CSPAN2 — Public Affairs Events
20260808 040000 UTC
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[00:00:02] MOVE FORWARD AS A DEPARTMENT
[00:00:05] DOING THE RIGHT THING, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY, ANY,
[00:00:09] ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST, UM, WHETHER IT'S RELEASING
[00:00:12] EMAILS OR ADMITTING TO THINGS THAT WE DID AND THE DEPARTMENT
[00:00:16] DID THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE, UM, TO, TO MAKING, BEING
[00:00:19] TRANSPARENT WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT THAT. THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO. AND THAT'S WHAT,
[00:00:23] THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
[00:00:25] >> I MADE MESSAGES PUBLIC
[00:00:29] BETWEEN JACK SMITH'S OFFICE THAT
[00:00:31] APPEARED TO RELATE TO THE TRUMP
[00:00:33] CLASSIFIED DOCUMENT CASE. THOSE MESSAGES SHOWED GOVERNMENT
[00:00:36] PERSONNEL LEFT OPEN A CLASSIFIED
[00:00:39] FACILITY AND POTENTIALLY MISHANDLED CLASSIFIED
[00:00:43] INFORMATION, CAUSING A SECURITY VIOLATION, WHILE DEFENSE
[00:00:47] COUNSEL'S TO TRUMP. UH, DID THE
[00:00:49] GOVERNMENT APPRIZE YOU OF THESE
[00:00:52] ISSUES? AND SECONDLY, DID THE BIDEN JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION DO
[00:00:56] ANY INVESTIGATION INTO THIS
[00:00:59] MISCONDUCT? >> WE WERE NEVER ADVISED AT THAT
[00:01:01] TIME. WHEN I WAS DEFENSE COUNSEL TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, AND I'M NOT
[00:01:04] AWARE OF ANY INVESTIGATION THAT
[00:01:07] WAS STARTED BY FOR THAT ALLEGED CONDUCT.
[00:01:10] >> UH, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MUST DO A FULL AND COMPLETE
[00:01:14] INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER. UH, THIS WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO
[00:01:17] BE MY LAST QUESTION. ON MARCH
[00:01:20] THE 15th, THIS YEAR, I MADE PUBLIC A SIGNED AND SWORN
[00:01:23] STATEMENT FROM AN FBI OFFICIAL. THAT STATEMENT SAYS TWO
[00:01:27] IMPORTANT THINGS. SPECIAL COUNSEL MUELLER'S TEAM LACKED A
[00:01:31] LEGAL BASIS TO PURSUE A FISA
[00:01:35] RENEWAL OF THE WALID PHARES AND
[00:01:38] INVESTIGATE THOMAS BURR, BUT DID
[00:01:43] SO ANYWAY. WHAT STEPS HAVE YOU
[00:01:45] TAKEN TO INVESTIGATE THESE VERY
[00:01:48] TROUBLING CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS? AND IF YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY
[00:01:51] ACTION, WHY NOT? >> WE WE ARE INVESTIGATING THAT,
[00:01:54] CHAIRMAN, AND IT WOULD BE
[00:01:57] INAPPROPRIATE IN THIS SETTING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT
[00:02:00] INVESTIGATION. BUT THE THE SWORN AFFIDAVIT THAT THAT WE REVIEWED
[00:02:04] FROM THAT YOU PROVIDED, UM, DOES
[00:02:06] RAISE SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. YES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SENATOR DURBIN.
[00:02:10] >> THANK MR. BLANCHE, UH, I HAVE
[00:02:13] A FEW QUESTIONS I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU. IS IT NOT TRUE THAT
[00:02:17] CONGRESS HAD TO PASS A LAW
[00:02:19] REQUIRING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO DISCLOSE THE
[00:02:22] EPSTEIN FILES, THE EPSTEIN FILES
[00:02:26] TRANSPARENCY ACT, PASSED BY BIPARTISAN ROLL CALLS IN THE
[00:02:28] HOUSE AND SENATE TO FINALLY GET THE FILES MADE PUBLIC.
[00:02:32] >> PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED THAT LAW. >> YES, OF COURSE HE DID. AFTER
[00:02:35] OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF HOUSE MEMBERS AND SENATE MEMBERS VOTED
[00:02:38] FOR IT ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS
[00:02:42] BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD NOT VOLUNTARILY PRODUCE THESE
[00:02:45] DOCUMENTS. NOW, I'VE MENTIONED. >> THAT'S NOT TRUE. >> WELL, WHAT PART OF IT ISN'T TRUE?
[00:02:49] >> UM, WE WERE PROHIBITED BY LAW FROM FROM PRODUCING THOSE
[00:02:52] DOCUMENTS. THIS IS A JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. THERE ARE LAWS THAT
[00:02:55] DID NOT ALLOW US TO PRODUCE
[00:02:56] THOSE DOCUMENTS, WHICH WE MADE
[00:03:00] PLAIN IN NUMEROUS COURT FILINGS. SO WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD SAID FROM DAY ONE TO RELEASE THE
[00:03:04] FILES, EVEN WHEN HE WAS RUNNING. AND SO, YES, HE SIGNED IT INTO LAW AND WE COMPLIED WITH IT.
[00:03:08] >> I REMEMBER, AND EVERYONE IN
[00:03:09] THE AUDIENCE REMEMBERS THE LINKS
[00:03:13] THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WENT THROUGH TO DELAY PRODUCTION OF
[00:03:17] THESE DOCUMENTS, TO THE POINT WHERE CONGRESS DID AN
[00:03:21] EXTRAORDINARY THING, DISCHARGE MOTION IN THE HOUSE TO BRING
[00:03:24] THIS MATTER BEFORE THEM AND VOTE
[00:03:26] ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS TO COMPEL YOUR ADMINISTRATION TO DISCLOSE
[00:03:30] THOSE DOCUMENTS. LET ME TALK TO YOU FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE SURVIVORS ARE IN THE ROOM. THERE
[00:03:34] ARE TEN INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE
[00:03:35] EXPLOITED AND ABUSED BY MR.
[00:03:38] EPSTEIN. THEY ARE HERE TODAY. NONE OF THEM HAVE HAD A CHANCE
[00:03:41] TO SPEAK TO ANYONE IN THE DEPARTMENT OR FBI, THOUGH
[00:03:45] THEY'VE ASKED REPEATEDLY. SO, CAN I GET YOUR WORD UNDER OATH
[00:03:48] THAT WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, YOU WILL PERSONALLY SIT DOWN
[00:03:52] WITH THESE TEN VICTIMS AND HEAR THEIR CASE IN TERMS OF WHAT
[00:03:56] NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
[00:03:59] >> I, CHAIRMAN, I APPRECIATE THEM BEING HERE TODAY. I ALSO
[00:04:02] HAVE SOMEBODY FROM MY OFFICE
[00:04:04] WHO'S SPENT HER ENTIRE CAREER WORKING ON CASES LIKE MR.
[00:04:08] EPSTEIN'S. SHE'S IN CHARGE OF OUR TASK FORCE INVESTIGATING
[00:04:12] HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SHE'S AVAILABLE TO TALK TO THEM. >> SHE CAN SIT RIGHT NEXT TO
[00:04:15] YOU. SHE CAN SIT RIGHT NEXT TO YOU. WHEN YOU MEET WITH THESE SURVIVORS.
[00:04:19] >> I AM. I HAVE NEVER SAID I WILL NOT MEET WITH SURVIVORS.
[00:04:21] >> WILL YOU MEET WITH THESE SURVIVORS? I'M ASKING YOU ON THE RECORD.
[00:04:24] >> IF THEY HAVE LAWYERS. AS YOU
[00:04:27] KNOW, I'M PROHIBITED FROM MEETING DIRECTLY WITH THEM. I
[00:04:30] HAVE MET WITH COUNSEL FOR SURVIVORS, AS HAS MANY PEOPLE IN
[00:04:32] THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OVER 30. BUT IF THEY ARE REPRESENTED
[00:04:36] BY COUNSEL, WE WILL WORK WITH THEIR COUNSEL. IF THEY DON'T HAVE A LAWYER, I WILL CERTAINLY
[00:04:40] MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO MAKE SURE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MEET WITH.
[00:04:44] ABSOLUTELY. >> WILL YOU GET IT DONE WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS? THAT I WILL GET.
[00:04:47] >> IT DONE TODAY, IF THAT'S
[00:04:50] NECESSARY. MY POINT IS, THERE'S SOMEBODY HERE WHO CAN MEET WITH
[00:04:53] THEM TODAY, GET THEIR INFORMATION, AND ARRANGE TO MEET WITH THEM. >> ABSOLUTELY. OUGHT TO BE IN
[00:04:56] THE ROOM. PARDON ME. I THINK YOU OUGHT TO BE IN THE ROOM BECAUSE
[00:04:59] YOU OUGHT TO HEAR THIS. YOU HAD
[00:05:03] SINGULAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE FILES. UH, THERE WAS A DELAY IN MEETING THE STATUTORY
[00:05:06] REQUIREMENT ON DISCLOSURE. YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THAT? I THINK
[00:05:09] YOU OUGHT TO BE PART OF THIS. >> AND I AM DEFINITELY PART OF
[00:05:12] IT. AND I HAVE BEEN FROM DAY ONE. >> AND IT WILL BE DONE WITHIN
[00:05:16] THE NEXT 30 DAYS. >> I HAVE I CAN KEEP ON REPEATING MYSELF, BUT I SAID IT
[00:05:19] COULD GET DONE AS SOON AS TODAY. IT COULD HAVE GOTTEN DONE LAST
[00:05:23] WEEK. WE REMAIN AVAILABLE TO MEET WITH ANY VICTIM OR THEIR
[00:05:27] REPRESENTATIVE AT ANY TIME. >> WILL YOU NOTIFY THE COMMITTEE
[00:05:30] WHEN YOU'VE DONE THIS? >> UM, THAT WOULD BE PROHIBITED
[00:05:33] BY LAW. IF THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.
[00:05:37] >> I'M ASKING YOU IF YOU'LL NOTIFY THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU MET. DEPENDS ON.
[00:05:39] >> WHAT THEY SAID. I'M NOT SURE I'M ALLOWED TO NOTIFY YOU IF
[00:05:43] THERE'S AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION. >> WELL, YOU'RE DANCING ON THE
[00:05:47] HEAD OF A PIN HERE. >> I'M NOT DANCING ON ANY PIN.
[00:05:51] >> THESE SURVIVORS WHO HAVE THE COURAGE TO COME BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE HAVE THE COURAGE TO
[00:05:55] TELL THEIR TERRIBLE STORIES, HOW
[00:05:56] THEY WERE EXPLOITED. DON'T YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE
[00:06:00] HAVE A PROMPT RESPONSE BY OUR
[00:06:03] GOVERNMENT TO THESE SURVIVORS? >> ABSOLUTELY. AND THERE WILL BE
[00:06:05] A PROMPT RESPONSE. I MY HEART
[00:06:09] BREAKS FOR EVERY SURVIVOR, EVERY VICTIM OF MR. EPSTEIN.
[00:06:12] ABSOLUTELY. AND I WOULD LOVE TO PROSECUTE ANYBODY THAT DID ANY
[00:06:16] HARM TO THESE. >> WILL YOU MEET WITH THEM WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS? THE LAST TIME I ASKED A QUESTION,
[00:06:20] YOU CAN SAY YES OR NO. >> KEEP ON ANSWERING IT. THE SAME WAY I CAN MEET WITH THEM.
[00:06:24] MY STAFF WILL MEET WITH THEM. WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER HERE. >> YOU CAN MEET WITH THEM. WILL
[00:06:27] YOU MEET WITH THEM? >> UH, I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE
[00:06:31] LOOKING FOR ME TO SAY. AS I SAID. >> YES, THERE.
[00:06:33] >> ARE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE. IF THEY'RE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL,
[00:06:37] I'M NOT ALLOWED TO MEET WITH
[00:06:38] THEM DIRECTLY. AS YOU KNOW, I
[00:06:41] ASSURE YOU, THE FBI, WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THIS SPACE,
[00:06:45] PROSECUTORS, WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THIS SPACE, AND ME, IF
[00:06:47] NECESSARY, WILL ABSOLUTELY MEET WITH THEM. I PROMISE YOU THIS. >> I THINK.
[00:06:51] >> I WILL STAY UPDATED AND KNOW
[00:06:53] EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING WITH ANY VICTIM THAT HAS INFORMATION
[00:06:57] ABOUT ANY OF ANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH EPSTEIN, THAT COMMITTED ANY CRIMES WITH
[00:07:01] EPSTEIN. ABSOLUTELY. >> WELL, IF YOU'RE TRULY
[00:07:05] COMMITTED TO EXTRAORDINARY TRANSPARENCY AND YOU'RE WILLING TO MEET WITH THESE VICTIMS, I
[00:07:08] HOPE YOU WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY,
[00:07:10] OR WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU TO
[00:07:12] IT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE IMMUNITY
[00:07:15] PROVISIONS THAT YOU SIGNED. UH,
[00:07:20] RELATIVE TO THE RESPONSIBILITY
[00:07:23] AND LIABILITY OF THE PRESIDENT
[00:07:25] AND HIS FAMILY AND THEIR BUSINESSES WHEN IT COMES TO TAX
[00:07:28] AUDITS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN HOW WE CAN GIVE TO THE
[00:07:31] PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY AND
[00:07:35] BUSINESSES EXEMPTIONS FROM COMPLYING WITH THE TAX LAWS OF
[00:07:37] THE UNITED STATES
[00:07:39] >> IT'S IT'S NOT AN EXEMPTION TO COMPLY WITH THE TAX LAWS OF
[00:07:44] THE UNITED STATES. AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT. IT WAS AN AGREEMENT THAT ANY PAST AUDITS
[00:07:48] WOULD, WOULD BE WOULD END. >> THE UNITED STATES. YOUR
[00:07:52] SIGNATURE, THE UNITED STATES
[00:07:54] RELEASES WAVES, ACQUITS, AND
[00:07:58] FOREVER DISCHARGES EACH OF THE PLAINTIFFS WHEN IT COMES TO TAX
[00:08:02] LIABILITY. THAT'S THAT'S HOW IT READS. IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY
[00:08:06] SWEEPING. YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT
[00:08:07] IS A DISCHARGE FOREVER FROM
[00:08:11] LIABILITY. >> OF PAST, OF, OF ANY PAST
[00:08:13] FILINGS. YES.
