FORWARD TO THE WHISTLE-BLOWER'S

TESTIMONY AS SOON AS THIS WEEK.

ANDREW NAPOLITANO IS HERE.

WE HAD A LOT OF BUSY NEWS DAY'S

BUT GETTING YOUR HANDS AROUND

ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED TODAY IS

VERY DIFFICULT.

I WANT TO BREAK THIS DOWN TO

SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE.

THE PRESIDENT ADMITS THAT ON THE

PHONE CALL WITH THE PRESIDENT OF

THE UKRAINE HE REQUESTED THAT

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UKRAINE

INVESTIGATE HIS 2020 POLITICAL

RIVAL, JOE BIDEN.

IS THAT A CRIME?

>> IT IS A CRIME FOR THE PRESENT

TO SOLICIT AID FOR HIS CAMPAIGN

FROM A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.

>> Shepard: SO THAT TO WHICH

THE PRESIDENT HAS ADMITTED IS IN

AND OF ITSELF A CRIME.

>> YES, IT IS THE SAME CRIME FOR

WHICH THE ORGANIZATION DECIDED

NOT TO SEEK AN INDICTMENT.

>> THAT'S ON THE OBSTRUCTION OF

JUSTICE, WHETHER OR NOT THERE

WAS A CONSPIRACY THEORY.

HE SAID THERE'S SOME EVIDENCE

BUT NOT ENOUGH TO INDICT.

AND IT'S THE SAME CRIME, AN

AGREEMENT OR SOLICITATION FOR

ASSISTANCE FOR AN AMERICAN

CAMPAIGN REGULATED BY THE

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION.

>> Shepard: AT RUDY GIULIANI'S

THAT HE TOO PRESSED HER

UKRAINIAN OFFICIALS TO

INVESTIGATE BIDEN AT THE

SUGGESTION OF THE

ADMINISTRATION.

>> IF IT WAS DONE AS PART OF THE

REELECTION, IF THE PRESIDENT

WANTED -- SAID I WANT YOU TO

INVESTIGATE THE PRINCIPLE.

>> Shepard: THERE

WHISTLE-BLOWER FIRST REPORT OF

THE PRESIDENTS ACTION AND

UNSPECIFIED OTHER ACTIONS.

INSPECTOR GENERAL DEEMED THAT

INFORMATION CREDIBLE AND OF

URGENT CONCERN, RATHER THAN TAKE

THAT COMPLAINT TO THE CONGRESS,

THE INSPECTOR GENERAL WENT TO

THE ADMINISTRATION FOR GUIDANCE

AND THE ADMINISTRATION BLOCKED

ITS TRANSFER TO THE CONGRESS.

IS THAT A PROBLEM LEGALLY?

>> YES, THE ADMINISTRATION IS ON

VERY THIN ICE.

THE STATUTE SAYS

INSPECTOR GENERAL, IF HE FINDS A

COMPLAINT TO BE AT CREDIBLE AND

URGENT SHALL, NOT MAY, SHALL,

SHARE IT WITH A GANG OF EIGHT.

THE GANG OF EIGHT IS THE

BIPARTISAN LEADERSHIP OF BOTH

HOUSES OF CONGRESS AND THE

BIPARTISAN READERSHIP OF BOTH

INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES.

HE DIDN'T DO THAT.

HE GOT -- THE RULING FROM THE

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS, WAIT A

MINUTE.

THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE

INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE

INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.

THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T WEIGHT,

AND THEREFORE THAT COMPLAINT IS

MOVED.

THE CONGRESS HAS EVERY RIGHT

UNDER THE STATUTE TO KNOW ABOUT

IT AND THAT'S WHERE WE STAND

LEGALLY.

AND, AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT

THE PRESIDENT HAS ADMITTED.

THE PRESIDENT HAS ADMITTED THAT,

INVESTIGATING HIS UPCOMING 2020

PRESIDENTIAL RIVAL.

HOW SERIOUS IS THIS MATTER FOR

THE NATION AND THE DEMOCRACY

LEGALLY SPEAKING?

>> ABSOLUTELY IT IS IMPEACHABLE

OFFENSE AND WHY DO I SAY THAT?

IT'S STATED IN THE CONSTITUTION.

TREASON, BRIBERY, OTHER HIGH

CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UKRAINE,

THAT WOULD BE AN IMPEACHABLE IN

OFFENSE.

>> FIRST, THERE WAS A

WITHHOLDING OF THE AID, WHICH

THE CONGRESS IN A BIPARTISAN WA

WAY.

THEN THE PRESIDENT WITHOUT

EXPLANATION AT THE TIME DROPPED

THAT TRANSFER OF MONEY.

THEN, IT SITS CONFIRMED BY

FOX NEWS THAT THERE WAS A PHONE

CALL DURING WHICH THE FORMER

VICE PRESIDENT, AND THAT'S WHY

YOU ARE GETTING TO THIS BRIBERY

ACCUSATION?

>> YES.

NOW THE GRAND JURY AS THE HOUSE

OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THEY

DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THIS

CONSTITUTES BRIBERY.

THE TRIAL JURY IS THE SENATE AND

THEY ALSO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT

THIS CONSTITUTES BRIBERY.

WHAT WORDS TO THE PRESIDENT USE?

DID THE PRESIDENT USE CODE

WORDS, AS ONE OF HIS FORMER

LAWYER SAID HE OFTEN DOES WHEN

HE KNOWS OTHERS ARE YOU

LISTENING TO HIS CONVERSATIONS?

DID THE RECIPIENT OF THOSE WORDS

UNDERSTAND THEM TO BE THE CODE

WORDS?

THE CONVERSATION THAT PRESIDENT

ZELINSKI HAD WITH

SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY OF

CONNECTICUT WILL COME INTO THIS

BECAUSE CHRIS MURPHY OF

CONNECTICUT SAID DON'T DO WHAT

THE PRESIDENT ASKED EACH OF YOU

AND PRESIDENT ZELINSKI SAID,

DON'T WORRY, WE ARE GOING TO DO

IT.

>> Shepard: OFTEN IT'S

DIFFICULT TO SEE THE FOREST FROM