CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) Is Interviewed About Senator Sanders' Decision Not To Release His Full Medical Records

Interview

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Joining us now, Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna of California. He's a co-chair of the Bernie Sanders' campaign. Congressman, thanks so much for joining us.

[17:10:03]

Let's get to several of the issues that are now coming up at a critical moment in this campaign. First of all, Congressman, does Senator Sanders need to release his full medical records?

REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Well, Wolf, Sanjay Gupta has pointed out the senator has released three letters. One of them says that the senator's heart is in better condition than most men his age. He has none of the symptoms before the heart attack. We believe that's a full disclosure and that should answer people's questions.

BLITZER: Because he, himself, said that before the voting started he was going to release more information, but now he's saying he's done releasing information about his health. He is 78 years old. He had a heart attack about three months or so ago. Doesn't the American public deserve to know everything about his health, and some of the other candidates -- all of the other candidates for that matter as well, including Michael Bloomberg who is also 78 years old?

KHANNA: They do deserve to know. And I think Dr. Sanjay Gupta who is trustworthy has said that those letters actually are pretty comprehensive and most people can go read them. If there are further questions, I think they can be raised them.

But, frankly, I don't think that Michael Bloomberg's health should be an issue. I think they're both running -- they both have shown that they're going crisscrossing the states. Senator Sanders has released his letters and I think they should speak for themselves.

BLITZER: Because, Congressman, a few months ago after his heart attack, he was interviewed by our Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and I'm looking at the transcript right now, and he said, this is Bernie Sanders, we will make at the appropriate time all of our medical records public for you or anybody else who wants to see them. We will release all of the records. It's a fair conversation to be having about health, about age, that's what Sanjay said. And he said, of course, it is absolutely.

So what I hear you saying, what I heard him saying last night at the CNN Town Hall, he's done releasing medical information.

KHANNA: I think he believes those letters answer the American people's question about his health. It shows that his heart is in better condition than most people his age. I think you have to have some level of respect for even presidential candidate's privacies. I mean, I don't think we want to have a situation where every number after your health exam from your young age to when you're running should be released.

But he has released all of the information that should assure people he's in good health, and we're not calling on Michael Bloomberg to do anything. No one is questioning his health. I certainly haven't questioned it and Senator Sanders hasn't questioned it.

BLITZER: Yes. But I think the American public would like to know more details about Michael Bloomberg's health as well, given the fact that like Senator Sanders, as I said, he's 78 years old. He's had some heart-related issues. He hasn't had a heart attack like Senator Sanders.

How do you respond, Congressman, to those critics who say this is very similar to what President Trump has been doing as far as broken promises out there on the campaign trail? For example, the President promised very often he was going to release his tax returns, he still hasn't done so.

KHANNA: I don't think it's comparable. It would be one thing if the senator wasn't transparent. The senator said he had a heart attack. He then released three letters from doctors summarizing his condition. They described in detail what condition his heart's in. They say that none of the symptoms he had before the heart attack are going to come back. So I think he's been very transparent with people.

I think it's not comparable to what Trump does, which is hide the facts. I mean, Trump submitted a letter from a doctor saying he's in excellent health, the most fit person ever. Senator Sanders has never represented that. He has just represented that he is fit enough to do the job of President of the United States.

BLITZER: Let's look ahead to tonight's very important debate. This is the first time Michael Bloomberg will share the stage with the rest of the Democratic field. Give us a preview, Congressman, of how Senator Sanders plans to take on the former New York City mayor?

KHANNA: Well, the senator has run a grassroots campaign mobilizing millions of people around the country. Michael Bloomberg today called on Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar to drop out of the race. I'm wondering if he's going to call on Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump to drop out of the race.

I mean, the reality is that people like -- folks to earn this. Bernie Sanders has run an underdog campaign and he's going to talk about how he's actually built the movement to fight for people.

BLITZER: How is he going to deal with the issue of being as he's self described himself a Democratic socialist? Because as you know, a lot of Americans hear the word socialist, socialism, they get nervous.

KHANNA: I appreciate that, and Bernie Sanders believes in the free market. He is not going to nationalize any industry. He is an FDR Democrat. He wants to complete the new deal. Here's what he believes. He believes that people need health care, that they need education, that we need to invest in infrastructure so everyone can have a shot at the American dream. And I think that's going to come out and he's not going to let Republicans distort what he stands for.

[17:15:02] BLITZER: Ro Khanna, the Democratic congressman from California, the senator is lucky to have you as his co-chair. Thanks so much for joining us.

KHANNA: Wolf, thank you for giving me the opportunity.

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