>>> WELCOME BACK.
>>> WELCOME BACK. BOTH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
BOTH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND DEMOCRATS KNOW THAT IMPEACHMENT
DEMOCRATS KNOW THAT IMPEACHMENT HAS NO CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING
HAS NO CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF SOME
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF SOME SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO SO FAR
SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO SO FAR HAVE SHOWN EVERY SIGN OF
HAVE SHOWN EVERY SIGN OF STICKING BY THE PRESIDENT.
STICKING BY THE PRESIDENT. ONE OF THOSE SENATE REPUBLICANS
ONE OF THOSE SENATE REPUBLICANS IS JOHN KENNEDY OF LOUISIANA.
IS JOHN KENNEDY OF LOUISIANA. HES AMONG MANY IN HIS PARTY A
HES AMONG MANY IN HIS PARTY A BIT MORE SYMPATHETIC TO ATTORNEY
BIT MORE SYMPATHETIC TO ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL BARR WHEN BARR
GENERAL BILL BARR WHEN BARR TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SENATE
TESTIFIED BEFORE THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK. SENATOR KENNEDY JOINS ME FROM A
SENATOR KENNEDY JOINS ME FROM A SUBURB OF NEW ORLEANS, KENNER,
SUBURB OF NEW ORLEANS, KENNER, LOUISIANA.
LOUISIANA.
SENATOR, GOOD TO SEE YOU. WELCOME BACK. TO SEE YOU.
WELCOME BACK.
>> THANKS, CHUCK. >> BEFORE I GET TO THE COMMITTEE
>> BEFORE I GET TO THE COMMITTEE HEARING, I WANT TO GET TO THE
HEARING, I WANT TO GET TO THE PRESIDENTS PHONE CALL WITH
PRESIDENTS PHONE CALL WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN AND HIS
VLADIMIR PUTIN AND HIS EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN
EXPLANATION OF WHAT HAPPENED IN IT AND GET YOUR REACTION ON THE
IT AND GET YOUR REACTION ON THE OTHER SIDE.
OTHER SIDE.
LET ME PLAY IT FOR THE VIEWERS.
>> DID YOU ADDRESS THE ELECTION MEDDLING ISSUES THAT CAME UP IN
MEDDLING ISSUES THAT CAME UP IN THE MUELLER REPORT WITH MR.
THE MUELLER REPORT WITH MR. PUTIN TODAY?
PUTIN TODAY?
>> WE DISCUSSED IT.
HE ACTUALLY SORT OF SMILED WHEN
HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT
THAT IT STARTED OFF AS A MOUNTAIN AND IT ENDED UP BEING A
MOUNTAIN AND IT ENDED UP BEING A MOUSE, BUT HE KNEW THAT BECAUSE
MOUSE, BUT HE KNEW THAT BECAUSE
HE KNEW THERE WAS NO COLLUSION.
>> DID YOU ASK HIM NOT TO MEDDLE
IN THE NEXT ELECTION?
>> WE DIDNT DISCUSS THAT. REALLY, WE DIDNT DISCUSS IT.
REALLY, WE DIDNT DISCUSS IT. >> WHAT KIND OF LOST OPPORTUNITY
>> WHAT KIND OF LOST OPPORTUNITY DID THE PRESIDENT HAVE THERE IN
DID THE PRESIDENT HAVE THERE IN TRYING TO SORT OF -- THERE WAS
TRYING TO SORT OF -- THERE WAS PART OF THE MUELLER REPORT THAT
PART OF THE MUELLER REPORT THAT EVERYBODY AGREES WITH, WHICH IS
EVERYBODY AGREES WITH, WHICH IS
THAT RUSSIA HAD A STAMYSTEMATIC
ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE IN OUR
DEMOCRACY.
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT TAKING THAT
SERIOUSLY WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN.
DOES THAT CONCERN YOU?
>> WELL, I WASNT PRIVY TO THE CONVERSATION, BUT I HOPE WHAT
CONVERSATION, BUT I HOPE WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID WAS TALK TO
THE PRESIDENT DID WAS TALK TO THE -- TO THE HEAD OF RUSSIA
THE -- TO THE HEAD OF RUSSIA ABOUT INTERFERENCE IN OUR
ABOUT INTERFERENCE IN OUR
ELECTIONS.
