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Interview

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And I want to go now OUTFRONT to the Republican Congressman David Joyce of Ohio.

And, Congressman, I appreciate your time.

You know, look, I thought we'd be talking about the rules -- the Rules Committee package and the rules passing. But, obviously, we have these developments as well tonight.

So, what is your reaction to the news that classified documents dating back from Biden's time as vice president were found in a private office? I should note, of course, that we understand that he was not aware of them being there, but they were there. What do you say?

REP. DAVID JOYCE (R-OH): Well, Erin, thanks for having me.

I'm just finding out a lot of this, having been buried in Steering Committee meetings all day --

BURNETT: Right.

JOYCE: -- and from following up and listening to Melanie. She always does a great job, so I'm sure it's correct.

But as far as -- I was a prosecutor for 25 years before I came here. And I know every time that I've looked at intelligence documents they've always been in a SCIF. So, the idea that they're floating around out there, Democrat or Republican, the idea that these types of documents are out there in the public isn't good for America as a whole or our intelligence community.

BURNETT: No, look, I would hope everybody would agree upon that. You're speaker, of course. McCarthy and the Republican chairman of the Oversight Committee, James Comer, are drawing comparisons to Mar-a- Lago.

And, of course, they're -- you know, Trump admitted that he knew about it, right? He said that he had declassified documents just by thinking about it, and the Archives had request documents. They didn't receive them all. Two subpoenas, they still didn't get them all.

You know, we know that there was an effort not to hand over documents. Obviously, the word "obstruction" comes with legal connotations and they are still deciding whether to pursue an indictment there.

But do you accept that there may be -- that the differences may really matter?

JOYCE: Well, obviously, what's good for the goose is good for the gander. I mean, if it's illegal, then it's illegal for Democrats, Republicans, or any citizen who would happen to take those documents outside the control facilities in which they're normally kept.

But I would hope that they're going to -- one thing about the law is it's enforced equally to all Americans. And so if, in fact, there is an issue that the DOJ will do what's right and rein this in and take care of business.

BURNETT: OK. So, this comes, of course, as the House Republicans are going to establish a select committee, we know, to investigate what they say is the "weaponization", that's the word they used, of federal agencies, and that includes the Justice Department and the FBI.

Do you think that committee is going to be investigating this? And I should note, of course, that the DOJ and the special counsel have assigned this investigation to a U.S. attorney who was appointed by President Trump.

JOYCE: Well, I got great faith in the justice system until they prove otherwise. I got to admit, I've been a little let down in some of the things I've seen about the weaponization of the FBI, because I know the rank-and-file agents that I worked with over the years have all cared about one thing. We were on team justice and we were out to get things done.

I hope that would continue, and it's not getting taken away, that idea of we're one team and we're all fighting for team justice just because we're here in D.C.

But, again, if it's a crime to have these things outside of their controlled setting, then no matter who it is, they should be held accountable.

BURNETT: I want to ask you one other question. You know, we were all here many hours last week watching you all. And, you know, one of the people I spoke to was your colleague Ro Khanna, a Democrat.

And when all of this looked like maybe Speaker McCarthy was not going to be Speaker McCarthy, Ro Khanna came out and said there were a few moderate Republicans, a few people he might consider possibly supporting.

And he was -- they weren't a lot of people who agree with that. But you were on his list.

And I just wanted to give you a chance to respond to that. What does that say to you? That your -- that you have colleagues across the aisle who respect you and would see you in that way? Is it something you're proud of?

JOYCE: Yes, absolutely. Not only do I think Ro is a visionary. He also has a beautiful wife who happens to be a Buckeye.

But that being said, you know, look, all you're ever truly worth here is your handshake and your word. And I made a point of doing that. When I work with Democrats or Republicans, they know that I'm an honest broker.

I'm going to work with them to try to resolve issues because my job isn't here to get on TikTok or any of these stupid media shows -- not -- I mean, instant social media type stuff. My job here is to get things done.

And, so, they realize that I'm going to work with them and I'm going to pursue their goals and if we have come to an agreement on things, that I will fight just as hard for those positions in my Republican committees as I will with them as Democrats on their committees.

BURNETT: All right. Well, I appreciate your time, Congressman Joyce, thank you.

JOYCE: Thank you very much, Erin.

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