CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview With Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono
Interview
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BLITZER: All right, let's continue on the breaking news.
Senator Mazie Hirono, a Democrat from Hawaii, is joining us. She serves on the Judiciary Committee.
Senator, thanks so much for joining us.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: And let me quickly get the reaction to the breaking news we had right at the top of the hour, the offer of a presidential interview, but with some big caveats.
You heard Gloria Borger's reporting.
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D), HAWAII: Oh, actually, Wolf, I didn't hear Gloria Borger's report.
But anything that the president does with regard to talking with Mueller, I'm sure it will be quite the thing if that actually happens, because they're creating all kinds of -- demanding all kinds of conditions.
So, the president has created an entire lie about the Mueller investigation, that this is merely a witch-hunt. And sad to say that too many people, including Chairman Nunes of the House Intelligence Committee, are playing right into that and in fact facilitating that lie.
And that's not good. That's not in the service of our country at all.
BLITZER: What Gloria was reporting, that he would be willing to answer questions, but only on events that occurred before he was sworn in as president. Anything after that, including his decision to fire James Comey, he would only do in writing.
What's your reaction to that?
HIRONO: I think that's trying to limit what the Mueller investigation should proceed with. And I think it's crazy that, you know, that part of the allegation is or the investigation involves his efforts to stymie and interfere with the Mueller investigation.
And, of course, that includes the Comey firing. So for them to be setting the parameters for how and when they're going to have a chat with Mueller is inappropriate.
[18:20:02]
BLITZER: How significant is it, Senator, that this close business associate of Michael Cohen in New York, the so-called taxi king, Evgeny Freidman, is now pleading guilty and will cooperate with state and federal investigations?
HIRONO: I think there will be more shoes to drop.
And as we learn more on a daily basis, that this whole investigation -- and, of course, Michael Cohen, that is one part of it. But let's get back to how important the Mueller investigation is, and the fact that Mitch McConnell refuses to bring to the floor a bipartisan bill that came out of the Judiciary Committee that would protect the special counsel from firing.
That includes counsel -- the special counsel, Mueller, as well as any other future counsels. He refuses. McConnell refuses to bring that to the floor. Why? Because he says the president won't fire Mueller.
I don't know what world he's living in, so that bill needs to come to the floor.
BLITZER: Do you think this could lead to Michael Cohen actually flipping?
HIRONO: Well, that's the talk, because he has family, and certainly he may be loyal to the president, but that loyalty can only go so far, let's say, especially when the president isn't being loyal to him.
But we all know that loyalty to the president is one-way street. And with this president, his goal in life is to protect himself. It's about himself every day, all the time, all the time. It's -- I hardly know what to say, Wolf. I think we are in a constitutional crisis at this point.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Very quickly, before I let you go, your state of Hawaii is still dealing with this ongoing volcanic eruption.
HIRONO: Yes. BLITZER: We're showing our viewers some pictures of the lava. I know
you just got back from a visit to Hawaii's Big Island. You can see the live pictures coming from there right now.
So, tell us what you saw. What are the conditions like there?
HIRONO: It was really important for me to get an up-to-the-minute briefing, although things are changing. More fissures have opened up since Sunday. There are about -- over 20 fissures with lava flowing through them.
And my intention was to visit mainly with the people who have been evacuated, what they're facing and what their concerns were. So, I visited two of the evacuation centers run by the Red Cross.
And then I also visited a distribution center that the people of Puna themselves put together called Puahuna Opuna (ph). And the people there said that they weren't -- they didn't want to just wait around. They're not helpless, so they put the call out for all kinds of supplies and things that the people evacuated needed.
And this is great community effort. So, people are being resilient. But there's no end as to when the lava will start -- stop flowing, and, therefore, there are about 12 federal agencies that are either on the ground or in contact with the people on the ground, as well as, of course, civil defense people, the National Guard, state and county people.
And everyone is very focused on making sure that the people remain safe on that island. But I also want to note that there's some people who think that the entire state is being inundated by lava. It is the Big Island of Hawaii, and a portion of the Big Island of Hawaii. That doesn't mean that we don't have concerns about the safety and health of other people there.
BLITZER: Well, we wish those folks only, only the best.
HIRONO: Yes.
BLITZER: Good luck, Senator Hirono. Thanks so much for joining us.
HIRONO: I'm certainly watching that. Thank you.
BLITZER: Thank you.
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