Fox News "The Ingraham Angle" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Lee Zeldin, Rep. Chris Stewart, and Rep. Mike Turner

Interview

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INGRAHAM: Ouch, and that's "The Angle." Joining me now are three Republican Congressman, on the front lines of this fight Lee Zeldin, House Foreign Affairs Committee member; Chris Stewart and Mike Turner who were Members of the House Intel Committee.

Congressman Zeldin, let's start with you. Adam Schiff said tonight that he may release transcripts next week when you all are off. Is that enough?

REP. LEE ZELDIN, R-N.Y.: That would be fantastic. I would love to - to be able to have a conversation with you, with my constituents, with the American public not based off of the lies and leaks that been coming from Adam Schiff and other House Democrats and House Democratic staff.

Instead, we can read it for themselves. I mean, there's an REO Speedwagon song. I heard it from a friend who - you remember that one? It's like third, fourth hand - that's right. It's like third, fourth hand information. And Adam Schiff would like to write his parody where he doesn't reveal what actually his second, third, fourth hand information--

INGRAHAM: But, let's say he does prevail. Hold on, hold on. You're like the - you're like the dog who catches a car. I mean, let's say he releases the transcripts. I asked you is that enough for you?

ZELDIN: Well, there's a lot - as far as - then that's one part of this. So the House resolution that passed today says that Adam Schiff has the authority to release the transcripts, but doesn't guarantee that they're going to be released. He's been talking about releasing the transcripts.

But - I mean, I'll believe it when I see it. But I would - I think would be a fantastic thing to have it out there, because they've already leaked out all the information that they feel can be spun favorably for them.

What they, obviously, haven't leaked is the rest of the story. In some cases, it's the other 90% of the story or the other 100 percent of the story. So getting those transcripts out would be fantastic. I mean, by the way, I don't know how he does that.

INGRAHAM: Yes. Well, Democrats say that this is all about upholding the Constitution, but where are the high crimes and misdemeanors? It's an important question given the National Security Council official Tim Morrison's testimony today. This is unexpected.

I want to be clear, I was not concerned that anything illegal was discussed on Trump's July 25th call with the Ukrainian President. Congressman Stewart, if an NSC official, who's not a Trump loyalist doesn't buy the democrats argument, why should the American people?

REP. CHRIS STEWART, R-UT: Well, that's exactly right, why should the American people. And by the way what difference does it make what any of these officials think. Anyone can read the transcript. It's only a few pages long. Every American can read this to make their own determination, Laura, I got to go back to your introduction, oh my gosh, are we supposed to take them seriously?

INGRAHAM: No, this is my new thing. I don't think you should respond to this stuff. This is so ridiculous. I would let them show up to an empty chamber.

STEWART: It's too fun not to respond. Look, Adam Schiff, they're like a bunch of spoiled children at the rich uncle's funeral. So solemn, so sad, oh this is such a sad moment for us, like you said. They're giddy over this. They've been looking for this for three years. And for them to pretend - well, he - we know he does parody and now we know that Adam Schiff does drama as well.

INGRAHAM: Yes--

STEWART: The American people don't take that--

INGRAHAM: By the way, Adam Schiff was responding to some of his concerns about so-called Republican stunts, Congressman Turner, watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHIFF: Given the kind of circus-like tactics, the storming of the skiff, and all the stunts the President puts them up to, we can't surrender the process to the minority party.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE TURNER, R-OH: Laura, what you started with, I think, is incredibly important. They've been planning this ever since Trump was first elected. Majority of the people who voted today to commence it's an impeachment were already publicly for impeachment before the Ukraine call even happened.

But what's interesting about the vote today is it because Adam Schiff is doing this in secret, they've had no access to any information. They didn't see Tim Morrison today - transcript is not just enough. They should have seen Tim's professionalism, his integrity--

INGRAHAM: That's an interesting point. The facial - if you're going to do something this important--

TURNER: Right.

INGRAHAM: --you want to see everything.

TURNER: You want the veracity--

INGRAHAM: The way they respond to certain questions, the way people are being - sorry interrupted--

TURNER: No, it's OK.

INGRAHAM: --not interrupting go ahead.

TURNER: No, no, no, you want to see the bias even in the questioners. Now, the news screams all over today that Tim Morrison said there was quid pro quo. He did not. The only reason the news says that is because the news wasn't able to be present and watch and Adam Schiff is controlling the information that comes out.

Now, we're gagged, we can't say what did happen. We can say what didn't happen. Tim Morrison did not say quid pro quo. If you had seen today his testimony, of his position, of what he has direct knowledge of - not as Lee was saying, those people who had a friend who had a friend, this thing would be would be blown up--

INGRAHAM: Does he directly contradict or substantially contradict some of what lieutenant Colonel Vindman said in opinion of their concern about the call.

TURNER: I think, I can characterize, and that is, that he certainly calls into question some of the things that Vindman said. But you have to understand, Vindman was a detailee assigned from the military to the NSC. He reported to Tim Morrison. Now, Tim's got the direct knowledge and information access, just as Kurt Volker.

I mean, if you take Kurt Volker's testimony and Tim Morrison's testimony, two people who I have a great deal of admiration for, this investigation, if they'd been - made in public would be over.

