CHAIRWOMAN JENNIFER HORN JOINS US TO DISCUSS.
GOOD MORNING.
I’M ADAM SEXTON.
AFTER ALL THAT UNFOLDED IN 2020, WHO COULD’VE IMAGINED THE FIRST FULL WEEK OF 2021 COULD DELIVER ITS OWN LANDSLIDE OF UNBELIEVABLE HEADLINES?
THE SANCTITY OF THE U.S.
DEMOCRACY WAS BREACHED AS RIOTERS RANSACKED THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.
THE CHAOS AND VIOLENCE RESULTED IN NOT JUST DESTRUCTION, BUT DEATH, INCLUDING THE LOSS OF A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER.
HERE THIS MORNING TO DISCUSS, CONGRESSWOMAN ANNIE KUSTER.
CONGRESSWOMAN, WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE SAFE.
WE WANT TO CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE.
YOU AND MANY OTHERS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP INCITED THIS MOB AND SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE.
THERE ARE NOW REPORTS THE HOUSE WILL BE VOTING ON ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
HOW WILL YOU BE VOTING?
REP. KUSTER: WELL, I THINK THE COUNTRY WILL BE MUCH SAFER TO HAVE VICE PRESIDENT PENCE TAKE THE HELM FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE INAUGURATION.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT DEMONSTRATED BOTH BY INCITING THE VIOLENCE AND THE DOMESTIC TERRORISM IN THE UNITED STATES CAPITAL, VERY SEAT OF OUR DEMOCRACY, THE VERY SYMBOL THAT
HAS HELD FAST FOR OVER 200 YEARS , BUT ALSO THAT HE DENIED THE NATIONAL GUARD TO COME IN AND CLEAR THE CAPITAL, EVEN WHILE I WAS IN A SECURE LOCATION, HAVING BEEN EVACUATED FROM THE BALCONY
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WE WERE THERE.
HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, TOGETHER.
WE THEREFORE SIX HOURS.
DURING THAT TIME, PART OF THE LENGTHY DELAY, I NOW UNDERSTAND, WAS BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND VICE PRESIDENT PENCE HAD TO
TAKE STEPS TO CLEAR THE CAPITAL AND MAKE IT SAFE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY TO CONTINUE.
I AM SO PROUD OF MY COLLEAGUES.
WHEN WE WENT BACK TO THE FLOOR AT 9:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND WE CONTINUED OUR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO REAFFIRM THE ELECTION OF JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS.
THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.
DEMOCRACY PREVAIL.
ADAM: IMPEACHMENT IS A SOLEMN AND DELIBERATIVE PROCESS.
IT WOULD BE VERY FAST.
CAN IT BE DONE THIS QUICKLY?
REP. KUSTER: I BELIEVE IT CAN.
WE WILL LEARN MORE.
WE ARE TAPING FRIDAY MORNING, SO I DON’T HAVE ALL OF THE DETAILS, BEYOND A CAUCUS CALL IN A FEW HOURS.
WE HAVE A PLAN AND WE WILL DO IT WE CAN.
I TOOK AN O TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
AND TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THAT IS WHAT I INTEND TO DO.
I’M GOING TO PROTECT MY CONSTITUENTS.
IT WAS NOT SAFE WHEN WE WERE IN CAPITAL ON WEDNESDAY.
WE HAD A SOLEMN DUTY TO FULFILL OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION TO REAFFIRM THE ELECTION.
BUT WHEN THESE RIOTERS STORMED BOTH THE SENATE FLOOR AND HOUSE FLOOR, WE HAD TO IMMEDIATELY EVACUATE.
I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN THE PHOTO OF ME WITH THE GAS MASK.
WE HAD TO DUCT DOWN AND TAKE COVER.
WE HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THE WRITERS DID HAVE SEEN MY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, AND ONE MAN WAS FOUND WITH 11 MOLOTOV COCKTAILS.
THE PRESIDENT HAS INCITED THIS VIOLENCE.
THE COUNTRY IS NOT SAFE.
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT RISK OF AN OUTSIDE ATTACK AT THE TIME OF THE DISTRACTION.
AND OUR ALLIES AROUND THE WORLD ARE CALLING OUT FOR STABILITY AND CIVILITY, AND A RETURN TO THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I AM HEARING FROM THOUSANDS OF CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, UNTIL MR. BIDEN IS INAUGURATED.
