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Paul Ryan Encourages House to Vote for Tax Reform Bill; Leeann Tweeden Speaks Against Al Franken & Franken Publicly Apologizes; Bob Menendez & Attorney Speak on Mistrial in Corruption Case; House Passes Tax Reform Bill. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired November 16, 2017 - 13:30   ET

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


[13:30:00] REP. PAUL RYAN, (R-WI), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Let's start to reclaim our future right here in this moment, in this chamber, in this moment. Let's pass this bill.

Thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.

(CHEERING)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: You have been listening to the House speaker on the floor. He's selling the republican tax plan. It's expected to pass in the House. The vote is about -- the rollcall is to begin and should last for about 20 minutes or so. The mystery though is not in the House of Representatives. It's in the Senate. It's a different version. The race to find Republicans in the Senate to make sure their version of the bill passes. That will take place over the next several days as well. The House vote now under way. Stand by for that.

But there is more breaking news from Capitol Hill involving, this time, Democratic Senator Al Franken, of Minnesota. He is apologizing publicly after being accused of groping and kissing a colleague of his without consent a decade or so ago. Senator Franken is calling for an ethics investigation into his actions.

His accuser, Leeann Tweeden, is speaking right now. Listen to this.

LEEANN TWEEDEN, FORMER ANCHOR & ACCUSER OF SEN. Al FRANKEN: He had the first show in Kuwait, is where we were for the first show. We had a backstage area and they had it cordoned off. We were backstage alone because he was like, OK, we are going to get ready and they introduce us as we come through a backstage door and then we open up into the crowd on the stage. The backstage area was part of the gym because that's sort of how these makeshift places are. This gym, we had this one corner like this with these curtains and they cordoned off the area. It was backstage.

He had his little props for the rest of his little skits by himself. He's like, we need to practice kissing scene. I was like yes, OK, whatever. I blew him off because we don't need to practice the kissing scene. He persisted and said we need to practice the kissing scene. OK, Al. You turn your head right and you turn your head right and we got this. He was persisting. I said this is not "SNL. We are not really going to kiss. We don't have to practice." He kept persisting and it reminded me of the Harvey Weinstein tape that reminded me of the girl who was persistent and badgering and relentless. You know? I was like, OK, fine, so he would shut up and he came at me and we did the line and he came at me and before you know it, you get close, and he just put his hand on the back of my head and mashed his face against me. It happened so fast. He mashed his lips against my face and stuck his tongue in my mouth so fast. All I can remember is that his lips were really wet and slimy. And in my mind, I called him fish lips the rest of the trip. That's what it reminded me of. He stuck his tongue down my mouth, and remember, I pushed him off with my hands. And I remember I almost punched him because every time I see him now my hands clinch into fists, and I said, "If you ever do that to me again, I won't be so nice about it the second time." I walked out away from him and I wanted to find a bathroom and rinse my mouth out. I was disgusted. It was one of those -- I don't know. I was violated and felt like he betrayed my trust. Obviously, that is not what I wanted. I felt like he wrote that just to get that piece in. He knew he was not going to get it on stage. That was why he was badgering me to do it alone. That's what he wanted. You know, five minutes later, we had to go on stage.

I always joke -- I have never been an actress. People think when you are in Hollywood -- I was a model and a television host. People say, you are an actress. That's a whole different set of talent and I don't act. I had to be an actress and go on stage with this guy who just did this to me five minutes before and act like he's my best friend. And Al Franken, ladies and gentlemen, and this is the greatest thing ever and do our lines and trust me, he didn't get close to my face when we had to come in for the kissing scene.

