CNN "Erin Burnett Out Front" - Transcript: "Interview with Rep. Peter Welch"

Interview

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BURNETT: Kaitlan, thank you very much live here in New York. And I want to go now to Democratic Congressman Peter Welch who supports impeachment, sits on the House Intelligence Committee which received the whistleblower complaint today. And I appreciate your time, Congressman. I know you have been in that secure room, you've read the classified report, what was your takeaway?

REP. PETER WELCH (D-VT): Well, Adam Schiff really described it. It's very compelling. It is detailed, references many facts and people. If we're allowed to pursue the investigation, we'll be able to corroborate the information that's contained in it.

The other issue that really was a concern to me is how in the world did the Director of National Intelligence not transmit this incredibly important information as he's required to do under the statute and how in the world did Attorney General Bar issue an opinion that this was not subject matter that should come to the Intelligence Committee. Those are very disturbing actions by both of those gentlemen.

BURNETT: And I want to ask you about it in a moment because obviously the Acting Director of National Intelligence, Mr. Maguire is going to appear before your Committee tomorrow. But first, when you say it's compelling detailed facts and people which you are allowed to pursue, you would speak to, we also understand there were multiple instances in this report. I mean, is there anything beyond that call or is it mostly focused on this one specific phone call for which we have all now read the transcript?

WELCH: Well, I'm sorry that I can't answer now, because it has to be clear through classification. But Adam Schiff really spoke for all of us, it was very detailed, very compelling. And when we can pursue the investigation, we're going to be able to run a number of threads that will provide corroboration or not to what the whistleblower bravely came forward with.

And by the way, my hope is that everybody is going to see this. I mean, this is information that the public is entitled to know. So my strong hope is that everybody, the press, the public is going to be able to see this and evaluate it themselves and they will able to do a full and complete investigation.

BURNETT: Do you believe that we will be able to see that soon? Is this really going to be released in the next day or so or no?

WELCH: I'll certainly advocate for it and we just have it on the House floor today. And this was encouraging to me, basically, unanimous resolution passed that was condemning the withhold of that information from Congress. So there's some, I think, awareness on the part of my Republican colleagues, certainly on the committee that there's a constitutional issue of congressional oversight that's being thwarted here when information by statute is supposed to be given to us were denied access to it.

BURNETT: So Congressman Swalwell also said that there's new leads that you all can investigate now as a result of his reading of this in that classified room and that the whistleblower does talk about other witnesses to this call. Are there now more people you want to hear from, Congressman Welch?

WELCH: Oh, I will, I mean, mean when this report is released, if we do an investigation we would want to follow up on all of the details to get corroboration or not. BURNETT: You mentioned the Acting Director of National Intelligence,

Joseph Maguire. And as I said, he's set to testify or appear before your Committee tomorrow. What do you plan to ask him, Congressman?

WELCH: Well, the $64 question with him is why did not you follow the statute that says he shall within seven days of receiving a report from the Inspector General, it's transmitted to the Intelligence Committee.

[19:10:08]

And by the way, this is the first time the Inspector General had issued a report where he found that it was urgent, incredible evidence. And in the past, I think past DNI directors have automatically turn it over even when there wasn't a finding of urgency or credibility. They believed that the intelligence committee should reach its own decision.

BURNETT: Before we go, I want to play for you something, the other side of this, not everyone is convinced even in your own caucus, obviously, your numbers have surged, but not quite there. Democratic presidential candidate Congressman Tulsi Gabbard, obviously, her vote is not for impeachment. Here's what she said after she read the transcript today.

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REP. TULSI GABBARD (D-HI), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When you step outside of the bubble here in Washington and you get to where most folks in the country are, look, I'm not a lawyer but I think most people reading through that transcript are not going to find that extremely compelling cause to throw out a president that won an election in 2016.

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BURNETT: What do you say to Congresswoman Gabbard?

WELCH: Well, two things, one, I disagree with her. And, of course, in addition to having read that transcript I read the full report today, which other Members of Congress hopefully will be able to do. But second, I agree with this. Whenever we do an impeachment, we are determined, in a couple of weeks, to bring up a bill to lower prescription drug costs.

We need an infrastructure bill and the House has been passing significant legislation, it's getting dumped and stonewalled in the Senate. But the point is, the American people want us to do things that are going to help their everyday lives. Now, this is duty we have under the Constitution, so we can't ignore it.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Congressman Welch. I appreciate your time.

WELCH: Thank you.

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