CHRIS.
>> Chris: ELLISON BARBER
REPORTING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
ALLISON, THANK YOU.
JOINING ME NOW, CONGRESSMAN
WILL HURD, A REPUBLICAN MEMBER
OF THE HOUSE UNTIL COMMITTEE
THAT WILL CONDUCT THOSE PUBLIC
HEARINGS THIS WEEK.
CONGRESSMAN, THE TOP REPUBLICAN
ON HOUSE INTEL, DEVIN NUNES,
SAYS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO CALL
THE WHISTLE-BLOWER, THE UNNAMED
WHISTLE-BLOWER TO TESTIFY IN
PUBLIC IN THESE HEARINGS AND
HERE'S WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS
TO SAY ABOUT THE WHISTLE-BLOWER.
>> THE WHISTLE-BLOWER IS A
DISGRACE TO OUR COUNTRY, A
DISGRACE, AND THE
WHISTLE-BLOWER, BECAUSE OF THAT,
SHOULD BE REVEALED.
IF >> Chris: NOW, THE
WHISTLE-BLOWER REPORT OF THE
WORKS FOR THE CIA, WHERE YOU
WORK FOR ALMOST A DECADE.
SHOULD HIS IDENTITY BE REVEALED?
SHOULD BE HE CALLED TO TESTIFY
IN PUBLIC?
>> Representative Hurd: I
THINK WE SHOULD BE PROTECTING
THE IDENTITY OF THE
WHISTLE-BLOWER.
I'VE SAID THAT FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING BECAUSE HOW WE TREAT
THIS WHISTLE-BLOWER WILL IMPACT
WHISTLE-BLOWERS IN THE FUTURE.
HAVING THIS WHISTLE-BLOWER LAW
ON THE BOOKS IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT CHECKS AND
BALANCE ARE NOT ONLY THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, BUT WHAT
HER GOVERNMENT.
WHAT I DO WOULD LIKE TO SEE
HAPPEN IS FOR ADAM SCHIFF,
CHAIRMAN SCHIFF, THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS
HIS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
WHISTLE-BLOWER BEFORE THE
INFORMATION -- THE
WHISTLE-BLOWER'S ALLEGATIONS
WERE TRANSMITTED TO CONGRESS.
HE HAS MISLED THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC EARLIER IN THE YEAR ON
WHAT HE KNEW ABOUT -- OR THE
CONTACT THAT HE HAD WITH THE
WHISTLE-BLOWER, SO IF YOU WANT
TO PROTECT THE IDENTITY OF THE
WHISTLE-BLOWER I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR CHAIRMAN SCHIFF TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS
INTERACTIONS WITH THEM.
>> Chris: WHAT TO THINK ABOUT
AS THE REPUBLICANS ARE SEEKING,
CALLING HUNTER BIDEN, THE FORMER
VICE PRESIDENT'S SON, AS A
WITNESS?
>> Representative Hurd: I
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM HUNTER
BIDEN, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM
OTHER AMERICANS THAT SERVED ON
THE BOARD OF BURISMA.
I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW OF SOMEONE
WHO DOESN'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE
IN UKRAINE NOR EXPERIENCE
INTERNATIONAL -- NATURAL GAS
COMPANY COMES ON BOARD IN
UKRAINE.
WE ALSO NEED TO HEAR AND
UNDERSTAND THE CORRUPTION.
WE KNOW CORRUPTION IN THE
UKRAINE IS AN ISSUE.
AMBASSADOR TAYLOR HAS SAID THAT
IN HIS TESTIMONY.
DR. HILL HAS SAID THAT IN HER
TESTIMONY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS A
CONCERN EVEN IN THIS CURRENT NEW
ADMINISTRATION IN UKRAINE, SO
HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT CAN
HELP PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THAT,
SINCE THAT IS CENTRAL TO THIS
CONVERSATION WOULD BE VALUABLE.
>> Chris: NOW,
CONGRESSMAN SCHIFF RESPONDED
LAST NIGHT TO THE G.O.P. WITNESS
LIST THAT HAD BEEN OFFERED BY
CHAIRMAN NUNES AND HERE'S WHAT
HE SAID.
"THE INTEL COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE
USED "TO CARRY OUT THE SAME SHAM
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE BIDENS
AND 2016 THAT THE PRESIDENT
WANTED UKRAINE TO CONDUCT."