[11:34:41] It's funny because when this Harvey Weinstein came out when I was deciding is this a time I tell my story, I was just looking online and trying to find videos and recalling everything that happened in my mind from this time 10 or 11 years ago. I found a blog of a soldier who was at one of our shows in Afghanistan or Iraq. He talks about his experience at the show. It says a guy in the audience. He said Al Franken and Leeann Franken were great colleagues and Al goes in for a kiss or more from Leeann and fails. I just thought, that's what happened. He failed every time. That's what happens on stage every time. I thought the joke would have been -- to me, the funny part is it would have been like Al in my mind, Al would come in for a kiss or I put my hand on his mouth. That would be the funny part. This guy coming in from the kiss from the hot girl and it would have been to the troops and it would have been funny because it was comedy. Right? It turned out completely different. I had to act my way through the rest of the shows for the next 10 days or two weeks. I just made sure I was never alone with him again. I didn't tell the sergeant major of the Army what happened or I didn't tell the USO. Who was I going to do? Be the trouble maker, be like I'm going to emcee every part of the show for the hour except the 10 minutes on stage with Al? I sucked it up. I'm a strong girl. I'm a sportscaster. So I deal with guys every day. I'm going to fake it and act like an actress and do this part with him and not talk to him for the rest of the tour. It was a big tour with a lot of people. I didn't socialize with him and talk to him for the rest of the tour. I was never alone with him again. We were in tight quarters. I made sure I was never alone with him again. I didn't have to deal with him other than when we were on stage. Petty things I had to deal with. Just snide comments.

We would do autograph sessions after the shows. They would set up tables. And they there would be sometimes thousands of troops at an event. We would only have so much time. There would be long tables for all the country music artists and the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders were very popular, by the way. Instead of trying to have a single- file line to get everyone's autograph, they would open it up to where if you wanted somebody's autograph, and there was only time to wait in line, people could just stand in the line they want instead of filing it through like this. Sometimes there would be honest to God, nobody in Al Franken's line. The girls would have long lines and some of the country music artists would have long lines.

I would be sat next to Al because that's how they set it up. I would have my back to him and whatever and would be sitting next to the other people and have lines and sign autographs and it was hours of signing and taking pictures with troops. One time, he didn't have people in his line and I would see things out of the corner of my eye or I would see a hand go like this. I would look over one time. And one time, I would see a picture would come back and be my face with devil horns and the devil tail and the pitch fork and the goatee. These are the things I'm dealing with. Childish and belittling and whatever. Two weeks of this is what I'm getting at. Sorry. So whatever.

I make it through the two weeks of that and we are on the way home. We leave the base out of Afghanistan. Every time you take off from the base, you wear a Kevlar helmet and a flack vest. When you leave from a war zone, you do wear your gear because small arms fire or even a rocket-propelled grenade can pierce the skin of an airplane. A lot of times you sit on Kevlar and you wear it because you can be shot at through a plane. You are wearing it as you get high enough where you are out of that reach and you can take it off.

[13:40:48] I'm wearing it and I fell asleep because I can fall asleep before the plane takes off. I'm sleeping against the side of the plane. And in the photo where he is there and I'm sleeping. Anyone who knows me knows I sleep anywhere, any time. I'm asleep and there were photographers on the trip and probably the photographer of the tour that took the picture. They give you C.D.s as you leave that have behind the scenes photos of you that they give you when you leave. I opened it up probably the next day and there was a photo of Al doing this on my breasts on the camera smirking and smiling like look at me. I took that as the final "I got the last laugh." He knew I wouldn't see it until I got home, and I was away from everybody else. To know it in the context of the desire trip and what happened in the entire two weeks is telling to me. Just the fact that he thought he could be OK with it and it was OK and funny. And I knew all of these years later that I thought it was going to be funny, the comedian. I thought it was a joke. It was in bad taste and I guess it wasn't funny. Poor taste or whatever. Nothing like that is ever funny. Is it funny if it's your daughter or wife? In context of assaulting me backstage and the petty things he was doing to belittle me and how he treated me and in succession and ended with that and how I was left to feel without being able to say whatever I needed to say to his face that that's how I felt. Great. While I was sleeping do you that to me and I can't say anything to him. That's just how it all happened and how it finished.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: When he said in a statement --

BLITZER: Strong words from Leeann Tweeden. She is an anchor in Los Angeles making the allegations saying that the Senator from Minnesota, Al Franken, kissed and groped her without consent a decade or so ago during a USO tour in the Mideast. He has now formally apologized. He has acknowledged that all of what she is saying he has acknowledged doing.

