Chaffetz on Russia probe (entire interview)

CHAFFETZ.
CONGRESSMAN, THANKS FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANKS, WOLF.
>> SO WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS
CONCERNING YOUR COMMITTEE'S
INVESTIGATIONS.
FIRST I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT
CNN'S NEW REPORTING.
YOU JUST HEARD IT AT TOP OF THE
HOUR.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU THAT
ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS
OMITTED MENTIONING MEETINGS WITH
THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR ON HIS
APPLICATION FOR SECURITY
CLEARANCE?
>> I HAVEN'T SEEN THE
APPLICATION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS REQUIRED.
ACCIDENTAL CONTENT OR A
CONVENTION IS REQUIRED.
IT IS THE ISSUE FOR THE SENATE.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT GO
THROUGH THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS
AND YOU WOULD HOPE THAT ANYONE
FILLING OUT FORMS GIVE IT
TRUTHFULLY AND FULFILLS THE
ON
OBLIGATION THAT THEY ARE DOING.
>> THERE IS A DEADLINE THAT MR.
CHAIRMAN FOR THE FBI AND SUPPLY
ANY FORMER FBI DIRECTOR COMEY'S
MEMOS AND CONVERSATION WITH
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED THOSE MEMOS?
>> NO.
IN FACT WE GOT A COMMUNICATION
YESTERDAY.
E-MAIL JUST TWO LINES.
BASICALLY TELLING US THAT THEY
WOULD NOT PROVIDE THOSE
DOCUMENTS GIVEN THE FACT THERE
WAS A SPECIAL COUNSEL IN PLACE.
I SPOKE WITH FBI DIRICHTER, MR.
COMEY, DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY.
WE ADD ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION
AND I KNOW HE SPOKE WITH ELIJAH
CUMMINGS AS WELL.
HE AND I, ELIJAH CUMMINGS AND I,
AND THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE AND
THE PRESENCE OF THE SPECIAL
COUNSEL DIDN'T SAY THAT --
DIDN'T CUT IT OFF SAYING WOULD
HE NEVER COME, HE SAID HE WANTED
TO SPEAK TO MR. MUELLER BEFORE
COMMITTING TO ANY SORT OF PUBLIC
TESTIMONY.
THAT SEEMED IT MAKE SENSE TO ME
AND I HOPE IT IS FAIR TO
REPRESENT THAT MR. CUMMINGS
UNDERSTOOD THAT AS WELL.
I HOPE THAT'S A FAIR
REPRESENTATION.
THE OTHER THING IS WE WANT TO
SEE THE DOCUMENTS.
WE BELIEVE CONGRESS HAS A ROLE
TO PLAY.
WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO IMPEDE
INVESTIGATION BY SPECIAL
COUNSEL.
WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUR WAY
WITHOUT IMPEDING WHAT SPECIAL
COUNSEL IS TRYING TO DO.
>> DID COMEY TELL YOU I WROTE
THOSE CONTEMPORANEOUS MEMOS WITH
THE PRESIDENT?
>> NO, HE DIDN'T.
IN FACT I SAID, WE HAVE HEARD
REPORTS ABOUT THESE DOCUMENTS.
ARE THEY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE OR ARE THEY WITH HIM
PERSONALLY?
BECAUSE REMEMBER, EVEN THE "NEW
YORK TIMES" REPORTER WHO PUT
THIS STUFF, ORIGINAL STORY OUT
THERE, NO ONE HAS SEEN THESE
DOCUMENTS.
WE'RE ASSUMING THAT THEY ARE ARE
THERE, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT
THEY ARE THERE.
I'M KEPT SSKEPTICAL AND WANT TO
THEM OURSELVES.
BUT DIRECTOR COMEY WOULDN'T
ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
HE WOULD NOT CONFIRM WHERE THEY
ARE, WHAT THEIR PRESENCE, IF
THERE WAS A PRESENCE OF THESE
DOCUMENTS, HE WOULD NOT SAY A
WORD ABOUT THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, I ASKED HIM
DIRECTLY BUT HE WOULD NOT SAY.
>> HE WOULDN'T CONFIRM NOR DENY
THOSE MEMOS EXIST?
