CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: "Interview with Sen. Ro Khanna"
Interview
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BLITZER: Kaitlan Collins over at the White House. We're going to get back to you. I know there are developments unfolding there as well.
In the meantime, let's discuss all the breaking news with Congressman Ro Khanna of the House Oversight Committee. He's also a co-chair, by the way, of the Bernie Sanders campaign.
Congressman, thanks so much for joining us. I want to get to this debate that's about to happen in just a few moments. But first, let me get your reaction to Rudy Giuliani's refusal to cooperate. Do you see potentially evidence of criminal behavior by Rudy Giuliani?
REP. RO KHANNA, (D) OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: Well his continuing to dig his own grave. I mean, the non-cooperation with Congress is just further evidence that he has something to hide. And it's very concerning. I mean, you have two Ukrainian nationals who have been indicted in New York on alleged campaign finance reform.
The public needs to understand what was Rudy Giuliani's role in that? Did he encourage them to investigate Biden? What influence did he have on this whole conspiracy that these people have been indicted for?
BLITZER: What is your reaction, Congressman, to Rudy Giuliani's refusal to cooperate? KHANNA: It's outrageous. I mean, again, what is he hiding from the American people? Why doesn't he just come and tell the American people what he knew about these two individuals who have been indicted. Did he ask them for help in getting a Ukrainian prosecutor to go after Biden? What did he know about their contributions to the Trump campaign? So, it's very clear that there is something that he is hiding and he's not going to get away with it.
BLITZER: The President's former top Russia adviser Fiona Hill who testified for hours and hours that this was simply a rogue operation with Ukraine and that former National Security Adviser John Bolton himself directed her to alert White House lawyers of potential legal problems. Have you ever heard of a situation like that before?
KHANNA: Wolf, I haven't. You know I've had a lot of disagreements with John Bolton but it is unheard of that the President's own national security adviser is concerned that there is a rogue operation happening in the administration. And that's what we need to focus on. This really was a threat to our national security.
You have people who have no business conducting American foreign policy influencing and directing our decisions. And that has to stop. And Republicans like Francis Rooney now started to speak out about that, saying who are Rudy Giuliani or others to be conducting American foreign policy?
BLITZER: We know that the Speaker Nancy Pelosi is about to meet you and all of the Democratic members very soon to discuss this impeachment inquiry. How seriously you think she is considering changing her position and allowing a full vote on the House floor authorizing an impeachment inquiry?
KHANNA: Wolf, I don't think that is necessary. I don't think she's going to do it. And she believes that the constitution and the House rules and House precedent clearly allow the speaker and the judiciary chair to begin an inquiry. We're going to have a vote in the House once the articles are referred to us. But right now we need to focus not on the distractive debate but on getting the information and building the case.
BLITZER: But legally if you had such a vote and it was approved, which I assume it would be given the Democratic majority, wouldn't that give you stronger legal basis to fight Giuliani's refusal to comply, for example, with subpoenas and other Executive Branch refusal stonewalling on these subpoenas?
KHANNA: I don't think so, Wolf. I mean, yes, technically it may give a slightly greater legal authority under U.S. versus Nixon. But the reality is, the administration is just going to continue to stonewall. And they're trying to run out the clock.
They hope to keep appealing these decisions, appealing to the Supreme Court and hope that the Supreme Court won't hear this until 2021. So, anyone who thinks they're getting slightly more legal precedent is going to enforce compliance by the administration isn't watching their strategy which is to just delay, delay, delay and hope the President runs in 2020 without having to hand over any of these documents.
BLITZER: Let me get your thoughts quickly on a political question. The debate that's about to take place behind me in just, what, 2:45, you've endorsed Bernie Sanders in this race. He slumped in the most recent polls a bit while his progressive rival Elizabeth Warren is on the rise. Sanders, as all of us know, is recovering from a heart attack. What does he need to do tonight on this stage?
KHANNA: Wolf, he needs to remind people why he's running. He's running for those people who have been counted out, those people who have been ridden off for the working class. And he's running on an economic vision that says communities and people who have been left behind are going to get a fair shot.
I'm headed to Iowa this weekend for him. A poll there by CBS has him actually in a virtual tie with Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden. He's right in the thick of things and I think he's going to be -- continued to be a very strong contender for the nomination.
[17:15:22]
BLITZER: Congressman Ro Khanna, thanks as usual for joining us.
KHANNA: Thanks, Wolf, for having me.
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