CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Jimmy Gomez

Interview

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BLITZER: Another very significant development potentially could be very, very soon. Thanks very much for that, Sara Murray reporting.

Joining us now, Congressman Jimmy Gomez of California. He's a Democrat. He serves on the Oversight and Ways and Means committees.

Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.

Let's get to all the breaking news. Donald Trump Jr. has agreed to an interview with the Senate Intelligence Committee. And the Trump Tower meeting, the Trump Moscow project are fair game for questioning.

So what do you think they need to ask him during this interview that's going to take place in mid-June?

REP. JIMMY GOMEZ (D), CALIFORNIA: You know, I'm not on the Intelligence Committee. But you know what? It's about time that somebody from this administration or associated with those president is coming in freely to talk about asked questions that a committee has.

I just wish that they would start doing this across the board. Remember, this administration had one strategy, which is dodge, delay, and lie to protect this president. So I would love to see more of these individuals come before the Democratic House.

They're going in front of the Republican Senate, but not the Democratic House. So I want to see them come before our committee and make sure that they ask -- they can answer questions and that we get a chance to ask our questions.

[18:15:07]

BLITZER: Speaking of the Democratic House, your colleagues on the House Intelligence Committee are now pursuing Michael Cohen's claim that President Trump's lawyers edited his false testimony to Congress, one of the reasons he's now serving a three-year sentence in prison.

Did Robert Mueller miss an opportunity to fully investigate this?

GOMEZ: I think what we're doing, the -- I'm not on the intelligence Committee, but I also recognize that we need to follow up on the testimony that Michael Cohen gave before all these committees to make sure and ask the questions and see where it leads us.

If his -- the Trump attorneys were interfering, were manipulating testimony, that is a big deal, and the American people have a right to know.

BLITZER: This comes as the attorney general, William Barr, is ramping up his own investigation into how the Russia probe initially started.

Do you think President Trump, directly or even indirectly, ordered this new investigation that has just been announced?

GOMEZ: Michael Cohen said that Donald Trump communicates in a variety of ways.

And one of the ways he does it is through Twitter. So, I think he prompted this investigation, of course. But, at the same time, I'm in favor of this investigation, as long as it's about transparency and getting to the truth, not to cover up or to protect this president.

And I know that there's already an investigation going on. So I would love to see what the conclusion of that investigation is as well.

BLITZER: The inspector general is supposed to conclude an investigation into that. That's why it was a little surprising that the attorney general decided to announce a new investigation, even while the inspector general of the Department of Justice had not yet wrapped up his final report.

As you know, today was the first test in court, in a federal courthouse, for the subpoena issued by your committee, the House Oversight Committee, for the president's financial documents.

How did you read that federal judges line of questioning today?

GOMEZ: You know, it's it's the first test, but it's not the last test in the court case.

We have been prepared that this administration was going to do everything to prevent the Democratic House from doing our investigations. So, Chairman Richie Neal, he knew that from the very beginning when it came to the taxes, when it came to that particular issue. So he's been taking a very cautious approach.

So has Chairman Elijah Cummings. They know that this administration was going to delay, dodge and try to prevent us from doing our job. And you know what? I think that we're doing it in a way that, hopefully, it will end up in a favorable ruling for the House. But you know what? I'm not a constitutional attorney. So I'm going to wait to see what the court says.

BLITZER: What does it tell you, though, that the president's legal team is arguing that this federal judge is moving too quickly?

GOMEZ: I think they're grasping for straws.

I think they're -- they know that the law is not on their side. So what they're trying to do is delay and trying to push back. But I think that the law is clear, and, hopefully, we get to a point where we get the documents that we have requested.

BLITZER: The president's lawyer says -- and I'm quoting now -- "This is an effort to engage in law enforcement, not to legislate."

He's referring to your committee. Isn't it true that you want to find out if the president potentially committed tax fraud or bank fraud? What's the purpose of all of this?

GOMEZ: Michael Cohen came before the committee, presented financial documents, also testified that this president manipulated his financial statements for personal gain.

I think the American people have a right to know that. They have a right to see what has been done in order to strengthen his hand. So, we're going to we're going to follow through.

And if -- I think the American people have a right to know if this guy is a crook or not.

BLITZER: On a very different subject, ""The New York Times"" is reporting -- and you have seen the report -- that the Trump administration has prepared a plan to send as many as 120,000 troops to the Middle East if Iran attacks American troops or restarts its nuclear program.

President Trump, he denied that "New York Times" report today, but then went on and said that, if he were to send troops, he'd send in way more than 120,000. How worried are you about the all this escalating rhetoric we have

seen over these past few days?

GOMEZ: Well, I have always been concerned by this president's foreign policy.

Remember, a lot of things he does is by tweet. And a lot of things he's done is not in coordination with the national security apparatus. So I have some deep concerns about the course of action.

Also, I want to -- this is a big deal. And we want to remind him that, if he's going to take these steps, he has to go before Congress and make his case, so we don't assume the worst about his decisions.

BLITZER: Congressman Jimmy Gomez, thanks so much for joining us.

GOMEZ: Thank you.

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