>> I DIDN'T ASK HIM THAT WAY.
I ASKED HIM IF THE DOCUMENTS
WERE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE, OR IF THEY WERE WITH
HIM PERSONALLY.
AND HE SAID HE DID NOT WANT TO
COMMENT ABOUT THAT IN ANY WAY
SHAPE OR FORM.
>> WILL YOUR COMMITTEE SUBPOENA
THOSE MEMOS?
>> THERE'S ALWAYS A POTENTIAL OF
USING A SUBPOENA BUT WE'VE GOT
TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.
WHAT I DO THINK THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE OWES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES SPECIFICALLY ARE
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT IS AN
EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THEY ARE
NOT PROVIDING THESE DOCUMENTS.
IT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO JUST
OFFER TWO SENTENCES AND SAY,
HEY, THERE'S SPECIAL COUNSEL.
WE'RE NOT LETTING CONGRESS DO
ITS JOB.
WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY.
IF I HAVE TO SEND ANOTHER LETTER
TOMORROW, GETTING THEM TO GET
THEM TO MORE FULLY EXPLAIN THAT,
WE WILL.
BUT I WOULD HOPE THE DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE WOULD DO THE RIGHT
THING AND PROVIDE A FULL
EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THEY THINK
CONGRESS SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO
SEE THESE.
>> DID YOU ASK DIRECTOR COMEY IF
THERE WERE WHITE HOUSE TAPES?
>> I DID NOT.
>> IS HE UPSET ABOUT BEING
FIRED?
COULD YOU TELL BASE OWNED YOUR
CONVERSATION WITH HIM?
>> WE HAD A LITTLE PERSONAL
INTERACTION THERE THAT I THOUGHT
WE BOTH ADD SMILE ON OUR FACE
AND, LOOK, IN MY OPINION, MY
INTERACTION, HE'S BEEN VERY
OPEN, VERY FORTHRIGHT.
AND I APPRECIATE HIM GETTING ON
THE PHONE WITH US.
WE WILL OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE
INTERACTION WITH HIM, AT LEAST
THE COMMITTEE WILL, GOING
FORWARD.
BUT YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO KNOW
DIRECTLY WHETHER OR NOT HE WOULD
COME TESTIFY AT A HEARING THAT
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO TODAY.
AND IN BETWEEN MY E-MAIL OR
TWEET I PUT OUT, AND WHERE WE
ARE GOING, HE BASICALLY WE ADD
SPECIAL COUNSEL PUT IN PLACE
WHICH CREATES A WHOLE DIFFERENT
EQUATION FROM WHERE WE WERE A
WEEK AGO.
>> DID YOU GET ANY REACTION?
DID YOU MENTION THE REPORTS THAT
PRESIDENT TOLD THE RUSSIANS, HE
THOUGHT KOCOMEY, THAT HE WAS A T
JOB?
DID HE REACT TO THAT COMMENT
FROM THE PRESIDENT?
>> NO.
WE SPENT ABOUT 30 MINUTES THE
PHONE, VERY CORDIAL CALL, VERY
ACCESSIBLE.
AS THE CHAIRMAN, I DO APPRECIATE
THAT.
NEVERTHELESS, CONGRESS NEEDS TO
SEE THE DOCUMENTS WITHOUT
IMPEDING SPECIAL COUNSEL AND
WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
WE WILL HAVE TO FIND THE WAY AS
TO WHAT THE RIGHT TIMING OF THAT
IS.
I THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT,
EVEN THOUGH I'M DEPARTING
CONGRESS AT END OF JUNE, THAT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONTINUE ON.
THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT,
NOT ONLY OF THIS BUT OF SPECIAL
COUNSEL.
SPECIAL COUNSEL DIDN'T GET TO
CONTINUE WITHOUT OVERSIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT CONGRESS IS SUPPOSED
TO DO ON BOTH THE HOUSE AND
SENATE.
WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY
TO DO THAT.
>> DID YOU TALK AT ALL ABOUT THE
OTHER REPORTS THAT PRESIDENT
ASKED HIM TO SHUT DOWN THE
ENTIRE INVESTIGATION?
>> I DID NOT TALK TO DIRECTOR
COMEY ABOUT THAT.
OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
WHAT'S IN THESE NOTES.
NOT ONLY TO SEE WHAT IS THE
WRITTEN WORD OF MR. COMEY,
SUPPOSEDLY, BUT ALSO THEN EVENT
OFLY TO TALK TO MR. COMEY TO GET
HIS PERSPECTIVE ON HOW HE TOOK
IT.
IT IS ONE THING TO SEE SOMETHING
WRITTEN DOWN BUT ANOTHER TO TALK
TO SOMEONE AND SAY WAS THAT
THREATENING.
IT WAS DEROGATORY.
THAT WAS JUST SET IN JEST?
?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU HAVE IT SEE MR. COMEY'S SIDE
OF IT.
AND THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE OF THE
STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE FLUSHED
OUT AT SOME POINT TOO.
>> YOUR COLLEAGUE ON OVERSIDE
COMMITTEE, ELIJAH CUMMINGS W,
SAYS GENERAL FLYNN MADE FALSE
STATEMENTS ABOUT HIS FOREIGN
WORK TO PENTAGON INVESTIGATORS.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT?
>> WELL, WHAT WE DID DO, AS A
NUMBER OF WEEKS AGO, IS WE SENT
TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, A
REQUEST FOR A FINAL
DETERMINATION.
WE BELIEVE, AT LEAST THROUGH OUR
INVESTIGATION, WHAT WE HAD SEEN
AND QUITE FRANKLY NOT SEEN SWB
THAT GENERAL FLYNN, AGAIN, MORE
THAN A YEAR AGO, BACK DURING THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, WHEN HE
TOOK MONEY FOR APPEARANCES FROM
THE RUSSIANS AND ALSO IN TURKEY,
THAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO SEEK
PERMISSION AND RECEIVE
PERMISSION IN ORDER TO TAKE
PAYMENTS.
WE SEE NO SUCH PAPERWORK.
WE CAN'T PROSECUTE PEOPLE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THEY
DON'T GIVE US HANDCUFFS.
SO WE REFER THAT TO THE
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FOR THEIR
FINAL DETERMINATION.
BUT THAT WAS WEEKS AGO.
>> IF HE IS FILLING OUT NEW
FORMS WITH THE PENTAGON, WITH
THE ARMY, OR WHOM EVER,
SHOULDN'T HE BE UP FRONT AND
REVEAL ALL THOSE SPECIFIC
CONTACTS HE HAD, MONEY HE
RECEIVED FROM FOREIGN
GOVERNMENTS?
>> WELL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH,
THE PERMISSION OR GRANTING OF
SECURITY CLEARANCE WAS DONE BY
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
>> BUT YOU NEED ADDITIONAL
SECURITY CLEARANCE ONCE YOU
LEAVE THE NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISER.
>> YES.
>> HE MAY HAVE RECEIVED SECURITY
CLEARANCES FROM THE ARMY, FROM
THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY,
DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION,
BUT THE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT
TRUMP WANTED HIM TO BE HIS TOP
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, THAT
REQUIRED HIM FILLING OUT ALL
SORTS OF NEW FORMS.
>> AND THAT WAS DONE EVIDENTLY
DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OBAMA ERA
RELATIONSHIPS OR OBAMA ERA
PERSONNEL.
IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY DID
NOT OBAMA ADMINISTRATION APPROVE
HIS SECURITY CLEARANCE?
>> THE ANSWER IS THAT SECURITY
CLEARANCES ARE DIFFERENT THAN
THE VERY INTENSE VETTING,
SEPARATE VETTING YOU NEED TO
BECOME NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
TO THE PRESIDENT.
YES, HE HAD SECURITY CLEARANCES,
ONCE DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, THREE-STAR
GENERAL.
HE OBVIOUSLY HAD SECURITY
CLEARANCE US BUT YOU NEED A
SEPARATE ROUND OF VETTING TO
BECOME NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER
TO THE PRESIDENT.
>> YES.
AND THAT WAS DONE IN THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION.
>> NO, NO, NO --
>> YES, WOLF -- SHOW ME THE
DOCUMENTS.
