CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Senator Chuck Grassley, the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee is joining us on the phone from Iowa right now.

Senator, you wrote this letter asking for answers. I take it you've received no reply from the White House, is that right?

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY (R), IOWA: No reply and we followed it with a couple of e-mails and phone calls today and still don't have an answer, and it took them just two days to come to the conclusion that there were no problems with the Colombia situation in the White House, like there was in the Secret Service.

And I would think that if it only took two days to do the investigation on their part and come to the conclusion there were no problem, they ought to be able to answer my letter in a matter of seven days, but we do not have an answer.

BLITZER: The White House, earlier in the week after you wrote that letter asking questions, they said that their counsel's office at the White House had done a review and found nothing to substantiate suggestions that White House officials, either from the communications office, from the advance team office or anything along those lines, played any role whatsoever in this Secret Service prostitution scandal. Do you have any hard evidence that they did?

GRASSLEY: No, but what I -- the reason I made my inquiry is because there's such a close working relationship between the Secret Service, the Defense Department with those people in the White House communication office and then with the advance team, it was just natural.

And also we had several phone calls from people in previous years that had been in those arrangements, they didn't make any accusations, but they said, legitimately, you ought to look for, see if there was any connection.

And I don't -- I hope there isn't, but I think we -- if the White House is accurate in saying what they did, they ought to make their information public.

But more importantly, I had in mind that the inspector general ought to be looking into it so that we get an independent decision that there wasn't anything wrong.

BLITZER: Because earlier in the week after the White House received your letter with all these questions, Jay Carney, the White House press secretary said -- and I'll quote him -- he said, "There's been rumors published on the Internet by people with no editors and no conscience, but there is no, there is no specific allegation of any kind of misconduct here, and only out of due diligence have we conducted this review."

Are you suggesting that you're not satisfied with the White House legal counsel office review when they say that there's no evidence that anyone from the White House was involved?

GRASSLEY: I think I have a right to see that information if they want to share that with us and maybe that's the end of it, but they aren't sharing anything, and you just kind of wonder why they haven't answered our letter, and you kind of wonder what they have to worry about, you know?

They can surely answer your letter and transparency is something that this president says he stands for.

BLITZER: Well, I'm sure at some point they will answer your letter. They may not give you the information you're looking for, but I'm sure they will answer your letter at some point, Senator. Would you stay in close touch with us and let us know if you hear from them?

GRASSLEY: Yes, I will, and I'll inform my staff to do the same thing so they can get back to your staff as well.

BLITZER: Senator Chuck Grassley is the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee. I appreciate you joining us from Iowa. Appreciate it very much.

GRASSLEY: Thank you very much. You bet.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source