CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript: Interview With Representative Ami Bera (D-CA) On Air Base Shooting

Interview

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So with me now is California Democratic Congressman Ami Bera. I want to start with the latest on the shooting in Pensacola. You sit on the Foreign Affairs Committee. The National Security adviser said it appears to be a terrorist attack but then the FBI is not calling it terrorism. Will your committee be taking any actions in response to this shooting?

REP. AMI BERA (D-CA): Well, certainly let's let the FBI conduct their investigation before we jump to conclusions, but it does certainly seem like there's a terror action. We're supportive of what Secretary Esper said in terms of reviewing the whole vetting process as these foreign nationals come to train with our troops and use our equipment.

We may take a look at it. We've been looking at Saudi Arabi ever sentence the Jamal Khashoggi assassination and, you know, there are some concerns of, you know, whether the Saudis are truly our friends or not.

WHITFIELD: So the gunman, a Saudi national, you know, who's been in the U.S. now for two years as part of that Pentagon training program, what do you think is known about a trainee before their arrival or even during the program? BERA: Well, you would hope that foreign nationals who are using U.S.

made equipment, they do a lot of joint exercises with us. It's certainly a good procedure, it prepares our troop to work together, and interact with our allies around the world. That said again, again, this act that happened on Friday leads us to take another look at that vetting process but we do want to do joint training.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And it's not just Saudi Arabia. There are many countries that get to enjoy this opportunity of training with the U.S. military. Do you see while the investigation is ongoing in any way the program should be suspended or temporarily, you know, modified, changed?

BERA: You know, I'll leave that up to the military. You know, I trust them. I -- you know, again, Secretary Esper said he will conduct a full review of the vetting process and again I'll trust our commanders to make that decision.

WHITFIELD: And where's your level of confidence in Saudi Arabia being part of an investigation?

BERA: You know, it's -- I hope they cooperate with us. They've said they will fully cooperate with us. And that said, again, you know, on the heels of the Jamal Khashoggi assassination, you know, we've got some concerns.

WHITFIELD: OK. I want to pivot now to the impeachment inquiry. Democratic sources telling CNN that tomorrow's hearing will focus on Ukraine but will likely include some discussions of the details from the Mueller report to show a pattern of Trump's behavior that shows impeachable conduct. So what's your reaction to that potential plan or reported plan?

BERA: You know, I'd probably stick to the report and evidence that the Intelligence Committee gathered that you saw in these public hearings and --

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WHITFIELD: The Ukraine.

BERA: -- committee's report. The Ukraine. Certainly I read the redacted Mueller report and there's plenty of evidence of impeachable actions of obstruction of justice in there. That said, I probably -- my opinion is that we keep it focused on what came out around the Ukraine.

WHITFIELD: And why?

BERA: You know, I think there's plenty of evidence to draw the conclusion there was an obstruction of Congress and there's plenty of evidence that there was an abuse of power. And I think those charges have been made and, you know, again, I'll leave it to the Judiciary Committee to draw the Articles of Impeachment but my sense is you've got plenty to work with. WHITFIELD: So moderate Democrats have said, you know, they would

prefer the Mueller report not be included in that because they felt like they get some pushback in their, you know, districts. What do you think about those concerns?

BERA: You know, I think at the end of the impeachment, whether you include the Mueller report or not, again I just think the last few months, the hearings, the depositions, have gathered evidence of abuse of power and I think they made the case pretty strongly. I also think the obstruction of Congress case is pretty self-evident, the fact that he won't give us witnesses, they won't release the information that we're seeking. So I think those are two pretty solid charges and I suspect we'll see articles around there. I'll leave it to the Judiciary Committee to debate the Mueller charges.

WHITFIELD: And so with the information that you know of so far, would you vote to impeach this president?

BERA: You know, I think it will be hard not to take a vote to impeach. Again you heard the constitution experts and the scholars last week.

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And, you know, they were pretty solid that, you know, our founders put the impeachment clause in there for this type of incident.

WHITFIELD: Congressman Ami Bera, thank you so much.

BERA: Thank you.

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