CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: Interview with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut
Interview
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BURNETT: OUTFRONT tonight, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Obviously, going to be central and looking at all of this.
So, let me ask you, Senator. The Roger Stone indictment, OK, what they're referring to is this crucial line, let me read it again. Perhaps the most important line in the 24 pages, after the July 22nd, 2016, release of stolen Democratic national committee e-mails by WikiLeaks, a senior Trump campaign official was directed to contact Stone about any additional releases and what other damaging information WikiLeaks had regarding the Clinton campaign, right?
So you're talking about WikiLeaks linked to Russian intelligence, and you have somebody directing a senior campaign official to go talk to Stone. So that's someone who is senior to a senior campaign official. So who do you think that was?
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: In my view, and probably in Robert Mueller's view, that person directing the senior official had to be Donald Trump, or possibly Donald Trump Jr.
Remember, this campaign was very small. And it was run very hands-on by Donald Trump himself. So there are a plethora of facts, including some of what Donald Trump Jr. said about wanting dirt on Hillary Clinton, about knowing in advance about the release of documents by WikiLeaks, those stolen e-mails that indicate that it was either him or his father Donald Trump.
BURNETT: And, of course, as I played a few moments ago, Donald Trump months after the stuff had started to be leaked, months after it was known that it was Russia, months after WikiLeaks is the source of the leaks, months after you know WikiLeaks and Russia are linked together, the president is talking again and again and again. I played four times he's talking about how much he likes WikiLeaks and you have to look at what they're putting out there.
He didn't not know to name, didn't not know who was putting it out there. That's clear. That the public record shows that.
But, Senator, if what you're surmising which many are wondering, right, if it's true, if it's the president of the United States who directed a senior campaign official to tell Stone to go to WikiLeaks, what does that mean? What are we talking about if that's what that line ends up meaning?
BLUMENTHAL: What that line means essentially is the president knew in advance those e-mails were stolen by the Russians. And he knew in advance that they were going to be released by WikiLeaks. And, maybe most important, Robert Mueller can prove it.
Remember, what's not said in this indictment, even though it is stunning in its detail, and its abundant fact, is what it doesn't say. That senior adviser isn't named. And the person directing the senior adviser isn't named. But not because Robert Mueller doesn't know or have evidence of who it is.
[19:35:03] And so, stay tuned. There are other indictments to come. And the president of the United States is one step, maybe just a baby step, away from criminal charges.
MADDOW: OK, so let me be clear. Other indictments are coming, you believe that Mueller wouldn't have written it this way if he didn't know both who directed the senior campaign official and the senior official. He knows who both of those individuals are, OK, and you say the president then is a step away from criminal charges. I would imagine you're saying a step away is a step much closer after these 24 pages we saw today?
BLUMENTHAL: Much closer after these 24 pages, and possibly much closer after a member of his family is criminally charged. Remember that the indictments of both Michael Cohen and Roger Stone involve lying to Congress. Who else potentially has lied to Congress? Donald Trump Jr.
I know, because I was in the room when he came before the Judiciary Committee to be interviewed. And he made statements there that raised serious questions about his truthfulness. He should come back to the Judiciary Committee. I have asked the Chairman Lindsey Graham to call him back. If necessary, subpoena him, but he has a lot of exposure here.
MADDOW: Now, one thing that, you know, Stone's lawyer points out to CNN is they found no Russian collusion or they would have charged him with it. That's the quote from his lawyer. Do you agree? They would have charged if they had it?
BLUMENTHAL: Having been a prosecutor, I know well the charges don't always include everything that possibly could be charged. Number one, not everything that could be charged can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. Number two, a prosecutor may not want to telegraph all of the charges, but remember in this indictment, there are the fundamental building blocks of a charge of criminal conspiracy. Collusion is not a legal term, but criminal conspiracy can be proved by the evidence that I believe would support this indictment.
BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Senator Blumenthal. I appreciate it.
BLUMENTHAL: Thank you.
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