I MEAN, RUSSIAS BEEN DOING IT AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION HAS
AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR 60 YEARS, BUT
BEEN DOING IT FOR 60 YEARS, BUT THEYVE STEPPED IT UP, CHUCK,
THEYVE STEPPED IT UP, CHUCK, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THATS
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THATS
BEEN LOST IN THE MUELLER REPORT IS HOW AGGRESSIVE RUSSIA WAS IN
IS HOW AGGRESSIVE RUSSIA WAS IN TRYING TO INTERFERE WITH OUR
TRYING TO INTERFERE WITH OUR
DEMOCRACY.
LOOK, RUSSIA IS NO LONGER THE
SOVIET UNION.
THEIR ECONOMY IS SMALLER THAN
NEW YORK STATE.
THEYVE GOT GOOD SPIES. THEYVE GOT NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND
THEYVE GOT NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THEY KNOW HOW TO -- THEYRE GOOD
THEY KNOW HOW TO -- THEYRE GOOD
AT CYBER TERRORISM.
AND WEVE GOT TO -- WEVE GOT TO
CHECK THEM AND WEVE GOT TO TELL
THEM WERE NOT GOING TO TOLERATE
IT, AND IF THEY KEEP DOING IT, WERE GOING TO FURTHER ADDG IT,
WERE GOING TO FURTHER ADD SANCTIONS.
SANCTIONS.
IM HOPING THATS WHAT THE
PRESIDENT DID.
>> YOU SAY HOPE. IF HE SAID THAT, WOULDNT HE
IF HE SAID THAT, WOULDNT HE SHARE IT WITH THE AMERICAN
SHARE IT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
PEOPLE?
INSTEAD HE SHARED VLADIMIR PUTIN SAID, SEE, ITS NOT A MOUNTAIN,IN
SAID, SEE, ITS NOT A MOUNTAIN, IT WAS A MOLE HILL.
IT WAS A MOLE HILL. IT DIDNT SOUND LIKE A PRESIDENT
IT DIDNT SOUND LIKE A PRESIDENT
THAT TOLD HIM STOP INTERFERING IN OUR ELECTIONS.P INTERFERING
IN OUR ELECTIONS. >> IT WAS A MOUNTAIN.
>> IT WAS A MOUNTAIN.
I WASNT PRIVY TO THE WHOLE
CONVERSATION. YOULL HAVE TO ASK THE PRESIDENT
YOULL HAVE TO ASK THE PRESIDENT ABOUT THAT ONE.
ABOUT THAT ONE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET ME MOVE TO THE HEARING
ITSELF.
>> OKAY.
>> AFTER THE HEARING YOU AND I
TALKED ABOUT CALLING UP BOB
MUELLER TO TESTIFY.
YOU WERE OPEN TO IT.
SENATOR GRAHAM SAID NO.
THEN HE SENT THIS LETTER.
SHOULD IT BE INTERPRETED AS AN
OPEN INVITATION TO BOB MUELLER
TO COME TESTIFY BEFORE YOUR
COMMITTEE?
>> YES.
LET ME PUT THIS IN CONTEXT.
IVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE
MUELLER INVESTIGATION.
NEVER MET THE MAN, BUT BY ALL
ACCOUNTS HES A GOOD, COMPETENT, DECENT MAN.S A GOOD, COMPETENT,
DECENT MAN. WE HAVE HIS REPORT.
WE HAVE HIS REPORT.
YOU CAN DEBATE THE RHETORIC OR THE DISCUSSION IN -- OR THE SPIN
THE DISCUSSION IN -- OR THE SPIN OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT,
OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT,
BUT THE CONCLUSION IS NO INDICTMENT FOR COLLUSION, NO
INDICTMENT FOR COLLUSION, NO INDICTMENT FOR CONSPIRACY, NO
INDICTMENT FOR CONSPIRACY, NO
INDICTMENT FOR OBSTRUCTION OF
JUSTICE.
