[Burnett:] Tonight, a showdown looming between the Trump White House and FBI. White House officials telling CNN President Trump could release a memo spearheaded by Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes that alleges FBI abuse of surveillance warrants during the Russian investigation, related to the Trump campaign, as soon as tomorrow. But FBI led by Trump's handpicked choice Chris Wray is urging the White House reconsider, stating it has, quote, grave concerns about the memo's accuracy and damage that could be done with its release. OUTFRONT now, Republican congressman from New York, Lee Zeldin, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Congressman, I appreciate your time, thank you. I know you have had a change to read the memo. You have called for the president to release it. Now, of course, the FBI has come out and said with Christopher Wray himself, saying grave concerns. That it should not be released. Trump's own Justice Department saying it could be extraordinarily reckless to release it. Do you think the FBI and Justice Department are both wrong?
[Rep. Lee Zeldin , New York:] They were wrong as it relates to the FISA abuse. And it would make sense that there would be people at the DOJ and the FBI that wouldn't want this memo to go out because it's going to show FISA abuse took place and there was misconduct at some of the highest levels of both agencies.
[Burnett:] So, when you talk about FISA abuse and misconduct, of course, you're well aware, there is a Democratic memo based on the same source material which reaches the opposite conclusion, that there wasn't such abuse. And I know you believe in transparency. I assume the, Congressman, that you also want the Democratic memo which does reach the opposite conclusion that the GOP want to be released, right?
[Zeldin:] Yes, I think that we need to be able to get both memos out. As it relates to the Schiff memo, which is a little bit more about damage control, and when it comes out publicly, you'll be able to see it yourself. The memo has certain things added to it that there is going to have to be a discussion as to whether or not the Dems are actually calling for certain sources and methods to come out. The majority memo is a little bit shorter. It doesn't go into certain specifics of certain sources and methods on purpose. So, that will be something that it will be worth having a conversation to Democrats of whether or not they want to release the entire memo or if they want to change any of the words around because there were certain things in there that they placed that I'm just not sure they actually would want to release some of those details.
[Burnett:] OK. So, you talk about sources and methods. Now but the point that I'm making, and look, you are being consistent here on transparency, if you want to put them both out, and there may be parts of both that have to be redacted for classified reasons, that will have to be negotiated, right, with the FBI and the Justice Department. But, you know, they're both based on the same source material and both reach different conclusion. So, you said on the floor of the House in addition to releasing the memo, I believe it's important to release relevant material source in the memo. Obviously, as you know, many of your colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, are against revealing the source material. But I just want to be clear, Congressman Zeldin, are you for releasing all the underlying intelligence, so the American can read it themselves and they could read the Democrat resolution and the Republican, and truly make up their own mind?
[Zeldin:] The American public wants as much information as they can to be able to form their own independent judgment for themselves. As far as the relevant material source in the memo, I would want as much of that information that can be released as possible. I think the American public wants as much information to be released as possible. They don't want to be able to just take my word for it or just take your word for it. They want to be able to see them for themselves. I respect that. Give them more information and have a lot of faith in the American public.
[Burnett:] So, the question is what this will lead to now that this has all become so public? And if the answer is either all or nothing and you're going to go with all as much as can possibly put out there, your colleague the Democratic Senator Ron Wyden tweeted today, quote, if this memo comes out, referring to Devin Nunes memo, I have a long list of less sensitive but still classified information that the American people deserved to see. Are you worried he might be right? That this fight over this one thing could start a flood of let's just put this classified information out there and that out there, and, all of a sudden, you do have a real compromise in the system?