INGRAHAM: Congressman Stewart, Liz Cheney raised an issue today, I thought was very important. You both sit on Intel. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LIZ CHENEY, R-WYO.: We're at a moment where the nation faces grave, significant ongoing threats and she has completely neutered the Intelligence Committee. She has said they must be focused on a partisan impeachment process and not their oversight obligations--

(END VIDEO CLIP)

INGRAHAM: This is consuming Capitol Hill, the media. We know for the reason that they want this President not to run for re-election, that's what they really want. But her point is something I hadn't even frankly thought of might.

STEWART: Well, it's absolutely true. We've had won, Laura - won hearing on anything other than this in two months. And we're likely to have none over the next few months. And by the way that's not why Mike and I and others wanted to be on the Intelligence Committee. We wanted to do that work and we loved the fact that it was generally behind-the-scenes. It wasn't in front of the cameras, and it's important work.

And by the way it's not just the Intel Committee, appropriations process, we're headed toward the government shutdown, because the appropriations processing as you go forward I had a couple Democrats coming me. They are friends, they said, I can't support a bill they had agreed to the support because they said we can't work with you, while we're in the middle of this impeachment.

INGRAHAM: Do you both agree that there's already - and I sense it, some buyer's remorse. Some of these moderate Democrats - we're going to show the list of the moderate Democrats who voted for this resolution.

The same ones who flip districts that Trump won in 2016, who claim that they were going to be working with President Trump. They were going to be new types of Democrats. Don't worry we're not like you know.

And there's a list - put it up please. This is the list. This is the all - every single one of these Congressmen have tied themselves to Pelosi and Schiff. They're - each and every one of them is now vulnerable in the next election. Each and every one, the Republicans should pick off all of those seats.

Congressman Zeldin, this theme that we were talking about, Speaker Nancy Pelosi insists that impeachment is not distracting them from actually working on important legislation.

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PELOSI: I'm going to answer one at a time. These rules are fair than anything that have gone before in terms of an impeachment proceeding. I'm not here to answer what the Republicans say. If you have any questions we're doing appropriations, we're doing trade, we're doing drugs prices - lowering the cost of drug prices--

(END VIDEO CLIP)

INGRAHAM: What? Wait, wait, Congressman Zeldin, I must have missed all that stuff she was doing. When does that happen?

ZELDIN: Yes, I'm missing it as well. So today we could have had a vote to ratify the USMCA. Today we could have had a vote on a - what was a bipartisan package to actually lower the cost of prescription drug prices that passed unanimously out of the Energy and Commerce Committee. But instead we have total gridlock.

And while you were playing some clips earlier in the show of people talking about how it was a solemn day, they're not happy to have to do it. When I've got on the House floor for that vote today staff was going around begging members not to cheer and clap once the vote got to 218. They're beside themselves happy about this moment, despite the fact it's total gridlock and it's ripping our country in a half. They're enthusiastic about it.

INGRAHAM: Giddiness. You could sense that everyone got the memo from Pelosi and Schiff, Shhh, don't gloat. Right? They're gloating at a moment of impeachment based on a whistleblower's complaint who used to work for Joe Biden. And I bet knew about Hunter Biden's getting that sweetheart deal with Burisma.

If I had to like plan this out right now and we'll read the script later, but I bet that whistleblower knew exactly what was going on with Hunter Biden, and apparently that wasn't any big deal. But worrying about it is and wanting to root out corruption is a problem.

TURNER: Just as you were saying with the whistleblower, the statute that actually allows a whistleblower to make a complaint is supposed to be about to the intelligence community to hold them at bay so that they don't abuse the powers that we give them. It's not about the President.

Now our committee, the Intelligence Committee is also not supposed to be about the President or even foreign policy. It's supposed to about the intelligence community - empowering them and restricting them. We're not doing our work.

You said that - Nancy Pelosi was saying don't be giddy. Well, she is also telling them don't work. Because all of the things she says is happening - aren't happening. They need to get to work.

INGRAHAM: What do you get the sense, Congressman Stewart, and you'll find out more when you go back home. The American people see this and everyone's in their corners. But I think most people just trying to put their kids through school and they're hoping to keep the pay going, but maybe take a vacation every now and then if they can.

They see is, is this America? This is like a third world country the way they're running this thing on Capitol Hill.

STEWART: No question about it, which is why they did what they did today. Look, the Democrats know that it's unfair, it's absurd to impeach a President in secret. They've always known that. And they were betting anything American people either were too stupid to care or too dumb to notice.

INGRAHAM: But now they have the veil of transparency now. Oh, we're going to open it up. What are they exactly opening up, what?

STEWART: Well, very little. I mean, they're going to - what do they can do. How do we go back and recreate seven weeks of secret hearings? How do they go back in and fix that? And I suppose you're going to have something in open session. Now what are they going to bring in the same witnesses and ask the same questions? As we said earlier, the transcripts aren't enough. You need to see these witnesses.

INGRAHAM: It's like putting a prom dress on a corpse and then taking it a homecoming, expect she's going to become queen. I mean, this is just not going to fly. I mean, this is ridiculous at this point. But I'm telling you, spoofing as serious as this is, this has become a farce and a comedy show.

But they should - I was going to say they should keep their day jobs. But most of them should lose their day jobs. Guys thank you so much. Great to see all of you and we'll be in touch, obviously, when you guys get back here in town.

What do we know though about the whistleblowers identity, Lee Smith, Victor Davis Hanson are here next. Plus, could Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee actually call Adam Schiff as a witness? A member of that committee is here to tell us next.

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