IF YOU THINK THE ANSWER TO
THAT -- IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE
THE ANSWER AND I DON'T YB, THEN
SHARE IT WITH ME.
WE DID PARTIES NATE A CLASSIFIED
BRIEFINGS.
AND MR. CUMMINGS WAS SITTING
RIGHT AT MY SIDE.
I THINK I GOT A PRETTY GOOD
BRIEFING ON THIS.
AND THAT IS REALLY THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION.
>> YOUR COLLEAGUE, CONGRESSMAN
CUMMINGS, HE IS CALLEDING ON YOU
TO SUBPOENA THOSE WHITE HOUSE
DOCUMENTS, SPECIFIC WHITE HOUSE
DOCUMENTS, AS FAR AS VETTING OF
GENERAL FLYNN IS CONCERNED.
ARE YOU READY TO DO THAT?
>> NO, I'M NOT.
WE SAT THROUGH A CLASSIFIED
BRIEFING ON THIS TOPIC.
I REALLY CAN'T SAY MUCH MORE
THAN THAT.
>> WHY NOT LOOK AT DOCUMENTS
JUST TO DOUBLE-CHECK?
>> I'M TELLING YOU I SAT THROUGH
A CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON THIS.
>> WHY NOT GET THE DOCK SUMENTS?
>> WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH.
I TOLD YOU I DID SIT THROUGH THE
BRIEFING ON THIS.
>> BUT DOCUMENTS MIGHT NOT BE
SHARED DURING CLASSIFIED
BRIEFINGS AND SOMETIMES THE
BRIEFERS DON'T REPORT EVERYTHING
AS FAR AS THE DOCUMENTARY
EVIDENCE MIGHT PROVIDE.
>> GIVEN THAT I WAS IN THE
MEETING AND YOU WERE NOT, WITH
ALL DUE RESPECT, THAT IS NOT
SNAG I AM GOING TO SUBPOENA AT
THIS MOMENT.
I'M NOT.
WE GOT A CLASSIFIED BRIEFING ON
THIS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.
"THE WASHINGTON POST" IS NOW
REPORTING THAT THE FORMER
DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY MAY HAVE
BASED HIS DECISION ON HOW TO
HANDLE THE CLINTON E-MAIL SERVER
INVESTIGATION AT LEAST IN PART
ON A RUSSIAN DOCUMENT THAT
TURNED OUT TO BE QUOTE BAD
INTELLIGENCE.
THE DOCUMENT MAY HAVE BEEN
COMPLETELY MAKE.
HOW DOES THAT REPORT INFLUENCE
YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE
ELECTION?
>> WELL, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A
CRYSTAL CLEAR PICTURE OF THIS.
I HAVE SEEN THAT NEWS REPORT BUT
CHB NOT SEEING EVERYTHING THAT
THE FBI IS SEEING, GIVEN THAT
THERE IS THIS ONGOING
INVESTIGATION, I WOULDN'T
NECESSARILY SEE THIS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS
LOOKING AT THIS DIFFERENT THAN
THE SENATE.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THINGS THAT DEAL WITH SOURCES,
METHODS, INTELLIGENCE, THAT'S
DONE BY HOUSE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE.
I WOULD NEED TO LEAVE IT TO THAT
COMMITTEE.
AS IT RELATES TO OTHER
INVESTIGATIONS BE SOME OF THE
STUFF WITH GENERAL FLYNN THEN
THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HAS
TAKEN THE LEAD.
BUT THIS STORY WOULD BE FOR THE
HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE,
NOT THE COMMITTEE THAT I CHAIR.
>> YOU DID PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT
ROLE IN THE E-MAIL INVESTIGATION
BY PUBLICIZING COMEY'S LETTER
INFORMING YOU THAT THE
INVESTIGATION WOULD BE REOPENED
RIGHT BEFORE ELECTION DAY, 11
DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.
YOU'VE BEEN OUTSPOKEN ABOUT
GOING AFTER LEAKERS.
DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A
LEAKER FOR PUBLICIZING THAT
LETTER HE WROTE TO YOUR
COMMITTEE?
>> NO.
THAT WAS A NONCLASSIFIED LETTER
THAT WAS SENT TO LOT OF
DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
SO YB NO, IT IS UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION.