[00:08:16] >> IT IS. PEOPLE? EVERYONE IN
[00:08:19] THIS ROOM, ALL OF US ON THIS SIDE, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE TAX
[00:08:22] LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. AND IF WE DON'T, WE CAN BE HELD
[00:08:26] RESPONSIBLE FOR IT TO THE POINT OF EVEN CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
[00:08:29] WHY DID YOU DECIDE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS FAMILY
[00:08:33] AND THEIR BUSINESSES SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THAT SAME RESPONSIBILITY?
[00:08:36] >> AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT
[00:08:38] BETWEEN THE IRS AND PRESIDENT
[00:08:42] TRUMP AND SOME OF HIS FAMILY, TWO OF HIS SONS AND HIS
[00:08:45] ORGANIZATION, UM, AS IS TYPICAL,
[00:08:47] WHEN THERE'S A SETTLEMENT
[00:08:50] BETWEEN PLAINTIFFS AND THE IRS,
[00:08:51] PART OF THE SETTLEMENT INCLUDED
[00:08:54] RELEASE OF, OF ANY PAST AUDITS.
[00:08:56] IT DOES NOT GIVE ANY PROTECTION TO THE PRESIDENT, HIS FAMILY, OR
[00:09:00] HIS ORGANIZATIONS FOR ANY TAXES THEY FILE. IF THEY FILED IT THE
[00:09:03] DAY AFTER I THE DAY OF THAT, I
[00:09:05] SIGNED THAT AGREEMENT OR THE DAY AFTER. THEY HAVE NO PROTECTION. >> NO MATTER WHAT THEIR
[00:09:08] LIABILITY, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR
[00:09:10] VIOLATION OF TAX LAW. YOU SIGNED
[00:09:13] A DOCUMENT THAT FOREVER DISCHARGED THEM FROM ANY LEGAL
[00:09:17] RESPONSIBILITY. >> AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT THAT WE ENTERED INTO ANY PAST
[00:09:20] AUDITS WERE. >> HOW OFTEN, HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE
[00:09:23] HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. >> INVOLVING THE PRESIDENT OF
[00:09:26] THE UNITED STATES? I'M NOT SURE IT'S EVER BEEN DONE, BUT THIS
[00:09:30] TYPE OF SETTLEMENT IS DONE REGULARLY. >> SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT WHEN
[00:09:33] IT COMES TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE
[00:09:34] UNITED STATES, HIS FAMILY AND
[00:09:37] BUSINESSES HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE TAX
[00:09:40] LAWS FOR ANY WRONGDOING? PRIOR TO THE SIGNING OF THIS DOCUMENT?
[00:09:44] >> NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT AT ALL. I WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT I
[00:09:47] THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS FAMILY ARE THE FIRST PRESIDENT THAT HAD THEIR TAX RETURNS
[00:09:51] ILLEGALLY TAKEN ILLEGALLY. UM,
[00:09:55] AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. SO THAT IS UNIQUE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. YES. BUT THIS
[00:09:58] TYPE OF SETTLEMENT IS NOT UNIQUE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OR
[00:10:02] THE IRS. >> IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN TO THE
[00:10:05] AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. WHEN THAT TYPE OF
[00:10:08] DOCUMENT WAS SIGNED BY YOU
[00:10:10] FOREVER DISCHARGING THAT FAMILY
[00:10:13] AND THAT PRESIDENT FROM ANY LIABILITY FOR VIOLATING THE TAX
[00:10:17] LAWS. >> NOBODY IS ABOVE THE LAW. AND
[00:10:20] WHEN WE ENTER INTO SETTLEMENTS LIKE THAT, WE DO IT WITH ALL
[00:10:22] KINDS OF PEOPLE. IT'S NOT JUST PRESIDENT TRUMP. IT DOESN'T MAKE
[00:10:26] ANY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ABOVE THE LAW. >> SO LET ME ASK YOU, SINCE YOU
[00:10:30] DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE SHOULD BE ABOVE THE LAW ABOUT THE JANUARY
[00:10:33] 6th RIOTERS PARDONED, WE'VE TAKEN A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT THE PRESIDENT
[00:10:37] PARDONED ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE. THE ONES WHO ATTACKED
[00:10:40] THIS CAPITOL. AND I'LL USE THE WORD ATTACK, BECAUSE I WAS HERE
[00:10:43] AND I SAW WHAT HAPPENED. ANYONE LOOKING AT THE VIDEOS KNOWS WHAT
[00:10:46] HAPPENED ON THAT DAY. AMONG THOSE WHO WERE PARDONED BY THE
[00:10:49] PRESIDENT ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO'VE GONE ON TO COMMIT SERIOUS CRIMES
[00:10:53] AGAINST INNOCENT VICTIMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. DO YOU THINK
[00:10:56] THAT BLANKET PARDON BY THE PRESIDENT OF JANUARY 6th RIOTERS
[00:11:00] WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO? >> I THINK THAT THIS THE
[00:11:03] CONSTITUTION GIVES THE PRESIDENT THE FULL POWER TO PARDON ANYBODY
[00:11:06] FOR ANY REASON HE WANTS. AND SO
[00:11:08] I, I DON'T QUESTION PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AUTHORITY OR IS A
[00:11:11] DECISION TO DO SO. ON JANUARY 20th.
[00:11:13] >> YOU DON'T QUESTION HIS DECISION.
[00:11:16] >> AS I SAID, PRESIDENT TRUMP, UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION, JUST
[00:11:19] LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS THE
[00:11:21] AUTHORITY TO PARDON ANYBODY FOR ANY FEDERAL CRIME. AND AND
[00:11:25] THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERY PRESIDENT. THAT'S A PRIVILEGE
[00:11:28] EVERY PRESIDENT'S AFFORDED, AND INCLUDING INCLUDING PRESIDENT
[00:11:31] BIDEN AND PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, HE MAY
[00:11:34] HAVE HAD THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT, BUT I THINK SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE
[00:11:38] GRABBED HIM BY THE ARM AND SAID, STOP, YOU CAN'T RELEASE ALL OF
[00:11:41] THOSE RIOTERS. SOME OF THEM
[00:11:44] ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED POLICEMEN IN THE CAPITOL. SOME
[00:11:47] OF THEM WERE GUILTY OF CRIMES, SERIOUS CRIMES, BEFORE THAT DAY.
[00:11:51] AND FOR THE PRESIDENT TO GIVE A BLANKET PARDON TO THESE
[00:11:54] INDIVIDUALS IS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN EXPLAIN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. YOU
[00:11:58] CERTAINLY CAN'T EXPLAIN IT TO THE POLICEMEN WHO ALMOST LOST THEIR LIVES BECAUSE OF THESE
[00:12:02] ATTACKERS. I YIELD, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[00:12:05] >> BEFORE I GO TO SENATOR CORNYN, I'D LIKE TO ENTER INTO
[00:12:08] THE RECORD. UM, SUPPORTING MR.
[00:12:14] BLANCHE NOMINATION FROM, UH, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN
[00:12:18] ASHCROFT. AND THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE LETTER. THIS RULE OF
[00:12:21] LAW IS THE BEST FRIEND OF, UH,
[00:12:29] LIBERTY TO SAFEGUARD THIS CORE
[00:12:31] VALUE. AMERICA NEEDS AN ATTORNEY
[00:12:35] GENERAL EXCLUSIVELY DEVOTED TO THE RULE OF LAW AND WILL HONOR
[00:12:38] HIS OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION. TODD BLANCHE IS THE RIGHT PERSON
[00:12:41] FOR THAT RESPONSIBILITY. HIS
[00:12:44] RECORD AND CREDENTIALS UNDERGIRD
[00:12:47] MY WHOLE HEARTED SUPPORT FOR HIS
[00:12:52] NOMINATION. WITHOUT OBJECTION, THAT WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE
[00:12:54] RECORD. SENATOR CORNYN.
[00:12:57] >> GOOD MORNING, MR. BLANCHE. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR
[00:13:00] NOMINATION. THERE'S A LOT TO
[00:13:03] ADMIRE ABOUT YOUR RECORD OF SERVICE TO, UH, TO OUR COUNTRY.
[00:13:06] AND, UH, I RESPECT THE FACT THAT
[00:13:08] YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THAT
[00:13:13] SERVICE. AND AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS I TOLD YOU IN MY
[00:13:14] OFFICE, I THINK THE ATTORNEY
[00:13:17] GENERAL HAS THE HARDEST JOB IN
[00:13:20] WASHINGTON, D.C., BECAUSE YOU ARE AT THE SAME TIME, A MEMBER
[00:13:22] OF THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET,
[00:13:25] SUBJECT UH, WHATEVER THE
[00:13:29] PRESIDENT WANTS FOR ANY REASON OR NO REASON AT ALL. BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE A DUTY AS THE
[00:13:33] CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF
[00:13:37] THE UNITED STATES. AND I THINK
[00:13:39] IT'S A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT
[00:13:42] BALANCE. AND I WANT TO ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, PARTICULARLY IN CONNECTION WITH
[00:13:46] THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TAX, UH,
[00:13:49] CASE. THERE'S SO MUCH THAT'S
[00:13:52] UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS. FIRST OF
[00:13:53] ALL, THE FACT THAT THE TAX
[00:13:57] RETURNS WERE LEAKED BY A IRS
[00:14:00] CONTRACTOR, CHARLES LITTLEJOHN,
[00:14:02] WHO WAS APPROPRIATELY CONVICTED OF A CRIME FOR DOING THAT.
[00:14:06] PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS, UH, HIS
[00:14:08] FAMILY WERE DEFINITELY, UH, VICTIMS OF A CRIME THERE. UM,
[00:14:12] BUT IT HAPPENED BACK IN 2020,
[00:14:17] AND THE LAWSUIT WASN'T BROUGHT UNTIL 2026. SO, UH, WITH THE TWO
[00:14:21] YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, UH,
[00:14:23] SEEMS TO ME THAT, UH, THAT WAS SOMETHING I KNOW THAT WAS THE
[00:14:27] SUBJECT OF PLEADING IN THE, IN
[00:14:30] THE COMPLAINT AND ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE TWO YEAR STATUTE OF
[00:14:32] LIMITATIONS. BUT THAT STRUCK ME
[00:14:35] AS, AS UNUSUAL. UM, BUT LET'S
[00:14:37] TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
[00:14:41] AND THE RELEASE. UM, FIRST OF
[00:14:43] ALL, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE SAID
[00:14:45] THAT THE WEAPONIZATION FUND IS A
[00:14:48] MOOT ISSUE. IS THAT YOUR
[00:14:51] POSITION? >> YES, IT IS A MOOT ISSUE, MEANING THERE IS NO WEAPONIZATION FUND. THE
[00:14:55] WEAPONIZATION FUND IS DEAD. IT'S NOT MOVING FORWARD.
[00:14:58] >> WELL, I WOULD REFER YOU TO
[00:15:00] THE, UH, SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A COPY OF
[00:15:03] THAT IN FRONT OF YOU? >> I DO NOT.
[00:15:06] >> OKAY, WELL, YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHAT'S WHAT'S IN IT. >> I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT.
[00:15:10] >> YES, I'M SURE YOU ARE. ON PAGE FOUR. THIS SETTLEMENT
[00:15:12] AGREEMENT CAN BE MODIFIED. MAY BE MODIFIED ONLY UPON THE
[00:15:16] WRITTEN AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES. HAS THERE BEEN A WRITTEN AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES
[00:15:19] TO MODIFY THE SETTLEMENT FUND? >> NO. THE SETTLEMENT FUNDS ARE
[00:15:23] JUST NOT MOVING FORWARD. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO MODIFICATION. IT'S JUST IT
[00:15:26] NEVER STARTED. NO MONEY WENT FROM THE TREASURY TO ANY OTHER
[00:15:29] ACCOUNT. THERE'S NO COMMISSIONERS. IT'S NOT MOVING
[00:15:33] FORWARD. >> WELL, SO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT REMAINS, AS IT WAS
[00:15:37] ORIGINALLY. UM, BUT I HEAR WHAT
[00:15:42] YOU'RE SAYING. UM IS IT IS THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ENFORCEABLE
[00:15:44] AS A CONTRACT BY THE PARTIES?
[00:15:48] >> WELL, YES, IT'S AN ENFORCEABLE DOCUMENT. SO I
[00:15:50] SUPPOSE IF, IF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S COUNSEL SOUGHT TO
[00:15:53] ENFORCE IT, UM, THEY POTENTIALLY
[00:15:57] COULD, UM. >> INCLUDING INCLUDING THE WEAPONIZATION FUND. >> WELL, THEY COULD TRY TO
[00:16:01] ENFORCE THE, THE CONTRACT. THEY CAN'T FORCE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE
[00:16:05] WEAPONIZATION FUND. THEY COULD POTENTIALLY SAY THAT, I SUPPOSE,
[00:16:09] THAT WE BREACHED BY NOT MOVING FORWARD. THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT.
[00:16:12] AND I'M, I'M NOT AWARE THAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON DOING THAT.
[00:16:16] LIKE I SAID, SENATOR, WHAT. AND SENATOR DURBIN TALKED ABOUT
[00:16:19] THIS, BUT I'VE TALKED
[00:16:21] EXTENSIVELY WITH WITH YOU AND OTHER COLLEAGUES ABOUT
[00:16:25] POTENTIALLY, UM, UM, CODIFYING.
[00:16:29] SO THERE'S NO WEAPONIZATION FUND, WHICH IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE.
[00:16:32] AND I WASN'T MEANING TO INSULT
[00:16:34] THIS BODY, BUT JUST IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM SENATORS ABOUT
[00:16:37] WHETHER THAT COULD BE DONE, WE VERY MUCH ARE OKAY WITH THAT.
[00:16:41] >> BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
[00:16:43] WHO WAS THE PLAINTIFF IN THIS LAWSUIT, UH, HAS NOT AGREED IN
[00:16:47] WRITING, UH, TO DELETE THE WEAPONIZATION FUND. AND THERE'S
[00:16:51] NO GUARANTEE THAT HE OR ONE OF
[00:16:55] THE OTHER PLAINTIFFS MIGHT RAISE THAT ISSUE BY WAY OF A LAWSUIT
[00:16:58] AND A BREACH OF CONTRACT LAWSUIT IN THE FUTURE.
