Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) discusses the Ukraine/Whistleblower controversy and Trump Impeachment
REP. JARED HUFFMAN (D-CA): But I think, with the latest scandal, with this betrayal of his office, this gross abuse of power that involves our national security, you should see some cracks emerging in that cult of Trumpism.</s>ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: When do you think we'll see those cracks?</s>HUFFMAN: Well, you quoted Adam Kinzinger just this morning. And we heard from Mitt Romney and we heard from Ben Sasse. I think a growing number of Republicans are going to be willing -- especially as the public starts to tune in and express its displeasure with the president -- I think a growing number of Republicans will be willing to part ways with the president.</s>HILL: The White House we've seen ignore subpoenas before. Do you believe it will be any different this time?</s>HUFFMAN: It is one of the advantages to be a clear impeachment posture because as they defy Congress, as they show their contempt for Congress, it simply adds to the count potentially of the articles of impeachment. That's a different place than we have been in the past.</s>HILL: You said the facts are already in a large extent before us. Personally, what else do you need to learn and who do you need to hear from, or do you have anything you need today when it comes to impeachment?</s>HUFFMAN: I think we have the basic elements of a clear impeachable offense. This president betrayed his oath of office, abused his power in the worst possible way in this Ukrainian scandal by urging a foreign leader to meddle in our election, to dig up dirt on his political opponent. It is directly against our national security interests. Those elements are clearly met. But we've still got to draw forward with the specific facts. That'll happen through hearings and first- person witnesses that'll be compelling in the days ahead. We'll see where this goes. I do believe that the elements and the facts are there to support the articles of impeachment.</s>HILL: You are not on one of the committees investigating the president. But you're on two committees with major agenda items, infrastructure, climate crisis.</s>HUFFMAN: Yes.</s>HILL: The president has said this is all a distraction, this is going to keep a lot of that work from getting done. Can you get anything else done with impeachment as a focus?</s>HUFFMAN: We can and we will. This House has already acted on just about all the elements "For the People" agenda. We have delivered legislation to the Senate on even something that previously have been hard to address, gun violence reform. We have addressed prescription drug pricing. We'll see a major bill on prescription drug prices is the days ahead. We are working hard on that. We are working hard on infrastructure, if we can get the president to agree with us on the pay-for and other elements of an infrastructure package. We have the opportunity to deliver that for the American people. There's going to be a lot of work going into delivering on that agenda. But we can do two things at once and I think we will.</s>HILL: Congressman Jared Huffman, appreciate the time today. Thank you.</s>HUFFMAN: Thank you.</s>HILL: Coming up, President Trump ramping up his attacks on the whistleblower as Congress gets closer to hearing directly from that person. A veteran intelligence official joins us to respond next.