The next is a transcript of an interview with GOP Consultant Adam Kinzinger of Illinois that aired Sunday, February 13, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're again with Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who's considered one of two Republican members on the committee investigating the Jan. sixth rebellion. Good morning to you, congressman.
REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KINZINGER: Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to begin on what is occurring most instantly between Russia and Ukraine. You will have these large Russian navy workouts. How do you assess the Biden Administration's dealing with of the state of affairs thus far?
REP. KINZINGER: Yeah, look, I am on- I am on Staff America. Staff Ukraine. There are some nuances I'd have achieved completely different than the Biden administration, however I feel now's the time to- to face unified. And what I might say is that they have achieved a great job, notably in bringing out intel early to attempt to defang any Russian narrative that might include Ukraine. We all know in regards to the dialogue of a false flag assault. Properly, now we have made it clear that Russia could do this. And and so I feel a whole lot of that's good. One factor I'll add, although, is we have now to close down Nord Stream Two no matter what occurs in Ukraine as a result of Ukraine is utilizing power as a weapon. And I feel that is essential to do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Russia is utilizing power as a weapon--
REP. KINZINGER: Sure, that is what I mean-
MARGARET BRENNAN: -- that is what you imply.
REP. KINZINGER: Sure Russia.
MARGARET BRENNAN: On Russia, typically, you realize, there had been for thus lengthy bipartisan help for standing as much as Russia and standing up for democracies. However there's this attention-grabbing development throughout the conservative motion proper now. You will have extra Trump oriented elements of the celebration, like- like Senator Josh Hawley, who not too long ago referred to as on President Biden to rule out admitting Ukraine into NATO. You will have comparable sentiment- sentiments elsewhere. What is occurring right here? I imply, how vital a portion of the Republican Celebration is transferring on this course.
REP. KINZINGER: Properly, I do not suppose it is an enormous portion, nevertheless it's approach too massive and it is rising and it is an enormous concern. I imply, what was this 5 years in the past? It could be like anyone like Rand Paul that may say one thing or Dana Rohrabacher. Now there is a vital variety of people doing it with Tucker Carlson speaking about, you realize, how nice Vladimir Putin is and the way Ukraine is absolutely truly a part of Russia. I feel it is a few issues. Primary, it could possibly be some naivete on international coverage, not in Tucker's case. I feel it is an affection for authoritarianism. And I feel Vladimir Putin has achieved an honest job of participating in tradition battles and tradition battle, and he's seen because the particular person defending, in essence, the tradition of the previous. And so it's extremely scary. And by the way in which, you realize, Ukraine isn't certain. Already, one third of the nation of Georgia is occupied by Russia. No person's going to cease them from going into the remainder of that. Then you might have the Baltics, you might have the Balkans that they are interfering in. This can be a scary second, and any Republican that has affection for Vladimir Putin has no understanding of what our celebration stands for or what out nation stands for.
MARGARET BRENNAN: With regards to what your celebration stands for. You're on that Jan. sixth committee, as we talked about, Rudy Giuliani, the president's legal professional, former legal professional, is outwardly chatting with the committee in some kind. Is he being cooperative at this level? What are you able to inform us about that?
REP. KINZINGER: Properly, what I can inform you is he is been subpoenaed, our expectation is he's going to cooperate as a result of that is the legislation, that is the requirement, similar as if anyone subpoenaed to courtroom. There could also be some adjustments and dates and moments right here as, you realize, legal professionals do their forwards and backwards. However we absolutely count on that in accordance with the legislation. We'll hear from Rudy. However look, no matter after we hear from Rudy or how lengthy that interview is, we're getting a whole lot of info and we're wanting ahead to wrapping this up sooner or later when that's proper, displaying it to the American folks, however not speeding it, not hurrying this. We would like all people to have the complete story. That is what's essential. I've a brand new son. I wish to be sure that in 5 and 10 years, when he is studying about this and historical past class, he will get the complete reply and never some conspiracy rubbish that we hear on the market day by day.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is the plan nonetheless to start these public hearings within the spring?
REP. KINZINGER: I feel spring or summer season and in that timeframe is the hope, principally we'll will wish to have the option to- to take this info and current it to the American folks, not simply in a report which goes to be important, however in folks, in faces and in tales.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell stated this week in very clear phrases that January sixth was a violent rebellion for the aim of making an attempt to stop the peaceable switch of energy after a legitimately licensed election. So in contrast to some Republicans, he is clearly pointing to the intent of the actors, he isn't simply speaking about the truth that there was some violence. He is saying what the folks had been doing that day was inherently flawed. And what President Trump was saying in regards to the election has additionally now been clearly stated by Vice President Mike Pence to have been flawed. Does this give extra political cowl to Republicans working for election in 2022 to say this? Or is it nonetheless too harmful?
REP. KINZINGER: Properly, it does give extra political cowl. The query is, will it? You already know, I've- I've misplaced religion in a number of the braveness of my colleagues. I assumed that each particular person once they swore an oath had some model of a crimson line they might by no means cross. However actually, Mitch McConnell's assertion was essential. Actually, the vp's assertion was essential. However Margaret, this can be a second the place each Republican. I do not care when you're working for metropolis council all the way in which as much as Congress, Senate, et cetera. Each Republican needs to be clear and forceful on the report. Do they suppose January sixth was professional political discourse? Do not allow them to keep away from it. Do not allow them to hem haw and do not allow them to transition to another topic they'd relatively speak about. That is a solution each considered one of them have to present, after which we will transfer on as soon as they're clear and on the report. However that is definitive to our democracy. How do you are feeling? Was it professional?
MARGARET BRENNAN: As you realize, the chairwoman of the Republican Nationwide Committee and even Senator Marco Rubio, who was on this program final Sunday, argued that there is a distinction between the day after which what the committee you might be on and the work you had been doing, what these issues add as much as. They argue that your committee is persecuting strange residents that had nothing to do with violence. How do you reply to that?
REP. KINZINGER: I imply, it is clearly a handy approach for them to deflect. We're not wanting on the twenty thousand or so folks that had been there on January sixth that didn't enter the Capitol grounds. We're wanting on the corruption that led up-to-the-minute and what occurred since. We're speaking about anyone speaking and naturally, people who went into the Capitol trying to overthrow this. They usually know that. Marco Rubio is aware of that. Ronna McDaniel is aware of that. All these people comprehend it. However they're making an attempt to type of go round it as a result of they do not wish to tick off the bottom. OK, however additionally they don't desire seem -appear to be too in there with Donald Trump, and that is the sport. However the reality is, this can be a second the place we have now to decide on. We have now to take definitive strains and it is beginning to form up. It is beginning to occur, however all people ought to should take a place.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman, thanks to your time at the moment. We'll be again in a second.