CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) Is Interviewed About Trump's Impeachment Inquiry

Interview

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BLITZER: We're following breaking news on this Veterans Day. House investigators just released moments ago another transcript of the testimony of the Trump impeachment investigation.

Joining us now is Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island. He's the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Senator, thanks so much for joining us.

SEN. JACK REED (D-RI): Thanks Wolf.

BLITZER: You oversee the Department of Defense. As you've just heard, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense testified that she learned in late August that money to Ukraine appropriated by Congress would likely flow if -- if the Ukrainians committed to investigations that President Trump wanted, political investigations involving the Bidens. So how concerning is that?

REED: It is terribly concerning. The aid that we voted for on a bipartisan basis in the House and the Senate, it was signed by the president, it was designed to aid an ally who is in direct confrontation with Russia.

The Russians invaded Ukraine and the Donbas. They are fighting through proxies. They are trying to destabilize in many respects, the Ukrainian government.

This aid was actually essential and not just essential for the Ukrainians, it was essential to maintain the integrity of our position in Europe, along with our NATO allies.

So, to use this as an attempt to extort or to somehow shake down a foreign government is outrageous. If that is the case, we have to establish that.

BLITZER: She also testified that all of the National Security leaders were on the exact same page, that Ukraine needed this money, that it was essential. You also served on the Senate Appropriation Committee. How irregular was this hold-up, this last-minute holdup that was given to this -- the National Security officials, the aid is being suspended at least for the time being?

REED: It is very usual because, again, as you point out, Ukraine desperately needed this money. They are in a day to day contest with the Russians.

[17:25:03]

They need the support both in terms of not only their operational capacity but also the signal of political support by the United States and the government of the Ukraine. And to hold it up is just -- it mind-boggling.

And to hold it up without any sort of public discussion or communication with Congress that might be incident to another situation where there are questions that the money is not being spent well or we're going to have to restrict some type of funding because they're not ready to accept it yet. None of that was readily apparent during this time.

BLITZER: What evidence have you seen that so far, at least so far, that explains why that military aid to Ukraine was put on hold? What was the explanation you've seen and were given?

REED: I have no explanation that I was given. You know, we were making inquiries, several of my colleagues and then it became so widespread so you had so many people interested in getting this aid to the Ukrainian government that we were calling and weren't getting any real response.

It's just it's not happening, it's not happening. Again, this is a situation where the aid was critical for the defense of someone who is on the front line against Soviet expansion in middle Europe and also someone -- a country that needs our support because they're going through a very difficult political struggle as well as a military struggle. BLITZER: As you know, the public televised hearings in the impeachment inquiry will begin Wednesday morning. What will you be watching for in these hearings, senator?

REED: Well, this is an opportunity on a bipartisan basis for questions to be asked of the witnesses. Ambassador Taylor is someone who has a remarkable reputation and a graduate of West Point, a combat leader in Vietnam and a dedicated public servant.

I think we'll all be looking not only for the facts but also the demeanor of the witnesses and I think with the ambassador you'll find someone who is committed his whole life to public service and that that will resonate.

The big judge will be the American people. They have to look at a process to see that it is fair, to see that both sides have their opportunities to question and also to measure the -- not just what is said but the veracity and the character of the witnesses. And I think, again, that will be critical this week as we begin these open hearings as the House begins them.

BLITZER: As these hearings will begin on Wednesday, the president will welcome President Erdogan of Turkey to the White House. Is that appropriate, senator? You've covered -- you've watched this very closely.

Considering the U.S. believes Turkish-backed forces may have committed war crimes in Syria and specifically I'm referring to what James Jeffrey, the special enjoy for Syria, testified before Congress on October 23rd when he said, "We have seen several incidents which we consider war crimes."

REED: No, I think it is completely inappropriate. I think President Trump should have informed President Erdogan when he crossed the border with at least a tacit approval of the president that a visit to Washington would be completely inappropriate.

We have many issues with the Turks, issues that have to be resolved, not only their situation in Syria but also their acquisition of the S- 400 anti-defense system from the Russians.

We have a host of issues. And to give a presidential visit, I think, just undercuts all of our real leverage in terms of talking seriously with Erdogan about the future of Turkey and the future of NATO and what he will do in Syria.

BLITZER: Could the --

REED: He has proposed for example --

BLITZER: Yes, go ahead. Finish your thought.

REED: No, he's proposed for example of relocating hundreds of thousands of Syrian Sunnis into Kurdish land. That could be an explosive, sort of the move on the part of igniting tensions between the Kurds and others. And that's the kind of behavior that can't be tolerated and he's talking about it very glibly.

BLITZER: Do you think that potentially could alienate some of your Republican Senate colleagues who are also as worried as you are about the president's Syria policy and the same senators, by the way, he'll need to stand by him if there is a full-scale trial, impeachment trial in the senate.

REED: Well just looking at the situation in Turkey, yes, I think it will. I think they're quite concerned, many of them, about what is happened.

[17:29:54]

We walked away from an ally that fought with us to destroy ISIS or at least to degrade it significantly if not destroyed it. That is one of the concerns we have, that it will reconstitute itself but they lost 10,000 fighters and we were able to operate

We tragically lost six or seven Special Forces operators. That is a great loss to their families and to the country, but compared to the suffering of the -- the Kurds, it -- it is quite a difference.

And we are also worried now about whether the Kurds can maintain those prisons in which ISIS -- hard-core ISIS, some international fighters -- are held. Whether they'll -- they will abandon those positions to defend their villages as the Turks move down.

I know sort of the Department of Defense is trying to back-fill after the President announced very dramatically, but I think also very foolishly, that we're pulling all of our forces out. They're now trying to back-fill with several hundred troops to go in there, but it's all without any plan.

It's impulsive. It doesn't recognize the sacrifice of our allies, and -- and it leaves us in the position throughout the entire Middle East of whether or not any country would trust our -- what we say we'll do.

BLITZER: Senator Reed, thanks much for joining us. We -- we appreciate it.

REED: Thanks, Wolf. Thank you.

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