CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) Is Interviewed About Trump, Impeachment, And Kamala Harris

Interview

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With us now is Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado. He's a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He's also a Democratic presidential candidate. Senator, thanks so much for coming in.

SEN. MICHAEL BENNET, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank -- thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Let me read a sentence from this report that just was released. The House Democrats impeachment report says, "The damage to our system of checks and balances and to the balance of power within our three branches of government will be long-lasting and potentially irrevocable if the President's ability to stonewall Congress goes unchecked." Do you agree, is impeachment the appropriate check right now on the President?

BENNET: I agree. I think that the President has basically admitted that he tried to extort a foreign leader with withholding $400 million from that country. And we can let it stand because the President would be terrible. The next time we have a president who is lawless like this President is. So I think what we got to do is run a process in the House and the Senate that respects the rule of law and elevates the rule of law again and reminds us why we need a president to restore integrity to the White House.

BLITZER: Well, do you think there is any evidence that could surface that potentially could lead you and others in the Senate to acquit?

BENNET: There is always the possibility. There is evidence we haven't heard. I doubt that very much because all of the evidence we have heard has been consistent with each other and consistent with the whistle-blower report. And the White House has stonewalled the investigation all along the way, which is the point the House was trying to make in their report. And, so I think it is very unlikely that any exculpatory evidence is going to come forward. But if there is, I certainly will consider it.

BLITZER: So, but if the vote were today based on what you know, right now you would vote to?

BENNET: I think if the vote were taken today, I would vote to convict.

BLITZER: CNN has learned that your Committee, and we're talking about the Senate Intelligence Committee, and it's led by Republicans, the Republicans are the majority in the Senate, looked into the allegation that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election and found no evidence, no evidence at all to back that up. What can you tell us about that investigation?

BENNET: Yes, I can't -- obviously, I can't say what's in the committee but I can tell you that there is not a single finding by an American intelligence agency that Ukraine interfered in our 2016 election. There is huge amount of findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, which is exactly what Mitt Romney said today. And I completely agree with what he said. You know, Putin has been trying to make this a smoke screen to hide behind, this idea that Ukraine was involved. There is absolutely no evidence that they are. And I think the President's supporters, you know, on Capitol Hill are trying to obscure the reality here, which is really unfortunate because our national security is at stake when some, you know, when Russia interferes in our elections.

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BLITZER: Let's turn to politics. Were you surprised that Senator Kamala Harris dropped out of the race today? BENNET: I was surprised. She's a good friend of mine. We're good pals in the Senate. And she -- I thought she brought a really important voice to this process. And I'm sorry to see her step down.

BLITZER: She had qualified to be on the stage at the next Democratic presidential debate. You haven't qualified yet. So what's happening with you?

BENNET: What's happening with me is I'm -- got a great team in Iowa and I have a great team in New Hampshire. We're actually adding office space, we're adding staff. And I believe as the only person that has won two elections in the swing state, that I am the person to take on Donald Trump. I think I've got the experience to do it. I think I've got the message to do it. I haven't yet been heard by nationally, which is why I haven't gotten on the debate stage, but I do think we're making real progress in the early stages.

BLITZER: Do you believe the rules are fair?

BENNET: No, I don't -- I think the rules weren't fair to the American people. Obviously, that sounds self-interested but I know for a fact that Iowa has not made up its mind, New Hampshire has not made up its mind. And I'm committed to staying in until the voters in these early states have a chance to say what they want.

BLITZER: So you'll be in the race at least through Iowa and New Hampshire?

BENNET: I absolutely will. Wolf, it's so important, we're at a moment when we got to restore opportunity to the American people. We got to restore integrity to the White House. And you know what, we got to make the White House normal again, Wolf. When you see what the President was doing today in Europe in his weekend watching cable television and tweeting this crazy stuff out. It's really time for a change.

BLITZER: Senator Bennet, good luck out there on the campaign trail.

BENNET: Thank you.

BLITZER: We'll have you back here in "The Situation Room."

BENNET: Thank you, Wolf.

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