MSNBC "All in with Chris Hayes" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Maxine Waters

Interview

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HAYES: For more on the Acting A.G. and the status in the Mueller  investigation, I`m joined by Democratic congressman Maxine Waters of  California, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, a member of  the Democratic leadership team. Congressman, first your reaction to the  Acting Attorney General making that pronouncement the first time an  official has said anything like that in the history of this probe.

REP. MAXINE WATERS (D-CA), CHAIR, HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICE COMMITTEE: Well,  let me just say that there`s been a lot of speculation about when Mueller  is going to complete the investigation. I consider it just speculation.  They don`t know. Mueller has not shared that kind of information I don`t  think with anyone. He has held this investigation closely to the chest.  And so I just take it as speculation. I don`t --

HAYES: Wait, you don`t think he`s shared that -- you don`t think he`s  shared that with the -- with the Attorney General of the United States, the  Acting Attorney General.

WATERS: No, not necessarily. I don`t think so.

HAYES: That`s very interesting.

WATERS: Yes.

HAYES: There`s also the question about public hearings in all this.  Michael Cohen agreed to public testimony on February 7th. He then backed  out citing threats from the President. He`s now agreed to closed-door  testimony in February. Do you think it`s important that he give open  public testimony?

WATERS: Absolutely. I am adamantly opposed to all of these close  testimony hearings with various people who are involved with this whole  question whether or not the president was involved with collusion are  obstructed justice etcetera, etcetera. No, I don`t like the fact that  Cohen will be in a closed hearing with members testifying on anything that  he said, he`s not said. I think you should be out in the public.

The public wants to know this investigation has been going on for a  considerable amount of time and not only should we hear from all of those  who are continuing to be called but when this report, this investigative  report is completed, I want it to be public and I`m starting right now  saying that I and many others do not agree that it should be so redacted,  that you can`t understand it, that it won`t be released, that only members  of Congress can get it. The public needs to know what is going on. I  demanded it. And I`m trying to organize everybody that I can to call for  this republic -- this report to be released to the public.

HAYES: There`s Senate legislation if I`m not mistaken introduced today by  Chuck Grassley and Richard Blumenthal that would essentially require a  public version of the report I think with exceptions made for redacting  classified information. Do you foresee something like that passing out of  the House in short order?

HAYES: Well, I think it could pass out of the House. Let me just say  this. The public has been very patient. They have been waiting. We have  heard bits and pieces here and there and we want to know and the public  deserves to know. And so I support the legislation that it should be made  public. And if there`s classified information that has to be redacted, so  be it, but make this report public.

HAYES: Steve Mnuchin was one of the people who`s been making the case  about these sanctions for Oleg Deripaska, the Russian oligarch who of  course also employed Paul Manafort, had a contact since indicted  intermediary name Konstantin Kilimnik who would go back and forth between  them. Deripaska businesses have essentially escaped now the sanctions acts  from the Department of Treasury because they reorganized in ways the  Treasury Department says they`re happy with. A lot of people unhappy on  Capitol Hill. What`s your response to the administration`s actions?

WATERS: I`m not happy with it at all. I think that the -- you know, at  the center of this question about whether or not the President colluded  with Russia, with Putin, or the oligarchs etcetera, is the question of  sanctions. We know that Putin wants these sanctions lifted and I`ve said  from the beginning that I believe and I don`t have the proof but I believe  that Manafort was sent to the campaign to be there to ensure that they get  Trump reflected in every way that they possibly could and this is in  exchange for him lifting the sanctions.

And don`t forget, our president has said that he believes the sanctions  should be listed one way or the other. So I just believe that Mnuchin is  of course guided by the President. They`re all a part of you know this  relationship that they have with Russia, and with Putin, and with  oligarchs. I mean, when you take a look at all of the allies of this  president that`s involved in this whole question, you cannot help but ask  yourself what`s at the bottom of this.

And I think it has been asked more than one time why they are lying. I  think it`s about sanctions and I think it`s very important for us to  continue to pressure to get those sanctions continued and enforced and not  to do what we`ve just witnessed they`re trying to do, and that is be  involved with delisting on these sanctions.

HAYES: All right, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, thank you for your time  tonight.

WATERS: You`re welcome. Thank you.

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