Transcript for Dem Sen: Mueller should 'show his cards soon,' give Congress findings in early 2019

They would be impeachable offenses. Whether they're important enough to justify impeachment is a different question. Though they were committed before the president became president, they were committed in -- in the service of fraudulently obtaining the office. Congressman Jerrold Nadler the incoming chair of the house judiciary committee putting impeachment on the table if it's proven true that then-candidate trump directed illegal hush money to two women during the 2016 campaign. As prosecutors now allege. Joining me now is Chris Murphy, democratic senator. Welcome, senator Murphy. Do you agree with Jerrold Nadler? I'm not going to give the house advice. On whether or not to proceed with impeachment. It's important to get the full report from the special investigator. Let's be clear. We have reached a new level in the investigation. The special counsel is starting to show his cards. And these are very serious allegations. This is a president named as a co-conspirator. Allegations he committed at least two felonies to try to manipulate the 2016 election. But Marco Rubio is not wrong that it's important for congress to know all of the facts. To see the evidence that Mueller has that leads him to make the filings. You heard what Jerrold Nadler said, though. Is it, from what you have seen, an impeachable offense? He doesn't necessarily say the committee should take it up. I think you are beyond the stage that led to impeachment proceedings against president Clinton, whether or not you think that was worthy of impeachment or not. I still think it's important for congress to get all of the underlying fact and data and evidence that the special counsel has before we make that determination. So before Mueller comes out completely nothing should be done? I think we should wait for Mueller's investigation. But I would also counsel the special investigator to show his cards soon. It's important for the special investigator to give congress what he has sometime early in 2018 so congress can make a determination. If the president did, in fact, collude with the Russians to try to manipulate the election. Or engage in multiple felonies with Michael Cohen, it doesn't make sense to get that report in 2020. We need that next year. We need that as soon as possible. You have also raised concerns that we need to have legislation to protect the special counsel. Would you consider holding up passage of a current bill to pass a bill to protect Mueller? Are you worried about that? Or have we reached a tipping point? I'm still very worried about it. I will look at all the options to protect the special counsel. I'm worried about general Kelly leaving the white house. I imagine that he was one of the people attempting to convince the president to not fire Mueller and to not issue pardons as a means of influencing the inve gags. Investigation. I think with his departure, the Pentagon, who replaces him there are concerns that Mueller may be on the chopping block become more serious. To sum up what you're seeing this week from Mueller and the southern district of New York, have we moved into a new phase here? Should the president be more concerned than ever? We have certainly moved into a new phase. The president stepped into the territory that ultimately led to president Nixon resigning the office. He was an unindicted co-conspirator with a different set of facts. This investigation is now starting to put the president in serious legal cross hairs. And he should be worried. And the whole country should be worried. Nobody is rooting for the president to go down in this manner. It is not good for democracy. But this investigation may, ultimately, lead to congress taking action. And I want to turn to the presidency. You previously said you were not considering a run for president in 2020 because you were focused on your election in 2018. We're obviously past that. I doubt you want to make an announcement on the air this morning. Are you ruling it out? Listen, I just got re-elected. I don't frankly think that I need to run for president to make a difference for my state or the country. I'll say this. In 2020, we need a candidate who is 100% authentic. Who is tough. And who can challenge this president on both domestic policy and on foreign policy. I'm simply going to make sure that we have a candidate that fits that bill. We have a lot of names out there. Cory booker, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren. To name a few. You told "The Washington post" recently, we're not going to break through unless we find a candidate that just sort of oozes outsider. Do any of those people named ooze outsider? What I think is great is you'll have a big field. I think in that contest, the best candidate will emerge. I think the democratic electorate will have one thing in mind. Who can beat Donald Trump? There's a lot of models that will work. Thank you for joining us. "The roundtable" is up next. We'll be right back. ???

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