CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Discusses About The SEAL Officer Championed By President Trump Described As Toxic And Crazy By His Fellow SEAL

Interview

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OUTFRONT with me now Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. Senator, thank you for coming in.

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT): Thank you. BOLDUAN: You oversee the military on the House Armed Services

Committee. Were you surprised by what you saw in these videos?

BLUMENTHAL: As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was deeply disturbed. And frankly, these reports are absolutely repugnant likely to be regarded as so by the military itself, because in no way do they reflect the integrity, discipline, values of our military, not to mention our special operators. And they also reflect quite frankly the courage and concern of these SEALs who came forward.

Remember, the SEAL community and our special operators are intensely tightly knit and loyal. So it took tremendous bravery for them to come forward.

BOLDUAN: We have heard, of course, President Trump championed Eddie Gallagher time and time again. Do you think he was aware of these videos before he intervened?

BLUMENTHAL: Whether or not he was aware of his outrageous and reprehensible interference erodes trust in the command structure. And in the rule of law, he demonstrated a disregard for the Uniform Code of Military Justice and for the Geneva Convention which protects against war crimes and clearly there was sufficient evidence for him to avoid restoring Edward Gallagher's rank as well as allowing him to retire with full honors in effect,. his Trident pin.

And so what President Trump did was essentially demonstrate disrespect for the command structure and the rule of law and signal to the world that the military, the American professionals who really deserve our respect, should be permitted to operate outside the rule of law.

BOLDUAN: Well, then, Senator, I mean, Eddie Gallagher's case is closed. He was acquitted on the most serious charge as we know. Is there anything at this point that you can or want to do about it?

BLUMENTHAL: What I want to do very strongly and I hope my colleagues in the United States Senate will join me is reaffirm our respect for our military professionals who are all too often disregarded by the President. He did so in the withdraw in Northern Syria, in the politicization of our military at the border, on the immigration issues and to reaffirm our respect as well for the rule of law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice as it applies to our special operators.

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They are literally the tip of the spear. Every day exposed to potential harm in the corners of the world whose names we can barely pronounce and they deserve our thanks, as do the SEALs who came forward because their bravery is also remarkable.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN HOST: And had more and more expected of them and more pressure put on them and more responsibilities put on them as the military leans on them more and the country does to do what is needed.

I also want to ask you about impeachment. Your Republican colleague, Senator Lisa Murkowski, she spoke out this week criticizing Mitch McConnell for coordinating with the White House. Have you heard similar from other Republicans?

BLUMENTHAL: I have spoken to a number of my Republican colleagues, and a number of my Democratic colleagues who are also in touch with Republicans, and clearly, Lisa Murkowski's statements reflect cracks in the McConnell wall as to whether or not our Republican colleagues act on misgivings that they've expressed privately and let alone expressed them publicly remains to be seen.

But what is striking and indisputable right now is that this idea is breaking through that Republicans are hiding that Donald Trump is covering up that Mitch McConnell is complicit in that cover-up. More than 70 percent of Americans want a full, fair proceeding including documents and witnesses. More than 60 percent of Republicans, and so, that message is breaking through.

And ultimately there is a court of appeals here. It's not a court of law. It's the court of public opinion and my Republican colleagues will have to face it, if not right away, eventually in November and they'll have to face history, as well.

BOLDUAN: First thing's first, folks need to find out what the trial's going to look like and when the trial will start and we'll be following your every word and move as you'll be sitting on the Senate floor this historic moment.

Senator, thanks for coming in.

BLUMENTHAL: Thank you very much.

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