CNN "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi

Interview

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BALDWIN: Democratic Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi sits in the House Intelligence and Oversight Committees and he will be casting his vote on whether to impeach the President next week. So Congressman Krishnamoorthi, welcome back. Nice to have you on.

REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI (D-IL): Thank you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: So not only are you a Congressman, you are a lawyer. So when you hear Leader McConnell saying, yes, I'm coordinating with the White House counsel on all of this. What's your reaction to that? KRISHNAMOORTHI: I think that violates our separation of powers. I

think that the Senate should be devising its own procedures. He should be coordinating with Chuck Schumer, the Minority Leader.

And at the end of the day, Mitch McConnell is a juror. And so for the juror to be coordinating with the defense counsel doesn't make any sense. And I hope -- I hold that hope that he does end up devising procedures with Chuck Schumer that are fair and that allow for both sides to present their cases in full.

BALDWIN: Do you think McConnell should recuse himself because of this?

KRISHNAMOORTHI: I wouldn't go that far. I think that at this point, you know, I think that the Senate Majority Leader should do everything he can to work with the Minority Leader to devise a fair process and you know, the Chief Justice at the end of the day presides over this particular trial and it is incumbent on him to also make sure that the procedures are fair.

BALDWIN: Given what we're hearing from senators, they will likely acquit the President and so this worry is that now impeachment is just becoming another partisan ritual.

Congressman, how concerned are you that impeachment just isn't as effective as our Founding Fathers intended?

KRISHNAMOORTHI: Well, you know, hopefully the senators, if this goes to a trial, look to the Constitution and their conscience and put country over party and politics. This is one of the most serious duties that they have to fulfill.

And, quite frankly, it is a somber time in our country when we have to even deal with this particular issue. But Brooke, I was a part of the Impeachment Inquiry.

BALDWIN: But what if they don't, Congressman? What if they don't?

KRISHNAMOORTHI: Well, I think that at the end of the day, the voters will hold them accountable as well, and I think that it's up to us. If this goes to a trial, the House will present its case and I think that the senators will have to vote their conscience and voters will have to watch the proceedings and make sure that they are also informed about what happens.

BALDWIN: But the Congressman Krishnamoorthi, when you look back in the not so distant past, and you think about the Mueller investigation and how it ended with the Special Counsel, you know, sitting there warning that Russia is already interfering with our next election and then the very next day, Trump had that phone call with President Zelensky of Ukraine, you know, ask him for that favor.

Play it forward. When he is acquitted, he is already threatening payback. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: It's a scam. It's something that shouldn't be allowed. And

it's a very bad thing for our country, and you're trivializing impeachment.

And I tell you what, someday there'll be a Democratic President and there will be a Republican House, and I suspect they're going to remember it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Just Congressman, your thoughts on what the President has said. He talks about payback. What do you fear the most about a post impeached Trump?

KRISHNAMOORTHI: Well, look, we're not there yet. We have to first vote next week and then it goes to a Senate trial and we'll see what happens.

That being said -- and after that, there's also an election. And, you know, we, in Congress have to always remember that we need to hold the Executive in check and conduct oversight accordingly. And I think that going forward, I don't want to speculate on what he may or may not do. But we have to fulfill our constitutional duty -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: I hear you. I guess, I just keep thinking, what about the consequences? I mean, let's say like -- you're a dad, right? You have what? Three kids, Congressman? Is it three now?

KRISHNAMOORTHI: That's right.

BALDWIN: So you have, you know --

KRISHNAMOORTHI: Yes. I have a teenager and a toddler, I'm ready for Congress.

[14:25:03]

BALDWIN: So, let's say, you know, when your kids are really old enough to appreciate the role that you're playing here as this first- term Congressman, you know, impeaching the President of the United States and the lesson at the end of the day, is that Trump did X, Y, & Z and yet there are no consequences.

I hear you on ultimately, it's up to the American voter. But you know, when you think of what's happening on Capitol Hill, there could be no consequences. What is the lesson you want your kids to take from this?

KRISHNAMOORTHI: I personally think that, you know, being the third President potentially impeached is a strong warning sign to future Presidents.

Imagine what would happen if we did not do this? I mean, this conduct -- there was so much evidence, it was overwhelming, Brooke, with regard to the wrongdoing that was committed, and it was the type of wrongdoing that the framers of the Constitution and the founders of this country anticipated would be impeached -- impeachable -- and it would be subject to the procedures we're going through right now.

If we did not do anything, I think that would send the absolute wrong message to future Presidents, and we have to do what we have to do right now. I think this is extremely important. It's not something that anybody is taking lightly. It's a somber time, quite frankly. But it's a vote that unfortunately we have to take.

BALDWIN: Last question for you, Congressman Krishnamoorthi, and that is when you think ahead to the Senate trial, will you be an impeachment floor manager?

KRISHNAMOORTHI: Well, Nancy Pelosi has done a great job of arranging the proceedings up to this point and she will select the impeachment managers.

I think quite frankly, she is going to select a team that is very knowledgeable about the facts of the case and will bring credit to the House.

BALDWIN: Has she approached you?

KRISHNAMOORTHI: I don't want to talk about this, I think, at this point.

BALDWIN: OK.

KRISHNAMOORTHI: She is -- she is conducting the process in her own way.

BALDWIN: OK, I got you. We will follow up with you when a bit of time has passed. I got it. I had to ask. Congressman Krishnamoorthi, thank you so much. Good to have you on.

KRISHNAMOORTHI: Thank you.

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