I THOUGHT THE PUBLIC HAD THE
RIGHT TO KNOW.
WE HAD HAD A HEARING IN JULY
WHERE WE HAD THE FBI DIRECTOR
MAKE A COMMIT AMOUNT THAT IF
THEY WERE REOPENING THE
INVESTIGATION, IF THEY WERE
GOING TO SPEND TIME AND
RESOURCES, THE DIRECTOR HAD GONE
TO GREAT LENGTHS IN JULY,
EPLAINING TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE DONE.
THEY WEREN'T GOING TO PROSECUTE
ANYBODY.
AND OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE NOW
SUDDENLY GOING TO SPEND AN
EXORBITANT ABOUT OF RESOURCES
LOOKING INTO THAT INVESTIGATION.
SO WHAT I DO LIKE IS THAT
INSPECTOR GENERAL, FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, HE HAS
450 OR SO INSPECTORS WITH HIM AT
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO DO A
THOROUGH LOOK, BACK FROM WHEN
LORETTA LYNCH MET WITH PRESIDENT
BILL CLINTON ON THE TARMAC AND
WE ASKED THIS EM TO EXPAND TO TO
THE FIRING OF DIRECTOR COMEY.
I THINK THERE ARE LEGITIMATE
COMPLAINTS ON THE DEMOCRATIC AND
REPUBLICAN SIDE.
I'M GUESSING NEXT YEAR IT WILL
BE COMPLETE.
THAT BE QUITE A REPORT.
>> LET ME FOLLOW-UP ON SOMETHING
YOU JUST SAID.
COULDN'T THE LEAKERS ON THE
WHITE HOUSE OR JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OR ELSEWHERE IN THE
GOVERNMENT MAKE THE SAME CASE
THAT PUBLIC LAS AHAS A RIGHT TO?
>> NOT NECESSARILY.
DEPENDS ON THE INFORMATION.
WHEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI
SENDS CHAIRMAN AND RANKING
MEMBER AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
NONCLASSIFIED INFORMATION, YES
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THAT
PUBLIC, ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHO HAS THE TRITE MAKE IT
PUBLIC?
>> WE DO.
AS MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
AS CHAIRMAN, I CAN DO THAT.
IT IS AN UNCLASSIFIED PIECE OF
INFORMATION.
>> WHEN THAT LETTER CAME OVER
AND IT WAS UNCLASSIFIED, IS THAT
WHAT YOU WERE SAYING?
>> YES.
>> SO YOU DECIDED TO RELEASE IT.
YOUR COMMITTEE ALSO REQUESTED
INFORMATION FROM THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION AND MAKING SURE
THAT AFFIDAVITS END UP IN THE
PRESIDENT'S HANDS AND YOU IMPLY
IT IS IMPRACTICAL TO ASK HOTEL
GUEST IF THEY ARE REPRESENTING
THE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT.
DO THE CURRENT PROCEDURES GO FAR
ENOUGH TO REPRESENT WHAT IS
CALLED THE EMOL YENTS CLAUSE?
>> WHAT I FIND THE TRUMP
ORGANIZATION DOING IS BENDING
OVER BACKWARDS TO BE AS OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.
THEY WILL LOOK AT 2017 RECEIPTS
AND THEY ARE FIGURING OUT A
MECHANISM TO REIMBURSE OR PAY TO
THE TREASURY IF YOU WILL, THE
FOREIGN NATIONAL STAY AT THE
HOTEL.
THAT IS BENDING OVER BACKWARDS.
IT IS VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS
GIVEN WE ARE STILL IN MAY.
PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING YOU WILL
SEE UNTIL 2018.
BUT I THINK THEY HAVE LAID OUT A
GENERAL FRAMEWORK AND THAT WILL
BE REFINED OVER THE NEXT SEVEN,
EIGHT MONTHS.
AS YOU TURN THE CORNER INTO 2018
THEY WILL RELEASE SOME REPORT AT
SOME TIME.
I THINK THE TRUMPS ARE GOING TO
GREAT LENGTHS TO BE AS OPEN AND
TRANSPARENT ABOUT THIS AS THEY
CAN POSSIBLY BE.
