Republicans Increase Pressure on Kavanaugh Accuser to Testify; Trump: Accusation Against Kavanaugh 'Very Unfair'; Trump Admits He Didn't Read Documents He Ordered Declassified.
ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: And we're maybe happy to have the chuckle today. Appreciate it. Thank you. Our coverage on CNN continues right now.</s>JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT/ANCHOR: Happening now, supreme stand-off. Republicans want to hear from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's accuser while she and Democrats demand an FBI investigation into an alleged sexual assault three decades ago. Insulting Sessions. President Trump lobs some of his harshest insults yet at Jeff Sessions, including saying, quote, "I don't have an attorney general." Why does the president continue to humiliate and belittle Sessions instead of just firing him? Redaction reaction. President Trump admits he hasn't read Russia investigation documents that he declassified in an unprecedented move. The Justice Department and national intelligence are working on redacting them. Is the president politicizing intelligence? And summit success. North and South Korea commit to a new era of peace with Kim Jong-un, agreeing to close two key weapons facilities but with conditions the U.S. is unlikely to accept. Is Kim really looking for peace or hoping to dominate the entire Korean Peninsula? Wolf Blitzer is off today. Wolf Blitzer is off today. I'm Jim Acosta. And you're in THE SITUATION ROOM. Republicans are increasing pressure tonight on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's accuser to testify about what she says was a sexual assault at a high-school party three decades ago, and they're rejecting her demand for an FBI investigation as a precondition of any testimony. We'll talk about that and more this hour with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of the Armed Services Committee. And our correspondents, specialists and analysts, they're also standing by. But firs, let's go to CNN congressional correspondent Sunlen Serfaty. Sunlen, Republicans including President Trump are making it clear there won't be an FBI investigation into this allegation against Judge Kavanaugh.</s>SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right, Jim. And in fact, the chairman of the Senate Foreign -- Judiciary Committee today, Chuck Grassley, flatly dismissing that as an option today on Capitol Hill. He is focused on getting her to testify one way or the other, whether it be in public or in private, at her home in California or up here on Capitol Hill, it's certainly increasing the pressure on her to potentially testify. Republicans also making it crystal clear along the way that they are pushing ahead, likely with or without her.</s>DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I really want to see her. I really would want to see what she has to say.</s>SERFATY (voice-over): Tonight, the high-stakes showdown is intensifying, with battle lines being drawn over Christine Blasey Ford's potential testimony on Capitol Hill.</s>TRUMP: If she shows up, that would be wonderful. If she doesn't show up, that would be unfortunate.</s>SERFATY: The White House and Republicans now in lock step, saying they are ready and waiting for Ford to testify on Monday. Sources tell CNN Grassley is offering to have his committee interview her in California, in private or in a public hearing room on Capitol Hill.</s>SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R-IA), CHAIRMAN, JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Where I'm focused right now, is doing everything that we can to make Dr. Ford comfortable with coming before a committee, either in an open session or a closed session or a public or a private interview. That's four different ways you can choose to come.</s>SERFATY: And dismissing calls by Ford for an FBI investigation to happen first before she testified.</s>GRASSLEY: I'm not worried about anything other than just focusing for the next few days on encouraging her to come.</s>SERFATY: Chairman Grassley responding today to this letter, sent to the committee. Ford's lawyers saying she would not testify before the committee without an FBI investigation of her allegations against Kavanaugh first, because it will ensure that the crucial facts and witnesses in this matter are assessed in a nonpartisan manner and that the committee is fully informed before conducting any hearing or making any decisions.</s>LISA BANKS, ATTORNEY FOR CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD: The senators who have come forward and said they want to take it seriously mean that, then they'll have an investigation of these allegations so that we all go into this more informed.</s>SERFATY: Some Republicans are calling foul. Senator Lindsey Graham saying that requiring an FBI investigation is not about finding the truth but delaying the process until after the midterm elections. There is some precedent in the past.</s>ANITA HILL, TESTIFIED AGAINST JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT: When the FBI investigation took place, I tried to answer their questions directly, as I recall.