The next is a transcript of an interview with GOP Rep. Chris Stewart of Utah that aired on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, on "Face the Nation."
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we flip now to Republican Congressman Chris Stewart of Utah. Good morning to you, sir.
REP. CHRIS STEWART (R-UTAH): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You sit on the Intelligence Committee, which has requested for extra data from the Director of Nationwide Intelligence in regard to the Biden paperwork. However if you had been on CNN final week, you stated you actually doubt that there is one thing that would endanger nationwide safety right here. Do you assume that is simply an overreaction to the story?
REP. STEWART: No, I do not. I imply, I do assume it is unlikely that, you understand, when President Trump had this related expertise, a few of the media and others claimed, oh, he has nuclear codes, nuclear secrets and techniques. I stated on the time, I discover that terribly unlikely. And I believe that the identical factor could be true of this case.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, there–
REP. STEWART: Most likely not that kind of- that kind of knowledge. But when I might make this level in a short time about, you understand, the chance of him being unaware of this, I imply, not solely am I on the Intelligence Committee, I used to be an Air Pressure pilot, I flew the B-1, I've dealt with- with categorized paperwork nearly my complete life. And it's a must to know, each one in every of these paperwork, they've a canopy sheet that is that is learn. It says what the classification is and why it is categorized. Each single web page has a classification marking on it. This is not the sort of factor that you just simply sit in your desk and also you assume, Oh, I forgot that they are categorized. It is very clear that they are categorized. And for individuals who assume that, properly, the President did not understand that he had these in his possession. It simply is nonsense. In fact, he knew that he had them. They're so apparent.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And also you're making use of that commonplace to each instances right here. CBS is reporting that there was prime secret data within the paperwork present in Biden's possession. You instructed CNN that there could also be much more delicate data at larger classification than that. TS/SCI. Have you learnt that to be a truth? Had been you knowledgeable of that?
REP. STEWART: No, we do not know that but. Though it is been- it has been reported, however it might be very, essential. I imply, SCI, Particular Compartmented Info, it limits it to some dozen folks, in some instances, some instances even much less. That might be extraordinary if that was the case.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of that was what we have now reported. Was that within the Trump case, that there was TS/SCI, that classification stage. The Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence has determined to not touch upon these issues at this level, have they knowledgeable your committee if you would possibly get some sort of replace or briefing both on the forty fifth president or the present one?
REP. STEWART: Yeah, properly, we do know this, the Director of Nationwide Intelligence can select to not remark to the American folks. However she will't select to not remark to us. We've requested an evaluation of those paperwork, the potential hurt that they might have brought on. And I anticipate that we'll obtain that throughout the subsequent few weeks. And we should always obtain that within the subsequent few weeks. If these paperwork had been out there for a protracted time period, in such an open setting as a storage for heaven's sakes. Now I perceive the storage was locked because the President made the purpose. However nonetheless they had been out there. It is essential for us to grasp the potential harm to those paperwork and these paperwork being out there, it might have brought on to the American and American safety.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So what do you anticipate to get within the subsequent few weeks? As a result of I perceive the director has not but briefed on the Trump case.
REP. STEWART: Yeah, once more, we anticipate to have an evaluation of what these paperwork had been, the classification of them, the fabric that was included in them and potential safety breaches and the menace to nationwide safety on account of these paperwork not being secured.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, I wish to transfer on to different issues, as a result of I perceive you are additionally on the Appropriations Committee. The Treasury secretary says we're gonna hit that debt ceiling on the nineteenth and have to enter extraordinary measures to verify the federal authorities pays payments right here. Are you able to- are you able to assure that Republicans will work with Democrats to verify we do not set off an financial disaster?
REP. STEWART: Properly, we definitely wish to work with them. And we hope that they will work with us and the President will work with us. Look, I am not a fan of presidency shutdowns. I actually do not know anybody who's. It does not assist. Alternatively, I do wish to make this level, it is so essential, look, the explanation that we're coping with inflation that we're, which has been generational, and it is price remembering that it hurts the poorest amongst us. The working poor are those that are most impacted by inflation, and the first trigger, in actual fact, I might argue nearly the one trigger is authorities spending and authorities debt–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, it is a pile of points that we have coated in depth on this program. However on this difficulty, coping with your work in Congress, are you able to avert having the credit- credit score worthiness in america referred to as into query, if, you understand, by truly coming to an settlement to take care of this difficulty earlier than we get to a place of speaking a few authorities shutdown?
REP. STEWART: Yeah, properly, I believe that we are able to and we should always, however to complete by the purpose as a result of it is truly related to your query about inflation as a result of authorities spending, if that is true, and it's true then it's a must to perceive there might be Republicans who will say, we have to reform. We have to use this as a automobile to attempt to put some limits on our spending and our debt and our deficits. And I'm one in every of them. And there are lots of others who might be, so the query that you have requested now could be, are these two rules, you understand, the actual fact we have to reform and minimize our deficits in our spending, can we reconcile that with on the similar time, we do not wish to hurt the credit score america authorities. That is our objective. I believe Republicans are aligned on that. I hope the president is as properly. And hopefully we get to settlement on that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Hopefully. I wish to ask you about George Santos, as you heard me ask your democratic colleague. Can an elected official who's beneath that many investigations be trusted as a lawmaker? Ought to he resign?
REP. STEWART: Properly, it is a laborious query. Look, I do not know Mr. Santos, I've by no means had an opportunity to speak with him. As you observe–
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do it's essential to speak to him to have a solution to that query?
REP. STEWART: Properly, no, I do not, which is, as I used to be simply gonna say, as you observe this, it is fairly laborious to not conclude he is a little bit of a goofball. He clearly lied to his constituents. And to your level as properly, it should be very, very tough for him to realize the belief of his colleagues. And I do not know what he'll do. I imply, the fact is, is you may't expel a member of Congress. On the finish of the day, it truly is as much as the voters in Nassau County. I can inform you this, if I had been in that state of affairs, I do not know the way I might proceed to serve and I had- I suppose it's essential to ask that very same query.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We are going to proceed to ask that. Congressman, thanks to your time this morning. We'll be again in a minute. Stick with us.