>> THAT WAS SOME OF THE MOST
BREATHTAKING TESTIMONY I’VE EVER
SEEN ON CAPITOL HILL IN THE
HOUSE JUDICIARY HEARING ROOM WAS
BROUGHT TO A STAND STILL.
MR. FLOYD BROUGHT POLICY PITCHES
BUT ALSO BROUGHT HUMANITY.
HE SAID, WHAT I THOUGHT BROUGHT
IT DOWN, MY BROTHER, GEORGE
FLOYD, ASKED FOR HELP AND HE WAS
IGNORED BY THOSE FOUR POLICE
OFFICERS WHO STOOD THERE AND LET
HIM DIE, I’M NOW COMING TO YOU
TO ASK FOR HELP.
THE QUESTION IS, WILL HE GET IT.
WILL THERE BE REFORMS MADE SO
THERE ARE NOT MORE GEORGE FLOYDS
IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PROPOSAL
FROM HOUSE DEMOCRATS, WORKED
WITH SENATE DEMOCRATS, WILL
THERE BE ANY MOVEMENT AMONG
REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO, OF
COURSE, CONTROL THAT BODY?
>> AND THAT PLEA, WILLIE, TO
MAKE IT STOP, I THINK CERTAINLY
STRUCK ME, HE WAS PLEADING WITH
THE LAWMAKERS THAT HE WAS
SITTING IN FRONT OF TO DO THAT.
AND IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK AWAY
FROM THAT.
I THINK WHAT WE’VE SEEN OVER THE
COURSE OF THE LAST WEEK IS THAT
THAT IS TRUE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO LOOK AWAY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE
TO PRETEND THAT SOMETHING
DOESN’T NEED TO CHANGE FOR
MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES,
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, BUT
IT DOESN’T SEEM THAT REPUBLICANS
ARE PUTTING A PROPOSAL TOGETHER
THAT GOES FAR ENOUGH, MAKES
ENOUGH CHANGES IN THE LAWS THAT
IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE
EYES OF DEMOCRATS.
I’M STRUGGLING TO SEE HOW
THEY’RE GOING TO COME TOGETHER
HERE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE KEY PARTS OF
THESE PROPOSALS, I WOULD
HIGHLIGHT PARTICULARLY IN THE
DEMOCRATIC BILL THEY WANT TO BAN
CHOKEHOLDS THEY CAN’T DO IT
OUTRIGHT BUT THEY CAN STRIP
FUNDING FOR ANY DEPARTMENT THAT
DOESN’T BAN CHOKEHOLDS.
THEY WANT TO BAN NO-KNOCK
WARRANTS.
THEY WANT TO CREATE A DATA BASE
TO TRACK POLICE MISCONDUCT.
RIGHT NOW OFFICERS BENEFIT FROM
QUALIFIED IMMUNITY SO IT CAN BE
HARD TO PROSECUTE A COP IN THIS
SITUATION, THEY WANT TO CHANGE
THAT.
THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL DOESN’T
ACTUALLY DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS,
FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL, THEY WANT
TO STUDY CHOKEHOLDS AND NO-KNOCK
WARRANTS.
IT DOESN’T SEEM AS THOUGH
QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IS
SOMETHING -- THE PRESIDENT HAS
DRAWN A RED LINE AND SAID HE’S
NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
TIM SCOTT THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA SAID HE DOESN’T THINK
ANY OF THOSE PROPOSALS CAN GET
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
IT’S OBVIOUS AND SAYS SOMETHING
THAT THE POLITICS ARE SUCH THAT
THE REPUBLICANS FEEL THEY MUST
BE SEEN DOING SOMETHING.
IT’S NOT CLEAR IT’S GOING TO BE
ENOUGH FOR DEMOCRATS TO SAY YES,
WE’LL SIGN ONTO THIS.
WE’LL SEE WE’RE IN THE EARLY
STAGES OF THIS NEGOTIATION BUT
THE POLITICS MAY BE SUCH THAT WE
CAN’T ACTUALLY END UPCOMING
TOGETHER AND MAKING SOMETHING
CHANGE.
THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF EXAMPLES
AND JOE I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT
ALL KINDS OF EXAMPLES ON THIS
SHOW WHERE WE THOUGHT SOMETHING
WOULD CHANGE THINGS AND
ULTIMATELY IT DOESN’T BECAUSE
CONGRESS IS SO GRIDLOCKED.
I’M HOPING THAT’S NOT THE CASE
HERE BUT WE’LL HAVE TO SEE.
>> REPUBLICANS BETTER HOPE THAT
THAT’S NOT THE CASE HERE.
REPUBLICANS THAT WANT TO GET
RE-ELECTED IN THE FALL BETTER
HOPE THAT THAT’S NOT THE CASE.
