CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) is Interviewed About Impeachment

Interview

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Coming up, so what's the next step now that the House has voted to impeach the President? But Speaker Pelosi is refusing to sent over the articles of impeachment to the Senate. Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro, a member of the Intelligence Committee is standing by live. He'll join us and discuss strategy.

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[17:20:58]

BLITZER: Less than a day after their historic passage, the articles of impeachment against President Trump appear stalled right now. The Speaker Nancy Pelosi is refusing to send the articles over to the Senate. And House members are leaving for the holidays without voting to name impeachment managers for a Senate trial.

Joining us now, the House Intelligence Committee member Joaquin Castro. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us. The House is leaving for the holiday recess. You'll be bolting, you'll be getting out of town without sending the articles of impeachment over to the Senate. Could this decision by the House Speaker backfire on Democrats if there is a long delay or maybe even no trial in the Senate?

REP. JOAQUIN CASTRO (D-TX): I don't think so. Because Speaker Pelosi is doing it for a very good reason, which is to figure out what the rules of the road are going to be in the Senate, whether there is actually going to be a fair trial, an impartial trial there. You know, the nation I think was very shocked about a week ago to hear Mitch McConnell talk about how he was basically working with the White House on setting up this whole trial. And so that caused great concern for not only the Speaker and the Congress, but a lot of people. And so she's going to take some time to work with Mitch McConnell and try to make sure that it's a fair process.

BLITZER: Do you want her, the Speaker, to transfer the articles as soon as the House reconvenes, I think January 7th? Or do you support her waiting longer.

CASTRO: Well, number one, as she said, she's definitely going to send over the articles of impeachment to the Senate. And I trust her on the timing. But its also important, Wolf, that we take this pause because I think it's important for the American people to realize what's going on that you have in Mitch McConnell the person who is supposed to be presiding over this trial or at least arranging the rules of evidence and so forth who is saying that he is neither impartial and that he is working with the person who is on trial, with Donald Trump, so that they are in cahoots on this. You know, Americans expect a lot better than that.

BLITZER: Is there any serious talk among the Democrats about maybe never sending the Senate these articles of impeachment? Is that seriously under consideration?

CASTRO: No. I've never heard that discussion. At least within the caucus.

BLITZER: What if McConnell doesn't blink and he says there's not going to be any witnesses?

CASTRO: Well, I guess we'll have to figure that out if we get to that point. But, you know, we believe that the Speaker, in meeting with Mitch McConnell and all of the different parties that are involved in setting up this trial that we can come to an agreement where Mitch McConnell is not just going to be in the pocket of the President throughout this process.

BLITZER: The Senate Majority Leader, McConnell, says he isn't even anxious to hold a trial. And so far it doesn't look like he is facing any serious pressure from more moderate Republicans in the Senate to call witnesses. Does the Speaker really have much leverage here?

CASTRO: Well, I think it's not just about the politics of it or the partisanship. The Speaker is standing up for the American people. We owe this to the American people, a fair trial, and a fair process. It's not just about Republicans and Democrat. So she is standing up for her duty and for the American people in doing this.

BLITZER: So some of the vulnerable Democrats who won in Trump districts, let's call them, stuck their necks out to vote in favor of these two articles of impeachment. Are you putting that potentially and even more difficult political positions they are worried about getting reelected, as you know, by dragging this out?

CASTRO: No, you're right. I think for them -- many of them did fell like it was a tough vote because the people in their districts may be or perhaps more skeptical about impeachment. But, I think they also know that they did the right thing, that people will respect them for that and that when it comes to this process all Americans, whether you're Republican or Democrat should want a fair and impartial process. And the Speaker of the House pausing for to a second to make sure that that happens is not something that's going to be a political liability.

BLITZER: Previously the -- your Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said that your investigation would in fact continue even after impeachment. Is that the case?

[17:25:10]

CASTRO: Yes. I believe that that's still very much possible. Look, we're going to make sure that we investigate every significant lead in terms of either the President or someone at the White House who has committed wrongdoing. That's our responsibility to the people that we represent. So I hope that if there are witnesses like Rudy Giuliani or others that are willing to come forward and testify in front of our committee, that they'll do so.

BLITZER: Congressman Castro, thank so much for joining us.

CASTRO: Thank you.

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