</s>SERFATY: In 1991 during the Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill hearings, the White House called for an investigation. It only delayed the committee hearing for three days.</s>HILL: The hearing questions need to have a frame. And the investigation is the best frame for that, a neutral investigation that can pull together the facts, create a record so that the senators can draw on the information they receive to develop their questions.</s>SERFATY: Meantime, two former classmates of Kavanaugh's are denying any knowledge of the party. The latest, Patrick J. Smith, saying today, "I have no knowledge of the party in question. Nor do I have any knowledge of the allegations of improper conduct she has leveled against Brett Kavanaugh." All this as Republicans are starting to coalesce around the message, if Ford does not show up on Monday, it will be time to move ahead with a vote.</s>SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R), MAINE (via phone): I think it's not fair to Judge Kavanaugh for her not to come forward and testify.</s>SERFATY: And Collins's voice here, such an important and significant one, given the fact that she's a moderate Republican and potential swing vote. So many Republicans really taken the temperature of what she says and how, potentially, where this is potentially headed. Now, I should tell you, Jim, there was a new letter just sent out just moments ago by the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley, rejecting these Democratic calls to delay Monday's hearing, of course, to make room for a potential FBI investigation. He says in this letter that he's given Ford many options, which we outlined earlier to testify in public, in private, in California or up here on Capitol Hill, or anywhere else, he says in this letter. And he said he, of course, would keep the private session "with me; the matter would be kept confidential." So again, Jim, just another iteration of this long back and forth that continues at this hour.</s>ACOSTA: All right. CNN's Sunlen Serfaty, thanks for that update. Appreciate it. President Trump was weighing in on the controversy and standing by his nominee. CNN's senior White House correspondent Jeff Zeleny is working on that part of the story. Jeff, the president is also urging Kavanaugh's accuser to testify that the Judiciary Committee, he said earlier today, he does want to see her testimony.</s>ZELENY: Jim, he did. The president was quite clear on that earlier today. He says, "I really want to hear what she has to say." But in the next breath, the president also said this entire process, he believes, has been unfair to Judge Kavanaugh. Now, Judge Kavanaugh, for his part, spending the third straight day preparing for that Monday public hearing. The only question: if it happens or not.</s>TRUMP: He is such an outstanding man. Very hard for me to imagine that anything happened.</s>ZELENY (voice-over): President Trump not only standing behind Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh tonight but subtly questioning the credibility of the woman accusing him of sexual assault.</s>TRUMP: Really, they're hurting somebody's life very badly. And it's very unfair, I think, to -- as you know, Justice Kavanaugh has been treated very, very tough.</s>ZELENY: The president expressing confidence about Kavanaugh's confirmation, repeatedly referring to the federal judge as "Justice."</s>TRUMP: Justice Kavanaugh -- Justice Kavanaugh --</s>ZELENY: But the president also saying today he's eager to hear from Christine Blasey Ford, who accuses Kavanaugh of pinning her to a bed and groping her during a party more than three decades ago in high school, allegations Kavanaugh categorically denies.</s>TRUMP: If she shows up and makes a credible showing, that will be very interesting. And we'll have to make a decision.</s>ZELENY: The president dismissions calls for the FBI to investigate, as Democrats and Ford have requested.</s>TRUMP: Well, it would seem that the FBI really doesn't do that. They've investigated -- they've investigated about six times before, and it seems that they don't do that.</s>ZELENY: Yet, that's exactly what happened in 1991 when Anita Hill made sexual harassment allegations against Clarence Thomas.</s>CLARENCE THOMAS, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: The Anita Hill who worked for me.</s>ZELENY: The White House ordered the FBI to investigate and send its findings to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Meanwhile today, the president expressing more outrage at Attorney General Jeff Sessions, expanding his criticism beyond his recusal in the Russia investigation.</s>TRUMP: I'm disappointed in the attorney general for numerous reasons.</s>ZELENY: The president was even more blunt during an interview with "The Hill," saying "I don't have an attorney general. It's very sad." It's the latest accusation of disloyalty from the president, even though the role of attorney general is to leave the Justice Department, not serve as the president's personal lawyer. "He wanted to be attorney general, and I didn't see it, but he came very strongly," the president said. "He went through the nominating process, and he did very poorly. I mean, he was mixed up and confused. And people that worked with him for, you know, a long time in the Senate were not nice to him. That was a rough time for him." All this as the president visited North and South Carolina today, where at least 36 people have died in the wake of Hurricane Florence.