MSNBC "The Beat with Ari Melber" - Transcript: "McConnell under fire."

Interview

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VOSSOUGHIAN: We are back with one of the latest Democrats to call for impeachment. One of more than half a dozen coming forward in the wake of Bob Mueller`s testimony, a Congressman Lisa Blunt Rochester speaking out today saying quote "Future generations will look to us and ask where we were, what we did, and if we fell silent?" and she joins me. Now Congressman Lisa Blunt Rochester, thank you so much for being here, really appreciate it.

REP. LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER (D-DE): Thank you Yasmin.

VOSSOUGHIAN: You said today you that this exchange from Mueller`s testimony was a key moment for you. Let`s take a listen to that.

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(ROBERT MUELLER`S TESTIMONY)

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VOSSOUGHIAN: Why did that particular answer exchange help change your minds?

ROCHESTER: Well, first of all Jasmine -- Yasmin thank you for having me on the show. The decision to even you know come out in favor of an impeachment inquiry was one that I didn`t take lightly and that was really important to make that exchange, in addition to director Mueller talking about the fear of this being the new normal, actually was a tipping point for me. You know, we had already received this 448 page document that showed us 10 instances of obstruction of justice. But for me, I actually thought back to the Part 1 of that document where we talked about the Russian interference in our elections. And I thought about myself as a kid -- I grew up in the 1960s, and we used to have to get do these Air Raid drills where you`d get under your desk or you`d get out in the hall and put your hands over your neck, because we were concerned about tornadoes and about the Soviet Union them attacking us, and we`ve actually been attacked. Our country has been attacked. And to have a campaign -- a presidential campaign actually welcome it for their own gain and then to learn from this testimony that our President has not been totally truthful, to me called for us to take bold action. And to say that in order for us to get the information we need, in order for us to get the cooperation we need, we need to move forward with an inquiry into impeachment.

VOSSOUGHIAN: So, in fact, you say in your statement, "I believe opening an impeachment inquiry gives us firmer legal ground on which to stand", why?

ROCHESTER: Well, for one thing, we all know that oversight is one of the roles of Congress and we are doing investigations. We actually have six investigations going on from different Subcommittee -- different Committees that are doing incredible work. But when you actually embark on an impeachment inquiry, it`s -- impeachment is one of the things that is actually enumerated in the Constitution. And so therefore, the courts would be more -- we would be working faster in terms of getting that cooperation, in terms of getting those documents, I believe. And so for me it adds an extra level of oversight. It actually adds more weight and credibility to what it is that we`re trying to accomplish, and the bottom line is nobody is above the law and so -- whether it`s the President or anyone else. And this inquiry would help us get the answers and get them in a more expeditious way.

VOSSOUGHIAN: I want to bring a Democratic Strategist and Senior Adviser to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Antjuan Seawright. Antjuan, good to talk to you. Good to talk to you.

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