GIVEN THAT RESPONSE, CONGRESSMAN
HURD, WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT
THE FAIRNESS OF A PROCESS THE
DEMOCRATS ARE RUNNING AND
HOLDING THESE HEARINGS?
>> Representative Hurd:
UNFORTUNATELY, CHRIS, THIS HAS
BEEN A PARTISAN EXERCISE FROM
THE VERY BEGINNING.
ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT
COMES, PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE THE
PRESIDENT SAY THIS IS AN EXAMPLE
FOR IMPEACHMENT.
PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THE
PRESIDENT SAY THIS IS A -- YOU
KNOW, EVIDENCE OF AN
EXONERATION.
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST TURN OVER
EVERY ROCK AND PURSUE EVERY LEAD
TO ULTIMATELY GET TO THE TRUTH
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE
DEMOCRATS ON THE COMMITTEE AND
THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE HAVE
CREATED THIS PARTISAN EXERCISE.
IN A NORMAL HEARING, THE
MINORITY, THE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT
IN POWER, HAVE THE ABILITY TO
OFFER A WITNESS.
WE CAN'T DO THAT IN THIS CASE.
IF UNDER PREVIOUS IMPEACHMENT
INQUIRIES, THE MINORITY AND THE
PRESIDENT HAS HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CALL WITNESSES,
BE INVOLVED.
THE MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE
DEPARTMENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON
INTELLIGENCE AND CHAIRMAN SCHIFF
HAS PREVENTED SOME OF THE
LAWYERS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION
TO COME IN AND BE THERE WITH THE
FOLKS THAT WERE TESTIFYING.
THAT'S NOT A FAIR PROCESS.
IF WE ARE INTERESTED IN TRYING
TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH, THEN LET'S
NOT PUT OUR THUMB ON THE SCALE,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S WHAT
THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN AND WHAT'S
EVEN CRAZIER IS THERE TRYING TO
HAVE THIS COMPLETED BY THE END
OF THE YEAR AND I THINK WE'LL
HAVE 16 OR 17 LEGISLATIVE DAYS
LEFT IN THE YEAR.
HALF OF THOSE DAYS ARE WHAT'S
CALLED FLY THE END, OUT DAYS.
PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM THEIR
LOCATION.
SO TO TRY TO GET THAT, TRY TO
PASS NAFTA, TO FUND THE
GOVERNMENT, TRYING TO DO ALL
THAT IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME, I THINK THAT'S NEXT TO
IMPOSSIBLE.
>> Chris: YOUR CHUCKLE AT THE
EXTREME PARTISANSHIP MAY BE ON
BOTH SIDES, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS.
YOU ARE NOT -- WHILE YOU ARE
SUPPORTIVE OF THE PRESIDENT, YOU
ARE NOT A PARTY LINE SUPPORTIVE.
YOU OPPOSE SOME OF HIS POLICIES,
IT FOR INSTANCE, CONSTRUCTING
THE BORDER WALL.
YOU'VE OPPOSED AND SPOKEN OUT
AGAINST SOME OF HIS LANGUAGE
DURING HIS TIME IN OFFICE.
FOR YOU, WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO
YOU WANT TO LEARN FROM THESE
HEARINGS [BOOS]
>> Representative Hurd: SO I
THINK TALK ABOUT IMPEACHMENT HAS
BEEN PREMATURE.
I THINK IMPEACHMENT IS ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT AND
CONSEQUENTIAL THINGS A MEMBER OF
CONGRESS CAN DO AT I THINK
THERE'S 535 DIFFERENT OPINIONS
ON WHAT IMPEACHMENT IS.
TO EVALUATE THAT QUESTION I
THINK IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE
LAW AND SO I WANT TO SEE DOES
THIS ESTABLISH A CRIMINAL INTENT
AND YES, FOR ME, I AGREE WHEN I
AGREE, I AGREE WHEN I DISAGREE.
AND I WAS THE GUY IN THE BACK
ALLEYS COLLECTING INTELLIGENCE.
I ALSO DID THIS TO EMBASSIES.
I KNOW HOW AND EMBASSIES WORK
AND THE FACT THAT UKRAINIAN
OFFICIALS WEREN'T CONTACTING
THEIR U.S. COUNTERPARTS UNTIL
AUGUST 29TH, WHEN THEY READ
IN -- I BELIEVE IT WAS A
POLITICAL ARTICLE ABOUT AID
BEING WITHHELD.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT ANY
UKRAINIAN HAD CONTACTED A
STATE DEPARTMENT OR GOVERNMENT
OFFICIAL ABOUT THIS.
