State of the Union: Interview With Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA)

Interview

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Jake, there used to be a time in this country where politicians didn't comment on law enforcement investigations.

I don't know why that's so hard. Why can't we just go back to that? And, by the way, the Republicans, who have faith in American democracy and our judicial system, if Chairman Comer is right that there's a statue of limitations issue, I have faith that the courts will work that out.

But politicians, we should be focused on the economy, on inflation, on bringing manufacturing back and leave law enforcement to those who are tasked with law enforcement.

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I think there are other things that President Trump has done that are more serious, such as January 6.

But, again, it's not for me to tell a district attorney who to charge or what charges to bring. I mean, I never speak to my local district attorney about what he should do. It would be an outrage if politicians started to do that.

And I guess, ultimately, I have faith in the jury process. I have faith in our courts. You can appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. If there is something that is not correct, it's not going to require Chairman Comer to figure it out. We have got one of the best judicial processes in the world.

They will make sure that justice is done.

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I have, Jake.

I have concluded that, despite a lot of enthusiasm from Bernie folks, the best place, the most exciting place, action place for me to serve as a progressive is in the House of Representatives, and I'm honored to be co-chairing Barbara Lee's campaign for the Senate and endorsing her today.

We need a strong anti-war senator, and she will play that role.

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I have respect from them.

But Barbara Lee is a unique voice. She was the lone vote against the endless war in Afghanistan. She stood up so strongly against the war in Iraq. She worked with me in stopping -- trying to stop the war in Yemen and the war powers resolution.

And, frankly, Jake, representation matters. We don't have a single African-American woman in the United States Senate. She would fill that role. She will be the only candidate from Northern California, and she's going to, I think, consolidate a lot of progressives.

The other two are formidable candidates, but I think Barbara Lee is going to be very, very strong.

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I'm glad that he is now for Medicare for all and some of the progressive policies. And my view is that politics is about addition. If he wants to join, that's great.

But I think Barbara Lee has had the track record for the past 20 years really to earn a lot of the progressive trust, particularly, again, on issues of war and peace and social and racial justice. And so I expect a lot of the progressives in California will rally around her.

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Thank you, Jake.

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