CNN "Erin Burnett Out Front" - Transcript: "Interview with Rep. Val Demings"

Interview

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BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Kaitlan. I want to go now to Democratic Congressman Val Demings, who sits on both the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees. She was inside the room for the Taylor deposition, which we just got the transcript from. And, of course, now we've got the breaking news on Jennifer Williams. Does this surprise you, Congresswoman? She's saying if she's subpoenaed tomorrow morning, she's going to show up and she did indeed have concerns about that call.

REP. VAL DEMINGS (D-FL): Hi, Erin. Well, first of all, let me say it's good to be back with you and once again, I am very pleased that we have someone, Ms. Williams, who is likely to receive a lawful subpoena and actually respond to it as the law requires. And so as you've already reported, she had some concerns. She was on the call.

So she has firsthand knowledge. She obviously had some concerns about what she heard on the call and we're just thankful that she is willing to come in and share those concerns with the Intel Committee.

BURNETT: Now, obviously, her testimony tomorrow would be behind closed doors. The public hearings are set to begin next week, Congresswoman. You've been releasing though transcripts of the closed door hearings from some of the same witnesses. What do you expect will change by having them testify publicly when the transcript, and the opening statements and all this conversation about what they have to say has already been out there?

DEMINGS: Well, it has. But we said from the very beginning that we wanted to do a very methodical, very thorough investigation that was very transparent. And initially, we had, it was pertinent that we conducted interviews behind closed doors.

But now, we've always wanted to get as much information out to the public and the public hearings will give us that opportunity. Certainly, the transcripts are being released but we know that everybody may not have an opportunity to read every word.

BURNETT: Yes.

DEMINGS: But then, Erin, there is nothing like hearing directly from, for example, Bill Taylor, a 50-year public servant, career foreign service officer, decorated veteran hearing exactly directly from him in that public hearing. So we think that it will certainly make a difference and we believe the public wants to hear and they will get that opportunity next week.

BURNETT: So Ambassador Taylor links Trump directly to the quid pro quo and he was asked how he came to the conclusion that there was a quid pro quo. And according to the transcript, here's what happened, Ambassador Taylor says, "I don't know what was in the President mind." Your Republican colleague, Lee Zeldin asked, "So where was this condition coming from if you're not sure it was coming from the President?" Taylor, "I think it was coming from Mr. Giuliani."

Congressman Zeldin, "But not from the President?" Taylor, "I don't know." Congressman Zeldin, "Did you have any firsthand knowledge that confirms that the President was conditioning an investigation into Burisma and alleged election - Ukrainian interference in the 2016 elections with a meeting with President Zelensky?" Taylor, "Again, I had no conversations with the President."

Zeldin, "So did you have any firsthand knowledge at all to support that?" Taylor, "Firsthand meeting - firsthand meaning had I talked to the President? No, I've never talked to the President." Zeldin, "Or any other firsthand knowledge, other than a communication directly with the President." Taylor, "No communication with the President."

Zeldin, "No communication with Rudy Giuliani." Taylor, "There was none with Giuliani, only with Sondland and Volker."

Now, I read that in its entirety and I know you were in the room when that happened, Congresswoman. But to make the point, Taylor, obviously, he's testifying the truth, right, everything that he understands it, but he didn't ever speak to the President and he never spoke to Rudy Giuliani. Are you worried you're putting too much weight on what Taylor says?

DEMINGS: I am absolutely not worried at all about Ambassador Taylor coming to testify in a public setting tomorrow. And the American people will have an opportunity to see exactly why I'm not worried. The Republicans, as you will know, for the last month and a half have struggled to try to defend the indefensible.

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We also know that Rudy Giuliani, while as reckless as he has been, was working directly at the direction of the President and so but I think the best person who gives us the most convincing firsthand knowledge is the President himself. If you read the readout of the call, the President himself talks about 'but I need you to do me a favor though' to President Zelensky and then goes into investigations of the Bidens.

So I think that's pretty clear and convincing. And when we hear from Ambassador Taylor, we'll understand why.

BURNETT: All right. Well, Congressman Demings, I appreciate your time tonight. Thanks again.

DEMINGS: Thank you.

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