THAT WAS MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER
THE JULY 25TH PHONE CALL BETWEEN
THE PRESIDENT AND
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY.
WHAT DO I WANT TO SEE?
--
TO >> Chris: GO AHEAD SIR.
>> Representative Hurd: WHAT I
WANT TO SEE IS THEIR INABILITY
TO ESTABLISH CRIMINAL INTENT, DO
THE UKRAINIANS KNOW THAT THIS
WAS SOME KIND OF QUID PRO QUO.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S.
AND UKRAINE OVER THE LAST THREE
YEARS, THERE'S BEEN NO MORE A
YEARS, THERE'S BEEN NO MORE D
GOING TO UKRAINE THIS
ADMINISTRATION THAN THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION.
UKRAINE IS AN IMPORTANT PARTNER.
>> Chris: LET ME ASK YOU
SPECIFICALLY THOUGH ABOUT THIS
BECAUSE THERE SEEM TO BE TWO
ISSUES ONE THAT ARE PART OF THE
QUID PRO QUO.
ONE WAS MILITARY AID, ONE WAS
THE MEETING THAT UKRAINE VERY
MUCH WANTED BETWEEN THEIR
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY AND
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
IF ALL THREE OF THE WITNESSES
THAT ARE GOING TO TESTIFY THIS
WEEK -- YOU SEE THEM UP THERE,
WILLIAM TAYLOR, GEORGE KENT,
MARIE YOVANOVITCH, SAY THERE WAS
A CLEAR CONNECTION BETWEEN
SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, VARIOUS
FORMS OF THE U.S. SUPPORT FOR
UKRAINE AND UKRAINE
INVESTIGATING THE DEMOCRATS.
IF YOU ARE SATISFIED THAT THAT
IS TRUE, THAT THERE WAS THIS
CONNECTION, THIS NEXUS, IS THAT
AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE?
>> Representative Hurd: I
DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS NECESSARILY
INVESTIGATE THE DEMOCRATS.
I THINK IT WAS INVESTIGATION OF
CORRUPTION --
>> Chris: FORGIVE ME, SIR, BUT
SPECIFICALLY WHAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID ON THAT
FIFTH PHONE CALL WAS INVESTIGATE
THE DEMOCRATIC ROLE IN THE 2016
ELECTION, WHETHER THEY WERE
INVOLVED IN HACKING THE DNC
SERVER AND ALSO SPECIFICALLY THE
BIDENS AND BURISMA.
>> Representative Hurd:
WELCOME ON THE 2016 ELECTIONS,
SOME OF THAT INFORMATION WAS
BASED ON WHAT HAS BEEN KIND OF
FRINGE THINKING, BUT BACK WHEN
EVEN DEMOCRATS START
INVESTIGATING, THERE WAS A
UKRAINE NEXUS, SO TRYING TO GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT, IS THAT A
VIOLATION OF THE LAW?
WAS THAT AN UNDERSTANDING BASED
ON DEBUNK INFORMATION?
IT YES.
BUT IS IT A VIOLATION OF THE
LAW?
I DON'T THINK SO.
>> Chris: BUT SPECIFICALLY,
SIR, THE QUESTION IS IF THERE
WAS A QUID PRO QUO, U.S. AID FOR
UKRAINE WAS GOING TO DEPEND ON
THEIR DOING IS INVESTIGATIONS OF
POLITICAL RIVALS OF THE
PRESIDENT.
IS THAT AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE?
>> Representative Hurd: I
THINK IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET
INFORMATION ON A POLITICAL RIVAL
TO USE IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
IS NOT SOMETHING A PRESIDENT OR
ANY OFFICIAL SHOULD BE DOING.
I THINK EVERYBODY HAS -- MOST
REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THAT WOULD
BE A VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
>> Chris: SO THAT, IN YOUR
VIEW, IF THAT WERE ESTABLISHED
TO YOUR SATISFACTION, F, I
REPEAT, THAT WOULD BE AN
IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE?
>> Representative Hurd: I
BELIEVE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
WOULD MAKE IT -- HAVE TO TRULY
CONSIDER WHETHER IMPEACHMENT IS
THE RIGHT TOOL OR NOT.
>> Chris: WE WILL SEE WHAT
HAPPENS THIS WEEKEND WHETHER OR