[00:17:02] >> WELL, SENATOR, THE THE PLAINTIFFS HAVE NO POWER OVER THE FUND. THE FUND WAS
[00:17:05] ADMINISTERED SOLELY BY THE, UM, BY BY THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS AND
[00:17:09] THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. SO, NO, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY POWER WITH RESPECT TO THE
[00:17:12] FUND AT ALL. I SUPPOSE THEY COULD BRING A LAWSUIT, AND THEN
[00:17:16] WE WOULD LITIGATE IT. BUT EVEN IF WE WERE LITIGATING IT,
[00:17:20] THERE'S NO FUND. SO THE RESULTS OF SUCH LITIGATION, WHATEVER IT
[00:17:22] WOULD BE, WOULDN'T BE REVIVAL OF THE FUND.
[00:17:26] >> I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE RELEASE, AND I KNOW I'M GUILTY
[00:17:29] OF WHAT A LOT OF LAWYERS ARE GUILTY OF, AND HAVING A CHART
[00:17:33] YOU CAN'T READ, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS DOCUMENT, WHICH IS THE, UH, THE
[00:17:37] RELEASE THAT YOU SIGNED ON MAY
[00:17:40] THE 19th, 2026. FIRST OF ALL,
[00:17:46] UM, DOES THIS PURPORT TO RELEASE PARTIES OR PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT
[00:17:49] PARTIES TO THE LAWSUIT? >> NO. SENATOR.
[00:17:53] >> WELL, IT SAYS HERE THAT, UM
[00:18:00] CLAIMS ASSERTED BY DEFENDANTS OR ANY OF THE PLAINTIFFS OR RELATED
[00:18:03] OR AFFILIATED INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION,
[00:18:07] FAMILY OR OTHERS FILING JOINTLY, OR PARTIES, INCLUDING TRUSTS,
[00:18:10] PARENT, SISTER OR RELATED COMPANIES, AFFILIATES, OR
[00:18:12] SUBSIDIARIES. THEY WEREN'T A PARTY TO THE LAWSUIT, WERE THEY?
[00:18:16] >> I DIDN'T HEAR EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID, SENATOR, BUT THE THE
[00:18:19] ONLY PARTIES THAT WERE, UM,
[00:18:22] THAT, THAT HAD ANY, UM, RELEASE
[00:18:25] AS RESPECT TO ANY POTENTIAL AUDITS, EVEN IF THEY EXISTED,
[00:18:28] WERE THE PLAINTIFFS IN THE LAWSUIT?
[00:18:30] >> DID YOU, DID YOU TALK TO THE
[00:18:33] PRESIDENT ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT? HE ORIGINALLY SUED FOR $10
[00:18:36] BILLION AND SETTLED FOR AN APOLOGY. AND THIS WEAPONIZATION
[00:18:39] FUND, AND THEN THE RELEASE OF
[00:18:43] FUTURE LIABILITY FOR TAX AUDITS. DID YOU DISCUSS IT WITH HIM?
[00:18:46] >> NO, I DID NOT. HE HAD OUTSIDE
[00:18:50] COUNSEL. I DID NOT DISCUSS IT WITH HIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL,
[00:18:52] EITHER. IT WAS DONE BY OTHER
[00:18:55] PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE. >> AND THE THE SOURCE, THIS WAS
[00:18:58] A LAWSUIT BROUGHT. >> CAN I CAN I QUALIFY THAT
[00:19:01] AFTER, UM, WHEN, WHEN WE DETERMINED NOT TO MOVE FORWARD,
[00:19:05] UM, AS, AS THE PRESIDENT HAS
[00:19:07] SAID, UM, THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THAT HE AND I HAD ANY
[00:19:11] CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS AT ALL WAS AFTER, WHEN IT WAS DEAD. AND
[00:19:14] WE SAID, WE'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD. >> AND THIS LAWSUIT WAS BROUGHT
[00:19:17] AGAINST THE IRS AND TREASURY.
[00:19:21] YET THIS RELEASE PURPORTS TO,
[00:19:25] UH, APPLY TO DEFENDANTS OR OTHER
[00:19:29] AGENCIES OR DEPARTMENTS. SO DOES
[00:19:31] THIS RELEASE APPLY TO, LET'S
[00:19:33] SAY, A, AN INVESTIGATION BY THE
[00:19:37] SECURITY AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
[00:19:39] OR SOME OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY? >> NO, THAT'S THE STANDARD
[00:19:42] LANGUAGE THAT WE USE WHEN WE
[00:19:44] ENTER INTO, UM, SETTLEMENTS
[00:19:47] BETWEEN PLAINTIFFS AND THE IRS.
[00:19:48] BUT NO, IT DOESN'T BIND. UM,
[00:19:52] IT'S ISSUED BY ME BECAUSE STATUTES REQUIRE AN AUTHORIZED
[00:19:54] ME TO DO THAT AS OPPOSED TO
[00:19:57] OTHER CABINET MEMBERS. AND IN THIS CASE, IT BINDS ONLY THE IRS
[00:20:01] AND BY EXTENSION, THE TREASURY.
[00:20:04] >> WELL, I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I CERTAINLY DON'T READ THAT IN THE, IN THE
[00:20:08] AGREEMENT. BUT LET ME LET ME TURN, SINCE I ONLY HAVE A FEW
[00:20:11] MINUTES LEFT UH, SENATOR, UM
[00:20:15] GRASSLEY RAISED THE ISSUE OF THE
[00:20:18] MIFEPRISTONE LAWSUIT. AND JUST
[00:20:20] TO BE CLEAR, YOU UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MORNING
[00:20:24] AFTER PILL AND MIFEPRISTONE, DON'T YOU? >> YES.
[00:20:27] >> AND SO MIFEPRISTONE IS A IS A
[00:20:31] CHEMICAL ABORTION THAT CAN BE
[00:20:32] ADMINISTERED UP TO TEN WEEKS OF
[00:20:38] GESTATION. UM, THE, UH, LENGTH OF GESTATION SHOULD BE,
[00:20:40] ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAL
[00:20:42] LITERATURE, UH, CONFIRMED BY ULTRASOUND OR CLINICAL
[00:20:46] ASSESSMENT BY A HEALTH CARE
[00:20:48] PROVIDER. AND, UH, IT'S
[00:20:50] GENERALLY SAFE AND EFFECTIVE BY,
[00:20:53] ACCORDING TO THE LITERATURE, WHEN USED UNDER MEDICAL
[00:20:55] GUIDANCE. BUT THE PROBLEM IS
[00:20:57] THAT, UM, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S
[00:21:01] ADMINISTRATION CHANGED THE TRUMP POLICY AND ALLOWED THE
[00:21:04] ADMINISTRATION OF THIS ABORTION,
[00:21:05] CHEMICAL ABORTION DRUG WITHOUT
[00:21:09] ANY MEDICAL GUIDANCE WHATSOEVER. AND AS YOU KNOW, I'VE WRITTEN A
[00:21:12] LETTER TO SENATOR TILLIS, AND I
[00:21:15] SENT A LETTER YESTERDAY. AND
[00:21:17] WHAT I WOULD APPRECIATE, I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY, UH, TALK TOO MUCH
[00:21:21] ABOUT YOUR LITIGATION STRATEGY.
[00:21:23] IN THE CASE OF LOUISIANA AGAINST
[00:21:26] FDA, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD RESPOND TO THIS
[00:21:28] LETTER FOR THE RECORD, ABOUT THE
[00:21:30] INTENTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. IF PRESIDENT
[00:21:34] TRUMP IS THE MOST PRO-LIFE PRESIDENT, THIS OUGHT TO BE A
[00:21:38] PRETTY EASY CALL, UH, BECAUSE
[00:21:40] WOMEN ARE HURT AS A RESULT OF,
[00:21:43] UH, SIDE EFFECTS, HEAVY BLEEDING, PROLONGED, UH,
[00:21:47] POTENTIALLY INFECTION OR SEPSIS.
[00:21:50] UH, INCOMPLETE ABORTION OR OTHER COMPLICATIONS. WHEN THIS IS
[00:21:53] BEING SOLD THROUGH THE MAIL OR
[00:21:56] THROUGH ONLINE, UH, ONLINE PRESCRIPTION. UH, WILL YOU DO
[00:22:00] THAT FOR ME?
[00:22:01] >> YES, SENATOR, I WILL.
[00:22:06] >> FINALLY, LET ME JUST GO BACK
[00:22:07] TO THE IN THE 50s. I HAVE GO
[00:22:11] BACK TO THIS RELEASE. THIS
[00:22:15] PURPORTS TO RELEASE LAWFARE OR
[00:22:22] WEAPONIZATION AND OR WEAPONIZATION. THOSE AREN'T
[00:22:25] LEGAL TERMS OF ART, ARE THEY >> I THINK THEY ARE JUST LEGAL
[00:22:29] TERMS OF ART. THEY'RE NOT. THERE'S NOT. >> THEY'VE BEEN DEFINED IN ANY
[00:22:33] CASE OR ANY STATUTE. >> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. NO.
[00:22:36] >> SO THEY'RE NOT A LEGAL TERM OF ART.
[00:22:39] >> WELL, I THINK THAT THEY,
[00:22:41] THEY, THE TERMS HAVE BEEN UM
[00:22:43] USED BY THE LEGAL COMMUNITY AND BY PEOPLE WITHIN GOVERNMENT. BUT
[00:22:46] NO, I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY'RE IN BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY.
[00:22:50] >> SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT COVERS. >> WELL, I THINK IT DEPENDS ON
[00:22:54] THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FACTS PRESENTED AS TO WHETHER IT
[00:22:57] COVERS AS TO WHAT IT COVERS. SORRY.
[00:22:59] >> THANK YOU >> KLOBUCHAR.
[00:23:03] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
[00:23:05] CHAIR. UM, MR. BLANCHE, AFTER
[00:23:09] BOTH THE ASSASSINATION OF MELISSA HORTMAN, OUR FORMER
[00:23:12] SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND AFTER
[00:23:15] THE ANNUNCIATION SCHOOL
[00:23:18] SHOOTING, IN WHICH 20 PEOPLE WERE GUNNED DOWN THROUGH STAINED
[00:23:21] GLASS WINDOWS, FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, AS YOU AND I DISCUSSED IN MY OFFICE A FEW
[00:23:25] WEEKS AGO, UH, WORKED
[00:23:27] COOPERATIVELY WITH STATE AND LOCAL. AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT
[00:23:31] THEY'VE WORKED TOGETHER ON THE IMPORTANT WORK GOING ON IN THE
[00:23:35] U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN
[00:23:37] MINNESOTA WITH REGARD TO FRAUD AND THE ONGOING FRAUD
[00:23:40] INVESTIGATION. AND I KNOW WE
[00:23:41] HAVE YOUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE
[00:23:45] GIVING RESOURCES FOR THAT INVESTIGATION, CORRECT? >> ABSOLUTELY.
[00:23:48] >> THANK YOU. SO, UM, WE ALSO
[00:23:52] DISCUSSED MY CONCERN ABOUT THE LACK OF COOPERATION WE SAW AFTER
[00:23:55] THE HORRIFIC KILLINGS OF RENEE
[00:23:57] GOOD AND ALEX PRETTI, UH, WITH
[00:24:00] THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REFUSING
[00:24:02] TO COOPERATE WITH STATE LAW
[00:24:04] ENFORCEMENT FOR MONTHS, BLOCKING MINNESOTA INVESTIGATORS FROM
[00:24:08] ACCESSING THE ACCESSING THE SCENE OF ALEX'S DEATH, EVEN
[00:24:11] THOUGH THEY HAD A JUDICIAL
[00:24:13] WARRANT. UM, THEY ALSO FAILED TO
[00:24:16] SECURE. ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, FAILED TO SECURE AND
[00:24:19] PROCESS THE SCENE, FAILED TO
[00:24:22] PROCESS RENEE GOOD CAR FOR EVIDENCE. WHEN WE MET A FEW
[00:24:25] WEEKS AGO, AT LENGTH, I ASKED
[00:24:27] YOU TO ENSURE FULL COOPERATION,
[00:24:29] AND I APPRECIATED THAT THE
[00:24:32] DEPARTMENT SHARED EVIDENCE WITH STATE INVESTIGATORS EARLY THIS
[00:24:36] WEEK. WILL YOU COMMIT TO
[00:24:39] CONTINUED INFORMATION SHARING
[00:24:41] BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE
[00:24:44] INVESTIGATORS? IN THESE CASES, AS WELL AS WITH REGARD TO THE
[00:24:47] RECENT SHOOTINGS IN TEXAS AND MAINE?
[00:24:51] >> I EXPECT THAT THESE INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD BE RUN AS
[00:24:54] EVERY INVESTIGATION OF SIMILAR KINDS. AND SO THAT NECESSARILY
[00:24:57] INCLUDES, UM, WORKING WITH STATE AND LOCALS IN THE APPROPRIATE
[00:25:01] WAY. I THINK THAT THE DEFINITION
[00:25:03] OF FULL COOPERATION CAN BE
[00:25:06] DISPUTED, BUT I VERY MUCH EXPECT THAT, WHETHER IT'S THE INSPECTOR
[00:25:10] GENERAL OR THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S
[00:25:12] OFFICE, OR THE FBI OR WHOEVER ON THE FEDERAL SIDE OF THE
[00:25:16] INVESTIGATION, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO, TO WORK WITH STATE AND LOCALS. UM, I THINK A
[00:25:20] LOT OF THE NEWS REPORTING THAT YOU REFERENCED IS ACTUALLY NOT
[00:25:24] ACCURATE WITH WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, SOME SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
[00:25:28] >> OKAY. BUT THAT ASIDE, WE'VE
[00:25:31] SEEN THESE RECENT SHOOTINGS IN
[00:25:33] MAINE. AND THE REACTIONS OF THE COMMUNITIES UNDERSTANDABLY
[00:25:36] CONCERNED, AS WELL AS TEXAS. UM, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS PEOPLE
[00:25:40] ARE GOING TO WANT ACCOUNTABILITY IN THESE CASES. AND ONE OF THE
[00:25:44] THINGS THAT DOESN'T GET AS MUCH
[00:25:46] ATTENTION IS, UM, THE NON-DEATH
[00:25:49] CASES THE HMONG ELDER PULLED OUT OF HIS HOUSE IN MINNESOTA IN HIS
[00:25:53] UNDERWEAR AND CROCS IN TEN BELOW ZERO WEATHER. AND AS THE
[00:25:56] NATION'S CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL, DO YOU AGREE THAT IT
[00:26:00] IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR FEDERAL
[00:26:02] AGENTS TO FORCIBLY ENTER SOMEONE'S HOME WITHOUT A WARRANT
[00:26:06] AND DRAG THEM ONTO THE STREET WITHOUT EVEN CHECKING THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON?
