DPCC Co-Chair Cicilline: Congress Must Focus On Helping The American People Succeed
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy & Communications Committee (DPCC) and a member of the Judiciary Committee, appeared on CNN Anderson Cooper 360 and CNN New Day to discuss the House Judiciary hearing with FBI Agent Peter Strzok following Russia's interference in the 2016 Presidential election. Below are excerpts and links from each interview.
CNN Anderson Cooper 360: "I think this was a very sad day for the committee. This is a joint hearing where our Republican colleagues really had no interest in these questions. This was about promoting a narrative to continue to undermine the investigation of Robert Mueller and to really distract attention to issues Congress is not taking up.
"So, there was really -- it was incredible because they literally wouldn't let the witness answer questions. What he said really confirmed what the I.G. said, that there are no bias affected any decisions made in this, that there were appropriate decisions made and that his personal opinions didn't in any way affect the outcome of the investigation. The Republicans already know that, but they continued to ask him specifically about the ongoing criminal investigation, counterintelligence involving the Trump campaign and Russians.
"And they know that under the Department of Justice and FBI rules, he cannot answer questions about an ongoing criminal investigation. In fact, that's what the I.G. report criticized the FBI for doing. So, they know he can't answer them but they continued to ask that question. We spent 11 hours in a deposition of him and eight hours in hearings.
"You know, this is the Judiciary Committee. We should be focused on the family separation policy. We should be focused on driving down the cost of prescription drugs, which is before our committee. We should be focused on comprehensive immigration reform, common sense gun safety legislation. But no, today we spent 8 1/2 hours talking about the Clinton e-mails in an ongoing effort really to distract from what is a growing and serious investigation of the president and his inner circle."
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CNN New Day: "It was a colossal waste of time and part of an ongoing effort by my Republican colleagues to undermine the very serious criminal and counterintelligence investigation that's under way.
"The Republicans brought Peter Strzok before the committee. They weren't actually interested in hearing his answers to any questions. They were trying to promote a narrative and to the extent that he tried to refute their narrative they cut him off. It was -- there were no rules in the committee, the chairman was making them up as he went along.
"I think it was an embarrassing day for the committee and it was really -- you know, with all the issues before the Judiciary Committee we have a number of bills on commonsense gun safety legislation, some bills to drive down the cost of prescription drugs, legislation involving this horrible family separation policy at the border.
"We didn't take up those issues. We had another hearing on the Clinton e-mails. I think it was really a disgraceful day."
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