Sen. Coons: White House scandals show “broader theme about lack of action on our national interests, our national security interests, interests in protecting our next election and in having people in the highest levels in the White House who are transparent and accountable” 

Sen. Coons: Kushner situation “shows an ongoing pattern of failure to take seriously the protection of national security concerns” 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday joined CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to discuss recent developments in the Trump Administration. 

“What I'm more broadly concerned about is that the president continues to tweet that the investigation by Robert Mueller is a witch hunt,” said Senator Coons. “We had testimony by Admiral Rogers, who runs the National Security Agency, in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee that the President is failing to take seriously the threat from Russian interference in our last election and most likely our next election. There's a broader theme about lack of action on our national interests, our national security interests, interests in protecting our next election and in having people in the highest levels in the White House who are transparent and accountable.” 

Full video and audio available here.

Excerpts from the interview are below: 

Sen. Coons on Jared Kushner: There is. This is a really striking development and long overdue. I've just returned from a bipartisan trip to the Middle East. One of the issues raised in a number of meetings that we attended was expectations or hopes and concerns about the Administration's long-awaited peace plan for the Middle East, something Jared Kushner has had a central role in crafting. The fact that he's been deprived of his top-secret clearance, he's been downgraded because of his failure to be fully forthcoming about his entanglements in his business side and his previous contacts suggests he is not in a position to continue to carry forward the significant role in this White House that he's been entrusted with. For him to be the person carrying forward, an important peace plan in the Middle East at the same time that he lacks a top security clearance, I don't think that's workable going forward. 

More on Kushner: I think the President should appoint someone else, preferably someone with relevant senior experience with diplomacy and international affairs and I think he should find another opportunity for Jared Kushner to serve either in the Administration or to continue to pursue his private business interests.

More on Kushner:  I think he made the right choice in having his chief of staff having made the right decision and not allowing his own personal relationship with Jared Kushner, his son-in-law cloud his judgment about whether he should have access to the very top secrets of the American people.

More on Kushner: That would be a bad step by the President. I think it would show continued conflation of personal and family interests with national interests.

Sen. Coons on whether he is worried about this: I'm concerned this shows an ongoing pattern of failure to take seriously the protection of national security concerns by the very inner circle in the Trump Administration because there are overlapping personal and professional and national concerns.

Sen. Coons on Hope Hicks: Previously both Steve Bannon and Corey Lewandowski refused to answer questions claiming executive privilege and as was seen in a clip from Adam Schiff just a few minutes ago on this show, that's an executive privilege that's not theirs to exert. Hope Hicks may also find yourself in some trouble with the committee about why she's refusing to answer questions about her role in the Trump White House.  

More on Hope Hicks:  That might well shield her from questions from Congress about activities within the White House but it depends what exact matter they're going after. I do think you can't shield illegal action behind executive privilege. That's an arguable proposition and Robert Mueller's investigation, which is looking into potential obstruction of justice may also have questions for Ms. Hicks, depending on how this goes in front of the House Intelligence Committee. 

More on Hope Hicks: It's funny because earlier today as I was getting some briefings from my own communications people they said Hope Hicks has been testifying for hours and I said "What's her role?" And they said "She's the communications director." I was unclear that she was the White House communications director for that reason. She's not frequently seen publicly commenting on behalf of the White House. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen her play the role that is typical for a White House communications director.

Sen. Coons on accountability in the White House:  What I'm more broadly concerned about is that the president continues to tweet that the investigation by Robert Mueller is a witch hunt. We had testimony by Admiral Rogers, who runs the National Security Agency, in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee that the President is failing to take seriously the threat from Russian interference in our last election and most likely our next election. There's a broader theme about lack of action on our national interests, our national security interests, interests in protecting our next election and in having people in the highest levels in the White House who are transparent and accountable. 

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