NOW, I THINK MANY OF MY
DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS HAVE ACCEPTED
THAT.
SOME HAVENT.
MANY OF MY DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS
THOUGHT THAT MUELLER WAS GOING
TO INDICT THE PRESIDENT.
AND SO THE MUELLER REPORT WAS
KIND OF LIKE A HAIR ON THEIR
BISCUIT, AND NOW THEY DONT KNOW
WHAT TO DO SO THEYRE ATTACKING
BILL BARR. AND MY FEELING ABOUT IT IS ITS
AND MY FEELING ABOUT IT IS ITS TIME TO MOVE ON.
TIME TO MOVE ON. I UNDERSTAND THAT WASHINGTON IS
I UNDERSTAND THAT WASHINGTON IS
NOT THE BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN
AND THAT POLITICS IS IN
EVERYBODYS BLOOD, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT
WE OUGHT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF OUR TIME TALKING ABOUT THE
OF OUR TIME TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION AS OPPOSED TO
NEXT GENERATION AS OPPOSED TO
THE NEXT ELECTION.
IF I COULD MAKE ONE OTHER POINT,
THIS BUSINESS OF THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE
BETWEEN THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE HOUSE --
HOUSE -- >> YEP.
>> YEP. >> -- IS DANGEROUS TO AMERICAS
>> -- IS DANGEROUS TO AMERICAS INSTITUTIONS.
INSTITUTIONS.
BECAUSE IF THEY ALL GO TO COURT,
THEY NEED TO WORK IT OUT. IF THEY ALL GO TO COURT AND IT
IF THEY ALL GO TO COURT AND IT BECOMES A ZERO SUM GAME, ONE OR
BECOMES A ZERO SUM GAME, ONE OR
TWO THINGS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
TRUMPS GOING TO WIN AND THATS
GOING TO UNDERMINE CONGRESS
OVERSIGHT ABILITY.
OR CONGRESS IS GOING TO WIN, THE
HOUSE IS GOING TO WIN AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THE NEW STANDARD
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE NEW STANDARD IS THAT THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE
IS THAT THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE
CAN ASK A PRESIDENT OR A
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE ANYTHING
THEY WANT TO ABOUT THEIR
PERSONAL LIFE, WHETHER ITS RELEVANT TO BEING PRESIDENT OR
RELEVANT TO BEING PRESIDENT OR NOT.
NOT.
>> SO WHATS THE COMPROMISE?
>> I THINK THATS A DANGEROUS
PRECEDENT.
>> WHATS THE COMPROMISE?
SHOULD THE WHITE HOUSE COOPERATE
MORE?
>> I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE AND
THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP OUGHT TO
SIT DOWN AND SAY, OKAY, YOU WANT
THIS?
WELL GIVE YOU THAT.
WHY DO YOU WANT THIS?
I DONT THINK THE HOUSE IS IN
COMPLETELY GOOD FAITH.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
WHEN THE WAYS AND MEANS CHAIRMAN
SAID HE WANTED TRUMPS TAX
RETURNS, HE SAID THE REASON I
WANT HIS RETURNS IS BECAUSE IT
WILL HELP ME EVALUATE HOW GOOD A
JOB THE IRS IS DOING IN
AUDITING.
NOW, GIVE ME A BREAK, CHUCK.
>> RIGHT.
>> I MEAN, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT,
YOULL NEVER OWN YOUR OWN HOME.
NOBODY BELIEVES THAT.
I MEAN, HES IN TOTAL BAD FAITH.
THE PRESIDENT DOESNT HAVE TO
TURN OVER HIS TAX RETURNS. >> LET ME --S TAX RETURNS.
>> LET ME --
>> WOULD I DO IT IF I WERE
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, YEAH, BUT
THERE IS NO LAW THAT SAYS HE HAS
TO.
>> LET ME GO ON TO THE ISSUE OF
FOREIGN INTERFERENCE.
SHOULD IT BE A -- >> OKAY.T BE A --
>> OKAY.
>> -- CRIME TO USE STOLEN
MATERIAL IF IT COMES FROM A
FOREIGN -- A FOREIGN ADVERSARY
OF THE UNITED STATES?
