Trump Punts On Roy Moore, But Slams Sen. Franken; Roy Moore's Wife: He Will Not Step Down
BERMAN: President Trump lashed out today at Democratic Senator Al Franken or "Frankenstein" as he calls him in a tweet storm last night that drew sharp backlash today. Questions to considering the president remains steadfastly unwilling to join numerous Republican lawmakers in condemning Alabama U.S. Senator Roy Moore. It, of course, raises the question of hypocrisy, also political expediency not to mention personal vulnerability on the part of the president who faces sexual misconduct allegations from at least 13 women. More on all of it now from CNN's Ryan Nobles at the White House. Ryan, what did the president say today about the allegations against Senator Franken?</s>RYAN NOBLES, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, not surprisingly John, he attacked Senator Franken and he did it via his favorite medium, Twitter. This is what he wrote, "The Al Frankenstein picture is really bad, speaks a thousand words. Where do his hands go in pictures 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 while she slept?" He goes on to say, "And to think that just last week, he was lecturing anyone who would listen about sexual harassment and respect for women." And as you mentioned, John, this decision by the president to wait about 12 hours before attacking Al Franken on this point opens this White House up to criticism on two fronts, not only where they stand as it relates to Roy Moore in Alabama, but also the president's own personal accusations against him by, as you mentioned, at least 13 different women.</s>BERMAN: Does the White House, Ryan, have anything more to say about Roy Moore?</s>NOBLES: Yes. Sarah Sanders was actually questioned about this quite a bit today during the White House press briefing. And essentially, her response was that the White House has already weighed in on this issue and that they're going to leave it for the voters of Alabama. But here's a thing John. They've not gone as far as many prominent Republican leaders including Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan who've directly said that Roy Moore should step down from this race. They've said if the allegations are true, he should step down. And all they've said is that they're troubling. And also today, which I think is interesting, Sarah Sanders left opened the possibility that the governor, Kay Ivey of Alabama could set a different date for this election on December 12th. Now, Ivey's repeatedly said that she has no interest in doing that, but we do know that Mitch McConnell sent a memo to the White House outlining a number of options for Republicans as it relates to this race. And among those options was changing the date. The White House is not saying whether or not they're for or against it, but said it's up to the governor to make that decision.</s>BERMAN: As we know, Governor Ivey says she is voting for Roy Moore even though she says she has no reason to doubt all of the accusers. Ryan Nobles at the White House, thanks so much for being with us. Back now with our panel. Alice, I want to start with you. You know, while he was -- traveling in Asia, the president said, you know, I haven't had a chance to really pay attention to what's going on in Alabama. I put out this statement, when I get home and start watching T.V. again, he didn't say the T.V. part but that's what he meant, then I will weigh in on it. Well, now, he's back and there's still nothing. Is it sufficient?</s>STEWART: No, it's not sufficient. And it's -- he's fully briefed on this. He knows exactly what's going on here. Look, the problem is sexual harassment is nonpartisan. And if he's going to condemn Al Franken, he needs to condemn Roy Moore. We have three people here that are facing serious allegations and yes, people are innocent until proven guilty. But to -- in my view, the allegations against Roy Moore are much more convincing than his denials. And I believe he's just as guilty as Al Franken. The problem is the president has many skeletons in his own closet. And he is not -- he doesn't have the moral high ground here. And he is afraid to go up there and speak too harshly of a Republican because he knows what is facing him.</s>BERMAN: Republican Alice Stewart, Republican Ed Martin response.</s>MARTIN: Well, I mean, this is -- I can't believe that we're having this conversation across the river in New Jersey, Menendez. No one has said he must resign until his case gets adjudicated. Al Franken comes up and admits to at least abusing women, if not a sexual assault, an actual crime. He admitted it. The difference is the admission. And it has to matter somewhat. You can still say, as I think it's fair, there's a lot of women saying something that sounds believable, fair enough. But as to politics --</s>SELLERS: Man explain, man explain further --</s>MARTIN: The fact is the fact -- there's nothing, but the fact is this. The president has spoken. You're not listening to what he's saying. He said the people in Alabama will decide and that he's backed away. And frankly, that's what the people in America want, is not Al Franken, the people that are hypocrites. They want -- last night on this panel, we had people admit, an ethics committee hearing an investigation is where complaint goes to die. Everybody knows that in</s>D.C. STEWART: But here's the thing. We have the picture of Al Franken, yes. And -- but we also have the audio of President Trump on the "Access Hollywood" tape bragging about groping women --</s>MARTIN: You're talking about Roy Moore. You've condemned Roy Moore. Now, you're condemning -- you're going to that one. Which one is --</s>STEWART: No, I'm talking about the president. He's condemning Al Franken. He is the one that --</s>MARTIN: No, Roy Moore is the question. The question is why should Roy Moore be condemned by the president when nothing -- when no one has proven -- all that's been said is allegations, 40 years old against the man that's new.</s>SELLERS: If I may -- I think that if we want to look at the words -- first of all, I was the one last night that sat beside you and said that Al Franken should resign. And said that ethics committee is where complaints go to die.