[00:26:10] >> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. AS YOU JUST AS
[00:26:12] YOU KNOW. I MEAN, YES, OBVIOUSLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT
[00:26:15] AGENTS NEED A WARRANT TO ENTER A HOUSE, EXCEPT FOR LIMITED
[00:26:19] EXCEPTIONS TO THAT. UM, SO, SO
[00:26:22] YES, WE, WE VERY MUCH BELIEVE IN, UM, THE, THE CONSTITUTIONAL
[00:26:26] PROTECTIONS AFFORDED AMERICAN CITIZENS THE SAME PROTECTIONS
[00:26:29] ARE NOT AFFORDED PEOPLE WHO ARE
[00:26:31] HERE ILLEGALLY. SO IT'S NOT A BLACK AND WHITE ANSWER WHERE I
[00:26:35] CAN SAY YES OR NO. BUT YES, I
[00:26:38] VERY MUCH EXPECT THE LAW TO BE FOLLOWED BY OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS.
[00:26:41] >> SO SINCE THE CIVIL WAR, ALONG
[00:26:43] THOSE LINES, FEDERAL LAW HAS MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE PRESIDENT
[00:26:46] DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DEPLOY ARMED FEDERAL OFFICIALS
[00:26:50] TO ELECTION SITES. UH, WILL YOU
[00:26:53] COMMIT TO FOLLOWING CLEAR
[00:26:58] FEDERAL LAW AND NOT DEPLOYING FEDERAL AGENTS TO POLLING LOCATIONS? >> I WILL COMMIT TO FOLLOWING THE LAW, SENATOR. OF COURSE.
[00:27:01] >> OKAY. BUT DOES THAT INCLUDE
[00:27:03] NOT DEPLOYING FEDERAL AGENTS TO
[00:27:06] POLLING PLACES? >> I WILL ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW THE
[00:27:09] LAW, NO MATTER WHAT IT INCLUDES.
[00:27:14] SO, YES. >> DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY VOTERS, U.S. CITIZENS, ARE CONCERNED
[00:27:16] ABOUT ARMED AGENTS AT POLLING PLACES?
[00:27:20] >> I'M I'M NOT AWARE OF ARMED
[00:27:22] AGENTS BEING AT POLLING PLACES. SO I DON'T I'M NOT AWARE OF
[00:27:26] THAT CONCERN. BUT I WILL TELL YOU, WE WILL FOLLOW THE LAW, SENATOR.
[00:27:29] >> ALL RIGHT. UH, THE DOJ HAS
[00:27:32] CARRIED OUT A CAMPAIGN TO PUSH
[00:27:34] STATES TO TURN OVER VOTERS SENSITIVE AND PRIVATE DATA TO
[00:27:38] THE ADMINISTRATION. 30 STATES, INCLUDING REPUBLICAN LED STATES
[00:27:41] LIKE GEORGIA AND WEST VIRGINIA, HAVE REFUSED. IN DOING SO, THE
[00:27:45] WEST VIRGINIA REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE SAID, QUOTE,
[00:27:48] I WILL NOT BREAK THE LAW, GIVE UP OUR STATES RIGHTS, OR
[00:27:52] COMPROMISE THE PRIVACY OF OUR
[00:27:55] CITIZENS. 15 FEDERAL COURTS IN
[00:27:57] DECISIONS FROM DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN APPOINTED JUDGES,
[00:28:01] HAVE ALL FOUND THAT THESE
[00:28:05] ACTIONS TO FORCE THE STATES TO TURN OVER THIS DATA TO. IS
[00:28:09] UNLAWFUL. COULD YOU DISCUSS HOW
[00:28:12] CUTTING OFF ANTI-TERRORISM
[00:28:15] FUNDING TO STATES THAT REFUSE
[00:28:19] SOMETHING THAT 15 FEDERAL COURTS HAVE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL,
[00:28:22] ENHANCES OUR NATIONAL SECURITY? >> SO THOSE CASES ARE ARE STILL
[00:28:26] BEING LITIGATED. SO I CAN'T TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE THE CASES
[00:28:30] THAT YOU MENTIONED, BUT OVERALL, WHAT I WILL SAY, SENATOR, IS
[00:28:34] THAT, UM, ELECTION INTEGRITY IS
[00:28:38] EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT TO THIS ADMINISTRATION. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THIS BODY. AND SO
[00:28:41] TO THE EXTENT THAT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IS TO MAKE SURE
[00:28:45] THAT WE HAVE FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS, THAT THE ONLY PEOPLE
[00:28:48] VOTING ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE, AND THAT
[00:28:50] THEY'RE ONLY VOTING ONCE. THAT'S THAT'S IMPORTANT. >> IF SECURE ELECTIONS IS
[00:28:54] IMPORTANT, HOW DOES STOPPING THE LONG STANDING PRACTICE OF
[00:28:58] CRITICAL INFORMATION SHARING AND
[00:29:00] SCENARIO PLANNING BETWEEN THE
[00:29:03] DOJ, OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND STATE AND LOCAL ELECTION
[00:29:05] OFFICIALS PROMOTE ELECTION SECURITY? WE'RE NOT. BECAUSE WE
[00:29:09] HAVE BEEN. WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR OWN SECRETARY OF STATE THAT
[00:29:13] STEVE SIMON, THAT THE STANDARD BRIEFINGS, TRAININGS HAVE NOT HAPPENED.
[00:29:17] >> WE'RE NOT DOING THAT. SO I I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING. >> TO.
[00:29:21] >> BUT BUT I'M I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR OFFICE ABOUT THAT.
[00:29:25] >> APPRECIATE THAT, APPRECIATE
[00:29:25] THAT. SO, UM, YOU AND I TALKED
[00:29:29] ABOUT, UM, SOME OF THE ANTITRUST
[00:29:32] CONCERNS I HAVE, THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE DEPARTMENT.
[00:29:35] I WAS VERY CONCERNED BY THE
[00:29:37] DEPARTMENT'S WEAK SETTLEMENT OF THE MONOPOLIZATION SUIT AGAINST
[00:29:41] LIVE NATION, TICKETMASTER. UM,
[00:29:43] DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS
[00:29:47] SETTLEMENT WAS GOOD FOR CONSUMERS? AND IF SO, THEN WHY
[00:29:50] DIDN'T. THERE WAS ANOTHER CASE, OF COURSE, THAT THE STATE
[00:29:53] ATTORNEY GENERALS BROUGHT. THAT IS GOING TO RESULT IN MUCH
[00:29:56] BETTER PROTECTIONS FOR CONSUMERS. WHY DIDN'T THE DOJ
[00:30:00] JOIN THEM? STAY IN THAT SUIT. >> I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS. AND
[00:30:04] YES, I DO BELIEVE THAT SETTLEMENT WAS GOOD FOR CONSUMERS. WE, UM, WE GOT TO THE
[00:30:08] AMERICAN PEOPLE GOT A LOT OUT OF THAT SETTLEMENT WITH LIVE
[00:30:12] NATION. AND YOU TALK ABOUT ANOTHER CASE THAT'S SEPARATE.
[00:30:15] THAT'S ONGOING LITIGATION THAT COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE YEARS TO RESOLVE. AND
[00:30:19] >> SO WHEN WE MAKE A DECISION AS A DEPARTMENT TO TO SETTLE A
[00:30:21] CASE, WE ARE ONLY THINKING ABOUT
[00:30:25] THE AMERICAN CONSUMER AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE'RE COMPLYING
[00:30:27] NOT ONLY WITH THE LAWS, BUT WITH WHAT'S RIGHT FOR.
[00:30:30] >> THE WHITE HOUSE, HAVE ANY
[00:30:32] INVOLVEMENT IN THAT DECISION. >> IN THE DECISION REGARDING WHICH.
[00:30:36] >> CASE TO SETTLE THE TICKETMASTER >> THE. WE WORK AT TIMES CLOSELY
[00:30:40] WITH WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL ON
[00:30:42] CERTAIN ISSUES. I AM SURE THAT I
[00:30:47] WASN'T DIRECTLY PART OF, UM, DISCUSSIONS, BUT SO, SO I CAN'T
[00:30:50] SPEAK TO THAT, BUT I, I'M CERTAINLY NOT SAYING THEY WERE NOT PART OF IT.
[00:30:53] >> SO. OKAY. ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT FORMER REPUBLICAN PRINCIPAL
[00:30:57] DEPUTY ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL ROGER ALFORD, WHO HAS
[00:31:01] APPEARED BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
[00:31:03] AS A REPUBLICAN WITNESS IN THE PAST, HAS SAID THAT IN YOUR
[00:31:07] DEPARTMENT, ANTITRUST CASES ARE
[00:31:09] BEING RESOLVED BASED ON
[00:31:11] POLITICAL CONNECTIONS, NOT THE LEGAL MERITS.
[00:31:14] >> UM, NO. HIS WORDS DON'T
[00:31:16] CONCERN ME, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT TRUE.
[00:31:19] >> WELL, A LOT OF US DISAGREE ON THAT FRONT. SO, UM, I WANT TO
[00:31:23] TURN TO SOME SORT OF NUMBER OF
[00:31:25] ISSUES INVOLVING, UM, SECURITY.
[00:31:29] SO IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOOTING
[00:31:30] LAST YEAR, ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC
[00:31:34] SCHOOL WAS APPROVED TO RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH THE OFFICE FOR
[00:31:36] VICTIMS OF CRIME FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER SUPPORT
[00:31:40] SERVICES. AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED
[00:31:42] CLOSELY WITH THE ANNUNCIATION COMMUNITY ON THIS ISSUE. UM, BUT
[00:31:46] THE DELAYS IN THE RELEASE OF THESE FUNDS ARE CREATING BUDGET
[00:31:49] CONCERNS. UM, COULD YOU COMMIT TO WORK WITH ME ON GETTING THOSE
[00:31:53] FUNDS TO THE SCHOOL? >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU. UH, THE
[00:31:57] PRESIDENT'S MOST RECENT BUDGET
[00:32:00] REDUCES COPS OFFICE FUNDING BY
[00:32:02] NEARLY 500 MILLION. ELIMINATES THE STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE PROGRAM
[00:32:06] THAT I CHAMPIONED WITH SENATOR HATCH. HE WAS THE LEAD ON IT.
[00:32:09] UM, ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT CUTTING THIS FUNDING WILL IMPACT
[00:32:12] SCHOOL SAFETY?
[00:32:14] >> UM, NO, WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UM,
[00:32:18] I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. I FULLY EXPECT THAT THE GRANTS THAT, THAT ULTIMATELY ARE
[00:32:22] INCLUDED IN THE, THE BUDGET THAT'S PASSED WILL MAKE SURE
[00:32:25] THAT WE'RE PROVIDING APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO, TO OUR
[00:32:28] COMMUNITIES SO THAT THEY CAN
[00:32:32] CONTINUE THEIR GOOD WORK. >> UM, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT, AND I'VE HEARD THIS FROM
[00:32:34] SEVERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GROUPS ABOUT
[00:32:38] THE DOJ PLAN TO CONSOLIDATE THE
[00:32:40] COPS PROGRAM, HIDE A PROGRAM
[00:32:42] OFFICE, AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. UM, AND WHY DO YOU THINK
[00:32:46] THIS WILL BE HELPFUL? UH,
[00:32:48] BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.
[00:32:52] >> I AGREE WITH YOU. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE DOING. THERE WILL
[00:32:54] STILL BE THREE SEPARATE FUNCTIONS. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS
[00:32:58] CONSOLIDATING ABOVE THEM TO ONE GROUP, SO THAT THE APPLICATION
[00:33:01] PROCESS IS SMOOTHER AND EASIER
[00:33:03] FOR, FOR GRANTEES TO, TO DO
[00:33:06] THEIR WORK. AND ALSO SO THAT INTERNALLY, SOME OF THE
[00:33:09] BUREAUCRACY THAT WAS INVOLVED IN
[00:33:10] HAVING THREE SEPARATE BUREAUCRATIC STREAMS DOING THE
[00:33:14] SAME WORK, EVEN THOUGH, YOU'RE RIGHT, THE UNDERLYING PROGRAMS
[00:33:18] SERVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS, WAS NOT EFFICIENT. SO WE'RE MAKING THAT EFFICIENT.
[00:33:21] >> AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU WITH SOME OF THE DOMESTIC
[00:33:25] VIOLENCE GRANTS. UM, AND ALSO
[00:33:25] JUST WANT TO MENTION THE
[00:33:29] CONTINUED ENFORCEMENT UNDER THE TAKE IT DOWN ACT THAT SENATOR CRUZ AND I PASSED, AND HOW
[00:33:31] IMPORTANT THAT IS GOING FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR. YES.
[00:33:35] >> BEFORE I GO TO SENATOR
[00:33:37] KENNEDY, I'D LIKE TO READ A
[00:33:39] LETTER SUPPORTING THE NOMINEE
[00:33:42] FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
[00:33:45] POLICE ORGANIZATIONS. MORE THAN
[00:33:49] 1000 POLICE ORGANIZATIONS AND 250,000 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
[00:33:52] NATIONWIDE ARE REPRESENTED BY
[00:33:54] THIS LETTER, QUOTE, MR. BLANCHE
[00:33:57] HAS PROVEN HIS COMMITMENT TO THE RULE OF LAW AND A FAIR AND
[00:34:00] IMPARTIAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AS DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
[00:34:04] LATER, ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL,
[00:34:06] HE HAS BUILT A STRONG
[00:34:09] PARTISANSHIP WITH LAW
[00:34:11] ENFORCEMENT, UH, ENFORCEMENT,
[00:34:15] COMMUNITY FROM SUPPORTING THE
[00:34:16] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, LAW
[00:34:20] ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAMS, TO WORKING TO ENSURE
[00:34:21] ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN THE PUBLIC
[00:34:27] SAFETY OFFICERS, BENEFITS
[00:34:27] PROGRAM. HE IS CONSIDERED A HE
[00:34:32] HAS CONSISTENTLY ENDEAVORED TO
[00:34:34] MEET THE NEEDS OF STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
[00:34:37] AND THEIR FAMILIES, END QUOTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION. WILL BE
[00:34:41] ENTERED IN. SENATOR KENNEDY
[00:34:53] >> GENERAL, I ASSUME THAT YOU
[00:34:56] CONSIDER YOURSELF TO BE
[00:34:58] QUALIFIED TO BE THE PERMANENT
[00:35:00] ATTORNEY GENERAL. IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES, SENATOR.