ADAM: CERTAINLY TAKING THIS ACTION AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP GOOD INSIDE YET AGAIN -- EVEN THOUGH IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS.
ARE YOU WORRIED YOUR SAFETY MIGHT ENDANGER -- MIGHT BE IN ANGER AGAIN IF YOU TAKE THIS STEP?
REP. KUSTER: MY PROPOSED SOLUTION IS THE 25TH AMENDMENT.
I HAVE CALLED ON THE VICE PRESIDENT, PENCE AND THE CABINET -- AND I UNDERSTAND THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE ONGOING.
I IMPLORE MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO CONVINCE MR. TRUMP TO STEP DOWN.
HE CAN RESIGN.
HE WOULD BE ONLY AS A LAST RESORT, IF THESE STEPS ARE NOT TAKEN IN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.
ADAM: YOU MENTIONED THE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING FORCES TO BACK UP THE CAPITOL POLICE.
THE DELAYS ON THE FEDERAL SIDE.
THIS IS A PARALLEL ISSUE, DO YOU THINK THIS STRENGTHENS THE CAUSE FOR EC STATEHOOD?
THE FACT THAT IT WAS POWERLESS TO ACT IN THIS SITUATION?
REP. KUSTER: I THINK THERE WILL BE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.
I HAVE BEEN READING UP.
THERE HAVE BEEN OVERLAPPING JURISDICTIONS THAT DELAYED THE DECISION-MAKING, ULTIMATELY THERE WERE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE EARLY IN THIS PROCESS THAT FAILED TO SUPPORT THE CAPITOL
HILL POLICE.
I WANT TO MAKE A POINT OF THINKING THE CAPITOL POLICE.
I HAVE SUCH GRATITUDE FOR THESE OFFICERS WHO PROTECT US EVERY DAY IN THE CAPITAL.
ON WEDNESDAY PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE MIND TO GET US TO SAFETY.
-- ON THE LINE TO GET US TO SAFETY.
EXTRAORDINARY BLOODSHED, ADAM.
NOW THAT I HAVE PIECED TOGETHER THE TIMELINE, IT WAS RIGHT AFTER I WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE THE CHAMBER THAT THE GUNSHOTS WERE FIRED INTO THE HOUSE CHAMBER.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE PERIMETER OF THE CHAMBER WAS BREACHED.
SOME CALL THEM SEDITION US, CERTAINLY RIOTERS MADE THEIR WAY ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.
THAT IS ONLY MINUTES -- I MEAN, 3, 4, 5 MINUTES AFTER THEY WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.
WELL OVER 100 MEMBERS ON THE FLOOR.
THE PRESS WAS THERE, THE STAFF WAS THERE, AND THE HAPPEL -- THE CAPITOL HILL POLICE THEMSELVES.
IF SOMEONE HAD OPENED FIRE WITH AN AUTOMATIC WEAPON, WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT A MASS CASUALTY EVENT.
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE FRONT LINE OFFICERS WHO DID THEIR PART.
LOOK, WE KNOW WHAT SECURITY LOOKS LIKE ON CAPITOL HILL AND WASHINGTON.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTOS, ANY MAJOR DEMONSTRATION, THE PHOTOS FROM THE INAUGURATION OR FROM A BLACK LIVES MATTER IMAGE DURATION, YOU WILL SEE FULL-BLOWN RIOT GEAR, YOU WILL
SEE PARAMILITARY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NATIONAL GUARD COMING TO PROTECT THESE ICONIC INSTITUTIONS OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
THAT DECISION-MAKING FAILED, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS NOT A POLITICAL DECISION WITH ANYONE AT THE WHITE HOUSE PROTECTING THESE RIOTERS.
ADAM: THERE WERE GRANITE STATERS AND THE CROWD, AND WE HAVE LEARNED A POLICE CHIEF FROM WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT WAS FROM THERE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?
JOHN: I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO HIM, AND I WILL REACH OUT TO HIM SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT HIS MOTIVATIONS WERE.
I THINK HE IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN THE RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND RIGHT OF YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT.
I HAVE SAID THIS REPEATEDLY.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED BY THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION IN 2016.
IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS AND SOLUTIONS AND GRIEVANCES TO WASHINGTON AND CAPITOL HILL.
FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, I UNDERSTAND THE POLICE CHIEF IS AN ARDENT TRUMP SUPPORTED.
THERE WERE MANY, MANY -- I CALL THEM TOURISTS, POLITICAL TOURISTS.
I SAW THEM ON THE STREETS FOR DAYS BEFORE THE RALLY.
THIS IS TO DISTINGUISH THE INCITING OF VIOLENCE.
I THINK THIS POLICE CHIEF HAS SPOKEN OUT ABOUT THE ANARCHY THAT HE IS OPPOSED TO, THE PEOPLE WHO BREACHED THE CAPITAL, WINDOWS, DISTRACTED PROPERTY, AND PUT EVERYONE AT RISK.
MY CLOSEST FRIENDS WERE HIDING, ERIC HATED IN A ROOM.
-- BARRICADED IN A ROOM.
IT IS THE ROOM YOU CAN SEE IN THAT VIDEO OF THE RIOTERS STREAMING THROUGH THE ROTUNDA.
THEY WERE IN THEIR FOR FIVE HOURS.
FEARING FOR THEIR LIFE.
I FEAR FOR MY LIFE.
I PROTECTED MY COLLEAGUES, AND WE GOT TO SAFETY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CAPITOL HILL POLICE.
I THINK EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND -- AND FRANKLY MY PUBLIC AND COLLEAGUES AND DEBORAH REPUBLICAN -- NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION IN THESE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
WHO DO YOU STAND WITH?
DO YOU STAND WITH OUR DEMOCRACY WORK WITH ANARCHY?
THAT IS A VERY SERIOUS DECISION.
I AM PLEASED TO SEE MY PUBLIC AND COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE CALLING FOR THE RESIGNATION OF MR. TRUMP AND CALLING FOR VICE PRESIDENT PENCE TO STEP UP AND RESUME ORDER,
DECENCY, AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY.
ADAM: MULTIPLE CRISES UNFOLDING AT ONCE.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS ONGOING.
GOVERNOR SUNUNU HAS SAID HE DOES NOT THINK FEDERAL SIDE COULD SPEED THINGS UP AT ALL IN TERMS OF ADMINISTERING THIS VACCINE.
WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN DOES WANT TO DO THAT.
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS?
DO YOU THINK THIS COULD BE MOVING FASTER?
REP. KUSTER: ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THE FAILURE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND PLAN TO HAVE A FEDERAL PLAN FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE VACCINE IS UNFORGIVABLE.
MY COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE LAST FEBRUARY.
WE HAVE REPEATEDLY INTRODUCED LEGISLATION AND HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. FAUCI AND OTHERS THAT WANTED A FEDERAL PLAN.
I WILL CONTINUE TO BRING THAT LEGISLATION FORWARD, AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, SO WE CAN COORDINATE.
I WILL HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR.
ABSOLUTELY, TO BRING IN THE RESOURCES, TO HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT IS AVAILABLE.
AT THIS POINT WE NEED TO BRING IN THE DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT TO MANUFACTURE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOSES.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO GET THOSE INTO THE ARMS OF EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN.
SO, WHILE I WANT TO COMMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THE WORK THEY ARE DOING, THIS SHOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE, NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR OUR COUNTRY.
EVERY PERSON SHOULD GET THIS VACCINATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
WE HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF DEATHS IN ONE SINGLE DAY, 4000 WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE EVER HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID WERE HOSPITALIZED AND THE MONTH IN DECEMBER.
WE HAVE OVER 300 PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITAL TODAY.
WE ABSOLUTELY CAN DO BETTER, AND WE MUST.
AS SOON AS YOU ARE OFFERED THE VACCINE, PLEASE TAKE IT.
I WANTED TO SET THAT EXAMPLE, THAT IT IS SAFE, EFFECTIVE, THAT YOU SHOULD NOT BE FEARFUL.
THAT IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF COVID-19 AND GET OUR ECONOMY MOVING, YET OUR CHILDREN BACK TO WORK, GET OUR LIVES BACK.
YOU CAN GO TO NH.GOV/COVID-19.
I MET A PHYSICAL THERAPIST WHO HAD ALREADY GOTTEN THERE VACCINE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE GETS THE VACCINE AS FAST AS WE CAN.
ADAM: UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE HAD OUR TIME.
THANK Y