</s>MARTIN: Yes, good job, you were right.</s>SELLERS: That is a fact. I was also the same person who said that Roy Moore doesn't deserve to the United States Senate.</s>MARTIN: You're wrong.</s>SELLERS: And Donald Trump does not deserve to be president of the United States based upon these accusations. The fact is, I mean, you can spin and twist and pretzel yourself into any position you want to do that. However, the president of the United States say they're not getting an STD in the 1960s and '70s was his Vietnam. He is the same person who walked into dressing rooms with 15-year-old girls during the --</s>MARTIN: We're talking about Roy Moore.</s>SELLERS: I'm not done talking. I'm not done talking.</s>MARTIN: We're talking about Roy Moore.</s>SELLERS: I'm not done talking yet. He's also someone who got on a bus and said that he kisses women when they choose not to be kissed and he grabs women by their pussies. His quote, not mine. And so, while we're talking about someone who was president of the United States, I think you have to feed people equally out of the same spoon. And so with that being said, Roy Moore is a predator amongst young girls.</s>MARTIN: How do you know that?</s>SELLERS: Because 14 young people has said that. Fourteen -- how many women --</s>BERMAN: We're up to nine, nine to 14.</s>MARTIN: But you're a lawyer, you're a lawyer. You know you can't say that you know something based on anything.</s>SELLERS: But my only point to you is with that, I believe the woman who spoke out against Al Franken, not just the picture. Democrats around the country are saying maybe his hands didn't touch, maybe the photographer -- maybe she was passed out. Regardless of that, even if I give Al Franken the benefit of the doubt and said it was a bad joke, there's still a woman who I believe who said that he forcefully kissed her when she did not want to be kissed. That is enough for me to say that he should resign.</s>MARTIN: But this --</s>SELLERS: I'm not done talking. One moment.</s>SELLERS: It maybe, it maybe.</s>MARTIN: OK.</s>SELLERS: My only point is that if I believe this --</s>MARTIN: You haven't answered the question yet.</s>SELLERS: I believe this -- if I believe this woman, if I believe this woman, I should also believe the same women who were against Roy Moore. I should also believe the same women who are against Donald Trump. And the fact that you cannot see that this is not a partisan issue is an indictment on you, not me.</s>MARTIN: No, listen, listen, here is what you -- here's the mistake you made, one man confess to crimes. If he hadn't confess I would have said --</s>SELLERS: Is grabbing a woman by the vagina a crime or not?</s>MARTIN: If everyone -- I keep interrupting you. One man confessed and showed the pictures. And you want to re-litigate the election, the president --</s>SELLERS: That not what I said. I asked you a --</s>MARTIN: The questions was about --</s>MARTIN: The question was about -- no, the question was about Roy Moore. And here is the point. You want to condemn everyone if -- let me say this, if Al Franken had said, I never did it, then there should you have been a hearing for the woman and him. Not condemning him. So, that's where we're wrong. I'm on Al Franken side that until he confessed he had a right to object. And the point is --</s>STEWART: But you're missing the point --</s>MARTIN: No, you can't prove something based on allegations.</s>STEWART: The point is the "Access Hollywood" tape, the president admits, he acknowledges that he grabbed a woman.</s>STEWART: He says he does it all the time. And women like it.</s>BERMAN: Let's play it. Let's play because they -- hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on, hang on. We have the photo about -- well, look, the USO tour in 2006 is over too. We have the photo of Al Franken. We also have the tape of Donald Trump talking on the "Access Hollywood" tape. Let's play it.</s>PRES. DONALD TRUMP, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA: You know, I'm automatically attracted to beautiful. I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.</s>BILLY BUSH, RADIO HOST: Whatever you want.</s>TRUMP: Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.</s>STEWART: What he said right there, we had Jessica Leeds on this show with Anderson not too long ago, and she acknowledged exactly what Donald Trump said in that tape he did to her. So, you cannot say that he's not admitting that he did it. He's denying it now because he's the president.</s>SELLERS: He's talking about Nancy O'Dell in that tape. If I'm not mistaken he's talking about Nancy O'Dell.</s>BERMAN: Yes.</s>SELLERS: And he's never even apologized to Nancy O'Dell.</s>MARTIN: Listen -- you guys, you guys, it means you want to rerun 2020 you get your guy to run. The American people look at that --</s>SELLERS: Ed, I'm not condemning anything. Ed, I do not know your background at all. What I am condemning is the fact that I had a daughter and I do not want -- you can wave your hands all you want.</s>MARTIN: I can't wave your hand. This is the kind of stuff --</s>BERMAN: Hang on one second. Hang on a second.</s>MARTIN: Nobody's impressed when people say I have kids, I know someone. Look, I have kids too. And here is what I wouldn't want, I wouldn't want to live in a society where people can simply accused someone like Roy Moore or Al Franken and then get hung out to dry. That's wrong, it's un-American and everybody sick of it. Here's the thing, you'll lose every election, Bakari, if you can -- if Al Franken --</s>SELLERS: I've won four, so tell me --</s>MARTIN: Well, Al Franken is going to staying there.</s>SELLERS: I've won four.</s>MARTIN: What I'm saying Al Franken --</s>SELLERS: Have you won an election? That's my point. What are you talking about?</s>SELLERS: Don't wave your hands --</s>BERMAN: This discussion is not over. We're going to take a quick break. Maggie Haberman and Philip Bump who had been waiting on the side line maybe --</s>HABERMAN: No, it's really OK.</s>BERMAN: -- glad to be there.</s>HABERMAN: It's fine.</s>BERMAN: They'll join in this discussion, stay with us.