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Interview

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BLITZER: Tonight, some top Democrats are clearly frustrated by the slow drip of revelations in the Biden classified documents probe, including, we're told, the president himself.

Let's discuss the investigation and much more with the new House Democratic leader, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, thank you so much for joining us, congratulations on your leadership position.

Last week, you said you had full faith in President Biden. But over the weekend, the White House revealed yet more classified documents were found at the president's home and more searches could be coming. Are you and the American people, Leader Jeffries, getting the full picture from the Biden White House?

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY): Well, yes, Wolf. First of all, it's great to be on. Good evening, happy King Day. I remain having full confidence in President Joe Biden and his administration on this matter and on all other matters. I think he has led the country forward in a significant and meaningful way through a few tumultuous years.

[18:20:02]

Now, I think it's important to recognize, second, that this situation appears to be inadvertent, not intentional, and we'll see what is ultimately uncovered, but by all accounts, this was inadvertence, not intentionality, and that should be an important factor as people evaluate this particular situation.

Third, we know that there's a special counsel who has been appointed. And so it's my expectation that the special counsel is just going to simply follow the facts, apply the law, figure out what happened, present that information to the Department of Justice and to the American people, and we should take it from there.

BLITZER: The former House Intelligence Committee chairman, Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff of California, you know him well, he says he wants Congress to also do its own assessment. Does Congress need to investigate?

JEFFRIES: Well, I haven't had the opportunity to talk to Representative Schiff about his views with respect to this matter, and so I'll reserve judgment on that question until I've had a chance to talk to him and other members of the intel committee on the Democratic side.

BLITZER: Do you agree with Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow that this is, quote, embarrassing for President Biden.

JEFFRIES: Those are not the words that I would use to describe the situation. As I indicated, I think this was, inadvertence, not intentionality, and I continue to just have confidence in President Biden. He's a good man. He's been a very good president, and we'll get through this.

BLITZER: On a different issue, a very sensitive issue, I want to get your thoughts, leader, the House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, faced questions from CNN today on Congressman George Santos of New York after CNN reported Republican donors and consultants had concerns going back to last summer. Watch this exchange. Listen to this.

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BLITZER: If this was widely known in GOP circles, the Santos background and lies, and all of that, do you have an answer why Democrats missed this? Where was Democratic opposition research?

JEFFRIES: Well, there was some opposition research that was done. It obviously didn't uncover the full scope and breadth of the extraordinary lies that were told. George Santos appears to have made up his entire life. We'll take a look at that process and figure out how it could potentially be tightened up moving forward.

But the big question is why is George Santos still a member of Congress? Why have House Republicans embraced him and not done what the New York Republicans have clearly done, which is to say, enough is enough, he's lied to the people of Long Island and Queens, lied to New Yorkers, lied to the American people as part of an effort to come to Congress and perhaps it's time to move on from him.

BLITZER: So, do you want him to resign?

JEFFRIES: Well, ultimately, he's going to have to make that decision on his own. But it's clear to me that he is a complete and total fraud and is not qualified to serve in the United States House of Representatives at this particular point in time or at any time based on the extraordinary lies that he has perpetrated upon the American people.

BLITZER: While I have you, Leader, I want to turn to another major challenge facing Congress right now. As you know, the United States will reach the debt limit, its debt limit this Thursday and could default on various loans as soon as June. Republicans want spending cuts but listen to the White House stance, listen to this.

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BLITZER: So, will Democrats need to make concessions to the GOP to avoid a catastrophic blow to the U.S. economy?

JEFFRIES: We are not going to allow extreme MAGA Republicans to hold the American economy hostage, hold social security hostage, hold Medicare hostage in order to do the right thing. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle, not as Democrats or as Republicans, but as Americans, need to make sure that we do not default on our debt for the first time in American history, create a catastrophic, economic result and protect the full faith and credit of the United States of America, which is what we should be doing.

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BLITZER: To honor MLK Day today, Leader, President Biden became the first sitting president of the United States to give a Sunday sermon at Martin Luther King Jr.'s church. Beyond the bully pulpit, what options do Democrats have over the next two years, from your perspective, when it comes to voting rights and racial justice?

JEFFRIES: Well, we've made a lot of progress in the United States of America as a result of civil rights leaders and heroes like Dr. King and so many others who sacrificed themselves in order to create a more perfect union. It is my hope that my Republican colleagues, both in the House and in the Senate, are building upon the legacy of Dr. King, don't just celebrate this day, but elevate his good work. And part of that good work will be to make sure that the 1965 Voting Rights Act is not eroded, that we can have free and fair elections here in the United States of America, and everyone can participate.

And so I hope that Republicans will focus on issues of consequence. Don't just embark on these investigations as it relates to the current president of the United States as part of some revenge tour. Let's figure out a way to work together, find common ground, get things done, address the kitchen table pocketbook issues of importance to the American people, which were also important to Dr. King, but, of course, lean into racial justice, social justice, economic justice as well.

BLITZER: Important information indeed. The new House minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, thanks so much for joining us. We will welcome you back soon hopefully. Thank you very much.

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