</s>TRUMP: To all those impacted by this terrible storm, our entire American family is with you and ready to help, and you will recover.</s>ZELENY: The president toured a flood-ravaged neighborhood in Newburn, North Carolina, handing out lunches --</s>TRUMP: How many do you need?</s>ZELENY: -- and hugs.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can I have a hug?</s>ZELENY: The president also asked about something close to his heart.</s>TRUMP: How is Lake Norman, that area. How is that doing? I love that area. I just -- I can't tell you why, but I love that area.</s>ZELENY: The Trump National Golf Club, located on the shores of Lake Norman near Charlotte, that largely escaped the storm's wrath.</s>ZELENY: Now, the president is flying back to the White House at this hour where, certainly, this confirmation battle is waiting for him and one of the things that is hanging over his administration. But the president was asked earlier today, Jim, if he's been expressing so often how he feels badly for Judge Kavanaugh. A reporter asked the president, "How do you feel for the accuser?" That California professor. Jim, this is what the president said. He said, "We'll have to see what she has to say. I've given her a lot of time. The senators have given her a lot of time. We continue to give her a lot of time. We have held up the whole hearing. He goes on and on, never expresses a bit of empathy for her. But he clearly says he still -- and Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, want to hear from her. So that again, Jim, is the question hanging over all of Washington. Will that hearing happen? Will she testify in public or private if at all, Jim?</s>ACOSTA: That is the big question. CNN's Jeff Zeleny, thank you very much. Let's get more on all of this with Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, a member of the Armed Services Committee. Senator, thanks for joining us.</s>SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND (D), NEW YORK: Hey, Jim.</s>ACOSTA: On Monday, Professor Ford's lawyer said her client would be willing to testify publicly before the Senate Judiciary Committee. And as you know, she is now asking for an investigation first. What do you make of that change? And what do you think changed her calculation?</s>GILLIBRAND: I don't think it's a calculation. I think it's basic fairness. There should be an investigation by the FBI, because they're nonpartisan. They'll do an objective investigation of the facts, present those facts to the Judiciary Committee. And this is exactly the process you do for all judicial nominees, especially for the Supreme Court. You have to have a background check on this specific allegation, which wasn't done in the previous background check. They afforded the same investigation during the Anita Hill hearing. It's absurd that 27 years later, we can't do better than what we did 27 years ago. And so we need to at least have the investigation done so the facts can be presented. And then when you do have the hearing, witnesses should be allowed. We should allow the corroborating witnesses. It's outrageous that they just want a "he said-she said" with just Dr. Ford with Judge Kavanaugh.</s>ZELENY: And you said you support Professor Ford's request for an FBI investigation, but Senator Grassley, as you know, from the Judiciary Committee, says, quote -- and I can read this to you -- "Nothing the FBI or any other investigator does would have any bearing on what Dr. Ford tells the committee." Why is an investigation so important in your view? And what do you make of what we're hearing from Senator Grassley, which is that this hearing has to happen on Monday. If not, they'll send investigators or staffers out to talk to her. It seems as though the senator is saying he wants this over with.</s>GILLIBRAND: Well, staffers aren't nonpartisan, first of all. And they're not professionals in the same way the FBI are. Second, there are corroborating witnesses here. There was a witness to the actual event in Mark Judge. And so he should be questioned under oath by the FBI and then asked to testify in the hearing, also under oath. And this is a woman who is literally -- she has no reason to lie. She is asking for a federal investigation by the FBI knowing, that if he made a false statement, it would be under penalty of perjury, and it would be a felony. She's asking for the oversight and accountability to be done. Who's not asking for it? The White House. They're the ones who are not allowing the FBI to do it. And neither are the other witnesses. The fact that Mark Judge doesn't want to testify, well, maybe he doesn't want to be under oath. And so that is a red flag to me that they are trying to railroad this. They're trying to create a sham hearing on Monday. There is no rush for this. They have not given her time. And to not even have the courtesy of an investigation of the facts first and then have corroborating witnesses? Anita Hill had not only an FBI investigation, but she had 22 witnesses on her allegations, with more witnesses that wanted to testify. This sounds like a sham hearing designed only to have a he said-she said. But the truth is, I believe her. She has a credible allegation against Judge Kavanaugh. She told her therapist five years about it, her husband. She told a friend a year ago. She told a reporter before Judge Kavanaugh was even nominated. This is all indication of truthfulness. And now she wants an FBI investigation to get to the facts. I believe her, and I think the women of America should be paying attention right now to how the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are treating a woman who wants to testify to make sure that someone who gets a lifetime appointment has the character necessary to be a Supreme Court justice.