CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: "Interview with Rep. Ro Khanna"
Interview
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BLITZER: Jim Acosta, thank you very much. Let's get some more on all of the breaking news. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California is joining us. He's a member of both the Oversight and the Armed Services Committees. Congressman, thanks for coming in.
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Good to be on, Wolf.
BLITZER: Let's talk about this decision by Nancy Pelosi to have the whole full House of Representatives vote on Thursday on a resolution that when authorized -- authorized this impeachment inquiry.
KHANNA: I support the Speaker's decision. It's important to realize though that a federal judge on Friday had ruled that the House already was conducting a legitimate impeachment inquiry. The resolution is just to clarify the procedures going forward and we will have an overwhelming vote to do that.
BLITZER: What ground rules will she set? Assuming this resolution passes, you need 218 votes in the House and there are a lot more Democrats than that.
KHANNA: I think people are going to say that it's going to be an open process. The president is going to have counsel. The president is going to have the right to examine. The Republicans are going to have a sense. And under the United States versus Nixon, a full House vote has impact legally and it is going to put more pressure on people like Kupperman and Bolton to testify and comply with the subpoenas.
BLITZER: As you know, your Republican colleagues and the president, they've all been pressing for this kind of formal House vote on the House floor authorizing an impeachment inquiry. You're finally doing what they've been asking for.
What do you expect? Do you expect there will be greater cooperation now between the administration and the House of Representatives in this investigation?
KHANNA: Well, if they are true to their word, they're getting what they want. We're giving them a resolution that gives an open process. So, let's see now what excuse they have. I mean, it's interesting, Wolf, that they never have a substantive response. It's always attack the process.
I haven't heard a single Republican say yes, I support the president calling Zelensky and telling Zelensky to call for a public investigation into Biden. The facts, they can't defend the facts.
BLITZER: You think some Democrats will vote against this resolution?
KHANNA: I don't think so. It would surprise me. I do think some Republicans may vote for it. I would be surprised if we don't get a few Republicans voting their conscience.
BLITZER: Including Republicans who are not dropping out who will be seeking reelection?
KHANNA: Some may, you know. You don't know that someone like Thomas Massie or Justin Amash who may run as an independent. I mean, I don't want to speculate, but I think there are members of Congress of conscience who cannot believe the president's conduct was constitutional.
BLITZER: As you know, a former National Security official was scheduled to testify today, he did not testify. His lawyer said they'll let the courts decide whether or not he should be testifying even though he was formally issued a subpoena.
It seemed that Adam Schiff, the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, says you know what, we'll move on, we're not going to waste a whole lot of time going through court proceedings right now.
KHANNA: Well. I think Kupperman is going to be forced to testify. The courts are going to hold that executive privilege doesn't apply.
BLITZER: But that could take a long time before they make a decision with that.
KHANNA: I hope they won't and I hope that they will realize the sensitivity of impeachment that they will make a decision that Kupperman isn't protected by executive privilege. Executive privilege doesn't cover illegal conduct and it's a shame that he didn't testify.
But my hope is the courts will recognize the gravity of the situation and resolve it. But it's important to note, we don't need his testimony. I mean, everyone knows what has happened here. The president has bragged about it on television. He's calling for a foreign leader to investigate Joe Biden.
BLITZER: Let's talk about Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the ISIS leader who died in the U.S.-led raid over the past few days. You're on the Armed Services Committee. Have you and your colleagues already been formally briefed?
KHANNA: We have not, but I do want to salute our troops for their bravery and their courage. It was a successful operation. They deserve a tremendous amount of credit and I don't know a single member of Congress who isn't very, very happy and honored by what they did for America.
BLITZER: Do you give the president credit as well?
KHANNA: I give the president credit for ordering the operation. I don't give him credit for then saying our troops should be taking Syrian oil and going and bragging and calling -- making a mockery of Baghdadi was killed because I think that's just going to help al-Qaeda and ISIS recruit. But sure, he ordered the operation. It was a successful operation. Every American should cheer for that.
BLITZER: Yes because, god forbid if it would have been a failure and American troops would have been killed. He would have been blamed for that. He's the commander-in-chief, he made that decision to go ahead and authorize the operation. BLITZER: Well, we're all patriots. The fact that Baghdadi is dead is
good for American security. I salute the troops. I recognize that it was a successful operation.
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I'm very glad that no Americans were killed. That said, I hope the president isn't going to now put our troops in Syria to try to expropriate oil. I hope he will tone down the rhetoric. There is no reason to gloat over it and insult Baghdadi and let that video be a recruiting tool for ISIS or al-Qaeda.
BLITZER: Congressman Ro Khanna, as usual, thanks so much for coming in.
KHANNA: Thank you, Wolf.
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