CNN "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" - Transcript: Interview with Senator Richard Blumenthal

Interview

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More now on the maneuvering between the House and Senate, Pelosi and McConnell, and, of course the president. Joining us, a juror when and if it comes to that, Senator Richard Blumenthal, member of the Judiciary Committee and a Democrat from Connecticut.

Senator, thank you so much for being with us. Will there be a Senate trial?

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): There will be a Senate trial. It is required by the constitution. The issue of when the articles of impeachment will be sent to the Senate is a decision for Nancy Pelosi to make, and very understandably, she wants some assurance that it will be full and fair.

[20:05:09]

Not the sham and charade that Mitch McConnell is apparently going to give the president.

And what's striking about the report that you've just heard, excellent reporting by Jim Acosta, is the assumption by the president that he can set the terms of his own trial. And that assumption is well warranted by Mitch McConnell saying he's going to take his cue from the White House. He has said there's no chance that the president will be removed, and he in effect is making himself and his Republican colleagues complicit in the cover-up, the denial of documents and witnesses that are necessary for a full, fair proceeding. And that's why we are insisting that there be some agreement on those documents and witnesses before, not during the trial.

BERMAN: You're insisting, but what if Mitch McConnell does not agree? Would you support House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holding on to the articles of impeachment indefinitely?

BLUMENTHAL: No one wants an indefinite delay. Neither I nor, I believe, Nancy Pelosi. There will be a trial.

But there is a court of appeals to this proceeding. It's the electorate, the court of public opinion. And right now, the numbers in your own polls are absolutely staggering, 71 percent of the American people want documents and witnesses as they would in any trial. More than 60 percent of Republicans.

So my colleagues are going to be going home these next two weeks, and they're going to be hearing, in effect, those numbers. And I believe they're going to have to think not only about the judgment of history but about their constituents' judgments, and I really feel they will be complicit in the continuing threat to our democracy, our democratic institutions if they fail to provide a full, fair hearing.

BERMAN: Have you heard from your colleague Susan Collins or Senator Cory Gardner or Mitt Romney, some of these Republicans who might be inclined to push for witnesses? Do you have any indication that they would side with Democrats in calling for a trial with witnesses?

BLUMENTHAL: There's no question, John, and that is the question of the day, that they are contemplating seriously and considering how this trial has to be conducted. Mitch McConnell is nothing without his enablers. He needs those 51 votes, and I've been talking to anywhere from five to ten of my colleagues directly or indirectly who are seriously considering how they will be haunted by this decision if they deny a full, fair trial.

And I'll just be very blunt. There's a saying that courage is contagious, and so is cowardice. They need to step forward, and I hope that they'll be hearing from their constituents over these next couple weeks.

BERMAN: But so far -- and I have to let you go here. So far you haven't seen any sign that one of them will step forward and say they will want witnesses, have you?

BLUMETHAL: I have seen signs that one or more will step forward. I hope that courage will be contagious. I've talked directly to a number who are seriously considering, without committing, that they will ask that there be witnesses and documents.

And remember, John, one last point. The witnesses that we have asked to testify have direct knowledge. They have the information and evidence that Republicans themselves have said they want to hear. These witnesses and documents were sought by the House.

As a prosecutor, I would say right now the evidence is overwhelming. I'd rest my case. But the American people deserve to hear these witnesses and documents.

BERMAN: Senator Richard Blumenthal, hope you have a wonderful new year. Thank you so much for being with us.

BLUMENTHAL: Same to you. Thank you.

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