</s>ZELENY: And Senator Grassley just point out this statement, and he's saying that "I am following" -- this is a quote from him -- "I am following the same time line Chairman Biden did after Professor Hill's allegations were made public." Grassley wrote that "It would be a disservice to Dr. Ford, Judge Kavanaugh and this committee and the American people to delay this hearing any further." He's shutting down the idea of pushing this past next Monday. What is your message to Senator Grassley?</s>GILLIBRAND: Well, I would urge my colleagues to allow the FBI to do the investigation, to get to the facts. What are they hiding? What are they worried about? These questions should be asked under oath to Mark Judge and to others who may actually have corroborating information about the event and that those individuals should also be asked to testify. Because when you have corroborating evidence and relevant evidence, you want to have the whole picture when you're making the decision of who do you believe? And I believe Judge Ford. I believe Dr. Ford. I think what she's told is truthful.</s>ACOSTA: Yes.</s>GILLIBRAND: I think what she's told is honest. And I just don't think they are following the procedures. And they're not allowing with investigation, where they did in Anita Hill, and they're not allowing corroborating witnesses, as they did in Anita Hill.</s>ACOSTA: And Senator Gillibrand, two quick questions. First of all, respond to President Trump, if you can, who said earlier today that, if Professor Ford makes a credible showing, he'll have to make a decision. But he also said it's very hard for him to imagine that anything happened. Do you think the president is showing enough empathy for Dr. Ford? And why is it that he seems to show more empathy for Judge Kavanaugh than for the accuser in this case?</s>GILLIBRAND: Well, because he has over a dozen credible accusers against him for sexual harassment and sexual assault, and he has not shown empathy towards women. He doesn't believe women. And I don't think he actually values women, given how much he said in the past about women; misogynistic comments and constantly trying to undermine women's rights. His goal in appointing Kavanaugh was to find a judge who would undermine and overturn Roe v. Wade. He does not support women's rights to make decisions about their own bodies, and neither does his nominee for the court.</s>ACOSTA: And Senator, finally, I know you worked on a lot of these issues for many years up on Capitol Hill, especially with respect to the military. So you do have some expertise in this area. Professor Ford is now faced with an incredibly difficult decision on whether to testify on Monday. It does sound as though she's hit the pause button on some of this. What would your advice be to Professor Ford, if you would give her advice, if you could speak directly to her? What would you say to her?</s>GILLIBRAND: Well, you know, I -- I stand with her. And she is being bullied by this committee. It's outrageous that this committee has not moved forward, despite the rest of the world. They're stuck in decades ago. They literally are frozen in time. And not only should she be given the opportunity to testify, which she has asked for; she's asked to cooperate. She's asked for an investigation which is the minimum that should be afforded her. She will want to have the corroborating witnesses testify, too, so the full story can be testified to under oath. And so I believe her. I stand with her. And --</s>ACOSTA: Do you hope she shows up on Monday? Do you hope that she testifies?</s>GILLIBRAND: I don't think she should be bullied into this scenario, where it's a he said-she said, where many members of the committee have already made up their minds. Without the benefit of an FBI investigation, where it's not partisan and objective, and without the benefit of corroborating witnesses being able to testify, it's a sham hearing. And I don't think she should participate in it.</s>ACOSTA: OK. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, thank you very much for joining us. We appreciate it. Good talking to you.</s>GILLIBRAND: Thank you.</s>ACOSTA: More on the Kavanaugh controversy ahead. Will Republicans go forward with a vote without hearing from the Supreme Court nominee's accuser? Plus, President Trump admitting he didn't read the Russia investigation document that he just declassified in a move raising new concern about politicizing intelligence.