I want to go to CNN's M.J. Lee on Capitol Hill where we get a lot of reaction where we get these explosive allegations now. The bipartisan calls for an ethics investigation.

Actually, M.J., hold on for a second.

You see Abbe Lowell, the attorney representing Bob Menendez, speaking. We expect to hear from Senator Menendez. A mistrial in that case in Newark, New Jersey. Let's listen in to Abbe Lowell.

ABBE LOWELL, ATTORNEY FOR BOB MENENDEZ: -- the people were interviewed in the United States and other countries, with more than two or three dozen grand jury witnesses, with more than a half million documents that have been obtained by the government, with over 50 witnesses at a nine-week trial, with all the rulings that occurred in this court for the last nine weeks, this jury could not, would not, and did not return a verdict that validated any of the government's charges. At the end of the day, the fundamental reason for that is that this is what happens when you put a real 25-year friendship on trial.

SEN. BOB MENENDEZ, (D), MINNESOTA: Well, first and above all, I want to thank God because it is by his grace that I was delivered from an unjust prosecution.

I want to thank my children, Alicia, who was with me every day in court, and brought my lovely granddaughter to New Jersey so I could remember what I had to fight on for. My son, Rob, who testified on my behalf and then joined his sister in court, who kept me company and even let me beat him in a round of golf. I'm so blessed to have two great children.

I love you so much, I can't -- I can't truly thank you.

[13:45:27] I want to thank my sister, Caridad (ph), and her husband, Pete. Their presence, and the Bible passages my sister would send me every morning were an incredible strength for me.

The Melgen family, Flora, Melissa, Misou (ph), for their constant friendship and faith in our innocence. And I wish my dear friend, Sal, success in his continuing search for justice.

I want to thank my defense team as well as Doctor Melgen's attorneys. Abbe Lowell, the nation's premier defense attorney, who methodically tore apart the government's case. His partner, Danny Cramer (ph), a former prosecutor-turned advocate for justice, and Ray Brown, whose insights were invaluable, and his associates, Greg Hilster (ph) and Justine Colbenshuab (ph), who gave their total commitment to our cause. And to Doctor Melgen's defense team for their invaluable roles.

I want to thank the jury, 12 New Jersians, who saw through the government's false claims and used their Jersey common sense to reject it. I appreciate their service. I appreciate their sacrifice and their time away from their family and professions.

I want to thank my colleague, Senator Cory Booker, who has been supportive from day one, traveled the state and spread the word, was here on the first day of trial and testified in what was in my mind a profile in courage.

I know that many who were close to him urged him not to testify, but it's the measure of an incredible man who is willing not only to use his personal reputation, but take a risk in order to see justice done. He is a public servant of unlimited potential who could easily serve our country in the highest office of all of the land.

I will never forget it, Cory. And you have my gratitude and respect forever.

I also want to thank Senator Lindsey Graham, my friend and colleague, for once again crossing the aisle and coming to testify as to my character and truthfulness and honesty. While I know he came as a friend, I appreciate the political capital he used as a Republican to testify on behalf of a Democratic colleague. That's rare, indeed, in today's politics.

I want to thank the clergy of all different denominations who stood with me and strengthened me and, yes, prayed with me. I'm thankful for your comfort and support.

I want to thank Carrie Maxwell (ph), a leader in the autistic community, Bishop Jackson, Pasto Sambos (ph), my dear friends, all for being character witnesses.

I want to thank the hundreds of New Jersians who I encountered along the last 10 weeks who overwhelmingly expressed their support and prayers.

I want to thank my staff both in D.C. and New Jersey for loyalty and their dedication of the people of New Jersey, especially Fred Turner, my chief of staff, Mike Solomon (ph), my political director, and Mike Ortega, the special assistant.

