MSNBC "All in with Chris Hayes" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Interview

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HAYES:  And Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat from Massachusetts and 2020 presidential candidate joins me now.  Senator, you spent about 40 minutes today on the floor of the Senate reading portions of the Mueller Report, why`d you do that?
 
WARREN:  Well, I didn`t wake up this morning saying let`s go to the floor and talk about the Mueller report.  Let`s keep in mind, Mitch McConnell came in and just kept saying no, no, no, everything is over, case closed, we`re done, and no we`re not.
 
You know, when the Mueller report came out, I sat down to start to read it.  I read all day into the night into the wee hours of the morning and finished out the next day.  And after I finished 448 pages, I realized three things, I mean, that we`re just unmistakable in that report.
 
Part one, a hostile foreign government attacked our 2016 elections in order to help Donald Trump get elected.  Part two, Donald Trump as a candidate welcome to that help.  And part three, when our federal government tried to investigate parts one and two, Donald Trump did everything he could to derail, push aside, and otherwise obstruct that investigation.
 
And Mueller makes these facts absolutely clear in his report.  It is pretty clear when you read it that the only reason is I read it that he did not actually bring an indictment because he clearly has all the facts is he was following the Justice Department of the Trump administration saying a sitting president cannot be criminally indicted.
 
But he served up on a silver platter all of those facts to the United States Congress.  Because in a constitutional system with checks and balances, it`s up to Congress to make sure that the president is not above the law.
 
So when Mitch McConnell today took to the floor and said case over, case over, we`re done, no we are not.  You know, that`s -- no, and it`s time to stand up and say so.
 
HAYES:  Well, here`s my question.  I mean, in terms of what next, right, I mean there is this very intense debate happening and you can see it happening publicly in an almost kind of agonizing fashion with your colleagues in the House about what to do about this, right.  What`s -- what are the next steps?  You have I think if I`m not mistaken said that impeachment proceedings should begin.
 
WARREN:  Yes.
 
HAYES:  What do you say to people say that`s politically dangerous, public opinion is running like 56 to 38 opposed to impeachment proceedings and you`re walking into a trap.
 
WARREN:  There is no political convenience exception to the Constitution of the United States of America.  You know, there are some things that are bigger than politics, and this one is a point of principle.
 
If the United States Congress fails to step up when they`ve been handed facts like the facts handed to us in the Mueller report, then that changes the relationship between the president and the Congress not just for now but for the next president, and the next president, and the next president.
 
HAYES:  I`m wondering too -- you`re someone who has studied, written about, looked at the ways in which people and institutions in power can get away with a lot yeah and not be held accountable.  We saw this happen with financial institutions, it`s something that you`ve documented has been as brutal on your work.  I wonder if you see a connection ultimately between that and what we`re sort of faced with now as a country.
 
WARREN:  Absolutely.  You know, because this really is about accountability. The Constitution of the United States provided for separation of powers so that Congress just to use the words could hold the president accountable if he did something like this, obstructed justice.
 
And the facts in front of us in the Mueller report are clear, more than 600 federal prosecutors Republicans and Democrats people from urban areas and rural areas, people from all across the country looked at this and said, if he were anyone other than President of the United States, what is shown in the Mueller report is enough for a criminal indictment.
 
That means it comes to Congress.  And we can`t play politics here.  We have to step up and say the president is accountable.  No more, can`t do this.
 
HAYES:  There are some who take the view -- I believe Senator Amy Klobuchar if I`m not mistaken, she was on my program talking about this that because the way impeachment works, right, impeachment is a majority vote in the House.  It then goes to the Senate for removal where it`s a 2/3 vote that Senate is the kind of jury essentially, right.
 
The House is essentially like an indictment in the center of the jury and as such should sort of stay arm`s length from making determinations on the merits about the President`s conduct.  What do you think of that idea?  Are you out ahead of things if you`re saying right now impeachment proceedings should begin?
 
WARREN:  Look, the impeachment proceedings should begin in the House.  Obviously, that`s what`s provided under the Constitution, but we got to stand up.  Somebody does and ring the bell and say read the Mueller report.  I don`t care if you`re Democrat or Republican, read the Mueller report on obstruction.
 
As the more than 600 federal prosecutors said, there it is.  The criminal indictment is right in front of us.  Mueller made clear that all of the elements are there for obstruction, criminal obstruction in multiple incidences.  Congress cannot cover its ears and close its eyes and pretend this isn`t happening.
 
This is not about politics, this is about principle.  This is about what kind of a country we are.  We swore not just to protect Donald Trump, we swore to protect the Constitution of the United States of America and that`s what`s called for here.
 
HAYES:  Final question about your Senate colleagues you talked about Mitch McConnell on the floor today.  I think there`s a widespread view that I think is probably correct that there`s just no way if there`s 66 votes in that body with a majority Republicans to remove the president and as such since we know that, that`s the kind of political given going through the motions is a waste.  What do you say to that?
 
WARREN:  I don`t see it that way at all.  I think that we should have the impeachment proceeding.  And assuming that the House votes for impeachment and sends it over to the Senate, then every single person in Congress House and Senate should be required to look at the evidence in front of us and declare.  You think that`s OK for a President of the United States or you don`t.  Take a vote and then live with that voter for the rest of your life.
 
HAYES:  All right, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, great thanks for making time tonight.
 
WARREN:  Thank you.

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