BECAUSE, MICHAEL STEELE, THEY
CAN PLAY WHATEVER POLITICAL
GAMES THEY WANT TO PLAY, IT’S
NOT LIKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
HAS A TIN VOTE MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE.
THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF VOTE
MAJORITY IN THE SENATE.
>> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> AND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE
MARCHING IN THE STREETS AND THE
OTHER ONE IS SAYING SHE’S
TROUBLED AND DUNT KNOW IF SHE
CAN VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP AGAIN.
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT THIS.
IT WILL BE MITCH McCONNELL AND
DONALD TRUMP WHO WILL BE THE
LONE PROTECTORS OF THE
CHOKEHOLD.
IT WILL BE MITCH McCONNELL AND
DONALD TRUMP WHO WILL BE THE
LONE PROTECTORS OF CONTINUING TO
GIVE BAD COPS IMMUNITY FROM
THEIR CRIMES.
THIS IS JUST B.S. THAT
REPUBLICANS SAY, WE MAY NOT HAVE
THE VOTES.
AGAIN, MITT ROMNEY, LISA
MURKOWSKI, SUSAN COLLINS, PICK
ONE OR TWO MORE THAT COULD VOTE
AGAINST CHOKEHOLDS, THAT COULD
VOTE AGAINST IMMUNITY FOR BAD
COPS, KILLER COPS.
A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE BUT A
REAL PERCENTAGE ON THE POLICE
OFFICER.
THIS THING, THE REPUBLICANS
CONTROL THE SENATE, NOT -- IT’S
NOT REALLY -- THIS IS MITCH
McCONNELL ONCE AGAIN JUST LIKE
HE’S KILLING ANY VOTING RIGHTS
ACTS REFORMS, HE’S KILLING ANY
BILL THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY MAKE IT
EASIER FOR AMERICANS TO VOTE
THAT MAY MAKE IT HARDER FOR
PEOPLE TO SUPPRESS THE VOTE OF
BLACK PEOPLE.
HE’S NOW DOING THE SAME THING.
MITCH McCONNELL, THE CHAMPION OF
CHOKEHOLDS HE COULD GET THIS
PASSED IN THE SENATE IN A SECOND
IF HE WANTED TO.
>> YEAH, HE COULD.
YOU JUST LAID OUT THE CRASS
POLITICAL REALITY FOR
REPUBLICANS.
YOU SEE THAT WALK OF SHAME WHEN
THEY’RE HEADING OFF TO THEIR
SENATE LUNCH AND PASS OUR FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE, KASIE HUNT AND
SHE’S SHOUTING A SIMPLE
QUESTION, DO YOU AGREE WITH THE
PRESIDENT’S TWEET, DO YOU AGREE
WITH THE POLICY AS IT IS?
AND THEY’RE LIKE, I DON’T KNOW
WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU WILL NOT HAVE THE RUNWAY TO
CONTINUE WITH THAT.
THIS IS NOT LIKE THE MOMENTS
AFTER SANDY HOOK WHERE YOU HAD
SIGNIFICANT PUSH AND THEN IT
DIED.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT FEEL
AROUND THIS ISSUE.
AND REPUBLICANS NEED TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COUNTRY HAS
MOVED TO ON THIS.
THIS ISN’T STUCK IN THE PARTISAN
MORES A WHERE YOU CAN SIT BACK
AND PRETEND IT DIDN’T HAPPEN OR
POINT FINGERS AT THE OTHER SIDE
FOR PUTTING OUT ONEROUS
LEGISLATION.
TELL ME YOU ARE AGAINST
CHOKEHOLDS.
TELL ME AS A UNITED STATES
SENATE YOU DO NOT WANT TO FUND
POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH FEDERAL
DOLLARS THAT DO NOT BAN
CHOKEHOLDS.
HOW IS THAT COMPLICATED?
WHERE IS THE PROBLEM WITH THAT?
AND YOU DON’T THINK AMERICANS
WON’T GET THAT?
THEN YOU ARE PREPARED TO LOSE
THE SENATE IN SEPTEMBER -- I
MEAN, NOVEMBER.
THIS IS HOW THIS WORKS.
THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE WHERE
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SIT AROUND
THE KITCHEN TABLES AND DEBATE
IT.
THEY’RE MARCHING ON THE STREETS.
DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY’RE MARCHING
ON THE STREETS?
IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THEY’RE
MARCHING ON THE STREETS, YOU
MEAN YOU CANNOT DELIVER THE BARE
MINIMUM OF WHAT THEY’RE ASKING
FOR?
