CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript:

Interview

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Let's get some more on the breaking news. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut is joining us. He's a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Senator, thanks very much for coming in.

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D), CONNECTICUT: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: So, what is the special counsel's -- what we have been learning now.

[18:10:03]

You heard Pamela Brown's report about these topics that the special counsel, Robert Mueller, wants to discuss with the president in a face-to-face sit-down interview, if that were to happen.

What does that tell you about the president's potential vulnerability in all of this?

BLUMENTHAL: It tells me, Wolf, that there's a credible case of obstruction of justice against the president of the United States. And every day, by his own actions, the president is making that case even more compelling.

BLITZER: Explain. Why do you say that?

BLUMENTHAL: Those pillars, evidentiary elements of obstruction of justice consisting of those events, the knowledge of the 2016 meeting involving Trump Tower and Kushner and others, as well as his deceptive statement that he crafted, in effect, to cover it up, the firing of Comey, those kinds of areas are exactly the ones that would be involved in a potential obstruction of justice case against the president.

So the fact that Robert Mueller is honing in on those areas tells me that obstruction of justice is very much at the forefront of his investigation.

BLITZER: Is it your sense that that's a bigger problem, obstruction of justice, for the president potentially than collusion?

BLUMENTHAL: There is a saying that has been repeated again and again in this town. The cover-up is worse than the crime.

And, in this instance, I think, not knowing what Robert Mueller has, having no inside information, that the elements of obstruction of justice are clearly present in terms of evidence in this case. And, in fact, what we're seeing is obstruction of justice unfolding in real time, right before our eyes.

The firing of McCabe, other actions that have been taken to intimidate and thwart, as well as stymie and stop this investigation, are building that case for the special counsel. And let me be very blunt and clear. My Republican colleagues have an obligation to stand up and speak out against this potential interference right now.

BLITZER: So if the president were to make the case -- excuse me -- if Mueller were to make the case that the president obstructed justice to Congress, what would happen?

BLUMENTHAL: The report and possible criminal charges could be brought by the grand jury as an indictment. But if the report is made to Congress, there could also be action by the House to impeach. That is a word that is rarely used, but I think that report could lead to serious consequences.

BLITZER: So you think the obstruction of justice allegation is more serious, more credible right now than collusion.

What about money laundering? That's the third area that Mueller supposedly is looking into.

BLUMENTHAL: And money laundering, follow the money, is an essential part of this investigation. Collusion should not be dismissed here as a potential charge, whether it's in a report or an indictment, because there is growing evidence that there was some cooperation or collaboration with the Russians and the Trump campaign.

But the obstruction of justice is tied directly to the president, and money laundering is part and parcel of both obstruction and the collusion, because it provides a motive.

BLITZER: Do you think that now the president's lawyer and the president, presumably, know the topics that Mueller would like to raise in a one-on-one interview with the president, that's resulted in his much more assertive, negative statements that have been coming out, specifically the attacks on Mueller himself?

BLUMENTHAL: The increasing intensity and vehemence of these attacks on the special counsel, for the first time mentioning him by name, I think reflect a growing sense of desperation if the White House.

A circling of wagons, the hiring of new counsel, and some of the increasing attacks all indicate that there is certainly a sense of fear growing in the Oval Office as this investigation comes nearer.

BLITZER: I want to get your reaction to this ABC News report that the FBI deputy director, Andrew McCabe, who was just fired by the attorney general, Jeff Sessions, actually oversaw an investigation into whether Sessions had lied during his congressional testimony.

A source close to Sessions, by the way, says the attorney general wasn't aware of any perjury investigation when he fired McCabe. Does that concern you?

BLUMENTHAL: I'm very concerned about this report that the attorney general knew about the FBI investigation of his potential perjury before our committee.

Our committee, the Judiciary Committee, I think, was misled by him. And, plainly, an FBI investigation was appropriate. And I am very eager to learn what more Jeff Sessions knew when he fired McCabe. I think that is all the more reason for the attorney general to come back to the Judiciary Committee and testify under oath about why he misled and apparently even lied to our committee and what he knew when he fired Andrew McCabe as FBI director.

[18:15:11]

Senator Blumenthal, thanks for coming in.

BLUMENTHAL: Thank you.

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