the Senate and argue for the removal of the President of the United States. It's a very important job.

ANDERSON: The more things change, it seems, the more say they stay the same. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): We need witnesses, ladies and gentlemen, to clarify who said what, who's being honest, who's not. And what really did

happen in this sordid tale. Give us this witness. We will do it in a professional manner. We will focus on the obstruction.

We'll try to do it in a way not to demean the Senate. We'll try to do it in a way not to demean Ms. Lewinsky. We'll try to do it in a way to get to the

truth. Please give us a chance to present our case in a persuasive fashion because unlike the House, everything is in dispute here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: He's a lot younger but you recognize the voice. That was Lindsey Graham 20 years ago, making a case for witnesses at the Clinton impeachment

trial. Now the senator said this to me just before Christmas. He's saying he wants exactly the opposite of that. He's not interested at all.

What's your sense of where this goes next?

GARBER: Yes, so during the Clinton impeachment trial, you're exactly right.

[11:45:00]

GARBER: It was, in a way, set up to not have witnesses, which caused some consternation among some Republicans. The president then, was, of course, a

Democrat. The House was controlled by Republicans, as was the Senate, although there was much more of a bipartisan flavor in the Senate than

there probably is today.

But, yes, the big question will be whether there are witnesses and it's important to keep in mind this isn't like a normal trial. This is playing

out in a political way. It's playing out in public.

And so it's not shocking that senators, particularly those who are aligned with the president, would be inclined to not have witnesses. Their point is

after all, we've already heard everything. There's -- the House has already gotten all the information.

What more is there to know?

And on the other hand, those prosecuting the president would be saying, wait a minute. No, we want to make our case and introduce as much as

possible.

ANDERSON: And, boy, are there enough voices on both sides. We've heard this political narrative going back and forth now for some time.

Why does any of this matter, Ross?

After all, the president is almost definitely going to be acquitted.

GARBER: Yes. You're exactly right. Unless something dramatic happens and I can't even imagine what that would be right now, the president is almost

certain to be acquitted because it takes a two-thirds super majority in the Senate to convict him. And the Republicans have the actual majority in the

Senate.

So a conviction is very unlikely. There are probably three reasons why this is significant.

One is it really is, it's historically significant. It's the third time in history that this has happened.

The second reason is political. We have an election coming up in a few months. And so this is -- this might potentially influence the electorate.

And the third is, any way you cut it, the issues that are being addressed are significant issues and this is a way for the public to learn more about

the issues.

ANDERSON: With that, we'll leave it there. But we will have you back, sir. Important stuff. Your analysis and insight is extremely useful as we pick

apart what happens next in Washington.

Still ahead, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II holds a crisis summit following the latest shakeup to hit the British monarchy. But a key member of the

royal family was absent from the conversation. The latest on all of that is up next.

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[11:50:00]

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ANDERSON: A royal welcome for the queen during her last visit to Canada back in 2010. The commonwealth country now looking to roll out a permanent

royal carpet, it seems. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, now with the crown's stamp of approval, the queen supporting their decision to step back

from royal duties and split their time between the U.K. and Canada.

However, she says there will be a transitional period to iron out the wrinkles of the deal. Hopefully, less complicated than that of Brexit. This

follows the infamous royal family meeting yesterday. Notably Meghan already in Canada, was, we were told, supposed to dial into the meeting. A source

tells CNN in the end that didn't happen.

How do Canadians feel about their potential royal residents?

CNN's Paula Newton was out and about to find out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A carefree skate in the middle of the afternoon. It's apparently this snapshot of a low-key life in

Canada that Harry and Meghan so want to make their own.

NEWTON: Why do you think they picked Canada?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because we're awesome.

NEWTON: All modesty aside, a good reason for them to live here is because they're wanted here.

You would welcome them?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As I would welcome anybody, I would hope.

NEWTON (voice-over): It may not be a red carpet but.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People love the royal family and they bring some good prestige to the country. I'm all for it.

NEWTON (voice-over): In a tweet, Canada's iconic coffee chain even thought it was a safe bet to offer them free coffee for life. "No pressure, Meghan

and Harry. Think about it."

This could still get complicated, especially if Canadian taxpayers are on the line for security.

NEWTON: And if Canadian taxpayers have to foot part of the bill?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That might be a different story.

NEWTON (voice-over): When asked, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was cautious.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: We're not entirely sure what the final positions will be or what the dispositions are. And those are

decisions for them. I think most Canadians are very supportive of having royals be here. But how that looks and what kind of costs is involved,

there's still lots of discussions to have.

NEWTON (voice-over): This after his warm holiday message to the couple.

"You're among friends and always welcome here."

And in Canada, the duchess already knows what she's getting into. She's made a life here before.

NEWTON: After living in this house in Toronto, the Duchess of Sussex pretty much knows what life in Canada will be like. She can walk Archie in

a stroller in neighborhoods like this. And it may give the couple the kind of private life they're really craving.

NEWTON (voice-over): They had a reminder of that on their Christmas vacation in British Columbia. Harry and Meghan were on a hike and stopped

to help this couple take a picture. No royal fanfare, no autographs. Just regular folks sharing a moment.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They wished us a happy new year. And we said happy new year, thank you so much and they were off.

NEWTON (voice-over): This historian says the way this was announced so publicly is unprecedented but royals taking refuge in Canada is not.

NEWTON: Do you think the queen is pleased that at least they chose Canada?

CAROLYN HARRIS, ROYAL HISTORIAN: I think the queen is likely pleased they've remained in the commonwealth as she is queen of Canada. And Meghan

has described herself as an honorary Canadian. She enjoyed living here during her time filming "Suits."

And the couple have a lot of happy memories of time they spent together in Toronto during the lead-up to their engagement.

NEWTON (voice-over): The duke and duchess may have sent their centuries' old monarchy into a tailspin but Canadians are already taking the move in

stride -- Paula Newton, CNN, Toronto.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: It is a story that many parents can relate to; 35-year-old son finally moves out of home. It is the easiest material going. So naturally

the royal family rift has been featuring in late night talk shows in the U.S. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHEN COLBERT, CBS HOST: Everyone is asking the same harrowing question.

Can Harry and Meghan really leave the royal family?

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan dropped the banger and mash, that they would step back as senior royals and work to become financially

independent. But like many Millennials who move out, they'll stay on the queen's Verizon family plan.

JIMMY KIMMEL, ABC HOST: Let me get this straight. The royal family is upset that Harry and Meghan want to move out and become financially

independent.

Isn't that every parent's dream, to not have their 35-year-old kid still living with them?

TREVOR NOAH, COMEDY CENTRAL HOST: The queen summoned everyone to a private meeting at her royal country house and everyone attended except Meghan

Markle, who conference called in. And I'll be honest, I don't blame Meghan for not going, because nothing good happens when white people invite you to

the countryside.

[11:55:00]

NOAH: We all know. We've all seen it. We've all seen "Get Out." We know how (INAUDIBLE) ends.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Have a good evening wherever you're watching. I hope you enjoy yourselves.

END