talks going on right now. >> thank you you, nancy. jonathan turley is with us from washington. he's a constitutional law professor at george washington university and has criticized the push towards impeachment. jonathan, good morning. >> good morning. >> you can argue that what the president did is inappropriate. is it impeachable? >> it could be. part of the problem with the past impeachment allegations is they are very strong allegations raised. self-dealing is something that can constitute a form of corruption, an abuse of office. so, this is the real mccoy. you just have to prove it. the problem is with this transcript is that there's plenty here that helps the president on his defense. not only are they a quid short of a pro quo, no express promise, but it also contains president trump's discussion about why he wants other countries, european countries, to also put money into ukraine. trump is insisting he withheld that $400 million to try to put pressure on the europeans to pony up. the transcript will help him there. but there's also, you know, material here that will concern

president's communications with ukraine. >> jonathan turley is with us. he testified before congress in 1998. president bill clinton could be impeached for lying under oath. good morning, jonathan. thanks for being here. you just heard the congressman saying the president did nothing impeachable and that the evidence is hearsay. >> first of all, you can bring in hearsay evidence in impeachment process. you can bring it in in the trial itself. also, if this is proven, this is a clear impeachable offense. this could be self-healing using public office to your own political and personal advantage. you is have to prove it. >> what are the democrats missing at this point? >> a quid. the fact is that the transcript does not do it. people say you don't have to show he made this connection. >> connection to military aid, almost $400 million. >> you really do. if you're going to take down a president, you're going to need to show he made that linkage. i've got $400 on the table and this is what i want. he falls short of that. this is a president that has a curious ability to rest on the line of

bottom of it." cbs news legal analyst jonathan turley: >> the idea that the president would suggest that the head of state work with his private counsel in investigating one of his political opponents is grotesque. i mean, it's not criminal. but it is grossly inappropriate. >> reporter: the whistleblower who shed light on the call in a formal complaint was concerned about a violation of campaign finance laws that prohibit foreign entities from providing donations or another "thing of value" to candidates. justice department prosecutors determined mr. trump did not break those laws. the call log does not mention the nearly $400 million in military aid the president froze just days before the conversation, which democrats argue was a bargaining chip. >> it's very sad, what the democrats are doing to this country. they're dividing. they're belittling. they're demeaning our country. >> o'donnell: but right after zelensky mentions buying more american-made weapons, the president asks for a favor, to investigate whether a democratic national committee server that was hacked during the 2016 ele

whether process goes joined by constitutional naw professor an turley. thank you very much for joining me. 't matter what you ca it, but they are calling it a impeachment in some way, shape, or form. n from i hoping to g jonathan: another way to call it, politics. many people believe this is not an impeachment inquiry or investigation, but pure politics. it lacks an urgency, it lacks a focus, and is increingly lacking credibility. they s they are going to investigate the president in terms of money he has received at his resorts andei obstructio. just an array of different allegations. atth this poin are running out of runway to take an impeachment off the ground. i was the lt lead counsel in an impeachment trial and i can tell you, it takes a long me way through the senate.l all the they don't have it. today, speaker pelosi gave a press conference that was ther bizarre, where reporterss ressed her onis beginning of impeachment, and she virtually faked her death to try to get out of the press conference. jane: could there be a bcaklash, e we have the democratic debates goi on t

have attorney general barr call, and we will get to the bottom of it." cbs news legal analyst jonathan turley. >> the idea that the president would suggest that the head of state work with his private counsel in investigating one of his political opponents is grotesque. it's not criminal, but it is grossly inappropriate. >> reporter: the whistle-blower who shed light on the call in a formal complaint was concerned about a violation of campaign finance laws that prohibit foreign entities from providing donations or another thing of value to candidates. justice department prosecutors determined mr. trump did not break those laws. the call logoes not mention the nearly $400 million in military aid the president froze just days before the conversation which democrats argue was a bargaining chip. >> it's very sad what the democrats are doing to this country. they're dividing. they're belittling. they're demeaning our country. >> reporter: but right after zelensky mentions buying more american-made weapons, the president asks for a favor, to investigate whether a server that was hacked durin

professor jonathan turley. it doesn't matter what you call it, t they are calling it a impeachment in some way, shape, or form. what are they hoping to gain from it? nathan: another way to call it, politics. many people believe this is not an impeachment inquiry or an investigation, but pure politics.ur it lacks ancy, it lacks a focus, and is increasingly lacking credibility. they say they are going to e vestigate the prident in terms of moneye has received at his resorts and obstruction. just an array of different allegations. at this point they are running out of runway to take anof impe thmenthe ground. i was the last lead counsel in an impeachment trial and i can tell you, it takes a long time t just to hand trial all the way through the senate. they don't have it. today, speak pelosi gave a press conference that was rather bizarre, where reporters pressed her on is this beginning of impeachment, and she virtually faked her death to try to getss out of the ponference. jane: so could there be a backlash, because we he democratic debates going on tonight and they will be talking abo