Now let me say a few things. The way this case started was wrong. The way it was investigated was wrong. The way it was prosecuted was wrong. And the way it was tried was wrong as well. Certain elements of the FBI and of our state cannot understand or, even worse, accept that the Latino kid from Union City and Hudson County can grow up to be a United States Senator and be honest. I can't even begin to tell you how many people have come to tell me that the FBI went to them and asked them, what can you give us on Menendez? That is not what the FBI and the Department of Justice is supposed to be doing. They were not supposed to be leaking to the press in the early stages of their investigation, which violated my rights to a fair process.

I made my share of mistakes. My mistakes were never a crime.

[13:50:01] I've learned through this process a lot about our system of justice. It is truly a system of justice you can't afford. I understand why so many Americans feel that justice is elusive. But for supporters who know who I am and what I stand for, I could never have afforded the millions of dollars this case has cost. So my gratitude to all those New Jersey and Americans from across the country who believed in me and helped me mount my legal defense against the millions of dollars spent by the overwhelming weight of the federal government.

I've also learned about the incredible weight and power of the federal government and how it can crush you if it wants to. It gives me an even greater resolve to make sure that there is a check to that awesome power. Because where do I go? What office or department of the federal government gives me back the past two and a half years of my life? Where do I go to have the damage they sought to incur to my reputation, where is it, what department is it that replaces it?

So let me share some final thoughts. To those who left me, who abandoned me in my darkest moment, I forgive you. To those who embraced me in my darkest moment, I love you.

To those New Jersians who gave me the benefit of the doubt, I thank you. To those who have a doubt, I'll work harder so there is no doubt.

To those in the press who did their job and did it with professional and even to some of you who were actually kind -- where is Dominic -- I don't see him. Dominic? I believe you showed us what professional press is all about and why that freedom is so important to our society.

To those who were digging my political grave, so they could jump into my seat, I know who you are, and I won't forget you.

Finally, let me answer the question that I could not answer before the trial was over. Why didn't I testify? There is nothing more that I wanted to do but to tell my story. I am proud of the thousands of people I've helped in New Jersey and across the country who I have helped with their visas, reuniting families, and very often bringing people they were denied so they could save the life of a loved one. I'm proud to have my work to have 100 percent port scanning, something that I have been a champion of and believe is in the national security of United States to secure it and stop the flow of drugs. My fight to save Medicare hundreds of millions of dollars. I believe we can't afford to throw out good medicine when we can carefully administer it to patients.

But a trial is not a debate. It's not a public forum. It's a legal proceeding. My testimony on direct and cross examination would have likely taken days. That means we would have put at risk losing one of the jurors who was told she would be excused to go on a preplanned vacation. And we collectively felt, by the way she reacted to different parts of the prosecution and defense's presentations, that she believed in our innocence. And we didn't want to lose her. Boy, were we right on that. We still lost her.

Secondly, the prosecution would have used me to re-do their entire meritless case in chief all over again, including having me read e- mails and other materials that were not mine, but would have put my voice and my name for their purpose, in essence, giving them an additional summation before their final summation. So that was just a small window into my thinking.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I never seek a fight. But they also know that I never shy away from one. This wasn't a fair fight.

BLITZER: All right. So there you have Senator Bob Menendez. He is obviously totally relieved that there has been a mistrial. We are now told, by the way, of the 12 jurors, 10 of them favored acquittal, two of them did not favor acquittal, 10-2 in favor of him. You have to be unanimous in a trial.

Shannon Pettypiece, let me get your reaction.

He's very pleased. With a 10-2 vote like that, it raises questions whether there will be a retrial.

SHANNON PETTYPIECE, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, BLOOMBERG: Well, he's certainly talking about someone who feels he was found not guilty, even though, of course, that is not what happened here. But there's certainly found like some who feels exonerated from this. Is this a political statement he's making, making a point to thank Cory Booker, Lindsey Graham, a Republican who came to his defense? He's also raising this issue of feeling like he's been on the other end of the weight of the government and justice system, and walking away from that with a new appreciation for that.

