CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview With New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat
Interview
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BLITZER: Very, very ugly, indeed. Manu, good reporting. Thank you very much.
Let's talk about all the breaking news, including President Trump's first comments on the Stormy Daniels controversy.
Joining us now, Congressman Adriano Espaillat. He's a Democrat who serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Congressman, first of all, do you believe President Trump when he says he didn't know about that $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels?
REP. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT (D), NEW YORK: It's hard to believe that he didn't know. But, nevertheless, he said he didn't know, and he sent to his attorney, and his signature is not on the document, in the agreement.
And that then leads to a question on whether or not he was truly a party to the agreement. And that will play out in whatever legal proceedings are ahead of us.
BLITZER: Do you think there's a role for Congress? Should Congress be investigating this $130,000 payment?
ESPAILLAT: I believe so. I believe that it was done prior to the election. It was done during campaign season. And it was hush money to quiet somebody up. And I think that there's a role for Congress to play in looking into this particular matter.
BLITZER: To look into whether, 11 days before the election, this was, as some people have suggested, an in-kind campaign contribution that would be -- that would be illegal.
ESPAILLAT: It could have been -- that could be construed to be an in- kind campaign contribution that would be -- that would be illegal.
[18:30:06] REP. ADRIANO ESPAILLAT (D), NEW YORK: That could be construed to be an in-kind campaign contribution, and if such, it would be an illegal contribution. And I think there's plenty of room to look into that and to get to the bottom of it and figure or not -- figure out whether or not it was legal.
BLITZER: Let's get to some other sensitive issues, Congressman, while I have you. The president says he won't replace his attorney general with Scott Pruitt, but he was considering doing exactly that, as recently as earlier this week. Do you believe the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, is safe?
ESPAILLAT: Well, I thought we were going to catch a break, and perhaps we wouldn't get that citizenship question in our census form, since it was the Justice Department that asked for the citizenship question to be in the census application.
But, look, we've seen people go and come -- and leave the White House in a short period of time. The turnover has been tremendous. I would not be surprised if the attorney will be subject, as well, to some kind of pressure to leaving. If not now, in the future. The president may be looking at avenues and ways to try to get to Mueller in the future.
So we've got to be watchful. Congress must be watchful, and we've got to really uphold the rule of law.
BLITZER: If Sessions, the attorney general, were fired, Congressman, and a new attorney general was confirmed, someone who would be in charge now of the Mueller investigation, as opposed to Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, would that raise, at least in your mind, the question of obstruction of justice?
ESPAILLAT: Well, I don't know if I could take it to that level, but certainly, it will raise serious doubts as to whether or not, by changing the attorney general, the White House is trying to get at Mueller, who continues to move forward, continues to put the pressure on, the heat on. And as we saw today, the oligarchs in Russia are now under his radar.
And so he's moving forward, and this is a serious and credible investigation. People have been charged and arrested for it. It comes closer and closer to the White House. And I think it's got a lot to go further. So we'll see what transpires in the next few months.
And on another issue, Scott Pruitt is facing calls for his resignation from the Environmental Protection Agency. What does it say to you, Congressman, that President Trump is defending him? He said just on Air Force One, "I think he's done a fantastic job. He's a fantastic person. I just left coal and energy country. They love Pruitt." He's referring to West Virginia. "They feel strongly and love him." What does that say to you?
ESPAILLAT: Well, clearly, there's been some ethical lapses that have been -- that have emerged with Pruitt. His renting of an apartment at $50 a night. He claims it was sort of like an AirBNB deal. Kind of like a sweet deal for Washington. The rent is pretty high down there. But nevertheless, he rented this apartment from someone that has clear links to the energy industry and has business before the EPA. So clearly a potential conflict of interest.
So these ethical lapses that are mushrooming around Pruitt are troubling, and for him to speak highly about this particular person in his cabinet, I think, is troubling, as well.
BLITZER: Congressman Espaillat, thanks so much for joining us.
ESPAILLAT: Thank you so much.
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