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 group stories that the phobia group is now not assessed to be a risk within the nation. Tomorrow marks one 12 months for the reason that chaotic collapse of the Afghan authorities as U.S. troops ready to go away. Whereas the administration's full report on the much-criticized withdrawal continues to be a piece in progress, the highest Republican of the Home Overseas Affairs Committee Michael McCaul's report is full. He is right here with us, good morning to you Congressman.
REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R-TX): Nicely thanks Margaret. Thanks for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: This deserves a full dialog and I need 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 achieved extra injury to religion and the rule of legislation than the Russian Federation or some other overseas adversary. Is his anger misplaced?
REP. MCCAUL: You understand I believe it comes on the heel— I believe the Wall Avenue Journal did a terrific article about how after the Russian collusion, Steele File, the whole lot came about through the Trump presidency. And now out of workplace to have this raid happen. Look, I am a DOJ alumni. I labored at public integrity right here at foremost 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 believe once you noticed the DHS bulletin about, , potential threats now to the brokers. That is the entire material of our democracy, they usually 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 legislation enforcement, definitely however for the previous president to be utilizing the language that he's when there may be this degree of risk in opposition to FBI brokers. Would you name on him to tone it down?
REP. MCCAUL: I believe it is inflammatory. I do not need to put any legislation enforcement within the bullseye of a possible risk. And that is somebody who's labored with legislation enforcement most of my profession. That is a rare case, and what legal professionals we name a case of first impression. We have by no means had a former president of the USA served with a search warrant. There was a subpoena, the courtroom might have enforced the subpoena. That ought to have been a final stage course of. And I'd also- I agree with Brian Fitzpatrick, proper. The affidavit in help of the warrant provides you with the possible trigger to attempt to perceive what's going on right here, and I believe 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 imagine that the related committees on the Hill ought to have entry to the paperwork however more- most significantly, this affidavit.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, we'll see, it appears like it might take a while to get a few of these solutions. I need to speak to you about Afghanistan. I've learn your report. The State Division says there are about 74,000 weak Afghans nonetheless caught ready for these VISAS to exit the nation who labored with the USA authorities. Your report says the State Division knew going again properly into the Trump administration, that it wanted extra employees, that it wanted extra assets to even start to assist get these individuals out. And that is earlier than the chaos of the withdrawal. Is that one of many prime form of sins right here that you just see by way of failure to plan?.
REP. MCCAUL: There are lots of 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 , to your level, , even beforehand, I believe the State Division most likely did not have the assets it wanted to hold out an evacuation of this measurement and enormity; that they had 36 consular officers at HKIA making an attempt to course of a whole lot–
MARGARET BRENNAN: The airport.
REP. MCCAUL: –of hundreds of individuals. They had been overwhelmed, however there have been so many errors. The most important one Margaret, for me, having lived by way of it had been, being within the categorized house, listening to the intelligence group – inform the story about that is going to be imminent, goes to fall sooner slightly than later. The army stated – advised us the identical factor. After which we went to State they usually paint- and the White Home a really rosy image there is a disconnect between , intelligence on the bottom and what the White Home is doing on this report that claims all of it like there is not any method we'll evacuate embassy personnel from helicopters like we did in Vietnam. And naturally, we all know that occurred.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, the criticism of this report shall be that this was the minority report that it is 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 , I used to be a federal prosecutor longer than a member of Congress. So, it has been virtually 20 years now. And I satisfaction myself as being goal. I believe it is a pretty goal report concerning the failures that had been made. You understand one of many greatest ones, was that the- the Taliban sitting with Zal Khalilzad, the particular envoy and Common McKenzie, the CENTCOM commander made a proposal, you may take management over Kabul and safe it for functions of evacuation–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Common McKenzie stated that is not my project right here.
REP. MCCAUL: –Not my project. That is what the commander in chief advised me. They do run it as much as the White Home, they usually get no response. After which later, Jen Psaki says they would not have accepted that. Take into consideration what that might 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 a whole lot of individuals. And it might have been prevented.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You understand, the present U.S. Particular Envoy for Afghan Ladies and Women was out of presidency when this was happening. 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 is 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 shortly because it did that the previous president would have fled? How do you reply to that, that there was an lack of ability to plan for this as a result of it was not predicted?
REP. MCCAUL: Nicely, the intelligence group received it proper. So there was no failure on the intelligence facet 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 desirous to imagine what they had been saying, and subsequently not adequately planning. And I believe to your level, the ladies left behind is the- is the worst of this whole story, I attempted- I received 4 busloads of little ladies from music faculty out, however the Schindler's Listing, , for those who're on the record, you are going to stay for those who're not on the record, you are most likely going to die. 100,000 Afghan companions left behind- bear in mind what we stated we'll shield 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 data.
REP. MCCAUL: They've not- they've not- they've not complied with our investigation
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks in your time at the moment.