CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview With Rep. Mike Quigley

Interview

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And joining me now is Congressman Mike Quigley. He is a Democrat who serves on the House Intelligence Committee.

Sir, thanks for joining us.

REP. MIKE QUIGLEY (D-IL): Thank you. Glad to be here.

KEILAR: We're so glad to have you.

And Democrats are clearly getting under the president's skin. Speaker Pelosi certainly is. What's the end point here? What's the goal? What does the speaker want?

QUIGLEY: I think what most Americans want. And that's a real trial in the Senate.

The House, in the investigation and movement toward impeachment, had 35 fact witnesses in those open hearings and the depositions that came with them, where Republicans were allowed to ask all those witnesses questions. We were obviously stymied on getting 10 other witnesses by the

president's obstruction, and scores and scores of other documents, which will would have let the American people know much more of what would have taken place.

So I equate it with a prosecutor who has something along the lines of an indictment from a grand jury who is hesitant to bring it forward because the person in charge of that trial has said that they're going to coordinate with the defense team, and that they won't be impartial.

KEILAR: Is -- Mitch McConnell has said, well, essentially, I mean, I'm not that into having this trial. So if they're going to delay it, you know, fine.

Is the strategy here then to try to highlight what you feel is a very unfair process? And there are many witnesses, certainly people central to all of this, that we have not heard from, for sure.

Is the goal to highlight this publicly to create some public opinion pressure on some Republican senators, so that they might pressure Mitch McConnell to give in at least on votes for witnesses?

QUIGLEY: Well, absolutely.

At some point in time, there's going to be a resolution or two. There were -- there were two during the Clinton impeachment hearings, one which was more procedural and one that dealt with witnesses. And there were three witnesses.

So, I think that makes all the sense in the world. We have to remember something that the chief justice of the United States did during that, that makes this even more important. He said that we shouldn't refer to the Senate as the jury.

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In fact, what they do here is, they act as the trier of law and fact. That makes their impartiality even more important. It's not just a juror conspiring with the defense team. It's the person who makes the decisions on what the law is and the facts.

So, if the American people understand that, I'd like to think the pressure, through at least four senators, which is what it would take, would force Mitch McConnell to do the right thing, bring on these documents, bring on these witnesses.

Wouldn't they like to hear John Bolton? At this point in time, I think Mr. Bolton's intention is just to publish a book about what took place.

But if indeed he thought this was a drug deal, as has been testified to, if, indeed, Rudy Giuliani was a hand grenade, and he didn't want anything to do with it, I think it's time for him to step up, when the American people have a right to know, when it's most important, not when it's time to sell books.

KEILAR: When do you think these articles of impeachment will be heading to the Senate?

QUIGLEY: I think you're going to learn a lot more after next week, when we come back.

How much pressure do these at least four senators feel? And a resolution moves forward. At some point, they're going to move forward. There is precedent for there being held up before they move over to the Senate. Why not wait? Why not try to educate and inform the American people? Hopefully, a groundswell of what the American people want will hit at least those four additional senators, forcing Mr. McConnell to bring forth the documents and the witnesses we have a right to hear.

KEILAR: The speaker will eventually choose impeachment managers. The House Republicans will do the same to send over to the Senate to present the case in the Senate.

Who should she pick? And if -- obviously, you may not name someone specifically, but what qualities should they have? Should this be a veteran lawmaker, a freshman? Should this only be someone who's on one of these committees that has participated in the investigations and hearings?

What do you think?

QUIGLEY: Look, Ms. Pelosi is an extraordinary judge of talent. She takes her time when she makes appointments, especially to select committees. And she keeps those decisions close to the vest.

She has, in my opinion, an embarrassment of riches. I do think what you have seen during this investigation and during the impeachment process is a number of lawmakers are qualified and skilled to do this.

And I don't think they just have to be members of those two committees. I don't think they have to be experienced veterans. I think we saw some freshmen step up.

So, whoever she chooses, I think, will do a good job. I think there's a lot of talent out there who have the capability to move forward.

KEILAR: What if you were offered the job?

QUIGLEY: Again, Speaker Pelosi was very kind and appointed me to the Intelligence Committee. I have been honored to serve on that for about five years now.

If chosen, I'd be thrilled to do the job, because I think it's so, so important. But I completely understand that she has a lot of people to choose from. And there's a lot of factors in making those decisions.

So I would understand completely whatever decision she makes. Those she picks will do a fine job.

KEILAR: If, ultimately, there are no witnesses that will be heard in the Senate trial, what is the next move of House Democrats? QUIGLEY: Well, I think you -- I think the American public will see it

for what it is, that the president has called this a hoax.

He's called it a witch-hunt. But they certainly act like they have a lot to hide. The president's own words and Mick Mulvaney's words, I think, implicate him pretty dramatically.

But the American public will see again firsthand how this president his acted his entire term of office.

And, finally, the investigation continues. Let's just remember, the only reason this investigation has had to go forward is because, during the Russia investigation and the impeachment investigation, the president has obstructed on an ongoing basis.

Nixon's impeachment articles had four counts within article three. I believe this president has obstructed justice four times in one day, when he's refused to let people testify.

So, all the things the American people have a right to learn, we're going to continue to try to find out and share with them.

KEILAR: Congressman, thank you. We really appreciate you coming on, Congressman Mike Quigley.

QUIGLEY: Thank you.

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