Sen. Menendez to CNN on Cuban plot: Should be investigated by DOJ and other appropriate law enforcement…
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) told CNN’s Dana Bash, “…let’s remember how this all started — nameless, faceless accusations that ultimately proved themselves to be false. And early on, there were some indications about the possibility of the Cuban government’s involvement.” Bash’s interview with Sen. Menendez aired in CNN’s noon ET hour. A highlight is after the jump and a full program transcript will be posted on http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/2014.07.08.html
Please credit – CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash
Highlight from Full Transcript
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BASH: Is that what you think happened, that you are somebody of Cuban descent. You have not ever made it a secret, your opposition to the Cuban government. You were about to become the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee.
And do you think that’s what it was?
MENENDEZ: Well, let’s put it this way, for 22 years, between the House and the Senate, I have had a firm position in opposition to the Cuban regime that violates the human rights — the democracy of the people of Cuba. I have been outspoken in that regard. And I wouldn’t be surprised that the regime would do anything it can to stop me from being in a position that ultimately would impede their hopes of being able to get a different relationship with the United States based upon their interests, but not the interests of the Cuban people.
BASH: Now, you aren’t at liberty to talk about the letter that your lawyer wrote to the FBI, but you’re in the proof business. I mean I’m sure that if you’re probing anybody in a hearing, you would want information and proof.
Do you have proof?
Do you have solid proof of this?
MENENDEZ: Look, you know, it seems to me that based upon what “The Post’s” sources are, that it’s the government that has the proof. And it seems to me that the government should ultimately internally review what its sources are, from whence they got this information, and what have they done about it.
###