Sen. Wyden on Trump/Russia: ‘It Is Clear There Was Intent to Collude’
RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
BLITZER: "But first, we just heard your colleague senator wanter say, why do you believe house Republicans reject the intelligence community's conclusion that Russia was involved in the election.
WYDEN: "What the House Republicans did yesterday was bizarre. They managed to dis two administrations. Both the Obama Administration and the Trump Administration. These intelligence professionals, they are not politicalal people. They made judgments indicating the Russians were meddling to help the president and what the house Intel dmee yesterday was dis intelligence probes two administrations."
BLITZER: "They conclude that had the Russians wanted to sow dissent, to undermine Hillary Clinton, and to wind up helping Donald Trump. And that was reaffirmed in this administration. On the issue of collusion, they said they have seen no evidence of collusion. Have you?"
WYDEN: "It is clear there was an sfwoenlt collude. Donald Trump Jr., when he was given the opportunity to talk about getting dirt from somebody quite close to Putin, basically said terrific. Can't wait. So there's a lot of work to do. I have focused on the follow the money issues. Our chief obligation is counter intelligence. The way you compromise people is through money. I think people like Michael Cohn ought to be before the committee."
BLITZER: " Is intent to collude the same as collusion?"
WYDEN: "That's the point of an inquiry. In so many instances, you see playing the intelligence committee. What you saw with Jared Kushner is he said we don't rely on the Russians for finance. He got away with it because nobody said, have you taken money? Ever taken money? That's why we have to have them back in public.
BLITZER: "Senator burr said the investigation should wrap up by the fall. Are you comfortable with that time line?
WYDEN: "I don't believe you wrap up an investigation until you follow the facts and certainly, we continue to get additional information all the time. I have real questions about these Russian oligarchs. Steve mnuchin is throwing the game with respect to the law. He is required to give the names of the oligarchs and he won't do it. There are serious questions about money laundering and shell sxoims the NRA's involvement in the election. If those allegations are true, I can tell you the Russians were not interested in promoting American skeet shooting."