[00:35:04] >> I'VE READ YOUR RESUME. WE
[00:35:06] ALL HAVE, UM, YOU DON'T NEED TO
[00:35:09] COMMENT ON THIS, BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT NO FAIR MINDED
[00:35:12] PERSON COULD CONCLUDE THAT
[00:35:15] YOU'RE NOT QUALIFIED. UM, YOU SPENT A LONG TIME WITH THE
[00:35:18] DEPARTMENT. SPENT A LONG TIME IN
[00:35:23] PRIVATE PRACTICE. SO THE
[00:35:26] OPPOSITION OF MY DEMOCRATIC
[00:35:28] FRIENDS MUST BE BASED ON
[00:35:31] SOMETHING ELSE. UM ARE YOU IN
[00:35:34] PRESIDENT TRUMP? FRIENDS?
[00:35:37] >> I'M HIS LAWYER. WAS HIS LAWYER, AND NOW I'M THE DEPUTY
[00:35:40] ATTORNEY GENERAL. SO I MET HIM
[00:35:44] AS HIS CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY. I'M NOT SURE. THERE'S VERY MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVER
[00:35:47] HAD A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
[00:35:49] WHO CALLS THAT PERSON THEIR
[00:35:51] FRIEND. UM, I NOW HAVE A WELL. >> LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY. ARE
[00:35:55] YOU ENEMIES? >> NO, WE'RE NOT ENEMIES AT ALL. NO.
[00:35:58] >> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A
[00:36:02] PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
[00:36:07] APPOINT AN ENEMY TO BE ATTORNEY
[00:36:09] GENERAL?
[00:36:13] >> I HAVE NOT, UM. >> USUALLY, THEY APPOINT THEIR
[00:36:16] QUALIFIED FRIENDS, DON'T THEY?
[00:36:18] >> YES.
[00:36:20] >> I MEAN, ONE PRESIDENT
[00:36:22] APPOINTED HIS BROTHER, RIGHT? >> HE DID, SENATOR.
[00:36:25] >> AND I CAN THINK OF ANOTHER PRESIDENT WHO APPOINTED HIS
[00:36:28] FORMER LAW PARTNER. IS THAT RIGHT? >> IT IS CORRECT.
[00:36:32] >> OKAY ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR
[00:36:39] ALL THE PRESIDENT'S DECISIONS?
[00:36:42] >> NO, SENATOR, I'M NOT.
[00:36:46] >> I MEAN, DOES THE PRESIDENT
[00:36:47] GET UP IN THE MORNING AND AND GIVE YOU A CALL FIRST THING AND
[00:36:51] SAY, TODD, TELL ME WHAT I OUGHT TO DO TODAY.
[00:36:53] >> HE DOES NOT.
[00:36:57] >> OKAY. DOES HE EVER ASK YOUR
[00:36:58] OPINION ON ACTIONS? HE SHOULD
[00:37:03] TAKE? >> YES. >> DO YOU TELL THEM THE TRUTH?
[00:37:06] >> EVERY TIME?
[00:37:07] >> HAVE YOU EVER DISAGREED WITH HIM?
[00:37:11] >> UH, YES >> AND HAS. HAVE YOU EVER
[00:37:13] DISAGREED WITH HIM? AND HE DID IT ANYWAY?
[00:37:17] >> YES. >> AND DID YOU GO CALL A PRESS
[00:37:21] CONFERENCE AND AND, ANNOUNCE
[00:37:23] THAT THE PRESIDENT MADE A BAD
[00:37:27] DECISION? >> NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT. >> THAT'S NOT WHAT ATTORNEY
[00:37:31] GENERAL ATTORNEYS CORRECT. OKAY.
[00:37:37] HAS HE EVER ASKED YOU TO DO ANYTHING ILLEGAL? >> NO.
[00:37:41] >> WOULD YOU DO IT IF HE ASKED YOU?
[00:37:42] >> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
[00:37:46] >> OKAY HOW MANY? HOW MANY? UH,
[00:37:57] PAGES OF THE SO-CALLED EPSTEIN FILES? UH, HAS THE DEPARTMENT
[00:38:01] RELEASED?
[00:38:05] >> NEARLY 3 MILLION.
[00:38:06] >> HOW MANY MORE PAGES ARE THERE
[00:38:10] >> THAT ARE RESPONSIVE? WE'RE NOT AWARE OF ANY.
[00:38:12] >> HOW ABOUT THAT? IN THE
[00:38:15] DEPARTMENT'S, UH, OPINION, ARE NOT RESPONSIVE.
[00:38:19] >> WELL, FROM WHAT WE COLLECTED, ABOUT 3 MILLION THAT WERE JUST
[00:38:23] NOTHING TO DO WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN OR OR THE CASE AT ALL.
[00:38:26] >> OKAY. WHY DON'T YOU JUST RELEASE EVERYTHING? JUST LET IT RIP.
[00:38:29] >> WELL, THAT WOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW, BECAUSE THE ONLY REASON
[00:38:32] WE COULD RELEASE THE 3 MILLION WE DID IS BECAUSE OF THE EPSTEIN
[00:38:36] TRANSPARENCY ACT. THERE ARE FEDERAL LAWS THAT PROHIBIT THE
[00:38:40] RELEASE OF OF CASE FILES. UM, AND THE EPSTEIN TRANSPARENCY ACT
[00:38:44] WAS VERY EXPLICIT AND SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT COULD BE AND SHOULD
[00:38:47] BE RELEASED.
[00:38:50] >> OTHER THAN TO HIMSELF. WELL,
[00:38:53] FIRST, WE CAN AGREE, CAN WE NOT, THAT MR. EPSTEIN WAS A PIG.
[00:38:57] >> YES
[00:39:01] >> UM, OTHER THAN TO HIMSELF,
[00:39:04] WHO, IF ANYONE ELSE DID, MR.
[00:39:09] EPSTEIN TRAFFIC, YOUNG WOMEN TO.
[00:39:13] >> THERE'S THERE'S FROM WHAT WE
[00:39:16] LEARNED, FROM WHAT WE KNOW. SO
[00:39:18] WHEN WE KNOW, I MEAN, WHAT'S IN THE FBI FILES AND WHAT'S IN THE
[00:39:22] DOJ FILES, UM, WE DID NOT
[00:39:25] IDENTIFY EVIDENCE. AND BY WE, I
[00:39:28] MEAN, CAREER PROSECUTORS. NOT,
[00:39:30] NOT ME, NOT MY LEADERSHIP, BUT CAREER PROSECUTORS IN NEW YORK
[00:39:34] AND CAREER PROSECUTORS IN FLORIDA WHO WORK THIS CASE HARD.
[00:39:37] UM, DID IDENTIFY OTHER PARTICIPANTS, SOME OF WHOM, AS
[00:39:41] HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, UM, WERE
[00:39:45] ALSO VICTIMS THEMSELVES OF MR.
[00:39:46] EPSTEIN. BUT WE DID NOT HAVE
[00:39:50] EVIDENCE, UM, AS OF NOW, OF
[00:39:53] OTHER MEN WHO WERE, UM, THAT
[00:39:56] WERE TRAFFICKED, THAT EPSTEIN HELPED TRAFFIC. THAT IS, DOES
[00:39:58] NOT MEAN IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. IT
[00:40:01] JUST MEANS THAT WE HAVE EVIDENCE
[00:40:04] THAT THE FBI GATHERED AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GATHERED. AND THAT'S THE BODY
[00:40:07] OF, OF WORK THAT THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH, WHICH IS WHY I SAID
[00:40:11] EARLIER, IF THERE'S ANYBODY OUT THERE, VICTIM OR OTHERWISE, THAT
[00:40:15] HAS INFORMATION, I BEG THEM TO
[00:40:20] COME FORWARD.
[00:40:21] >> OKAY UH, DID JACK SMITH READ
[00:40:27] MY EMAILS? >> UM, I'M NOT SURE, SENATOR, I DON'T KNOW.
[00:40:30] >> WOULD YOU CHECK FOR ME?
[00:40:32] >> WE WILL CHECK. SENATOR. YES.
[00:40:35] >> UM, I THINK HE READ SENATOR
[00:40:42] GRASSLEY'S EMAILS. HOW DID HE
[00:40:45] HOW CAN SOMEONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GET
[00:40:48] SENATOR GRASSLEY'S EMAILS
[00:40:52] WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE? >> THERE ARE CHECKS IN PLACE
[00:40:56] THAT SHOULD MAKE IT EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT FOR A
[00:40:59] PROSECUTOR TO, UM, COLLECT AND
[00:41:03] REVIEW A SENATOR'S EMAILS OR A CONGRESSMAN'S EMAILS OR A LAWYER'S EMAILS OR OTHER FOLKS
[00:41:07] THAT HAVE PRIVILEGED PROTECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR
[00:41:10] COMMUNICATIONS. UM, AND THOSE CHECKS AND BALANCES SHOULD
[00:41:13] ALWAYS BE USED
[00:41:15] >> BUT MR. SMITH JUST IGNORED.
[00:41:18] >> I CANNOT SPEAK FOR MR. SMITH. SENATOR
[00:41:22] >> WOULD YOU CHECK FOR ME FIRST
[00:41:28] IF HE IF HE READ MY EMAILS AND CHECK NUMBER TWO, HOW HE GOT
[00:41:30] THEM. AND NUMBER THREE, LET'S I
[00:41:35] DON'T MEAN TO TO SINGLE OUT MY FRIEND, SENATOR GRASSLEY. UM,
[00:41:39] BUT BUT. WHAT SENATOR GRASSLEY?
[00:41:46] AND, AND I MEAN, WERE THEY WHAT
[00:41:49] WERE THEY LIMITED TO, IF AT ALL?
[00:41:51] YOU KNOW, DID HE GET EMAILS FROM
[00:41:53] SENATOR GRASSLEY TALKING ABOUT
[00:41:56] HIS CORN HARVEST THAT? AND WHO
[00:41:58] DID HE SHARE THEM WITH? DO YOU
[00:42:01] KNOW IF, IF MR. SMITH SHARED MY EMAILS WITH WITH ATTORNEY
[00:42:05] GENERAL GARLAND. >> I DO NOT I DO NOT KNOW.
[00:42:08] >> CAN YOU CHECK FOR ME? >> WE ARE INVESTIGATING THAT,
[00:42:10] SENATOR. YES. >> YEAH. I'D KIND OF LIKE TO
[00:42:13] KNOW ALL THAT UM, NOW, MAYOR
[00:42:20] LORI LIGHTFOOT SENT US. SHE SENT
[00:42:21] THE WORLD A LETTER, UH THAT WE
[00:42:27] SHOULD NOT CONFIRM YOU AS
[00:42:29] ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO IS MAYOR
[00:42:32] LORI LIGHTFOOT, JUST FOR THE
[00:42:34] RECORD.
[00:42:37] >> SHE'S THE FORMER MAYOR OF CHICAGO. UM, I BELIEVE SHE HAD A
[00:42:40] BRIEF STINT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
[00:42:42] JUSTICE PRIOR TO HER POLITICAL
[00:42:46] LIFE.
[00:42:46] >> RIGHT. UM AND, AND YOU HAD
[00:42:52] SOME CONFLICTS WITH HER? >> I DO NOT BELIEVE SHE SUPPORTS
[00:42:56] OUR ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS
[00:42:58] MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.
[00:43:00] >> OKAY. RIGHT. SHE THINKS COPS
[00:43:03] ARE A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN CRIMINALS. WOULD THAT BE A FAIR
[00:43:06] ASSESSMENT? >> SHE DEFINITELY. HER PUBLIC
[00:43:10] RHETORIC IS NOT SOMETHING THAT EITHER MYSELF OR THIS ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS, WHICH
[00:43:14] IS TO ALWAYS BACK OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
[00:43:16] >> SHE THINKS IF A COP SHOOTS A
[00:43:19] CRIMINAL, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY THE COP'S FAULT. BUT IF A
[00:43:23] CRIMINAL SHOOTS A COP, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY THE GUN'S FAULT.
[00:43:26] WOULD THAT BE A FAIR ASSESSMENT OF THE MAYOR'S POSITION?
[00:43:30] >> HER PUBLIC STATEMENTS SUGGEST
[00:43:34] THAT. >> YEAH. >> WOULD YOU PUT HER EVEN IN
[00:43:36] CHARGE OF A HAM SANDWICH
[00:43:41] >> I DON'T BELIEVE SHE SHOULD BE. UM, ANY PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.
[00:43:44] >> WELL, THE. THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO APPARENTLY AGREED. I
[00:43:48] THINK SHE, SHE, UH, SHE RAN FOR
[00:43:52] REELECTION AND GOT 16% OF THE VOTE. IS THAT RIGHT? DO YOU
[00:43:56] RECALL? >> I'M NOT SURE WHAT PERCENTAGE
[00:43:58] SHE GOT. SENATOR. >> OKAY.
