CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: "Interview with Rep. Ro Khanna"

Interview

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BLITZER: Stand by.

I want to bring in Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who serves on the House Oversight Committee. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.

Lots of important, historic news unfolding today, but let me get your immediate reaction to this announcement from the House speaker today.

Why is now the time to launch an official impeachment inquiry?

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Well, Wolf, the most dramatic moment in our caucus was when the freshman Democrats who have served this country in the military, in national intelligence spoke.

Many of them represent Trump districts. And they said, now you have a president who has admitted that he tried to get dirt on a political opponent. This compromises national security. Some of them said, this may cost them their seats in plus-six districts, but they no longer can stay quiet.

They're coming out. And I think that really set the mood for the caucus. This behavior is just a bridge way too far.

BLITZER: You spent two years following the Mueller investigation, the fallout from his report.

Why was this Ukraine phone call a tipping point for the speaker of the House and for your party?

KHANNA: For two reasons.

One, the freshman Democrats, the front-line Democrats are deeply offended by this, because of the compromise of national security.

And, second, this isn't relitigating the past. This isn't relitigating the election with Hillary Clinton. This is about the president abusing his office in seeking political dirt about an election that's upcoming.

And I think the national security concerns is really what weighed on these members. Many of them represent districts with large military family populations. And they felt that this is something that they could just not put up with. BLITZER: If the House of Representatives can confirm for itself that

President Trump asked the president of Ukraine to investigate the Bidens and used funding to Ukraine as leverage, will you, will you, Congressman, vote to impeach the president?

KHANNA: Yes, I will.

And the first part, the president has already admitted that. The president has said that he pressured the Ukrainian government to get dirt on his political opponent. That is bad enough.

I mean, the quid pro quo will make it even worse. But I don't understand when it's been acceptable for a president of the United States to ask a foreign leader to investigate political opponents.

[18:25:03]

I mean, this is -- our founders wrote against this in the Federalist Papers.

BLITZER: The president's argument is that he was trying to end corruption, widespread corruption in Ukraine. You don't buy that?

KHANNA: Well, why does he have to then mention Biden?

I mean, imagine the...

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Well, his accusation is that Biden's son Hunter Biden -- and there's been no evidence of to prove this, by any means -- was corrupt.

KHANNA: I'd say, give me a break.

Of all the corruption in Ukraine, you conveniently are singling out the case of your main political rival's son? I mean, it just doesn't pass the smell test.

It would be -- imagine if President Obama had asked a foreign leader to investigate Mitt Romney's family. So I think this is so easy for Americans to understand. They're offended by it.

And the president is out there admitting it. It's almost as if he is saying, I can violate the Constitution and the norms. Come get me. You can't -- he's almost daring Congress to act.

BLITZER: Congressman Ro Khanna, thanks so much for joining us.

KHANNA: Thank you, Wolf.

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