>> Steve: I REMEMBER HIM WELL.
GRIFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> Ainsley: ALL RIGHT, JOINING
US NOW ON THE HEELS OF HER VERY
EXCITING NIGHT WE HAVE THE
WINNER OF THE G.O.P. PRIMARY FOR
VIRGINIA’S SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT.
YES, SIRLY VEGA.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN. >> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME OFF LAW
ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND.
YOU WERE BORN TO SALVADORIAN
IMMIGRANTS WHO FLED FOR A BETTER
LIFE HERE IN AMERICA.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY?
>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY
EXCITED, STILL.
WE HAVEN’T SLEPT MUCH, BUT
THAT’S OKAY BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT
HARD WORK IS AND WE ARE GETTING
READY TO BRING IT HOME FOR
VIRGINIA’S SEVENTH DISTRICT THIS
FALL.
IT WAS AN AMAZING NIGHT.
AND I’M SO BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO SHARE IT WITH MY PARENTS
WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.
NOTHING BUT REALIZED THEIR
AMERICAN DREAM THROUGH HARD WORK
AND DEDICATION AND HIEWTTLE.
I’M HUMBLED TO BE IN THE
POSITION I AM TODAY.
>> Steve: ABSOLUTELY.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC
SERVICE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN A POLICE
OFFICER.
YOU WORKED AS A POLICE OFFICER
IN THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
THERE AND YOU ARE NOW AN
AUXILIARY IN THE PRINCE WILLIAM
COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AS WELL.
HOW LARGE IS LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND, YOU KNOW, THE CRIME WAVE
THAT’S GOING ACROSS OUR COUNTRY
WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR
VOTE IN NOVEMBER?
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING OKAY,
YES, ABSOLUTELY.
INFLATION IS KILLING US.
BUT WE HAVE GOT PAY ATTENTION TO
CRIME?
>> IT’S ABSOLUTELY A TOPIC OF
PRIORITY FOR VOTERS UP AND DOWN
THE SEVENTH DISTRICT.
I’M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT
REPUBLICAN VOTERS.
I’M TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRAT
VOTERS, INDEPENDENT VOTERS.
THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF FOLKS
IS TO LIVE IN SAFE AND SECURE
COMMUNITIES.
TO KNOW THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE
GOING TO BE SAFE PLAYING
OUTSIDE.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE A
DEMOCRAT PARTY THAT HAS OPENED
UP THE DOORS FOR CRIME
SKYROCKETING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
LIKE WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN ABIGAIL
SPANBERGER THAT LED THE CHARGE
TO UNQUALIFIED IMMUNITY.
HAS TAKEN FELONY AOC’S DEFUND
THE POLICE PAC AND THAT’S
SOMETHING WE WILL REMIND VOTERS
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND WE’LL
ENSURE WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO
PROVIDE THAT SAFETY THAT VOTERS
SO DESPERATELY WANT.
BRINE BRIAN WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT
SPANBERGER THAT’S A MODERATE CIA
BACKGROUND, WHAT DO YOU SAY
BECAUSE MOST EXPERTS WILL ALSO
SAY SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST
VULNERABLE IN THE HOUSE.
>> VOTERS ARE NO LONGER BUYING
THAT.
THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHO SHE IS AND
WHAT HER VOTING RECORD HAS BEEN
DOWN IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
IT’S ELECTION TIME.
SO YOU HAVE ABIGAIL SPANBERGER
ACTING AS A DOUBLE AGENT AND
VOTERS HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
WE HAVE THE MOMENTUM.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED AND I
CAN’T WAIT TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
WITH NEW VOTERS AS THIS CAMPAIGN
CONTINUES AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
DELIVERING FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE
SEVENTH DISTRICT THIS FALL.
>> Ainsley: WE ALSO WANTED TO
ASK YOU BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND ABOUT
UVALDE.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF
WAS DENIED A LEAVE OF ABSENCE
FROM THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THEY ARE NOT ALLOWING HIM TO DO
THAT.
I THINK BECAUSE THEY WANT HIM
ULTIMATELY JUST TO STEP DOWN IF
HE MISSES SO MANY COUNCIL
MEETINGS HE WILL BE KICKED OFF
THE COUNCIL.
HE HAS BEEN WIDELY CRITICIZED TO
WAIT TOO LONG TO SEND THOSE
OFFICERS IN TO RESCUE THOSE
CHILDRENS IN CLASSROOM 111 AND
112.
THE STATE POLICE HAVE CALLED
THIS AN ABJECT FAILURE.
WHAT YOUR RESPONSE.
>> IT’S A TRAGEDY.
I THINK IT’S VERY EASY TO STEP
BACK AND TRY TO CRITICIZE.
I’M CERTAINLY VERY INTERESTED IN
CONTINUING TO SEE WHAT OTHER
DETAILS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO
THE PUBLIC.
BUT CERTAINLY, IT’S A TRAGEDY.
AND I CAN’T IMAGINE ALL OF THE
SUFFERING AND PAIN THAT PARENTS
ARE STILL FEELING, BUT IT’S
ABSOLUTELY OUR DUTY AS PUBLIC
SERVANTS TO ENSURE THAT WE DO
OUR BEST TO UPHOLD THAT OATH
THAT WE HAVE TAKEN.
WHICH IS TO SERVE AND TO
PROTECT.
I’M REALLY GOING TO BE FOCUSING
ON THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO
CAMPAIGN AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE MORE IN
THE FALL.
>> Steve: THAT’S RIGHT.
THE EXPERTS SAY THE OFFICERS
COULD HAVE GONE IN THREE MINUTES
AFTER THEY ARRIVED.
>> Brian: AND SHOT HIM EVEN
BEFORE HE GOT INTO THE BUILDING.
>> Steve: IT IS SO HEART
BREAKING THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.
I KNOW YOU PUT OUT A STATEMENT
YESTERDAY.
YOU SAID AFTER YOUR WIN NOW IS
TIME TO BRING EVERYBODY
TOGETHER, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS.
INFLATION DOESN’T DISCRIMINATE
THAT REALLY IS THE NUMBER ONE
THING THAT RESONATES WITH
EVERYBODY.
YEAH, GAS PRICES ARE THROUGH THE
ROOF.
BUT, THE PRICE OF INFLATION IS
LIKE A TAX ON EVERYBODY.
>> IT ABSOLUTELY IS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE IN
THE POSITION THAT WE ARE IN
BECAUSE OF JOE BIDEN POSITIONS
ON POLICIES AND ABIGAIL
SPANBERGER SUPPORTING HIM EVERY
SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY.
WHEN I’M AT THE GAS PUMP I TALK
TO VOTERS AND WHEN I’M AT THE
GROCERY STORE I BE SPEAK TO
VOTERS.
I REMINDING PEOPLE THAT THERE IS
A POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN CHANGE
AND TURN THINGS AROUND AND IT
STARTS WITH OPENING THEIR MINDS,
OPENING THEIR HEARTS, AND GIVING
US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO
THEM ABOUT WHY WE ARE IN THE
BEST POSITION TO REPRESENT THEM
THE WAY THEY DESERVE TO BE
REPRESENTED.
>> Brian: A REPUBLICAN WAVE
ELECTION A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING
TO YOUR SEAT AND YOUR OUTCOME TO
GIVE AN INDICATION OF HOW BIG IT
WILL BE.
NOT MUCH PRESSURE ON YOUR