CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: nterview with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut

Interview

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BURNETT: It sure does. As James Comey says, anybody changing their story when no one even asks for the story to begin with, he finds suspect. Obviously these two, no love lost. Thank you very much, Tom Foreman.

And OUTFRONT now, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who's member of the Judiciary, Veterans Affairs and Armed Services Committee.

So, look, this inconsistency, whether or not the president spent a full night in Russia, right? We have now Friday night apparently he was there, Saturday he left at 3:48 a.m., that could go either way. But he obviously, according to Jim Comey, said he didn't spend the night there. The records show that he did. 9

You heard the legal analysts who had represented the former deputy campaign manager, Rick Gates, say that Mueller will care about this. How significant could this be if this really is a flip-flop, tells one thing to James Comey, and now another?

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D), CONNECTICUT: It could be significant, as part of the mosaic, a piece in that picture, because it does reflect consciousness of guilt or criminal intent, which is extraordinarily important in an obstruction of justice case. I think there's a credible case of obstruction right now against the president of the United States.

BURNETT: Why do you think the president would have, according to James Comey -- if his version is true, bring it up to James Comey multiple times, and specifically say, I didn't spend the night in Russia? When he did?

BLUMENTHAL: The president has been extraordinarily sensitive about his ties to Russia. That's an understatement. He has minimized the relationship with Putin. He has basically denied that he had any business dealings with Russia, when in fact Michael Cohen went there in an attempt to develop a hotel.

There are allegations. They are as yet unproven that there was money laundering through Deutsche Bank involving Russia. He has refused to place sanctions on Russia, despite Congress overwhelmingly mandating --

BURNETT: Very bipartisan, yes.

BLUMENTHAL: So the ties to Russia are very important in Donald Trump's mind. And that's the reason why consciousness of guilt and potential criminal intent are reflected in this denial without any prompting of spending another night there.

BURNETT: Right. Now, in his interview on Fox News this morning, the president said several times, they might get involved with the DOJ. And, of course, the DOJ, you know, Bob Mueller's investigation resides within the DOJ, right? Mueller reporting into Rod Rosenstein.

Here's the president on Fox News.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

TRUMP: I'm very disappointed in my Justice Department. But because of the fact that it's going on, and I think you'll understand this, I have decided that I won't be involved. I may change my mind at some point, because what's going on is a disgrace. And our Justice Department, which I try and stay away from, but at some point I won't.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BURNETT: Is there a threat?

BLUMENTHAL: A very ominous and threatening kind of statement to make about his own Justice Department, a threat to the people there, the special investigator.

[19:35:06] And it is one of the reasons, Erin, why the Judiciary Committee today voted 14-7 to report to the Florida Senate favorably a measure that will protect the special counsel. I worked for months on this measure. The president's mounting threats have created a clear and urgent imperative we protect the special counsel.

BURNETT: Clear and urgent imperative, your words. Do Republicans agree with you?

BLUMENTHAL: Some definitely do.

BURNETT: In private?

BLUMENTAL: Because four of them voted for this measure.

BURNETT: Right, in the committee, yes.

BLUMENTHAL: And to his great credit, Senator Grassley in a very thoughtful and reasonable way, negotiated with us to overcome some of his concerns. We worked hard and deliberate in the way the Senate is supposed to do.

BURNETT: Yes.

BLUMENTHAL: And I think there is a mounting sense of alarm and apprehension on the Republican, as well as the Democratic side.

BURNETT: You're on Veterans Affairs, Ronny Jackson withdrew his bid today, obviously with the allegations that were out there, unproven, and without name. They were anonymous. But there were more than 23 people who had made such allegations.

The president was asked if he had any idea now who's next, right? Who he's going to nominate? I mean, there are nearly 400,000 people who work for the V.A., the second biggest department in the United States. It matters a lot. Here's what the president said.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

TRUMP: I do actually, but I better not give it. Maybe we'll do it on my next call. I do. I think we're going to have somebody great.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BURNETT: OK. So, he has an idea but I'm not going to give it, maybe we'll do it in my next call, we're going to have somebody great. Do you have any idea who it is? He's got somebody ready?

BLUMENTHAL: I have no idea, nor does any one of my Republican colleagues, but it should be someone great, it should be worthy of our nation's heroes, veterans who were served by the second-largest agency facing rear managerial challenge.

Rear Admiral Jackson should never have been nominated. And the White House bungled the vetting and review. And then it fumbled the defense.

What it has to do now is make sure this next nominee has the character and ability, as well as integrity, to be the best possible secretary of the V.A. And, by the way, there was no partisanship among any of those 23 men and women in uniform, and retired military, who came forward. They risked their careers. They exemplify the best of patriotism and --

BURNETT: So, you have no problem with the fact that none of them were named?

BLUMENTHAL: They probably would have come forward had there been a hearing. I actually --

BURNETT: You think they would have?

BLUMENTHAL: I think some of them would have come forward. I believe that their allegations were substantiated by records. The White House refused to provide those records. They rejected our request for some of the I.G. reports.

BURNETT: Interesting.

BLUMENTHAL: And the documents and evidence essentially were denied to us. And I think that reflects the White House's own failures.

BURNETT: Interesting that you thought some of them should have and indeed they would have, had this moved forward.

All right. Thank you so much, Senator Blumenthal. Good to see you.

BLUMENTHAL: Thank you, Erin.

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