The next is a transcript of an interview with GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio that aired Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we flip now to Ohio Congressman Mike Turner, the highest Republican on the Home Intelligence Committee. Congressman Turner, good to have you ever right here in individual.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE TURNER: Thanks. Sure. It is nice to be right here.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So simply yesterday, the Director of Nationwide Intelligence Avril Haines stated that Russia was maybe struggling to maintain up with the quantity of munitions that it is utilizing on this warfare in Ukraine, the chilly climate is slowing fight. The Secretary of State, although, did not actually give hope for diplomacy at this second. Given what you understand, when will this warfare finish?
REP. TURNER: Properly, the one factor that we all know is that the- the good points that Ukraine is making are actual, they're actual within the battlefield. They're actual within the help that they've all over the world, they've with democracies on the ground of the United Nations, in condemning this aggression by Russia. However Ukraine actually must be the one which decides that if, when, and the way negotiations are entered into, and at this level, you understand, they're battling for his or her nation. They're dropping lives for democracy. President Zelenskyy says, I used to be simply in Ukraine, simply earlier than the elections, he says overtly, he understands that he is the frontlines for democracy, and he is combating an authoritarian regime. And I believe, you understand, clearly, Russia has to reevaluate how they take a look at this battle and the way Putin seems to be at what he has began–
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you agree with the administration on this?
REP. TURNER: I agree completely. That that is, that is one thing the place, that it is a warfare of aggression, that Russia must reevaluate and to withdraw from Ukraine.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You have stated, since you are poised to run the intelligence committees since you're on the high Republican when Republicans take management in January. Is that this going to be an space the place as you promised, you'll be able to take politics out of it and truly work throughout the aisle? What does that imply?
REP. TURNER: Proper. So, you understand, we have, once I went we went on a bipartisan journey to ship to President Zelenskyy a message that there is bipartisan help for Ukraine. I believe there's a variety of points that we'll be engaged on a bipartisan foundation. What ought to the USA coverage be? How will we make sure that the I serve on the Armed Service Committee and the Intelligence Committee? How will we make sure that they get the weapon methods that they want? How will we maintain collectively this world alliance that-that we have now the place the world is condemning what Russia is doing? And naturally, the enlargement of NATO, we're wanting ahead to Sweden and Finland, becoming a member of NATO, which is the other of what Putin believed he was going to realize and attacking Ukraine. He is now sees the enlargement by two precious companions with nice navy capabilities becoming a member of NATO.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to present our viewers some fairly extraordinary video that the Pentagon unveiled this week, a B-21 Raider. It is the primary US nuclear stealth bomber plane in additional than 30 years. And it is being packaged as this deterrent to Chin- to China. How involved are you in regards to the tempo of Beijing's nuclear growth?
REP. TURNER: Extraordinarily, and I need to co-co-commend the-the administration as a result of they have been very ahead leaning in releasing and declassifying details about what China is doing. They're increasing their nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons capabilities, their ICBMs which are focusing on the USA. This aircraft is extremely necessary. I served as chair of the air and land subcommittee as we, on a categorised foundation, started the method of engaged on this aircraft. And it offers us a further steadiness, as a result of it is a further supply car, further technique to fight what China's doing–
MARGARET BRENNAN: to drop nuclear weapons?
REP. TURNER: to trigger individuals to not drop nuclear weapons. I imply, that is what's so–
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is- it is actually the deterrent.
REP. TURNER: Proper. It's to make sure that the steadiness of energy is there so that individuals perceive that the-that the price is simply too nice. When China is increasing the nuclear weapons, they're United States if we blink if we do not, if we do not reply, and so they assume that they'll get first strike capabilities that not solely holds us at bay, however actually holds us in danger, as a result of then you will have the chief of a nuclear energy that may make that miscalculation and naturally, value unfathomable lives.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You talked about being open about intelligence. I am questioning, in your new function, will you be asking the Director of Nationwide Intelligence for a briefing and a injury evaluation associated to Mar-a-Lago and the paperwork the previous president took to his non-public residence?
REP. TURNER: That is already in course of. I imply, we have already talked–
MARGARET BRENNAN: It hasn't occurred. Within the new Congress will you ask for it?
