The next is a transcript of an interview with GOP Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas that aired Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022, on “Face the Nation.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: Saturday, the Biden administration launched an up to date evaluation on al Qaeda in Afghanistan, citing intelligence neighborhood studies that the fear group is not assessed to be a risk within the nation. Tomorrow marks one yr for the reason that chaotic collapse of the Afghan authorities as U.S. troops ready to depart. Whereas the administration’s full report on the much-criticized withdrawal remains to be a piece in progress, the highest Republican of the Home International Affairs Committee Michael McCaul’s report is full. He’s right here with us, good morning to you Congressman.
REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R-TX): Properly thanks Margaret. Thanks for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: This deserves a full dialog and I wish to get to it. Let me do that little bit of enterprise although first on the occasions of the previous few days. Senator Marco Rubio, who’s the Vice Chair of Senate Intelligence issued a layer- a letter saying he was outraged to not have been briefed, and he blasted the FBI saying that they’ve accomplished extra harm to religion and the rule of regulation than the Russian Federation or some other overseas adversary. Is his anger misplaced?
REP. MCCAUL: You understand I feel it comes on the heel— I feel the Wall Avenue Journal did an awesome article about how you understand after the Russian collusion, Steele File, the whole lot occurred through the Trump presidency. And now out of workplace to have this raid happen. Look, I’m a DOJ alumni. I labored at public integrity right here at fundamental justice. And what I fear about Margaret is the shortage of belief in our- and religion in our establishments that issues me most, above all and I feel while you noticed the DHS bulletin about, you understand, potential threats now to the brokers. That is the entire material of our democracy, and so they have misplaced religion, many have within the FBI and our establishments. I hate to see that. As a former federal prosecutor.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood and there’s something like a wholesome skepticism about regulation enforcement, definitely however for the previous president to be utilizing the language that he’s when there’s this stage of risk towards FBI brokers. Would you name on him to tone it down?
REP. MCCAUL: I feel it’s inflammatory. I don’t wish to put any regulation enforcement within the bullseye of a possible risk. And that’s somebody who’s labored with regulation enforcement most of my profession. That is a unprecedented case, and what attorneys we name a case of first impression. We’ve by no means had a former president of the US served with a search warrant. There was a subpoena, the court docket may have enforced the subpoena. That ought to have been a final stage course of. And I might also- I agree with Brian Fitzpatrick, proper. The affidavit in help of the warrant will provide you with the possible trigger to attempt to perceive what’s going on right here, and I feel the American individuals deserve this. And I definitely suppose to Rubio’s level, that the Gang of 8 ought to have been briefed. And I consider that the related committees on the Hill ought to have entry to the paperwork however more- most significantly, this affidavit.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, we are going to see, it feels like it might take a while to get a few of these solutions. I wish to discuss to you about Afghanistan. I’ve learn your report. The State Division says there are about 74,000 susceptible Afghans nonetheless caught ready for these VISAS to exit the nation who labored with the US authorities. Your report says the State Division knew going again properly into the Trump administration, that it wanted extra workers, that it wanted extra sources to even start to assist get these individuals out. And that’s earlier than the chaos of the withdrawal. Is that one of many prime form of sins right here that you simply see by way of failure to plan?.
REP. MCCAUL: There are various sins if you’ll. There was a whole lack and failure to plan. There was no plan and it was- there was no plan executed. And to you understand, to your level, you understand, even beforehand, I feel the State Division most likely didn’t have the sources it wanted to hold out an evacuation of this measurement and enormity; they’d 36 consular officers at HKIA attempting to course of lots of–
MARGARET BRENNAN: The airport.
REP. MCCAUL: –of hundreds of individuals. They have been overwhelmed, however there have been so many errors. The most important one Margaret, for me, having lived via it have been, you understand being within the categorized area, listening to the intelligence neighborhood – inform the story about that is going to be imminent, goes to fall sooner fairly than later. The navy mentioned – instructed us the identical factor. After which we went to State and so they paint- and the White Home a really rosy image there’s a disconnect between you understand, intelligence on the bottom and what the White Home is doing on this report that claims all of it like there’s no method we’re going to evacuate embassy personnel from helicopters like we did in Vietnam. And naturally, we all know that occurred.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the criticism of this report will probably be that this was the minority report that it’s inherently political. And that when Republicans take the bulk, in the event that they win in November that is that that is going to be only a political line of assault. How do you reply to that?
REP. MCCAUL: You understand, I- I you understand, I used to be a federal prosecutor longer than a member of Congress. So, it’s been nearly 20 years now. And I pleasure myself as being goal. I feel this can be a pretty goal report concerning the failures that have been made. You understand one of many greatest ones, was that the- the Taliban sitting with Zal Khalilzad, the particular envoy and Basic McKenzie, the CENTCOM commander made a proposal, you’ll be able to take management over Kabul and safe it for functions of evacuation–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Basic McKenzie mentioned that’s not my task right here.
REP. MCCAUL: –Not my task. That’s what the commander in chief instructed me. They do run it as much as the White Home, and so they get no response. After which later, Jen Psaki says they wouldn’t have permitted that. Take into consideration what that may have modified. We had relied on the Taliban to safe the perimeter of HKIA. That led to the chaos. It additionally led to a suicide bomber that killed 13 service members – women and men and injured over lots of of individuals. And it may have been averted.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You understand, the present U.S. Particular Envoy for Afghan Girls and Ladies was out of presidency when this was occurring. She’s quoted in your report as saying she nonetheless struggles to know how this supposedly pre-planned negotiated inevitable withdrawal ended the way in which it did. It feels a lot like residing Schindler’s Listing. That’s a fairly highly effective criticism. Who particularly must be held accountable if anybody right here and is it merely only a matter of this was an clever failure that the federal government would fall as rapidly because it did that the previous president would have fled? How do you reply to that, that there was an incapacity to plan for this as a result of it was not predicted?
REP. MCCAUL: Properly, the intelligence neighborhood bought it proper. So there was no failure on the intelligence aspect nor the Pentagon. They referred to as it proper. The issue was the White Home and and- and State Division placing their head within the sand, not eager to consider what they have been saying, and due to this fact not adequately planning. And I feel to your level, the ladies left behind is the- is the worst of this whole story, I attempted- I bought 4 busloads of little ladies from music college out, however the Schindler’s Listing, you understand, in the event you’re on the checklist, you’re going to reside in the event you’re not on the checklist, you’re most likely going to die. 100,000 Afghan companions left behind- bear in mind what we mentioned we are going to defend you. That was our promise them, nobody left behind, and we left them behind to the mercy of the Taliban, and now they’re being tortured and killed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The State Division says that it has tried to conform along with your committee. We await their full report of their very own actions. Thanks for sharing your information.
REP. MCCAUL: They’ve not- they’ve not- they’ve not complied with our investigation
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks in your time immediately.