[13:55:26] BLITZER: He remains the United States Senator. He's not going anywhere.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: He's not going anywhere. And he's making that abundantly clear. I also thought that the political comments that he made about people who were against him, didn't believe him, he said, I forgive you, but then later, said the people who were trying to dig my political grave, so they could take my Senate seat, I know who you are. As a Jersey girl, I know what that means.

BLITZER: There's a lot of breaking news. There's more breaking news we're following right now. The House of Representatives, as expected, has passed the tax cut bill. The legislation is very different than what the Senate is now considering. It's very much in up in the air. The Senate version in the U.S. Senate, there are U.S. Republican Senators raising serious questions.

Maya MacGuineas is with us.

So it passes the House. Different version in the Senate. At some point, assuming it does pass, in the Senate, that's, by no means, a done deal, they'll get together and try to work out some compromise.

MAYA MACGUINEAS, PRESIDENT, COMMITTEE FOR A RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL BUDGET: Right. So it sailed through the House. I don't think it's going to be that easy in the Senate. And Paul Ryan started off with those charts. And count me a fan of the charts. I love charts. But there were some missing numbers. Those numbers were $666 billion deficit, $20 trillion debt, a tax bill that adds $1.5 trillion on top of the debt, on top of having $500 billion more in gimmicks. So a whole lot of things that fiscal conservatives, a lot of people in the House who used to say they were worried about the debt, ran on it as issue, but not an issue for them right now. There are a lot of people in the Senate who care about the fiscal issues. Senator Johnson, the other day, yesterday, said he was concerned about their not being enough tax breaks. Now you have this new piece of the individual mandate repeal. People like Susan Collins are worried. So it will be a much tighter discussion and debate in the Senate. Could be like a sweater, where you pull on the thread, the whole thing falls apart. It's going to get trickier from here.

BLITZER: Stand by.

Because Senator Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, is joining us, the Democratic Senator, member of the Judiciary Committee.

Lots to discuss, Senator. We have limited amount of time. But I want to quickly get your reaction to the Senator Al Franken scandal that has erupted today. This woman Leeann Tweeden has written this long article, and we just saw here on TV making acquisitions that he kissed and groped a decade or so ago when they were both on a tour of the Middle East. What's your reaction? You know Senator Franken? He's acknowledged basically everything she has said.

REP. MAZIE HIRONO, (D), HAWAII: I'm glad he did. It's very distressing. I'm glad he apologized and called for an Ethics Committee investigation. That is what should be happening. You know, there should be an institutional response to these kinds of allegations, that there should be a way that we can prevent and prosecute, if necessary, take appropriate action. At the same time, with so many of these kinds of examples coming to the floor, I would hope that there will be a cultural change in how people, especially men, think about women, not as toys or objects, and not someone because they are in a power position they can exploit. So I'm looking for that kind of cultural change to also occur. It's long overdue.

BLITZER: You heard some other lawmakers, Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, say they know of other members of Congress in the House, maybe in the Senate, who have engaged in improper sexual activities as far as aides and others are concerned. Do you know of any other incidents like this?

HIRONO: I do not have firsthand knowledge of these kinds of incidents. But I would say that every woman that I know, myself included, have seen or experienced these kinds of instances over time. So we know that this behavior is rampant. That is why it is going to require not only institutional change so we can prevent and prosecute these incidences, but that there needs to be a cultural change. Because all of these kinds of acts occur in a culture where it's deemed acceptable for this kind of exploitation to occur. That needs to stop.

BLITZER: Do you think Senator Franken should remain in the U.S. Senate?

HIRONO: Well, this is why it's called for an ethics investigation, and I think that's the appropriate course at this point. As I said, it's not just institutional changes that we should be looking at, but the cultural changes. Which means that we have to start here to make sure that, especially boys, and the people in power know this is totally unacceptable. It's been going on for way too long. So I look forward to that kind of change occurring. I'm hopeful.

BLITZER: Senator Hirono --