CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: Interview with Ro Khanna

Interview

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REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Kate, the people I have talked to in the community, there is not just irk, there is anger. This was senseless, and what people want to know how did this person have so many guns? Why is it that he was not arrested when there was issue with the Customs where he basically talked about his hatred for VTA and his plans to do violence? Why was there not action taken when there have been accusations of domestic violence?

There are a lot of unanswered questions. And people are angry. They're outraged. And, you know, when we -- when I was at the family center and you see the grieving families and the lost of life, it is -- it is just outrageous. BOLDUAN: Yeah, and you mentioned what happened at the -- you know, when Customs stopped him. It was 2016. Customs stopped him when he was traveling back from the Philippines. And in this position, they found a book on terrorism, on fear and manifestos, and also a notebook filled with notes of hatred towards his workplace.

But again as Josh Campbell was reporting and you'd noted, it didn't go any further than that. The D.A., Josh says, would have liked to have known that. Look, I would never want to say after something as horrible as this, you know, to talk about if it could have been prevented. But does it concern you when you have warning signs like that that are not conveyed to police.

KHANNA: It does, Kate. And Jeff Rosen (ph) was the D.A. I've spoke with him, and there is concerned about we weren't notified. And this is not pointing a finger of blame. It's just saying that we have to have better system of communications.

Look, I know and I respect that we have a strong First Amendment of this. But under Brandenburg, the First Amendment does not protect speech that is inciting violence or may lead to imminent violence.

And I really think we have to think in this country if you have a case like that, where someone is engaged in that kind of hatred, those kind of threats of terrorism, that there ought to be consequences and they -- you can't just let them go free and then hope for the best.

BOLDUAN: Nine families irreparably harmed, shattered. Nine people dead.

The brother of one of the victims, his name -- he's 30 -- he was 36- years-old. His name -- there is his picture right there. His name is Taptejdeep Singh.

His brother told CNN that his brother died trying to protect others there that day. Listen to what he said.

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KARMAN GILL, BROTHER OF SHOOTING VICTIM TAPTEJDEEP SINGH: As I'm told by his co-workers, he was telling them to go hide and died fighting. He was a fighter.

That's little comforting to know. That's what he was exactly doing, his last moments of his life as well. And he helped save some lives and those families can sleep in peace knowing their loved ones are with them.

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BOLDUAN: Just -- Congressman, your reaction to hearing that?

KHANNA: He's a hero. You know, he's really a hero.

And, honestly, as an Indian American, I'm so proud of his whole family and of his -- of the devotion he showed and it's just so tragic. You know, we talk about these things and we go on with our lives but

those families are never going to be the same. The VTA family, those people who come everyday to have public transport work, they're never going to be the same.

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In moments like this, you know, when you meet the families of people, you don't know what to say, and it's just so infuriating that we can't get our act together in Congress to pass some laws to prevent these kinds of mass shootings.

BOLDUAN: Congressman, thank you for coming on.

KHANNA: Thank you.

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