[00:44:01] >> UM TELL ME A LITTLE BIT. ONE
[00:44:07] OF THE THINGS THAT THAT, THAT
[00:44:09] UNDER YOUR UNDER YOUR AUTHORITY,
[00:44:13] THE DEPARTMENT HAS CONCENTRATED
[00:44:14] ON, WHICH I AGREE WITH, UH, IN
[00:44:18] ADDITION TO, TO PROSECUTING CRIME IS THE PROSECUTING
[00:44:22] PROSECUTION OF WHITE COLLAR CRIME FRAUD. TELL, TELL ME A
[00:44:25] LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
[00:44:27] >> WE IT'S INCREDIBLE. SINCE
[00:44:29] COVID, THE ABSOLUTE THIEVERY THAT'S HAPPENED FROM THE FISC,
[00:44:33] UM, BY, BY PEOPLE IN THIS
[00:44:36] COUNTRY. AND SO WE HAVE FOCUSED TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORTS, NOT ONLY IN THE NEW DIVISION,
[00:44:40] BUT AT EVERY U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WITH EVERY INSPECTOR
[00:44:44] GENERAL AND THEIR OFFICES, THE
[00:44:45] FBI, DHS, AND XAI TO JUST ROOT
[00:44:48] OUT THIS FRAUD. YOU HAVE
[00:44:50] EXAMPLES OF, OF RAMPANT OF
[00:44:53] INDIVIDUALS JUST STEALING. SO SETTING UP ENTIRE CENTERS FOR
[00:44:56] AUTISM WHEN THERE ARE NO PATIENTS, WHEN THERE IS NO
[00:44:59] CENTER, AND TAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF HARD EARNED TAXPAYERS
[00:45:03] MONEY. AND SO WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON THAT. WE'VE ALREADY,
[00:45:07] LIKE I SAID EARLIER, BILLIONS AND BILLIONS. WE'VE ALREADY COLLECTED IN JUST THE PAST
[00:45:10] COUPLE OF MONTHS. THAT EFFORT IS
[00:45:15] GOING TO GO FORWARD FOR AS LONG AS I AM IN THE POSITION THAT
[00:45:17] I'M IN NOW, NO MATTER WHETHER
[00:45:19] I'M CONFIRMED OR NOT. AND, UM,
[00:45:21] AND IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT TO EVERY AMERICAN THAT
[00:45:25] THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHETHER SOMEONE AGREES OR DISAGREES WITH
[00:45:29] A POLICY. IT'S JUST OUTRIGHT
[00:45:32] THEFT BY, BY INDIVIDUALS. AND, AND UNFORTUNATELY, MANY STATE
[00:45:36] GOVERNMENTS, UM, IF, IF THEY DIDN'T ABSOLUTELY KNOW IT WAS
[00:45:40] HAPPENING AND JUST ENCOURAGE IT, THEY CERTAINLY STOOD IDLY BY WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING, WHICH IS
[00:45:43] ALSO A PROBLEM. >> OKAY, DON'T, DON'T FORGET TO
[00:45:46] CHECK ON MY EMAILS FOR ME. >> SENATOR. YES.
[00:45:49] >> THANK YOU. >> SENATOR WHITE HOUSE. >> MORNING, MR. BLANCHE.
[00:45:53] >> GOOD MORNING.
[00:45:55] >> WHY WON'T YOU TELL US WHAT
[00:45:58] BECAME OF THE $50,000 IN
[00:46:01] CONFIDENTIAL MONEY THAT THE FBI
[00:46:04] REPORTED THAT IT GAVE TO TOM
[00:46:06] HOMAN? >> I I'M NOT AWARE OF WHAT
[00:46:09] YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT. TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PUBLIC REPORTING ABOUT AN
[00:46:13] INVESTIGATION. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT.
[00:46:17] >> WELL, THE PUBLIC REPORTING IS
[00:46:19] THAT THE FBI REPORTED GIVING $50,000 IN THE NATURE OF A BRIBE
[00:46:22] TO TOM HOMAN, AND THERE'S BEEN
[00:46:25] NO REPORT OF WHAT BECAME OF THAT $50,000. WILL YOU ANSWER THAT
[00:46:28] QUESTION? NOT NOW. BUT WILL YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR A LONG
[00:46:32] TIME NOW. YOUR DEPARTMENT CERTAINLY KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING.
[00:46:35] >> I'M I'M NOT AWARE THAT THAT'S TRUE.
[00:46:38] >> WELL, TAKE A LOOK AT IT. AND
[00:46:41] IT'S PUBLICLY REPORTED. AND THE
[00:46:43] FBI REPORTED IT. AND YOU SHOULD
[00:46:46] ANSWER THE QUESTION. THAT'S NOT
[00:46:48] THE ONLY ONE. HERE'S A LIST OF
[00:46:55] UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE
[00:46:55] JUST ASKED. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT
[00:46:59] IS THAT THE CHAIRMAN THINKS THAT YOU'VE COOPERATED WITH THE
[00:47:03] COMMITTEE, OR THAT YOU'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT WITH THE COMMITTEE.
[00:47:05] THAT IS NOT MY EXPERIENCE. YOU
[00:47:08] SAID EARLIER THAT YOU WELCOME
[00:47:10] OUR QUESTIONS. GREAT. ANSWER OUR
[00:47:13] QUESTIONS. THAT'S THE REAL
[00:47:15] POINT WHERE WE'VE FAILED TO GET ANSWERS TO OUR OVERSIGHT
[00:47:18] QUESTIONS. WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO REVERT TO THE FREEDOM OF
[00:47:22] INFORMATION ACT, THE GENERAL LAW
[00:47:24] OF GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, TO
[00:47:26] TRY TO GET ANSWERS FROM THE
[00:47:29] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. HERE'S
[00:47:31] HOW WE DID NOT WELL, WE HAVE
[00:47:39] THIS STACK OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVEN'T ANSWERED IN THE NATURE
[00:47:42] OF OVERSIGHT. WE HAVE THIS STACK
[00:47:47] OF FOIA REQUESTS THAT YOU
[00:47:50] HAVEN'T ANSWERED. AND I THINK
[00:47:54] IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ACTUALLY TAKE
[00:47:56] SERIOUSLY YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL
[00:48:01] OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES IN ORDER TO CONFIRM YOU, THAT YOU
[00:48:04] ACTUALLY TAKE SERIOUSLY YOUR OBLIGATIONS TO THIS COMMITTEE,
[00:48:08] IRRESPECTIVE OF PARTY, MAJORITY, OR MINORITY, IN ORDER TO CONFIRM
[00:48:11] YOU. SO I WILL ASK, BEFORE WE GET TO A VOTE ON THIS, THAT YOU
[00:48:15] TAKE A LOOK AT THESE AND GET US
[00:48:18] ANSWERS WHERE WE HAVE HAD ANSWERS. MR. BLANCHE. THEY HAVE
[00:48:21] NOT BEEN INFORMATIVE. THEY HAVE
[00:48:24] BEEN BLOW OFFS. SO LET'S MOVE ON
[00:48:26] TO, UM TRUMP VERSUS IRS. UM, OUR
[00:48:34] RESEARCH INDICATES THAT SENIOR DOJ OFFICIALS HAVE NEVER, IN THE
[00:48:38] HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT BEFORE
[00:48:41] FACED A JUDICIAL INQUIRY INTO A
[00:48:46] FRAUD ON THE COURT, PARTICIPATED
[00:48:49] IN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
[00:48:53] THAT WAS THE INQUIRY OPENED IN FLORIDA. THE QUESTION ABOUT
[00:48:56] FRAUD ON THE COURT COMMITTED BY
[00:48:57] THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[00:49:00] REMAINS OPEN IN THE JUDGE'S
[00:49:04] DECISION. HERE'S WHAT SHE DID FIND. SHE FOUND THAT THE
[00:49:07] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COLLUDED
[00:49:11] WITH THE TRUMP PLAINTIFFS, THAT
[00:49:14] THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE VIOLATED DOJ POLICIES, AND THAT
[00:49:17] COLLUSION THAT DEPARTMENT
[00:49:19] ATTORNEYS WERE DERELICT IN THEIR
[00:49:22] RESPONSIBILITIES AS DOJ
[00:49:26] ATTORNEYS, THAT THE DEPARTMENT
[00:49:28] FAILED TO ZEALOUSLY ADVOCATE ON
[00:49:31] BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES OF
[00:49:33] AMERICA. ITS TRUE CLIENT, AND,
[00:49:36] AS I SAID, THE FRAUD ON THE
[00:49:39] COURT QUESTION REMAINS OPEN. AN
[00:49:43] UNPRECEDENTED. ALLEGATION ABOUT
[00:49:44] THE DEPARTMENT AS A RESULT OF
[00:49:48] THAT, THE ORDER WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE NEW YORK STATE BAR FOR
[00:49:52] POTENTIAL DISCIPLINARY
[00:49:55] PROCEEDINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO
[00:49:58] ASK. IN ADDITION, SINCE THIS IS NEW NEWS, THE DECISION WAS,
[00:50:00] WHAT, TWO DAYS AGO? I WOULD LIKE
[00:50:03] TO ASK THAT YOU SAY TO US THAT YOU WILL BE WILLING TO PROVIDE
[00:50:07] ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE
[00:50:11] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE
[00:50:12] TRUMP PLAINTIFFS IN THAT MATTER?
[00:50:17] >> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY COMMUNICATIONS. I DIDN'T HAVE
[00:50:19] ANY. UM, SO IF YOU PUT A REQUEST IN, WE'LL LOOK AT IT. I MEAN,
[00:50:23] OBVIOUSLY THAT'S ACTIVE, CONTINUED LITIGATION IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA.
[00:50:27] UM, SO IT.
[00:50:32] >> DEPENDS, EXPLAIN HOW IT IS ACTIVE, CONTINUED LITIGATION IN THE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA.
[00:50:35] >> WELL, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL INDICATIONS THAT THE PARTIES OF.
[00:50:39] I NEVER ENTERED A NOTICE OF APPEARANCE, BUT THAT THE PARTIES
[00:50:43] INTEND TO APPEAL THE JUDGE'S.
[00:50:45] MONDAY, 56 PAGE DECISION.
[00:50:50] >> WELL, IT'LL BE INTERESTING. DO YOU INTEND TO APPEAL THE
[00:50:53] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE? >> WE WEREN'T REALLY EVEN PART
[00:50:56] OF THAT DECISION. SO TO THE EXTENT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT
[00:50:59] WE. WE CAN'T APPEAL, I, I VERY VIGOROUSLY WILL ENCOURAGE THE
[00:51:03] DEPARTMENT TO DO SO.
[00:51:05] >> WELL, HERE'S THE TELL. IN
[00:51:09] THAT CASE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
[00:51:12] JUSTICE FILED NO ANSWER, FILED NO AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE
[00:51:15] EXTENSION OF TIME FILED, NO
[00:51:18] RESPONSE TO THE CASE OR
[00:51:21] CONTROVERSY. DAN MCKEE FILED NOTHING RELATED TO THE
[00:51:25] WITHDRAWAL OF THE COMPLAINT
[00:51:28] FILED NO SETTLEMENT, AND FILED NO RESPONSE TO THE FRAUD ON THE
[00:51:32] COURT INQUIRY. TO ME, AS A ONE
[00:51:37] TIME LITIGATOR, THAT LOOKS LIKE REALLY WEIRD BEHAVIOR. AND WHEN,
[00:51:40] FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, THERE'S AN INQUIRY INTO FRAUD UPON THE COURT COMMITTED BY THE
[00:51:44] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE SILENCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT IN
[00:51:47] RESPONSE TO THAT IS DEAFENING.
[00:51:49] MR. BLANCHE DEAFENING. AND IT
[00:51:52] STRIKES ME THAT THE STRATAGEM
[00:51:56] HERE WAS TO FILE NO PLEADINGS, TO TRY TO KEEP THE DEPARTMENT
[00:52:00] OUT OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE
[00:52:03] COURT WHEN. WHAT THE DEPARTMENT
[00:52:08] KNEW TO BE A COLLUSIVE AND FALSE
[00:52:11] ENTERPRISE WAS BLOWN UP IN THAT COURT. NOW, IT DIDN'T WORK,
[00:52:15] BECAUSE THE COURT FOUND COLLUSION, AND IT TAKES TWO TO
[00:52:19] COLLUDE. AND THEY ALSO WENT ON
[00:52:22] AND MADE THE OTHER ADVERSE FINDINGS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S
[00:52:25] CONDUCT AND THE PROBLEM HERE,
[00:52:27] MR. BLANCHE, IS THAT IT'S NOT
[00:52:31] JUST THAT ONE OCCASION BETWEEN JUDGES APPOINTED BY EVERY
[00:52:34] PRESIDENT, HARSHLY CRITICIZING THE DEPARTMENT'S WORK. IN YOUR
[00:52:38] TENURE, GRAND JURIES REJECTING INDICTMENTS, JUDICIAL FINDINGS
[00:52:42] OF OUTRIGHT MISCONDUCT, CAPABLE
[00:52:46] LAWYERS FLEEING THE SINKING SHIP. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE MOST
[00:52:50] TROUBLED DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[00:52:51] IN HISTORY. HERE ARE SOME OF THE
[00:52:56] MISCONDUCT FINDINGS AGAINST YOUR
[00:52:58] U.S. ATTORNEYS, AND I HAVEN'T
[00:53:01] PUT IT UP YET. HERE'S A WORD,
[00:53:02] CLOUD OF THE COMMENTARY BY
[00:53:06] FEDERAL JUDGES ABOUT THE CONDUCT
[00:53:07] OF YOUR DOJ. THESE ARE RED FLAG
[00:53:10] WORDS THAT, WHEN I WAS A U.S. ATTORNEY, WOULD HAVE PROVOKED,
[00:53:13] AT MINIMUM, AN INTERNAL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE HELL
[00:53:17] WENT WRONG, AND VERY LIKELY A
[00:53:21] CONVERSATION WITH OPR, AND MAYBE
[00:53:24] OPR PURSUIT. WORDS LIKE PRETEXT
[00:53:26] MEAN A LOT COMING FROM A JUDGE
[00:53:28] ABOUT A GOVERNMENT ARGUMENT.
[00:53:32] USUALLY ENJOYING THE PRESUMPTION OF REGULARITY, WE NEED ANSWERS.
[00:53:35] I NEED YOU TO BE ABLE TO TELL ME
[00:53:38] THAT THIS KIND OF MISCONDUCT IS GOING TO STOP. IF YOU'RE
[00:53:41] CONFIRMED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, CAN YOU SAY THAT. >> THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[00:53:45] WORKS HARD? THE PROSECUTORS WORK
[00:53:47] HARD EVERY DAY, AND I APPRECIATE
[00:53:52] THE THE HANDPICKED WORDS THAT YOU HAVE BEHIND YOU RIGHT NOW.