YOU’RE RIGHT, THIS IS NOT A
NANCY PELOSI PROBLEM, THIS IS
NOT A DEMOCRATIC PARTY PROBLEM.
THIS IS A REPUBLICAN SENATE
ISSUE THAT COULD BECOME A
PROBLEM FOR THEM IF THEY DO NOT
DO THE BASIC THING AND JUST BAN
CHOKEHOLDS.
I DON’T GET IT.
>> MARTHA McSALLY NEEDS TO
DEMAND AN UP OR DOWN VOTE ON
BANNING CHOKEHOLDS.
COREY GARDNER NEEDS TO DEMAND AN
UP OR DOWN VOTE FROM MITCH
McCONNELL ON BANNING CHOKEHOLDS.
SUSAN COLLINS NEEDS TO DEMAND AN
UP OR DOWN VOTE FROM MITCH
McCONNELL ON BANNING CHOKEHOLDS.
JOANIE EARNS NEEDS TO DEMAND A
VOTE, SUSAN COLLINS NEEDS TO
DEMAND AN UP OR DOWN VOTE ON
BANNING CHOKEHOLDS.
THOM TILLIS NEEDS TO DEMAND AN
UP OR DOWN VOTE FROM MITCH
McCONNELL ON BANNING CHOKEHOLDS.
EVERY REPUBLICAN WHO IS UP FOR
ELECTION IN A FEW MONTHS NEEDS
TO DEMAND, FROM MITCH McCONNELL,
AN UP OR DOWN VOTE ON
CHOKEHOLDS.
MITCH, GUESS WHAT, I CAN’T SPEAK
RUSSIAN, SO GET AN INTERPRETER
TO TELL THIS TO YOU IF YOU WILL.
MITCH, IN AMERICA, WE HAVE
ELECTIONS EVERY TWO YEARS AND
YOU HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP
RIGHT NOW AND YOU’VE GOT SOME
PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE
ALL CALLING YOU MOSCOW MITCH.
YOU’RE GOING TO BE CHOKEHOLD
MITCH, NEXT.
THE KIDS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO
START CALLING YOU THAT BECAUSE
AGAIN YOU DON’T HAVE A TIN VOTE
MAJORITY YOU CAN’T HIDE BEHIND
THE FACT THERE ARE ALL THESE
REPUBLICANS I CAN’T CONTROL THEM.
MITT ROMNEY, SUSAN COLLINS, LISA
MURKOWSKI WOULD VOTE TO BAN
CHOKEHOLDS.
SUSAN COLLINS, WITH THE RACE
SHE’S IN WILL BE VERY TROUBLED
AND THEN, YES, VOTE TO BAN
CHOKEHOLDS.
YOU’RE GOING TO BE ASKED ABOUT
IT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
IT’S GOING TO BE TOUGHER THAN
YOU THINK IT IS.
ALL OF THE OLIGARCHS YOU’VE BEEN
CAVORTING WITH, HANGING WITH --
>> PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.
>> YEAH, IT’S OUT THERE MOSCOW.
AS BAD AS THE NICKNAME MOSCOW
MITCH IS --
>> IT STUCK SO QUICKLY.
>> -- CHOKEHOLD MITCH WILL
PROBABLY BE WORSE FOR YOU IN
KENTUCKY.
YOU’RE THE ONLY PERSON IN
AMERICA RIGHT NOW -- YOU’RE THE
ONLY PERSON IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW
THAT IS STOPPING THIS
LEGISLATION FROM PASSING.
THIS ISN’T LIKE SANDY HOOK
BECAUSE AFTER SANDY HOOK YOU CAN
BLAME THE REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE HOUSE.
BLAME THE REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE SENATE, THERE’S
JUST TOO MANY.
GUESS WHAT, THIS WILL PASS IN A
SECOND IN THE HOUSE.
AND, MITCH, IF YOU’LL KEEP THE
LIGHTS ON IN THE SENATE CHAMBER
AND ALLOW AN UP OR DOWN VOTE
INSTEAD OF KILLING THAT UP OR
DOWN VOTE ON CHOKEHOLDS, IT’S
GOING TO PASS.
AND YOU KNOW IT.
AND THE OPPOSITE OF THAT IS
TRUE, IF IT DOESN’T PASS, IT’S
ALL GOING TO BE ON YOU.
LOTS OF LUCK WITH THAT FELLA.
LOTS OF LUCK WITH THAT.
WHETHER YOU’RE CAMPAIGNING IN
RUSSIAN OR IN ENGLISH OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
DO THE RIGHT THING, MITCH.
GUESS WHAT, I KNOW YOU WON’T DO
THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE RIGHT
REASONS.
JUST DO THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE
POLITICAL REASONS.
AND THE RIGHT THING FOR THE