The following is a transcript of an interview with House Intelligence Committee chair Rep. Mike Turner that aired on March 31, 2024.
ED O’KEEFE: Thanks for sticking with us. We go now to the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Ohio Congressman Mike Turner, who joins us this morning from Dayton, Ohio. Congressman- Chairman, good morning to you. Our understanding is that Speaker Johnson plans to carry a vote on funding for Ukraine help when Congress returns per week from tomorrow. Is that also the plan?
HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE CHAIR REP. MIKE TURNER: Well, first off, Happy Easter. I used to be at Westminster Church in Dayton celebrating with Christians round the world, Christ’s resurrection this morning, I admire you having me. And that you have included a religion piece in your- in your report right now. With respect to Ukraine, I imply, that is one actually the place I feel, you realize, the world has seen that it is a struggle of aggression by Russia, that that is authoritarianism versus democracy. That simply the- the brutality that’s occurring, the murderous nature of what Russia is doing, must be responded to, we have now to proceed our help. The speaker has made it clear that he helps Ukraine each on to Zelensky. Publicly, he is made these statements and to the Secretary General of NATO. The speaker has made very clear statements that once we get again, it is the subsequent prime agenda. After having simply handed all the payments that fund the federal authorities, I imagine that is going to have overwhelming help in Congress, and we’ll put a invoice on the President’s desk.
ED O’KEEFE: Is it going to have overwhelming help from fellow Republicans? Are you going to should make tweaks to the laws that’s at the moment written to both embrace loans that Ukraine must pay again or doubtlessly tuck in one thing concerning border safety to get throughout the line?
REP. MIKE TURNER: Well, I feel there- there already is a big and really sturdy help amongst Republicans, and positively throughout Americans throughout the nation. Now, as this package deal strikes, actually there are going to be some discussions, you realize, in each the Senate and the House. I’ve had discussions about the border itself. And actually there have been discussions about the method by which the non-military, humanitarian help is structured. But I feel total, we will get a package deal that’s going to be negotiated with the Senate and the and the White House, in order that we have now a invoice that the President can signal.
ED O’KEEFE: Will no matter will get achieved cross earlier than Congress takes its subsequent week lengthy break, which is scheduled to start round April 22?
REP. MIKE TURNER: Well it is actually my hope. We’re to a- and as President Zelensky has made clear to Speaker Johnson, we’re at a important level. The CIA director and the Secretary of Defense everyone has made it clear that- that we’re at a important juncture on the floor that’s starting to have the ability to influence not solely morale of the Ukrainians which can be preventing, but in addition their capability to battle. Putin is aware of this. This is clearly an space the place we can’t enable Putin to win. Our European allies are saying that Putin’s purpose is a struggle past Ukraine with Europe. We have to cease him in Ukraine.
ED O’KEEFE: On that time, in an interview this previous week with CBS’ Charlie D’Agata the Ukrainian president Zelensky stated his nation will lose the struggle to Russia if he would not have American help. I’m simply curious, given your sturdy help for Ukraine, in your evaluation, how a lot injury has already been achieved by congressional inaction?
REP. MIKE TURNER: Well, it actually has been troublesome. We have actually seen an emboldened Putin, however we have not seen vital losses of territory on the battleground in Ukraine itself. We actually see it strained. We’ve seen a scarcity of ammunition. We’ve seen even rationing of ammunition, which is simply heartbreaking, and positively has an impact on their capability to battle. But even past simply the challenge of this supplemental and getting weapons methods replenished, we have to give them longer vary weapon methods. The White House has been hesitant to take action. Congress has known as for that. President Zelensky has known as for that. What this is able to do is it will enable them to again off the Russians at the moment the Russians have weapon methods which can be attacking from distance into the Ukrainian aspect. Right on the entrance line. This would give the Ukrainians capability to push Putin again and maintain that frontline.
ED O’KEEFE: You’re speaking about Patriot missile batteries and different longer vary missiles that the President has stated is not less than for now a step too far as a result of it may provoke Russia into –
REP. MIKE TURNER: It’s the ATACMS. It’s the ATACMS and I feel it is lengthy vary three kilometer kilometer ATACMS. Those I feel the administration is on the verge of being keen to supply they’ve already offered Patriots, which after all with the air protection system, that basically is so important for Kyiv proper now.
ED O’KEEFE: Got it. So backside line, since you appear fairly hopeful this morning. But if we come again to you in a month, your pondering is the House can have handed this, the Senate can have handed it. The President can have signed off on it.
REP. MIKE TURNER: There are a majority of members of the House, a majority members of the Senate, together with over the 60 votes which can be wanted and a keen President to signal a package deal that will ship this mandatory help to Ukraine. And I’m actually hopeful we discover a car as shortly as doable to get that achieved. Speaker Johnson has actually dedicated himself to that.
ED O’KEEFE: You assume the Speaker is keen to place his job on the line with a purpose to get this achieved as a result of he’s going through some threats?
(CROSSTALK)
REP. MIKE TURNER: Unfortunately. Yeah, after all. Of course the you realize, sadly, the chaos caucus has continued to wish to cease every part that happens in Congress. It’s not as if they’ve an alternate plan. They- they’re simply towards these issues which can be mandatory that we’re doing that is mandatory for nationwide safety. Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader for Democrats has made it completely clear that he is not going to be part of with rebels in the Republican aspect to take down Speaker Johnson on this. And I feel we’re actually going to see broad help in Congress to get this job achieved.
ED O’KEEFE: Speaking extra broadly about Congress, 20 Republicans have introduced their plans to retire from Congress to date this yr. By the finish of April, 5 can have departed in the center of their phrases. Are you conscious of another Republican members heading for the exit quickly?
REP. MIKE TURNER: No, and this clearly could be very unlucky. This has been a really unusual time interval the place we, you realize, we see the Senate 50/50, we see the home that’s 50/50, even the presidential race was run principally a 50/50. It’s nearly unfolding that method, maybe once more, and it exhibits that we will have radical fringes, even radical people who do not actually have an ideology or an agenda apart from – than chaos, that may trigger disruptions. And that is what we have now seen. That actually makes it troublesome for individuals who simply wish to get the job achieved. In the space of nationwide safety, I feel Speaker Johnson’s made it very clear that he – we have now his help to get nationwide safety agenda objects achieved. I feel we are going to.
ED O’KEEFE: You talked about that it is Easter Sunday. You stated you’ve got been to church this morning. I- I received to ask, President Trump this previous week unveiled what he calls the “God Bless the USA Bible,” which not solely has the phrases of Scripture in it, but in addition the textual content of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and some different issues. Do you assume it is acceptable for the former President, for the possible Republican nominee, to be promoting such a product?
REP. MIKE TURNER: You know, I have never actually seen that. I’ve heard some individuals speak about it. I feel I’m extra involved about the White House proscribing the capability of youngsters to place spiritual symbols on Easter egg- Easter eggs for the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. You know, I- I’m- I’m glad that CBS provides individuals the proper to specific their spiritual freedom. I can not think about that we’re certainly- in a scenario with the Biden White House is proscribing, particularly that of youngsters, their capability to specific their spiritual freedoms.
ED O’KEEFE: Okay however you would not purchase a duplicate of this Trump Bible, would you?
REP. MIKE TURNER: I’m not writing a examine for that.
ED O’KEEFE: Okay. Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio, thanks for spending time with us this morning. We’ll see you quickly.
REP. MIKE TURNER: Thank you.
ED O’KEEFE: And we’ll be proper again with much more Face the Nation. Stay with us.
