DPCC Co-Chair Cicilline: This is Behavior You Expect of a Mob Boss, not the President of the United States
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on At This Hour with Kate Bolduan on CNN to discuss the President's attempts to interfere with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election. Below is a transcript from the interview. Click here to watch the video.
"Yes. My understanding is we will have a briefing on December 13th. It's unclear whether the CIA Director will be there. I hope we don't have the same problem the Senate has - it's very important that we have a briefing and understand exactly what has been collected in terms of evidence and then be in a position to take additional action if necessary."
"No, in fact Saudi Arabia, like so many of our allies, the relationship between our two countries is complicated. And, while they're an ally in important respects, we also have to speak out and stand up when they undermine core American values. And, to see the President of the United States basically before the world say, ‘well, even if he was involved in it, we do have an important commercial sales here, and there are a lot of jobs at stake,' - that's not who we are. Our foreign policy needs to reflect the values of this country. And, frankly it's in our national security interests to promote democracy and stability and freedom around the world. We're better off when countries respect the free press; when they respect the rule of law; when there are consequences to this kind of brutal action. So, it's really in our interest to get to the bottom of this, to hold the people accountable, and to condemn it in the strongest terms. That's in the long-term interests of the United States. So, the President's suggestion that we should forsake all of that for some sales of arms, I think, is both incorrect and really undermines core American values and our moral leadership in the world."
"Absolutely. I think it's important that we do a full review of our relationship with the Saudis from top to bottom, and both take appropriate actions in terms of sanctions, in terms of canceling military sales, in terms, of course, ending our assistance to them in Yemen. I think everything should be on the table. We have to do a full evaluation of this relationship."
"I think they're all going to be very significant. We're going to learn a lot this week about the status of the Special Counsel's investigation. I think I'm particularly interested in hearing more about the Manafort plea blow up and what that means and what the Special Counsel knows. But, I think more than anything, we're going to see the President respond very badly to all of this as he feels the walls sort of closing in on him. It really does reassert the importance of passing legislation to protect the Special Counsel. The President is trying to interfere, impede, obstruct this investigation. We have seen him actually try to, you know, cheer on witnesses who are refusing to answer the Special Counsel's questions and condemn those who are coming forward to tell the truth. So, I think we should be watching the President's behavior this week as well. But, this is just a reminder we have got to take action to protect this investigation. The American people have a right to know what the facts are wherever they lead and to insist that Mr. Mueller be permitted to complete his investigation and report to the Congress and to the American people."
"Well, I think we should remember one thing: tweets are statements of the President of the United States. I think sometimes when we just describe them as a tweet, it tends to maybe diminish their importance. The White House said early on in this Administration, these are official statements of the President of the United States. And, any attempt to interfere with this investigation, discourage witnesses from coming forward and telling the truth, or to cheer on people who seem to be quiet and refusing to cooperation with the Special Counsel, I think the Special Counsel is going to take careful note of that."
"We know that's simply not the case. And, you know, I think there have been a number of commentators who said this is behavior you expect of a mob boss, not of the President of the United States: you know, telling people to stay strong [and] you have guts to refuse to cooperate. The Special Counsel is entitled to expect that everyone is going to be truthful and honest and that when they're testifying under oath, that they're stating the facts. And, I think that's all Mr. Mueller wants and expects from all the witnesses."