WATCH: Rep. Schiff Joins Jake Tapper to Discuss Urgent Need to Pass Aid for U.S. Allies, Latest on Trump Trial
Washington, D.C.— Today, Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper to discuss the need to pass critical foreign aid for U.S. allies Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, and the latest in former President Donald Trump’s criminal trials.
Watch the full video of the interview HERE.
Key Excerpts:
On the Need to Pass Crucial Foreign Aid for U.S. Allies, Lack of Effective Governance in the House
“We want this place to be governed, and we want it to be governable. We've been demanding for months that we bring up Ukraine funding. Of course, the speaker could have done that months ago. He could have done it, done it separately, like we're doing today. Or it could have brought up the Senate bill. It would have passed overwhelmingly in the House, but nevertheless, we are where we are.
“And hopefully this week we'll finally get that aid passed that Ukraine so desperately needs. That we need to send to Israel the humanitarian assistance, as well. As well as aid to Taiwan and our other allies.”
On Trump Being in the Defendant’s Chair, Where He Belongs
“Well, in terms of, you know, seeing him finally sit in the defendant's chair where I think he belongs, it's been a long time in coming. And it is, you know, I think from the perspective of the justice system, an affirmation that even a former president is not above the law. And ultimately, there is accountability.
“But after seeing him successfully delay one proceeding after another after another, literally for years. But then these criminal trials for months and months and months. Finally seeing him face justice in the courtroom, is a long awaited reckoning for the former president.
“In terms of whether I would have liked to have seen a different case go forward first. To be candid, yes. I think the most serious and substantial of all the cases is the January 6th federal prosecution. And, you know, there the Justice Department took a long time to get that case investigated to begin with, but nevertheless, the Supreme Court has quite willfully allowed Trump to delay that proceeding by, you know, continuing to sit on its hands when it comes to one of the bogus appeals involving this purported claim of immunity. So there the largest part of the responsibility goes to the court that seems to be doing his will by delaying.”
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