CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview With Illinois Senator Richard Durbin

Interview

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BLITZER: Evan Perez, thanks very much for that update.

Let's get some more on all of this.

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is joining us. He is a member of the Judiciary Committee. He is a Democratic leader in the Senate as well.

So, Senator, what does it say to you that Michael Flynn is, first of all, continuing to cooperate right now with the special counsel as he awaits sentencing?

SEN. RICHARD DURBIN (D-IL), MINORITY WHIP: Of course, I'm glad he is cooperating. And I hope we can get to the bottom of it and get to the truth of it. And that's been Bob Mueller's goal. And I respect him very much and what he's trying to achieve.

In terms of his job or what the future for his family, I just can't comment on that.

BLITZER: What does it also say to you that Paul Manafort is so concerned about his safety in prison right now, he's willing to spend 23 hours a day in solitary confinement, as opposed to be moving to a prison closer to Washington, D.C., where he fears for his safety?

DURBIN: Your colleague had it right. You can't make this up.

To think that Paul Manafort, this gregarious, political man, toast of the town and many continents, now wants to be 23 hours alone in his cell is incredible.

I can't believe there is a real threat to him of that nature. But if he perceives it and willing to sit there by himself 23 hours a day, you have to believe him.

BLITZER: Let's turn to the president's new Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

You came out with some scathing remarks suggesting Kavanaugh would turn a blind eye to presidential wrongdoing. Do you believe the president actually nominated Kavanaugh specifically for the purpose of protecting himself from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation if issues were to come before the highest court?

DURBIN: Well, let's take this in parts.

Here is the president of the United States nominating someone to fill a vacant seat which will tip the balance of the Supreme Court. He has to get it through a Senate that is effectively 50-49 with the majority. They must have done a thorough background check. And how could they have missed the article written by Judge Brett Kavanaugh, which suggested that a president should not be subjected to investigation and prosecution while he is in office?

Do you think the White House missed that fact or failed to bring that up to the president? It's a position taken by Judge Kavanaugh and one that concerns many of us.

BLITZER: You are the minority whip, whip in the Senate.

Are you calling on all your Senate Democratic colleagues, including members running for reelection in November in rather conservative states, including people like Joe Manchin, Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Donnelly, Claire McCaskill, to vote against the nominee and potentially risk losing the midterm election?

DURBIN: Well, my job is Senate whip. And most people think that means that I go around literally whipping my colleagues into shape, getting them into a position that I want politically.

But I know better than that. My colleagues in the Senate on the Democratic side are people of integrity. They make up their own minds. At best, I can discuss it with them and try to bring them to my point of view.

On something as historic and important as the appointment to the vacancy on the Supreme Court, there is not going to be any pressure coming down from above. These individuals have to make up their own mind on this issue.

All we have asked them to do is wait until we have more facts, more information. There is a lot of documentation that needs to be raised and at least considered by the Judiciary Committee before anyone knows the full story of Brett Kavanaugh.

BLITZER: So, you are not going to squeeze, you are not going to press these Democrats who are up for reelection to vote against Kavanaugh?

DURBIN: I have never tried that on any issue, because I know my colleagues. They would not care for it, because I wouldn't care for it. Don't beg. Don't threaten. Don't always believe you are right. That's kind of the credo when it comes to lobbying in Washington.

BLITZER: As you point out, 50-49, with John McCain absent right now. He's dealing with his with illness.

He could still get confirmed if he gets 50. The Republican vice president, he is the president of the Senate. He would break a tie in favor of Kavanaugh. What are you doing, if anything, to try to convince at least a couple

moderate Republican senators like Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski to scuttle stories nomination?

DURBIN: Well, I'll tell you, I think it is a mistake the opportunities on the Republican side to these two senators, Collins and Murkowski.

Both of them showed extraordinary courage when it came to saving the Affordable Care Act from being abolished by the Republicans. But I think, frankly, many Republican ought to take this very seriously and not just say, "We're automatically going to vote for the president's choice." If they're from the state of Nevada, for example, or whatever state it might be, it could be they ought to take a close look at the nominee and judge that person on the merits and consider their own home base in that final decision.

BLITZER: Let's see what happens during the confirmation process in the U.S. Senate over the next couple months.

Senator Durbin, as usual, thanks so much for joining us.

DURBIN: Thank you, Wolf.

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