[00:53:54] BUT THAT'S NOT REFLECTIVE OF
[00:53:58] THE 100,000 INDICTMENTS AND
[00:53:59] INFORMATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN
[00:54:03] FILED TO DO THE WORK THAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER TODAY. AND SO WHILE CHERRY PICKING A FEW
[00:54:07] ISOLATED WORDS FROM DISTRICT COURT OR MAGISTRATE JUDGES IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS IS SOMETHING
[00:54:11] THAT YOU'RE ENTITLED TO DO, IT'S ABSOLUTELY FALSE TO
[00:54:15] SUGGEST THAT THIS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS NOT EXECUTING AS WE
[00:54:18] SHOULD IN DOING THE RIGHT THING. EVERY SINGLE DAY.
[00:54:21] >> I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE
[00:54:28] WRONG, THAT IN THE HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT, THIS KIND OF CRITICISM BY FEDERAL JUDGES IS
[00:54:30] UNPRECEDENTED. AND IT COMES FROM
[00:54:32] JUDGES OF EVERY DIFFERENT
[00:54:36] POLITICAL PERSUASION. UM, LET ME
[00:54:40] ASK ABOUT THE. FBI. HOW LONG DO
[00:54:45] YOU INTEND TO PUT UP WITH THAT? KASH PATEL CHARACTER? ARE YOU
[00:54:48] GOOD WITH HIS AIRPLANE JAUNTS? ARE YOU CONFIDENT HE'S NOT DRINKING ON THE JOB? ARE YOU
[00:54:51] SURE? NONE OF HIS TRAVEL IS A PRETEXT FOR VACATION ACTIVITIES
[00:54:55] LIKE SNORKELING, OLYMPICS, AND VISITING GIRLFRIENDS? ARE YOU
[00:54:58] SURE HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING? DO YOU VOUCH FOR HIM? ARE YOU
[00:55:02] WILLING TO LOOK AT WHETHER HE
[00:55:03] LIED TO THIS COMMITTEE?
[00:55:07] >> THAT'S AN EXTRAORDINARILY OBNOXIOUS QUESTION, SENATOR. AND
[00:55:08] I HAVE FULL FAITH IN DIRECTOR PATEL AND THE WORK THAT HE'S
[00:55:12] DOING EVERY DAY. >> YOU'VE GOT TO. >> OWN THE.
[00:55:16] >> ONE LAST THING, IF I MAY UM,
[00:55:21] YOU HAVE REFUSED TO EXCLUDE.
[00:55:23] JANUARY 6th RIOTERS FROM YOUR ANTI WEAPONIZATION FUND. YOU
[00:55:26] HAVE REFUSED TO PUT IN WRITING THAT THE SLUSH FUND IS DEAD.
[00:55:30] INDEED, YOU SIGNAL TO ALLIES THAT PAYOUTS ARE STILL ON TRACK.
[00:55:33] YOU HAVE VACATED SEDITIOUS CONSPIRACY CONVICTIONS AGAINST
[00:55:37] MEMBERS OF THE PROUD BOYS AND
[00:55:38] OATH KEEPERS. YOU HIRED. JANUARY
[00:55:42] 6th WRITER JARED WEISS, WHO WOULD URGE THE MOB TO KILL
[00:55:46] POLICE OFFICERS. YOU SCRUBBED PRESS RELEASES ABOUT JANUARY
[00:55:49] 6th. PROSECUTIONS AND CALLED THE
[00:55:52] RELEASES PARTIZAN PROPAGANDA.
[00:55:53] YOU DENIED THAT TRUMP ENCOURAGED
[00:55:56] ANY VIOLENCE. ON JANUARY 6th.
[00:55:58] YOU'VE CLEANED HOUSE OF EVERY ATTORNEY WHO WORKED ON A CASE
[00:56:02] RELATED TO TRUMP, AND YOU BRAGGED THAT BRINGING JUSTICE FOR VIOLENT RIOTERS MEANT THAT
[00:56:06] EVERY ONE OF THEM WAS EITHER
[00:56:08] PARDONED OR HAD THEIR SENTENCE COMMUTED. I HOPE THAT OUR
[00:56:11] COLLEAGUES WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY
[00:56:14] 6th, TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT. THANK YOU.
[00:56:18] >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND? >> I WOULD ALMOST EVERYTHING THE
[00:56:21] SENATOR JUST SAID, AND HE'S PROTECTED. HE'S ALLOWED TO LIE,
[00:56:25] BUT ALMOST EVERYTHING HE JUST
[00:56:27] SAID WAS ABSOLUTELY FALSE. OKAY.
[00:56:29] STARTING WITH THE FACT THAT I
[00:56:32] HAVE NEVER I HAVE NEVER SAID THAT ANY SORT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT IS
[00:56:35] APPROPRIATE. I HAVE NEVER SAID THAT PUBLICLY. I HAVE NEVER SAID
[00:56:38] THAT IN A SPEECH, AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT BELIEVE IT. I
[00:56:42] DID NOT HIRE THE PERSON REFERENCED. AND THAT. SO THAT IS, AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT JUST
[00:56:46] HAPPENS NOT TO BE TRUE. WHEN I TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH
[00:56:50] THE JANUARY. THE CONVICTED
[00:56:52] JANUARY 6th DEFENDANTS, I TALK
[00:56:54] ABOUT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DID.
[00:56:57] HE HAS THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO PARDON ANYBODY FOR ANY REASON HE
[00:57:00] SEES FIT. AND EVERY ONE OF THEM GOT PARDONED OR COMMUTED. I AM
[00:57:04] NOT CELEBRATING THAT. IT IS A FACT. AND THE FACT THAT MY
[00:57:07] DEPARTMENT HAD TO TAKE ACTION IN
[00:57:10] RESPONSE TO THOSE PARDONS BY DISMISSING SOME CASES, IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE TO DO UNDER
[00:57:14] THE LAW. AND IT'S WHAT I DID. SO THAT THE NARRATIVE THAT THAT
[00:57:17] THE SENATOR JUST SUGGESTED AND
[00:57:20] PUT ON ME AS SOMETHING I BELIEVE
[00:57:23] IS, IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.
[00:57:24] >> SINCE HE ACCUSED ME OF LYING
[00:57:27] PERSONALLY. MR. CHAIRMAN, LET ME
[00:57:30] ASK THAT. I PUT THIS SERIES OF
[00:57:34] CONCERNS INTO A QUESTION, FOR THE RECORD, AND THAT YOU, UNDER
[00:57:37] OATH, ONE BY ONE, TELL ME WHERE THERE'S A LIE. I'M HAPPY TO DO
[00:57:40] THAT. I'LL GET THAT TO YOU.
[00:57:42] >> I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT ABSOLUTELY.
[00:57:46] >> UH, BEFORE I GO TO SENATOR
[00:57:49] BLACKBURN, SINCE OVERSIGHT WAS
[00:57:51] BROUGHT UP AND RESPONSIVENESS TO
[00:57:53] OF YOUR DEPARTMENT, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT HOW IT WAS WITH THE
[00:57:57] BIDEN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S
[00:58:00] NON-RESPONSIVENESS TO MY
[00:58:02] OVERSIGHT LETTERS. IF THE BIDEN
[00:58:05] JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE
[00:58:07] BEEN REMOTELY RESPONSIVE, UH,
[00:58:10] THERE WOULDN'T BE SUCH A BACKLOG RIGHT NOW. SO LET'S NOT PRETEND
[00:58:13] FOR A MINUTE. THE LAST
[00:58:16] ADMINISTRATION WAS A BENCHMARK
[00:58:18] OF RESPONSIVENESS. AND THIS ADMINISTRATION, TO ITS CREDIT,
[00:58:21] HAS BEEN MORE RESPONSIVE. I
[00:58:27] TALKED ABOUT IN MY OPENING STATEMENT, 43,000 PAGES OF
[00:58:29] DOCUMENTS THAT YOU HAVE RELEASED COMPARED TO A LOT LESS IN THE
[00:58:33] PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. SENATOR BLACKBURN. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[00:58:37] THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. BEFORE I GET TO MY
[00:58:40] QUESTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
[00:58:45] YOU AWARE THAT WHEN, UH, RANKING
[00:58:48] MEMBER DURBIN WAS CHAIRMAN IN THE LAST CONGRESS, I TRIED
[00:58:52] REPEATEDLY TO SUBPOENA THE EPSTEIN FILES SO THAT WE COULD
[00:58:55] GET THOSE BANKING RECORDS AND
[00:58:57] THOSE FLIGHT LOGS, AND
[00:59:00] REPEATEDLY, THAT WAS BLOCKED. SO THE DEMOCRATS AT THAT POINT
[00:59:03] DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN
[00:59:10] THE EPSTEIN FILES UNTIL THEY LOST THE MAJORITY. AND THEN THEY
[00:59:12] WERE HELL BENT TO GET THAT. I
[00:59:15] ALSO WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE GET ON THE RECORD THAT YOU
[00:59:19] AND THAT DOJ HAS MET WITH THE
[00:59:25] FOLLOWING LIST OF ATTORNEYS WHO
[00:59:28] REPRESENT VICTIMS, INCLUDING MANY WHO HAVE CLAIMED THAT
[00:59:32] THEY'VE NEVER HAD A MEETING WITH DOJ. NOW, HERE IS THIS
[00:59:35] LIST. SIGRID MCCAULEY, JORDAN
[00:59:38] MERSON, GLORIA ALLRED, ERIC DAI
[00:59:41] DAI, ALAN GOLDFARB, DANIEL
[00:59:44] KAISER, MIRIAM WANG YI, MIRIAM
[00:59:47] MEYER, WANG, GLEN NECK, ADAM
[00:59:51] HOROWITZ JACK SCAROLA, DENNIS
[00:59:56] ARDAY, KEVIN MENTZER, JILL GREENFIELD, JULIE. KEYES, DAVID
[00:59:59] H. BRODY, ROBERT GLASSMAN, KATE
[01:00:02] L DONIGER, ANDREW. VILLACASTIN,
[01:00:05] BRITTANY. HENDERSON, BRAD.
[01:00:08] EDWARDS, AVRON RUBIN, NEIL
[01:00:10] BINDER, DAVID. FLECHSIG,
[01:00:13] ROBERTA. KAPLAN, TASHA.
[01:00:15] THOMPSON. FOR THE RECORD, I DO
[01:00:19] WANT TO TALK WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MEMPHIS AND THE
[01:00:22] MEMPHIS SAFE TASK FORCE. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
[01:00:26] A SUCCESS, THE WORK THAT HAS
[01:00:28] BEEN DONE IN MEMPHIS IN FIGHTING
[01:00:32] CRIME, THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
[01:00:36] LEGACY. IN HIS COMMITMENT TO
[01:00:39] MEMPHIS. THE COMMITMENT THAT HAS
[01:00:41] BEEN MADE BY HIS ADMINISTRATION
[01:00:44] IS SOMETHING THAT MEMPHIANS AND
[01:00:46] ALL WEST TENNESSEANS ARE
[01:00:48] INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR, AND
[01:00:52] THIS IS SOMETHING, UH, WITH
[01:00:54] PRESIDENT TRUMP, WITH KASH PATEL, WE STARTED SAYING, PLEASE
[01:00:58] HELP US. AND THAT CALL WAS ANSWERED. I BROUGHT THE CRIME
[01:01:02] STATS. UH, WE GET THE DAILY
[01:01:07] REPORT FROM MEMPHIS, 11,040
[01:01:09] ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE. AND
[01:01:13] YESTERDAY THERE WERE 40 ARRESTS.
[01:01:16] THESE INCLUDED SOMEONE CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER,
[01:01:19] ANOTHER WITH FIRST DEGREE
[01:01:21] MURDER, UH, AGGRAVATED CHILD
[01:01:24] ABUSE, ATTEMPTED RAPE, AND
[01:01:27] AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. THERE HAVE
[01:01:30] BEEN NEARLY 2000 FIREARMS THAT
[01:01:31] HAVE BEEN SEIZED, AND THERE HAVE
[01:01:34] BEEN 155 CHILDREN THAT HAVE BEEN
[01:01:36] RECOVERED. THE STATS HERE TELL
[01:01:38] THE STORY. YOU, PRESIDENT,
[01:01:41] DIRECTOR PATEL, AND THE AGENCIES
[01:01:44] THAT ARE THERE WORKING WITH OUR
[01:01:47] GOVERNOR, STATE AGENCIES, THE
[01:01:49] MEMPHIS MAYOR, THE MEMPHIS
[01:01:52] POLICE CHIEFS, THIS IS THE WAY
[01:01:54] TO FIGHT CRIME. AND WE ARE EVER
[01:01:58] SO GRATEFUL. AND WE WANT TO BE
[01:02:00] ABLE TO SUSTAIN AND BUILD ON
[01:02:03] THAT. AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO TALK JUST A MOMENT ABOUT MEMPHIS
[01:02:07] AND WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR MEMPHIS,
[01:02:12] AND, MORE BROADLY, FOR OTHER
[01:02:14] COUNTRIES, OTHER CITIES AND
[01:02:17] COUNTIES THAT ARE FOCUSED ON
[01:02:20] PUBLIC SAFETY. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR. WHAT WE
[01:02:24] HAVE DONE, AND BY WE I DON'T MEAN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[01:02:28] ALONE. I MEAN STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS. THE NATIONAL GUARD,
[01:02:31] UM, THE ALL OF OUR FEDERAL
[01:02:33] AGENCIES, DHS IN MEMPHIS SHOULD
[01:02:37] BE A POSTER CHILD FOR A LOT OF CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY. YOU HAVE
[01:02:40] A CITY THAT, THAT HAD SKYROCKETING CRIME AND
[01:02:43] RESTAURANTS THAT WERE OUT OF BUSINESS, STOREFRONTS THAT, THAT
[01:02:46] DIDN'T EXIST. THEY WERE BOARDED UP. AND, AND WE CAME TOGETHER.
[01:02:49] AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WAS
[01:02:54] PRESIDENT TRUMP WORKING WITH, WITH YOU, WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR, WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND SAID, WE'RE GOING
[01:02:57] TO FIX THIS. WE'RE GOING TO JUST LIKE WE DID IN DC, WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO THIS CITY, AND
[01:03:01] WE'RE GOING TO ARREST, I MEAN, AMAZINGLY, A VERY SMALL
[01:03:05] PERCENTAGE OF MEMPHIS'S
[01:03:07] POPULATION WAS COMMITTING A VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE CRIMES. AND SO IF YOU CAN FOCUS ON THAT
[01:03:11] SMALL PERCENTAGE, YOU'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO BRING THE CRIME
[01:03:15] STATS DOWN REMARKABLY, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID. AS FAR AS WHAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD. WE
[01:03:18] KEEP ON DOING IT. MEMPHIS.
