CNN "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" - Transcript: "Interview with Rep. Andre Carson"

Interview

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BERMAN: Joining us now, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, Democratic Congressman Andre Carson.

Congressman, I know you took part in the questioning of the intelligence community inspector general, Michael Atkinson, today. I want to get that in second. But, first, I want to ask you about the subpoena delivered to the White House today.

What happens if they don't comply?

REP. ANDRE CARSON (D-IN): Well, then, we take a step further -- we take it a step further. People have been talking about inherent contempt and other things, but my hope is that the White House officials will do their job and be cooperative.

BERMAN: That's your hope. If they don't, would you see that as grounds for an article of impeachment, as it was with Richard Nixon during Watergate?

CARSON: Oh, without question. I think we're already there. I think the American people are there.

Democrats, Republicans, and independents, people are sick and tired of the theater that is the White House, of this political pageantry, the trivializing of our government, our three systems of government, our three branches of government. You know, we still haven't dealt with infrastructure. We still haven't dealt with education. We still haven't addressed -- dealt with national security in a meaningful way that doesn't trivialize immigrants and Muslims and people of color.

And so, we have a lot on our plate that we have to deal with that our constituents are expecting us to deal with, but because President Trump doesn't want to deal with the issues at hand, he involves us in this pageantry. And what he's done is self-serving and it shows he's unfit to be president.

BERMAN: I'm sure next week is, in fact, infrastructure week, but we'll have to see if they, in fact, deliver on that. Now, as to the questioning of the intelligence community inspector general, what did you learn inside those hearings?

CARSON: Well, what I -- what I will say, I think that the inspector general takes his job very seriously. I think that he too was and is concerned about whistle-blower complaints and the safety and security of the whistleblower. And our job as a committee is to make sure that we secure those pipelines of communication that other whistleblowers can come forth with complaints, with criticisms, and they can do so without fear of retaliation.

BERMAN: It's our reporting that he explained how he worked to corroborate the whistleblower claims. Is it fair to say that's what happened?

CARSON: I think that's fair to say.

BERMAN: There's also so much evidence that it's now out in the open. Frankly, since this whistle-blower first made his or her report, we've now seen the notes or the rough transcript of the phone call with the president. We've now seen these text messages.

So I think one question Americans have is, did he provide anything more than that? Are there even more witnesses or is there more evidence that the American people don't know about?

CARSON: That's why it's critically important that the White House is cooperative with Congress, that if they have nothing to hide, then they should be working in cooperation with our committee chairs and work in cooperation with the subpoenas that have been issued.

BERMAN: But does he have corroboration beyond that which has already been made public?

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CARSON: Well, I think as the days unfold, as the hours unfold, that remains to be seen. I mean, there's only so much that I can say and that I'm willing to say. But it is clear that Donald Trump has trivialized the presidency. He's made a mockery of the presidency.

We have a president who is a developer. You would think that infrastructure would be easy for him, but he's in over his head. We've seen meltdown after meltdown.

Kudos to our friends in the fourth estate for informing the American people in a clear and succinct way, that members of Congress have a duty. We can't be afraid. Urging my Republican colleagues who fear one tweet from the president could jeopardize their re-election efforts, to think critically about the preservation of our republic and our democracy and help us get Donald Trump out of the White House.

BERMAN: The president seems to be utilizing what I would call a few good men defense, which is now to say, your damn right, I did. He's basically saying, yes, I had this phone call, I said what I said, but there's nothing wrong with that.

To what extent do you think that is convincing to people in the country?

CARSON: Well, the emperor is without clothes now. I think he's surrounded himself with people who are unwilling to challenge him in a very healthy and firm way and a strong way and aggressive way. Those folks who have been most outspoken and who have been cheerleaders for Donald Trump have unceremoniously been fired. And so, he doesn't have loyalty to the people who he demands loyalty from.

And so, for me, as a Hoosier, it's about being focused on what my constituents sent know Congress to do, and that's making sure we preserve the republic. And I, Chairman Schiff, and other members of the Intelligence Committee, we serve very honorably, we take your commitment seriously. So, we want to get to the bottom of this and make sure the whistle-blower is protected and he or she doesn't face retaliation in the process.

BERMAN: All right. Congressman Carson, thank you very much for being with us this evening.

CARSON: What a pleasure. Thank you.

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