[CROSS TALK]
REP. TURNER: Sure. I've simply talked to the director of nationwide intelligence about this explicit difficulty. One difficulty that we have now mentioned with the director, which may be very, very fascinating is is that, you understand, previous to the Mar-a-Lago and raid, nobody within the intelligence group or within the nationwide safety group was engaged in any respect by the FBI to request an evaluation as to what the chance of the paperwork that had been surrendered from Mar-a-Lago,or that may have been at Mar-a-Lago, or that had been even perceived as being lacking–
MARGARET BRENNAN: And also you the Justice Division–
[CROSS TALK]
REP. TURNER: This was simply the FBI and the and the archivist, which is mainly a glorified librarian, coming collectively and deciding to raid Mar-a-Lago. Now-
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you are not downplaying that taking categorised materials to your non-public house is an issue notably for the commander in chief.
REP. TURNER: Completely not. There have been just- there have been different choices that the FBI had versus the escalation that- that they did. That is definitely going to be one of many questions we have now. The Director of Nationwide Intelligence indicated they've performed their threat evaluation, and they're ready to offer each of our committees on the Senate and the Home shows as to what these are–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you will have a way of when or what the dimensions of the injury is?
REP. TURNER: At this level it is only a scheduling difficulty. We simply had a gathering with the director, however each Sen. Warner, myself and Adam Schiff. And as they appear to how will we get everyone scheduled collectively, and those that've achieved the evaluation, as a result of once more, it isn't only a director that might be coming–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REP. TURNER: They're going to have to return ahead to offer us, what did they see, what did they've, and the way do they understand the menace which will or could not have existed from a few of these paperwork.
MARGARET BRENNAN: This may occasionally appear a primary query, however all elected leaders swear to uphold the Structure. Does calling for its suspension, is that disqualifying for a presidential candidate?
REP. TURNER: It is definitely not constant–
MARGARET BRENNAN: You realize why I am asking this query?
REP. TURNER: I do. It is definitely not per the oath that all of us take.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So yesterday, the entrance runner for the Republican nomination, the usual bearer on your social gathering, posted on Fact Social, and we all know he misplaced the 2020 election, however continues to assert he didn't. "A large fraud of this sort and magnitude permits for the termination of all guidelines, laws and articles, even these discovered within the Structure." Ought to the usual bearer for the Republican Occasion, the entrance runner for the nomination for the presidency on your social gathering in 2024, say this?
REP. TURNER: Properly, I you understand, I, to begin with, I vehemently disagree with- with the assertion that Trump has made. Trump has made, you understand, 1,000 statements by which I disagree. There's a political course of that has to go ahead earlier than anyone–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Constitutional conservatives are fairly clear about the place they worth the structure–
REP. TURNER: Precisely. There must be–
[CROSSTALK]
REP. TURNER: You do get picked questions, however I do get to choose my reply.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I do know. I am making an attempt to get you to reply the query I am asking.
REP. TURNER: There's a political course of that has to go for earlier than anyone's a entrance runner or anyone is a- even the candidate for the social gathering–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you condemn him saying one thing like this?
REP. TURNER: Completely. And I consider answering your query that individuals definitely are going to take into accounts a press release like this as they consider a candidate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I additionally must ask you in regards to the different assertion and the those who he has been spending time with, a neo-Nazi, pro-Putin misogynist, named Nick Fuentes got here to have dinner with the previous president at his residence alongside Kanye West who simply this previous week, praised Hitler.
REP. TURNER: That is atrocious. That is- everyone I believe- everybody each condemns and is shocked and is as disgusted and nauseated by the truth that we're even on this yr, in 2022, having anybody that may make statements like that, nonetheless, have anyone who would interact in a dialog with somebody who's having- making statements like that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So having categorised paperwork on the identical place the place they're having the dinner–
REP. TURNER: Properly that's- that is not–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –which we're not essentially securely held, and so they're authorities data that needs to be in authorities property, all these issues collectively, it is an issue.
REP. TURNER: Properly, as you understand, the FBI raided his residence, and I suppose there are usually not categorised paperwork there. However all of those are problems with judgment.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The president is saying he does not know who he is having dinner with at that residence.
REP. TURNER: These are all problems with judgment and a political course of has to go ahead. And I consider voters are sensible, and so they'll take these issues into consideration in a political course of.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman, thanks for approaching and answering questions. We'll be again in only one minute so stick with us.