DPCC Co-Chair Cicilline: We Must Protect Mueller’s Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on The Beat with Ari Melber on MSNBC to discuss the President's attempts to interfere with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election. Cicilline called on his Republican colleagues to condemn efforts to smear Mueller and discredit his investigation as a hoax. Below is a transcript from the interview. Click here to watch the video.
"Look, I don't think we know where they're coming from, but it's just the most recent example of a member of the President's inner circle lying about their actions during the course of the campaign. Roger Stone said just a couple of days ago he had no communications with the Trump campaign about WikiLeaks. We now know that that's a lie - that he was e-mailing Steve Bannon directly about those, and then three days later, of course, the first stolen e-mails are released. So, I think it's just more evidence as to why we have to protect Robert Mueller's investigation, be sure that he is allowed to complete his work, and take us to wherever the facts lead us. And we have a number of bills pending in Congress to protect Mr. Mueller and prevent political interference or prevent his firing. Our Republican colleagues won't move forward on any of them, but I think this really underscores the importance of this investigation continuing to its conclusion, and then filing a report with Congress so we can take whatever action is appropriate."
"I mean, it's hard to know, but it's hard to imagine that the President didn't know about the Trump tower meeting and conversations with his son that happened in Trump Tower. But this is just one more piece of evidence that I think that Mr. Mueller has to review to understand exactly what the Trump campaign did, what the President knew. And you're right, there are a lot of witnesses now that are sharing information with him – maybe concerned about their own culpability and their own criminal liability. But I think we all have to have confidence that Mr. Mueller and his team are going to get to the bottom of this - so long as they are allowed to continue this investigation, and it's free from political interference. The President has tried in every way to undermine it and to try to prevent it from continuing, and we have to all be very concerned what he'll do after the midterms."
"Well, I think it's just an example of how desperate the Republicans are getting and how afraid the Administration is about what Mr. Mueller is going to find. I mean, here is a man who served his country, who is recognized by Republicans and Democrats alike when he was appointed as a person beyond reproach, of extraordinary integrity doing a professional job. And they're actually trying to smear him with a made-up story and trying to pay a woman to do it. I mean it's outrageous, and I'm disappointed that we're not hearing more from my Republican colleagues condemning this effort and speaking out on behalf of Mr. Mueller. But I think it is an example of how fearful they are about what this investigation will find."