DPCC Chair Cicilline: The American People Deserve to Know the Truth
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Cicilline, Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on CNNto discuss how the Acting Attorney General misled the House Judiciary Committee and how Democrats in Congress are working to get to the truth. Below are excerpts from the interview. Click here to watch the video
"I think that there's no question that if this reporting is accurate, this is just another data point of an ongoing effort by impede this investigation and to obstruct justice. We should recall that there are 199 criminal charges that have been filed. There have been 37 defendants. There have been 7 convictions sand 4 people sentenced to prison. The President described this as a witch hunt and has tried to undermine this investigation. But is now clearly concerned about the Southern District of New York and to call up the Acting Attorney General and say, ‘can't you install someone favor to believe me to this investigation' is completely inappropriate, clearly an effort to impede or undermine the investigation and protect himself and would constitute obstruction of justice if true."
"Mr. Whitaker was very evasive. He kept referring to his opening statement which basically said ‘I didn't make any commitments or promises to the President.' But when we probed him directly about what the President said to him, whether he expressed dissatisfaction or opinions about the investigations, he sort-of avoided that answer. So, he created the impression that there was no discussion with the President about any investigation when we know if this reporting is true that that is inaccurate. So, the Chairman of the Committee sent a letter to Mr. Whitaker requesting clarification on a number of issues and indicated that if he didn't provide that, we would have him back before the Committee in a deposition. But he clearly misled the Committee and may have been providing incorrect or false information."
"Well, I went further and said – well I thought, maybe he will think it wasn't lashing out - so I said lashing out or expressing dissatisfaction of any kind. And he said no. We know now if this reporting is true, they both can't be true. So, if this reporting is true, and the President called about replacing the U.S. Attorney, presumably that was because he was dissatisfied about what was happening with Michael Cohen and the guilty plea, I doubt it was let's replace the U.S. Attorney because he deserves a vacation because he's doing great work. Both can't be true. The reporting and Mr. Whitaker's testimony, so it's really important for him to come back before the Committee and either clarify that or correct it."
"Yes. I think the Chairman made it clear that he expected Mr. Whitaker to return for a deposition. If he doesn't do that voluntarily, the Committee will exercise its authority to require him to appear for deposition. Before he left our Committee room, there were many unanswered questions, contradictions in his testimony, evasive answers and the Chairman made it clear we have a responsibility to get the truth. The American people deserve that. He's going to be back before the Committee for that purpose."
"It certainly reflects the direction that he thought he should take at the leader of the Justice Department. It evidences again the President's misunderstanding about the role of the Attorney General. It's the same comments he made about Jeff Sessions. The Attorney General represents the United States. He is there to do Justice. He doesn't represent the President of the United States. He is not there to protect the President. He is there to protect the Constitution and the rule of law. The idea Mr. Whitaker understood his responsibility was to jump on the grenade and protect the President is exactly the reason that Mr. Whitaker never had any business being in that position because he was really there to protect the President, to try to protect him from these ongoing investigations. He basically auditioned for the job on television by, you know, diminishing and attacking the special counsel on his investigation. It's clear that's what his intention was. It's clear that's why the President picked him sort-of out of thin air. It's precisely why he had no business being the Acting Attorney General of the United States."