[Zeldin:] Well, it's I mean, I've read both memos. The majority memo that was written, by the way, you just referred to it as the Nunes memo. He didn't read it. It was drafted by another member of the committee with staffers, but Chairman Nunes did not write this particular memo. That's why it's more majority memo. As far as the contents of the memo goes, it is not revealing any good sources and methods. The in the Schiff memo, if they want to change any of the wording around to make the same exact point, but without revealing, there are certain details by the way, the scope of the Schiff memo, this is beyond the FISA abuse topic. And the other thing that I'll point out is that in certain respects, they are talking past each other. Like if, for example, I offered you a dollar and you wanted to sell me lemonade, and then you gave me lemonade and I don't know like how it tasted, and never actually gave you the dollar. And I said I offered you the dollar and you say that you never received the dollar, maybe it's both true, but kind of talking past each other. So, you know, that's something else. But you know what? That's where when you get everything out for the American public, they can decide for themselves. But, you know, the two memos don't directly rebut each other. The Schiff memo kind of talks past the majority memo at certain points.
[Burnett:] Which, you know, frankly might be fine, however much pages of underlying material, you reach different conclusions on different things. I mean, that would make sense that different people would see different things they think are of importance. Before you go tonight, Congressman, I just want to say, obviously, you are in West Virginia tonight and people should know, you had a very scary day. We are so glad you are OK. Your Republicans are OK. There was obviously a tragic train accident with that truck when you're on your way to West Virginia that happened in Virginia. The driver of that truck was killed. Others were injured. I know you are OK, but no doubt it was a very scary and upsetting experience. What went through your mind when it happened?
[Zeldin:] Well, when it first happened, we knew something really bad took place, but you didn't know exactly what. And if I had to come up with an analogy, it's kind of like getting into a car accident except you are on a high speed train and you're hitting a dump truck. And, you know, a lot of different noises because aside from the impact itself, the train was trying to slow down. Now, what is in my mind above all else is someone lost their life and there is a family that's mourning right now. You have people who are injured, who are fighting for their lives. That is first and foremost on my mind. I'll tell you something else, though, is that thank God that the conductor of this train was able to keep this train on those tracks. It's amazing that this train was able to come to a complete stop because if it derailed, you had almost every single member of the House and Senate, including the speaker of the house, and it would have been a total catastrophe. So, you know, the first responders, the police, the doctors, all of the medical professionals, and certainly keeping our thoughts and prayers with those who are injured and the one gentleman who was killed, that's what's on our mind. This could have been a lot worse. And I'm also just very thankful for just great Americans who stepped up on a moments' notice, whether it's training, their instincts, their expertise. We really do have a great country.
[Burnett:] All right. Thank you so much, Congressman Zeldin. I appreciate your time.
[Zeldin:] Thank you, Erin.
[Burnett:] And now to another breaking story, an alarming failure today of the American missile system. The system failed to intercept an incoming target that was launched in Hawaii. This comes as sources tell CNN, don't rule out another missile test in the future, right? This is the test that is supposed to protect America from incoming ICBMs from North Korea. Barbara Starr is OUTFRONT. And, Barbara, I mean, this is pretty significant. Second failure of this missile defense system in the past year and this is the defense system that America would rely on in the event of an incoming missile from North Korea.
[Barbara Starr, Cnn Pentagon Correspondent:] Well, that's right, especially for it to fail right now, when the message to Kim Jong-un is, you know, don't try anything. We can shoot your missiles down well, this test failed to do it. The missile launched, the target launched but during the test, they just simply didn't intercept each other. They are trying to find out what the malfunction is and what actually went wrong with this. But it is a very crucial situation. The timing is critical because just a few days ago, the CIA Director Mike Pompeo told an audience that it maybe just a handful of months from when Kim Jong-un is able to demonstrate the capability, not that he would attack, but demonstrate the capability for him to put a warhead on top of a North Korean missile that could potentially hit the U.S. So, to have this failure is nothing something that the Pentagon is too anxious for the world to see. This particular part of the system is, in fact, designed maybe somebody to hit an intercontinental ballistic missile, that kind that would come from North Korea and it's a system that Japan wants to feel for its security in that Asia-Pacific region Erin.
[Burnett:] All right. Barbara, thank you very much. And, of course, even scarier when you think about the false missile threat in Hawaii just a couple of weeks ago. If that had been real, that's the shield we've got. OUTFRONT next, from Melania to Michelle, the secret gift revealed.