CNN "State of the Union" - Transcript: Interview With Rep. Zoe Lofgren

Interview

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Joining me now is one of the Democratic impeachment managers, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of California.

Congresswoman, first, I just want to get your reaction to a tweet about one of your fellow California Democrats and House impeachment managers, Adam Schiff.

President Trump tweeting: "Shifty Adam Schiff is a corrupt politician and probably a very sick man. He has not paid the price yet for what he has done to our country."

What's your reaction?

LOFGREN: Well, that's really unfortunate.

The president has a tendency to say things that seem threatening to people. She's going to go through some things. Adam Schiff is doing his job. He's going to pay a price.

I mean, he really ought to get a grip and be a little more presidential.

TAPPER: Take a listen to a tense moment from the House floor on Friday night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHIFF: CBS News reported last night that a Trump confidant said that GOP senators were warned, vote against your president, vote against the president, and your head will be on a pike.

Now, I don't know if that's true. I hope it's not true. I hope it's not true.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: You just heard Senator Lankford say that that offended him, because the implication was that they were afraid of President Trump.

There were other key swing votes, potential, such as Murkowski and Collins, who found it unnecessary and offensive. Even Senator Manchin, a Democrat, said he thought it crossed the line.

Was it a mistake for him to say that?

LOFGREN: Well, I don't know.

But, hopefully, the senators are not going to be letting a -- quoting a CBS report, which Adam himself didn't know if that was accurate, in making a decision for the country in whether the president has committed high crimes and misdemeanors, I can't believe that the president -- the president's misbehavior would be ignored because of something like that.

TAPPER: Senator Collins and Murkowski have also both criticized Chairman Nadler, a fellow House impeachment manager, his suggestion that, if they don't vote for new witnesses and new documents, they will be participating in a cover-up.

Do you do you agree with that sentiment, that if they vote against new witnesses and testimony, they will participating in a cover-up?

[09:20:01]

LOFGREN: I think they should get new witnesses. And I said so on the Senate floor.

We tried to get witnesses, we were stonewalled. But here's the thing. The chief justice of the United States is presiding over this trial. If he signs a subpoena for a witness to come, we're going to get that witness. We're not going to be in court for three or four years. We're going to get that witness promptly.

And it's not for the House. It's for the senators to find out all the information, which I think they would want.

TAPPER: So, I noticed you did not say that you think, if they vote against it, it's a cover-up.

And I wonder, as somebody who clearly -- as somebody who's watched this now more than 20 hours' worth, you clearly have been mindful of your tone and respectful to the senators.

Do you think that Jerry -- Jerry Nadler should not have said that?

LOFGREN: Well, I never comment on other members' comments.

I do think that we have a great hope that the senators will do the duty that they are obliged to do, that they will take the oath that they took seriously, that they will do impartial justice. That's what our hope is.

And I think the country's fate is hanging on it.

TAPPER: What do you say to people who -- who argue that the message from House Democrats is contradictory, because you're saying we have overwhelming evidence that requires you to act to remove this president, and, at the same time -- at the same time, we really need more evidence, that there's an inherent contradiction there?

LOFGREN: Well, I don't think there is.

We have an overwhelming case. Take the meeting on July 10 with Mr. Bolton and the Ukrainians. That was the day that he said that there was going to be a hand grenade, the hand grenade, and the drug deal.

I...

TAPPER: The comments from Bolton.

LOFGREN: Yes.

You know, Sondland was trying to make sure, was pressing, even then, Ukrainians to do these investigations of Biden. And that preceded the July 25 call.

Now, the president's lawyers are trying to say, well, there's nothing wrong here, nothing to see here on this call.

If -- it's obvious that there is. But if the senators have a concern about that, well, they could hear from Bolton.

TAPPER: Right.

LOFGREN: Absolutely.

TAPPER: If they want more information.

LOFGREN: And it's not for the House. It's not for the sake of the House. It's for the sake of getting to the truth in the trial.

TAPPER: Congresswoman, you -- you told senators this week -- quote -- "Don't surrender to the president's stonewalling" -- unquote.

LOFGREN: Right.

TAPPER: But what do you say to those who say, that's what exactly what the House Democrats did by not going to court to try to force subpoenas and force witnesses?

LOFGREN: We did go to court, as you know.

TAPPER: But you didn't pursue it in court. You ultimately...

LOFGREN: Ultimately...

TAPPER: ... withdrew the cases and went to the Senate.

LOFGREN: ... we realized we had the evidence we were going to get, and that it was sufficient to prove our case.

TAPPER: But didn't you surrender to the president's stonewalling, in that sense?

LOFGREN: Well, in that -- I guess, in that sense, we did, because, if we had waited for three or four years, the election would be over. The issue would be almost moot.

If he is committing a high crime and misdemeanor now, and continuing to do it, we need to act.

Now, the McGahn subpoena -- we subpoenaed him last April, and we're not going to get an answer on that probably until next year.

TAPPER: There are four Republicans that you need, assuming all the Democrats vote for more evidence and more witnesses. You need four Republicans.

LOFGREN: Right.

TAPPER: I know that Murkowski, Collins, and Mitt Romney have all suggested that they might vote for new witnesses, maybe.

Is there a fourth Republican somewhere that you have identified that House impeachment managers are hoping will vote that way? Is it Lamar Alexander? Who are -- who do you think...

LOFGREN: Well, I don't know.

I mean, as I speak and as I sit there, I find myself looking at the senators, a lot of them I served with when they -- when they were in the House, and wondering what's going through their minds as they hear this pretty overwhelming evidence from the House.

And then the president's folks coming in, really not disputing what we put together in our evidence, and wondering whether they might want to get a little more to nail this down.

I would hope that they would, because this is a very serious case. It's about whether the president is posing a threat to the United States. It's the impeachment clause of the Constitution. And I think the country wants a complete picture.

The senators have an opportunity to get it. And I think they would be doing themselves a favor, as well as the country of favor, to get that job done.

TAPPER: Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, who has been in involved in more impeachments in this country than any other human being...

[09:25:02]

LOFGREN: Yes.

TAPPER: ... I think it is -- worked -- you worked on the Nixon one.

LOFGREN: I did. I did.

TAPPER: And then, obviously, you were in the Congress for the Clinton one as well.

Thanks so much for being here this morning.

LOFGREN: Thank you very much.

TAPPER: We really appreciate it.

LOFGREN: Thanks.

TAPPER: I know it's early for a Californian.

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