>> HAVE YOU A LOT GOING ON HERE.
THE CHAIRMAN OF ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT COMMITTEES IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE ACCIDENT
TIFS.
S /* A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
KWET SB WHY ARE YOU LEAVING
CONGRESS BY THE EPD OF JUNE?
>> AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO GET
OFF THIS CRAZY TRAIN.
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEBODY DOING
SOMETHING STUPID SOMEWHERE SO
THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO
LOOK AT AND INVESTIGATE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO SAY, I SPENT
MORE THAN 1500 NIGHTS AWAY FROM
MY FAMILY.
I HAPPEN TO LOVE MY WIFE AND
ADORE OUR KIDS.
WE ARE ABOUT TO BECOME
EMPTY-NESTERS AND LOOK AT THE
PROSPECT OF SPENDING ANOTHER 200
OR 300 NIGHTS AWAY FROM MY
WONDERFUL WIFE, JULIE, IT IS
OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, I JUST
DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT ANY MORE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE THE
TRANSITION.
I ALWAYS PROMISED I WOULD GET
IN, SERVE AND GET OUT.
THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A
LIFETIME APPOINTMENT.
I DON'T WANT THAT POTOMAC FEVER
AND TOO CAUGHT UP IN MYSELF OR
ANYTHING ELSE AND GET MORE AFTER
BALANCE BACK IN MY LIFE.
I DECIDED, END OF JUNE WE WILL
HANG UP OUR CLEATS AT THIS
CHAPTER OF OUR LIFE.
>> CONSTITUENT ARE DISAPPOINTED.
YOU RAN FOR A TWO-YEAR TERM AND
NOW YOU'RE LEAVING.
THEY'RE UPSET.
THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION.
YOU HAVE SEEN THE REPORTS THAT
YOU ARE LEAVING TO BECOME A TV
PUNDIT.
IS ANY OF THAT TRUE?
>> I HAVEN'T FELT ANY COMPULSION
TO TALK ABOUT MY PROOST
CONGRESSIONAL LIFE.
I HAVE A VOICE, I WOULD LIKE TO
EXPRESS MORE BALANCE IN MY LIFE.
WE WILL CROSS THAT MORE WHEN WE
GET TO JULY 1st AND LOOSEN UP
TIGHT AND GET MORE BALANCE IN MY
LIFE.
>> YOU HAVE SEEN THE REPORTS
YOU'RE HEADING TO FOX NEWS.
ANY TRUTH TO THAT?
>> AGAIN, WOLF, I'M NOT HERE TO
TALK ABOUT THAT YET.
WE WILL DO THAT AT PROPER TIME.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT POST
CONGRESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT AT THIS
TIME.
>> YOU THINK WOULD YOU MAKE THE
SAME CHOICE IF HILLARY CLINTON
HAD WON THE PRESIDENCY?
>> AT SOME POINT YOU GOT TO SAY
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND YOU HAVE TO
KEEP MOVING ON.
I THINK I WOULD MAKE EXACTLY THE
SAME CHOICE.
THERE IS ALWAYS MORE
INVESTIGATIONS, EXCITING THINGS
THAT WE'RE DOING.
WE HAVE THIS GREAT SUCCESS WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
WHERE SOMEBODY FINALLY RESIGNED.
I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN
KICKED OUT OF GOVERNMENT A LONG
TIME AGO.
I LOVE THE WORK.
I REALLY DO.
BUT I ROUGH MY FAMILY MORE APP
AND MOST PEOPLE WATCHING SAY, I
DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
BUT THAT IS THE HONEST TRUTH.
TWO OF OUR KIDS ARE NOW -- IN
LAST 18 MONTHS THEY GOT MARRIED
AND ARE MOVING OUT OF STATE.
THAT'S A WHOLE NEW PHENOMENA
THAT I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE 18
MONTHS BEFOREHAND.
>> OKAY, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE
WEDDINGS.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY
GENEROUS WITH YOUR TIME WITH US.
WE HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED HAVING
YOU HERE WITH US ON CNN IN "THE
SITUATION ROOM."
WHEREVER YOU GO, WE WISH

Chaffetz on Russia probe (entire interview)

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