SHOULD THAT BE A CRIME? BECAUSE ITS NOT -- BASICALLY IF
BECAUSE ITS NOT -- BASICALLY IF YOU READ THE MUELLER REPORT OUR
YOU READ THE MUELLER REPORT OUR
LAWS ARE BLURRY ON THIS.
>> MMM-HMM.
>> SO SHOULD IT BE A CRIME?
>> WELL, FIRST --
>> SHOULD YOU GUYS BE PASSING
THIS?
SHOULD IT BE A CRIME TO USE
STOLEN MATERIAL FROM A FOREIGN
ADVERSARY IN A CAMPAIGN?
>> WELL, IF YOU -- YOU STILL -- IF YOU MAKE THAT A CRIME, YOU--
IF YOU MAKE THAT A CRIME, YOU STILL GOT TO SHOW INTENT.
STILL GOT TO SHOW INTENT. YOU GOT TO SHOW MENS REA.
YOU GOT TO SHOW MENS REA.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THE RUSSIANS SPY ON YOU OR THE CHINESE OR THESPY
ON YOU OR THE CHINESE OR THE NORTH KOREANS, THEY DONT COME
NORTH KOREANS, THEY DONT COME INTO YOUR OFFICE AND SAY, HEY,
INTO YOUR OFFICE AND SAY, HEY, WERE FROM RUSSIA, CHINA OR
WERE FROM RUSSIA, CHINA OR NORTH KOREA AND LET ME TALK TO
NORTH KOREA AND LET ME TALK TO
YOU.
I MEAN, THEYRE VERY CLEVER. SO IF YOURE GOING TO PASS A
SO IF YOURE GOING TO PASS A LAW, YOUVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO --
LAW, YOUVE GOT TO BE ABLE TO -- YOUVE GOT TO REQUIRE CRIMINAL
YOUVE GOT TO REQUIRE CRIMINAL
INTENT.
>> BUT DO YOU -- SO YOU DONT
THINK THERE SHOULD BEOME SAFEGUARD?E SHOULD BEOME
SAFEGUARD?
>> I DIDNT SAY THAT. >> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE
>> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE THEN?
THEN?
>> IF -- IF YOURE TELLING ME SHOULD IT BE IMPROPER OR EVEN A
SHOULD IT BE IMPROPER OR EVEN A CRIME, PRESUMING YOU COULD SHOW
CRIME, PRESUMING YOU COULD SHOW
MENS REA.
>> YEAH. >> DO ME TOFOR ME TO USE IN A SE
>> DO ME TOFOR ME TO USE IN A SE RACE MATERIAL OFFERED BY CHINA
RACE MATERIAL OFFERED BY CHINA
OR NORTH KOREA OR ARGENTINA FOR THAT MATTER OR VENEZUELA, YEAH,
THAT MATTER OR VENEZUELA, YEAH, IM WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT
IM WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT, BUT
YOUVE GOT TO SHOW INTENT.
>> AND DO YOU THINK THE -- THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS YET AND THEE
TRUMP CAMPAIGN IS YET AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS A WHOLE HAS
REPUBLICAN PARTY AS A WHOLE HAS YET TO PLEDGE NOT TO USE STOLEN
YET TO PLEDGE NOT TO USE STOLEN MATERIAL.
MATERIAL.
SHOULD THEY?
>> WELL, ILL PLEDGE I WONT USE
STOLEN MATERIAL, BUT IVE GOT TO
KNOW ITS STOLEN MATERIAL.
IF SOMEBODY SENDS ME INFORMATION
AND I DONT KNOW ITS COMING FROM RUDYA FOREIGN ADVERSARY --
FROM RUDYA FOREIGN ADVERSARY -- >> SO RUDY GIULIANI IS WRONG --
>> SO RUDY GIULIANI IS WRONG --
>> THEN I DONT HAVE THE MENS
RAYY
RHEA.
>> RUDY GIULIANI IS WRONG WHEN HE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG
HE SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG USING STOLEN INFORMATION FROM
USING STOLEN INFORMATION FROM THE RUSSIANS.
THE RUSSIANS.
