CNN "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" - Transcript: Interview with Congressman Joaquin Castro of Texas

Interview

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COOPER: More now on her departure which follows her testimony to the House Intelligence Committee.

Joining us now, a Democratic member of that committee, Congressman Joaquin Castro of Texas.

Thanks so much for being with us.

REP. JOAQUIN CASTRO (D), TEXAS: Thanks for having me here.

COOPER: CNN is reporting tonight that Hope Hicks said that the kind of white lies that she was talking about were things like telling people that Trump was in a meeting when he wasn't or spinning news favorably for her boss. Can you say anything more about what she meant by white lies?

CASTRO: No, and the indication was basically it was small stuff, that it wasn't substantive stuff. And actually because I heard Congressman Rooney about 30 minutes ago describe the question. The question was, has the president ever asked you to lie? It was not whether you've ever lied for the president. What we're trying to get at is, is the president's actions and behavior in that question.

COOPER: I mean, her resignation does come a day after testifying before the committee that you're on. Do you think the two are related?

CASTRO: Quite possibly. Also with the president may have berated her for being honest really. But, you know, I told a few people yesterday because they asked me what was your impression of her and there was a point there when she was going through that series of questions that her face almost looked as if she was saying, you know, why did I ever get involved with these people, with Donald Trump?

COOPER: That was the sense you got.

CASTRO: That was my sense when I was looking at her as she was struggling to answer these questions. Why did I ever get involved in this?

[20:20:01] And remember, she was not involved in politics before the president asked her to become part of a very consequential, the biggest campaign you can join, a presidential campaign.

COOPER: And as the president said, she said she knew nothing about politics --

CASTRO: Right.

COOPER: -- before he decided to make her the press secretary and now, obviously, communications director.

Do you believe the committee should subpoena her? I mean because she basically did not answer, as many people have before this committee, she refused to answer questions basically citing executive privilege, as I understand.

CASTRO: Yes, she did cite executive privilege, but it went beyond that. Even when there was a question that it was clear that the answer would not be covered by executive privilege, I saw something yesterday that I hadn't seen before, which is for her lawyer to say, we'll take that under advisement, or we're just not going to answer that question. That was the first time that somebody came in, an attorney, and was that arrogant about flouting the jurisdiction of the committee.

COOPER: The only way to actually subpoena her is if the Republicans on the committee agreed to it.

CASTRO: That's right.

COOPER: And that seems unlikely. I mea, they don't seem to show any willingness.

CASTRO: Yes. I mean, you asked me what I think we should do. I think if we're doing a fair job and a thorough job, we ought to subpoena her. If she comes in on subpoena and doesn't answer those questions still, then you would hold her in contempt. Then at that point you go in front of a court, and a judge decides what happens.

COOPER: Because, I mean, in a White House where -- I mean, I don't think the departure of a communications, you know, director like this or somebody as close as this to the president would be such a big story if this White House wasn't organized in the disorganized way that it is, where people -- there aren't necessarily clear lanes -- or I mean, there at least initially there weren't.

CASTRO: And she admitted as much. You know, she mentioned when you work for Donald Trump, you work for Donald Trump, that he has the final say about the campaign manager, above the chief of staff, above everybody else.

COOPER: It's fascinating. Congressman Castro, thank you very much.

CASTRO: Thank you.

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