CNN "State of the Union with Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Interview with Adam Schiff

Interview

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Joining me now is House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a Democrat, who sits on the select committee investigating the attacks on the Capitol.

Mr. Chairman, thank you so much for joining me.

I should also say you have a book out, "Midnight in Washington."

[09:20:02]

So, let's talk about the January 6 Committee. It is now roughly five months that you have been investigating. You have interviewed more than 200 witnesses, including former Trump administration officials.

So, have you found any evidence at all at this point that Donald Trump knew of plans for violence at the Capitol that day?

SCHIFF: Dana, I can't go into the evidence that we have gathered.

But I will say this. I think among the most important questions that we're investigating is the complete role of the former president. That is, what did he know in advance about the propensity for violence that day? Was this essentially the backup plan for the failed litigation around the country? Was this something that was anticipated?

How was it funded? What did the funders know about what was likely to happen that day? And what was the president's response as the attack was going on, as his own vice president was being threatened?

I think among the most -- the broadest category of unknowns are those surrounding the former president. And we are determined to get answers. But, at this point, I am not in a position to indicate what we know yet.

BASH: You don't want to indicate what you know, but can you tell us if you know things? (LAUGHTER)

BASH: Are there things to know?

SCHIFF: You know, I really let the committee -- I let the committee speak through our chairman and through our communications team. So I don't want to get ahead of the committee.

BASH: OK.

SCHIFF: But I can't tell you that, for everyone who is trying to obstruct, like the former president, like Mr. Bannon and others, there are dozens and dozens of people who are coming forward voluntarily or who are coming forward when the committee requests that they do so.

And so we are learning a great deal. But it is a broad investigation into the security lapses, into the intelligence problems, into the participation of these right-wing white nationalist groups, the former president's participation, those in his Cabinet.

We will follow the evidence if it leads back to members of Congress as well. So it's comprehensive.

BASH: So let's get specific.

Two weeks ago, you said that the January 6 Committee would move very quickly to refer former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows for criminal contempt charges after he defied a subpoena. Is that still likely going to happen? And, if so, when?

SCHIFF: I think we will probably make a decision this week on our course of conduct with that particular witness and maybe others.

I can't go into what communications that we're having or haven't had with particular witnesses. But we are moving with alacrity with anyone who obstructs the committee, and that was certainly the case with Mr. Bannon. It will be the case with Mr. Meadows, Mr. Clark or any others.

BASH: You said there are communications. Does that mean that there's some cooperation? Or is it just communication? Can you just describe that?

Can you see getting to a point where you won't refer for criminal charges?

SCHIFF: I can't talk specifically about a particular witness.

But I can tell you, with a variety of witnesses, we have had engagement with them through their counsel, some who, like Bannon, flatly refused to cooperate, others, like Clark, who came in, but refused to answer questions, and still others that we have been in communication with.

So, it varies witness to witness, but we discuss as a committee and with our legal counsel, what's the appropriate step to make sure the American people get the information? We intend to hold public hearings again soon to bring the public along with us and show what we're learning in real time. But we're going to make these decisions very soon.

BASH: I want to ask you about something a federal judge said who is overseeing some of the January 6 cases.

He said in a court hearing this month that the rioters that day were -- quote -- "called to Washington, D.C., by an elected official, prompted to walk to the Capitol by an elected official. Those who created the conditions that led to their conduct have, in no meaningful measure, been held accountable."

He appears to be referring to former President Trump. Do you believe that Merrick Garland's Justice Department is letting Trump off the hook?

SCHIFF: Well, I am concerned about certain things, in particular, frankly -- and this is not January 6-related specifically, at least to the violence of that day.

But I am concerned that there does not appear to be an investigation, unless it's being done very quietly, by the Justice Department of, for example, the former president on the phone with the Georgia secretary of state, asking him to find and really demanding he find 11, 780 votes that don't exist, the precise number he would need to overturn Joe Biden's victory in that state.

I think, Dana, if you or I were on that call and recorded, we'd be under investigation, if not indictment, by now for a criminal effort to defraud the people of Georgia and the people the country.

[09:25:05]

So, that specifically, I'm concerned about. But I do share the judge's broad concern that those responsible for the violence that day, in terms of organizing it, have yet to be held to account.

BASH: It sounds like you're saying you want the Biden administration -- the Biden Justice Department, I should say, to be more aggressive.

SCHIFF: Well, look, we tried to hold the former president accountable through impeachment. That's the remedy that we have in Congress.

We are now trying to expose the full facts of the former president's misconduct, as well as those around him. It is certainly possible that what we reveal in our investigation will inform the Justice Department of other facts that they may not be aware of yet.

And so we will pursue our role in this, which is to expose the malefactors, to bring about legislation as a result of our investigation to protect the country. But we will count on the Justice Department to play its role.

BASH: OK.

Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, thank you so much for joining me this morning. I appreciate it.

SCHIFF: Thank you.

BASH: Thank you.

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