>> I DONT KNOW IF HES RIGHT OR WRONG.ONT KNOW IF HES RIGHT OR
WRONG.
IM NOT TRYING TO DODGE YOUR
QUESTION, CHUCK, I JUST DONT
KNOW.
>> ETHICALLY SHOULD THAT BE
WRONG?
>> IF YOURE ASKING ME, YEAH. >> OKAY.URE ASKING ME, YEAH.
>> OKAY.
>> IM NOT GOING TO USE STOLEN
MATERIAL FROM RUSSIA OR CHINA. I DONT THINK -- I DONT KNOWNA.
I DONT THINK -- I DONT KNOW ANYBODY WHO WOULD.
ANYBODY WHO WOULD.
BUT THE POINT IS YOUVE GOT TO KNOW ITS STOLEN. YOUVE GOT TO
KNOW ITS STOLEN. >> OKAY.
>> OKAY.
>> GENERALLY WHEN THEY SEND YOU THIS STUFF IN A CAMPAIGN, IFYOU
THIS STUFF IN A CAMPAIGN, IF RUSSIA -- TO MY KNOWLEDGE
RUSSIA -- TO MY KNOWLEDGE RUSSIAS NEVER SENT ME ANYTHING
RUSSIAS NEVER SENT ME ANYTHING IN A CAMPAIGN, BUT IF THEY DID,
IN A CAMPAIGN, BUT IF THEY DID, I KNOW THEYRE NOT MORONS,
I KNOW THEYRE NOT MORONS, THEYRE NOT JELLY HEADS THEYRE
THEYRE NOT JELLY HEADS THEYRE
NOT GOING TO WALK IN AND SAY,
HI, IM FROM RUSSIA, IVE GOT
SOME INFORMATION FOR YOU.
>> BEFORE I GO, I WANT TO ASK
YOU ABOUT NORTH KOREA.
>> OKAY.
>> IT DOES APPEAR AS IF KIM
JONG-UN LAUNCHED THESE ROCKETS
IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNITED
STATES.
IF PRESIDENT TRUMP CONCEDES TO
MORE NEGOTIATIONS BASED ON THAT,
IS THAT THE WRONG PREMISE TO DO,
THAT KIM JONG-UN -- SHOULD HE BE
PUNISHED FOR THIS FIRST INSTEAD
OF REWARDED WITH MORE TALKS?
>> WELL, I WANT TO KEEP TALKING
WITH KIM JONG-UN.
I THINK --
>> DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENTS
BEING PLAYED?
>> NO.
WELL, I DONT KNOW.
I MEAN, HE COULD BE.
I DONT KNOW.
THE ONLY PERSON WHO KNOWS THAT
IS KIM JONG-UN.
WE CAN ALL SPECULATE, BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE US BE --
WOULD MUCH RATHER HAVE US BE -- TALKING -- HAVE US TALKING WITH
TALKING -- HAVE US TALKING WITH
KIM JONG-UN THAN FIRING MISSILES
AT EACH OTHER.
NOW AT SOME POINT WERE GOING TO
GET DOWN TO IT.
ITS GOING TO BE WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO GIVE UP AND WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO GIVE UP?
I ASSUME THE PRESIDENTS WORKING
ON THAT.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME --
>> OKAY.
>> -- I THINK THOSE SANCTIONS
ARE BITING AND I THINK THEYRE HURTING NORTH KOREA VERY HARD,
HURTING NORTH KOREA VERY HARD, AND IF WE CAN WORK OUT A TRADE
AND IF WE CAN WORK OUT A TRADE
DEAL WITH CHINA AND GET CHINA TO BE MORE COOPERATIVE --T CHINA TO
BE MORE COOPERATIVE -- >> OKAY.
>> OKAY.
>> -- WE CAN BRING KIM TO HIS
KNEES.
WHAT I HATE IS HAVING TO HURT
THE PEOPLE OF NORTH KOREA WHILE
WERE HURTING THE KNUCKLEHEAD THEYVE GOT DO THEIR PRESIDENT,
THEYVE GOT DO THEIR PRESIDENT, BUT THATS THE WAY IT IS.