Hoyer Discusses the Trump Administration's Connection to Russia on "Anderson Cooper 360"

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) appeared on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 this evening to discuss the resignation of President Trump's National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, and the Trump Administration's connections to Russia. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the video:

Click here to watch the video.

“It is not enough to say, okay, the National Security Advisor has resigned. We have here a pattern, not just a single incident of failing to disclose... that he had talked about an ongoing matter of sanctions, sanctioning behavior that was adverse to the United States of America. And in effect, one could draw the conclusion, because the Russians did not respond to those sanctions, that they had been assured that they would be alleviated in the future. Now, I don't know that. I’m just speculating that that's the fact. But it is a very critically important question. And a critically important question is not only what the National Security Advisor did, but what is the relationship between President-Elect Trump, himself, and Russia and Putin?”

"... They knew about this three weeks before it became public. It was only when it became public that the National Security Advisor's position was at risk. And Kellyanne Conway [said Flynn enjoys the full confidence of the President], just hours before the resignation, which Spicer now says was asked of Flynn and Flynn, of course, says he decided to resign. We don't know which is the truth here, but I think there is great doubt as to whether something illegal was perpetrated, or something was done that is contrary to the interests of the United States and the security of the United States and shows a compromised position, vis-a-vis one of our principle adversaries in the world, Russia.”

“I think the transcript of the conversation ought to be made available, certainly to the Members of the Congress who represent the American people. And with consideration that security was not breached, that that transcript would be available to the American people, so they can make their own judgment.”

“Very frankly, President Trump, as a candidate, and frankly, going forward, has said things which are not corroborated by facts. Kellyanne Conway may like alternative facts, but as Senator Moynihan said, we're all entitled to our opinion, but the facts are the facts. And I’m not confident of that and I don't think the American people are confident of that. And if they are the facts, then I would think the President would want to make sure that we set the record straight by having a full and fair investigation.”