[01:03:22] THERE'S RESTAURANTS OPENING IN MEMPHIS. THERE'S STORES OPENING
[01:03:25] IN MEMPHIS. THERE'S IT'S A IT'S A NEW CITY COMPARED TO WHERE IT
[01:03:28] WAS ONE YEAR AGO. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T LET UP
[01:03:31] ON. AND BUT AGAIN, I LOOK AT IT AS A POSTER CHILD OF WHAT WE
[01:03:34] SHOULD DO IN CITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
[01:03:38] >> AND WE ARE PLEASED TO KNOW THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING A MODEL
[01:03:42] CITY PROGRAM AT DOJ IN ORDER TO
[01:03:44] HELP WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND OTHER AREAS.
[01:03:47] >> YES. AND THAT'S NOT JUST FOR MEMPHIS, BUT FOR SEVERAL CITIES
[01:03:50] AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE WE ARE GOING TO GIVE PUT MONEY WHERE
[01:03:52] OUR MOUTH IS AND PUT PUT A LOT
[01:03:55] OF RESOURCES INTO THE CITIES TO, TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT CITIES
[01:03:58] THAT, THAT NEED TO BE SAFER, ARE SAFER. AND IF THEY'RE, THEY'RE
[01:04:01] ON THE RIGHT TRACK, THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO
[01:04:04] KEEP DOING IT.
[01:04:06] >> WHEN YOU WERE IN THE OFFICE,
[01:04:08] WE TALKED ABOUT MY CARJACKING
[01:04:11] BILL. THAT WOULD LOWER THE
[01:04:14] INTENT STANDARD TO A GENERAL
[01:04:17] KNOWINGLY REQUIREMENT, GIVING
[01:04:20] THE PROSECUTORS, FEDERAL PROSECUTORS MORE TOOLS SO THAT
[01:04:23] THEY COULD HOLD SOME OF THESE
[01:04:26] VIOLENT CARJACKERS ACCOUNTABLE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO MOVE
[01:04:29] WITH THE N, D, A, A, AND, UH,
[01:04:31] LEADER SCHUMER HAS BLOCKED THAT.
[01:04:34] AND WE'RE DISAPPOINTED. IT'S A
[01:04:37] BIPARTISAN BILL. BUT, UH, TALK
[01:04:41] ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LOWERING
[01:04:44] THAT STATUTE SO THAT WE CAN PROSECUTE THESE CRIMES.
[01:04:48] >> YES, IT'S IT NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE THERE ARE CARJACKING NOT ONLY IN
[01:04:51] TENNESSEE, BUT AT EVERY CITY IN THIS COUNTRY HAS HAS GOTTEN OUT
[01:04:54] OF HAND. THE CRIMINALS ARE BETTER AT IT THAN THEY HAVE
[01:04:58] TOOLS THAT MAKE IT EASIER TO GET INTO CARS. THEY'RE WILLING TO
[01:05:02] EXACT VIOLENCE. AND SO THE STANDARD THAT EXISTS NOW UNDER
[01:05:05] THE STATUTE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CASES, UM, MAKE IT
[01:05:09] HIGHER THAN, THAN A REGULAR
[01:05:11] GENERAL INTENT. CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTORS WILL
[01:05:14] DO THE RIGHT THING. SO WE NEED TO BE EMPOWERED WITH TOOLS TO,
[01:05:18] TO PROSECUTE THESE CASES. AND IF THERE'S CASES WHERE SOMEBODY WAS IN THE CAR AND DIDN'T KNOW,
[01:05:22] PROSECUTORS ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, THEY'LL DO THE RIGHT THING. BUT, BUT IT
[01:05:25] SHOULDN'T BE THE LAW THAT THAT
[01:05:29] PUTS A DAMPER ON THAT. AND SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER ON
[01:05:32] THAT. AND THAT, UM, BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
[01:05:36] >> THERE WAS A DEEPLY
[01:05:39] DISAPPOINTING DECISION FROM THE
[01:05:41] COURT AND THE TRUMP VERSUS
[01:05:44] BARBARA CASE THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT CONGRESS AND THE WE'RE
[01:05:47] GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT BIRTHRIGHT
[01:05:51] CITIZENSHIP. AND THIS IS OUR
[01:05:53] OPENING. WE KNOW THAT BIRTH,
[01:05:57] BIRTHRIGHT TOURISM IS SOMETHING THAT IS TAKING PLACE IN OUR
[01:06:01] COUNTRY. WE KNOW THAT DURING THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION,
[01:06:04] THERE WAS A GOOD BIT OF EVIDENCE
[01:06:06] ON THIS. I'VE HAD A BAN.
[01:06:09] BIRTHRIGHT TOURISM BILL THAT
[01:06:13] WOULD BLOCK THESE 33000 BIRTHS A
[01:06:15] YEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE
[01:06:18] CIRCUMVENTING OUR OUR LAWS AND COMING HERE SIMPLY FOR THE
[01:06:21] PURPOSE OF GIVING BIRTH. IT'S
[01:06:23] PRIMARILY THE CHINESE, AND IT
[01:06:27] IS, UH, ALSO THE RUSSIAN
[01:06:31] OLIGARCHS THAT ARE EXPLOITING
[01:06:34] THIS. AND MY BILL WOULD MAKE
[01:06:36] COMING HERE TO GIVE BIRTH
[01:06:39] INADMISSIBLE AS A, UH, AS A WAY
[01:06:43] TO OBTAIN A VISA AND DEPORTABLE
[01:06:46] IMMEDIATELY. DEPORTABLE, UH, AS
[01:06:48] AN OFFENSE AND TOUCH ON WHY
[01:06:52] CONGRESS NEEDS TO ACT AND GIVE
[01:06:55] THE ADMINISTRATION MORE TOOLS TO
[01:07:01] ENFORCE THIS. >> YES. SO THE VERY DAY OR THE DAY AFTER THE DECISION CAME OUT,
[01:07:04] THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ISSUED
[01:07:05] A DIRECTIVE TO PROSECUTORS TO
[01:07:08] FOCUS ON THE CONDUCT YOU'RE DESCRIBING, USING EXISTING LAWS
[01:07:11] AND TOOLS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS
[01:07:13] MOSTLY AROUND FALSE STATEMENTS
[01:07:17] OR FRAUDULENT INFORMATION IN THE VISA APPLICATION PROCESS. WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT. AND THAT'S
[01:07:20] THAT'S PRETTY MUCH, UM, WHAT WE
[01:07:22] ARE LIMITED IN HOW WE CAN PROSECUTE, UM, FOLKS THAT ARE
[01:07:26] COMING HERE FOR, FOR LYING ABOUT WHY THEY'RE COMING HERE, COMING HERE JUST TO GIVE BIRTH. AND
[01:07:29] ALSO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
[01:07:32] FACILITATING THAT, UM, ANY CONGRESSIONAL STATUTORY
[01:07:35] ADJUSTMENT, UM, THE SUPREME COURT OPINIONS RELIED IN PART ON
[01:07:39] THE STATUTORY PART OF THIS, UM, THAT, THAT WOULD CONTROL, WOULD
[01:07:42] GIVE US MORE TOOLS AND WOULD GIVE THE PRESIDENT MORE TOOLS
[01:07:45] TO, TO KEEP OUT PEOPLE WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT COMING FOR THE
[01:07:48] RIGHT REASON, ONLY COMING TO GIVE BIRTH.
[01:07:51] >> AND YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB
[01:07:53] ON FRAUD AND GOING AFTER FRAUD
[01:07:58] THAT HAS BEEN COMMITTED. UH, THE FRAUD TASK FORCE SEEMS TO BE
[01:08:02] WORKING WELL. AND FROM TENNESSEANS, I HEAR A GOOD BIT
[01:08:05] ABOUT THIS. THEY WANT THE
[01:08:08] FRAUDULENT ACTIVITY TO STOP.
[01:08:10] IT'S TAXPAYER MONEY, AND THEY
[01:08:12] WANT THEIR MONEY TO BE USED
[01:08:15] WISELY. UM, WE HAVE HAD
[01:08:19] LEGISLATION THAT WOULD APPLY TO
[01:08:24] INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE COME INTO THE COUNTRY, EITHER ILLEGALLY,
[01:08:27] OR MAYBE THEY'VE BEEN
[01:08:29] NATURALIZED CITIZENS, BUT THE
[01:08:32] FRAUD ACCOUNTABILITY ACT WOULD
[01:08:34] PUSH FOR THAT DEPORTATION. AND
[01:08:37] DENATURALIZATION IF THEY HAVE
[01:08:40] BEEN FOUND TO BE DEFRAUDING
[01:08:42] INDIVIDUALS OR LOCAL, STATE OR
[01:08:45] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. AND I WISH I'M OVER TIME, AND I'LL ASK
[01:08:49] YOU FOR THIS IN WRITING, SINCE
[01:08:50] I'M OVER MY TIME, BUT I'D LIKE
[01:08:54] TO HEAR FROM YOU WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO PUT MORE TOOLS IN
[01:08:57] THAT TOOLBOX FOR YOU ALL TO GO
[01:09:01] AFTER THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEFRAUDING THE U.S. TAXPAYER.
[01:09:05] THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> THANK YOU.
[01:09:08] >> BEFORE I CALL ON SENATOR SENATOR DURBIN WOULD LIKE TO
[01:09:12] SPEAK FOR A SHORT TIME. >> VERY SHORT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. BASED ON THE
[01:09:16] STATEMENTS JUST MADE BY THE SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE, WE'VE
[01:09:18] CHECKED THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE COMMITTEE DURING THE NOVEMBER
[01:09:21] 30th, 2023 SUPREME COURT ETHICS
[01:09:24] SUBPOENA, AUTHORIZATION, MARKUP,
[01:09:27] I CHAIRED AND ATTEMPTED TO
[01:09:29] RECOGNIZE SENATOR BLACKBURN
[01:09:32] MULTIPLE TIMES SO THAT SHE COULD OFFER AMENDMENT REGARDING
[01:09:35] EPSTEIN'S FLIGHT LOGS. BUT HER REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES PREVENTED
[01:09:38] HER FROM DOING SO BY FILIBUSTERING AND THEN INVOKING
[01:09:41] THE SENATE RULE ON TWO HOURS TO
[01:09:43] END THE MARKUP. MANY EPSTEIN
[01:09:48] RECORDS, INCLUDING FLIGHT LOGS, HAVE BEEN PUBLIC FOR YEARS. MY STAFF SUBSEQUENTLY REACHED OUT TO SENATOR BLACKBURN TO WORK TO
[01:09:52] IDENTIFY WHICH RECORDS SHE ACTUALLY WANTED, STILL BELIEVES
[01:09:54] HAD NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC. TO
[01:09:56] THIS DAY, SHE'S NEVER RESPONDED.
[01:10:00] >> MR. CHAIRMAN. UM, AS HE
[01:10:02] MENTIONED MY NAME, I HAVE
[01:10:07] PREVIOUSLY AND WILL CONTINUE. THERE IS VIDEO, THERE IS A
[01:10:11] TRANSCRIPT, AND MR. BLANCHE,
[01:10:12] I'LL BE HAPPY TO FORWARD THAT
[01:10:15] TO YOU >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. RANKING MEMBER, ACTING ATTORNEY
[01:10:19] GENERAL BLANCHE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR APPEARING
[01:10:22] HERE. THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY AND TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
[01:10:24] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WHO WORK TIRELESSLY TO FIGHT CRIME AND TO
[01:10:28] MAKE OUR NATION SECURE. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE. I'M
[01:10:31] SORRY THAT YOUR SCHEDULE APPARENTLY DIDN'T PERMIT US TO
[01:10:34] MEET BEFORE THIS CONFIRMATION HEARING, BUT I HOPE AND EXPECT
[01:10:37] WE'LL FIND TIME TO MEET SOON AFTER TODAY. >> ABSOLUTELY.
[01:10:41] >> THANK YOU. UH, AS I CONSIDER YOUR NOMINATION, LIKE ALL OTHER
[01:10:44] NOMINATIONS TO SIMILAR CABINET POSITIONS. I NEED TO KNOW YOU'RE
[01:10:48] QUALIFIED TO SERVE. YOU DEMONSTRABLY ARE THAT YOU HAVE THE POLICY VIEWS TO SERVE. WELL,
[01:10:51] WE WILL DISCUSS THAT TODAY. AND
[01:10:54] MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN THIS ROLE THAT YOU HAVE THE INDEPENDENCE
[01:10:58] TO SERVE AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND
[01:11:01] THAT LAST QUESTION HAS TROUBLED ME THE MOST. YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF
[01:11:05] A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. I DON'T RECOGNIZE PROSECUTING THE
[01:11:08] PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL ENEMIES, FIRING RANK AND FILE PROSECUTORS
[01:11:12] AND FBI AGENTS BECAUSE OF THE CASES THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO
[01:11:16] SLASHING GRANTS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
[01:11:18] THESE ARE SOME ACTIONS THAT, IN
[01:11:22] YOUR PREVIOUS CONFIRMATION HEARING BEFORE US, YOU SAID YOU
[01:11:24] WOULD NOT TAKE. NOW, I
[01:11:26] APPRECIATE YOUR STATEMENT.
[01:11:29] WALKING BACK, THE $1.8 BILLION WEAPONISATION FUND THAT YOU CREATED, BUT I QUESTION HOW IT
[01:11:33] GOT THAT FAR, AND WE'LL GET INTO
[01:11:35] THAT. UM, YOU SAT IN
[01:11:37] APPROPRIATIONS HEARING EARLIER THIS YEAR BEFORE ME AND DEFENDED IT AT THAT TIME. IN FACT, I, IF
[01:11:41] I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, YOU TOLD ME I WAS WRONG FOR CRITICIZING
[01:11:44] IT, BUT FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BY SENATORS DURBIN AND CORNYN, I'M
[01:11:47] CONCERNED IT'S NOT DEAD YET.
[01:11:48] AND I THINK WE SHOULD TALK THAT THROUGH. OVERALL, THIS IS NOT
[01:11:52] WHAT I BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT OR DESERVE FROM
[01:11:56] THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
[01:11:57] HAVING SPENT CRITICAL PARTS OF
[01:12:00] JANUARY 6th IN THIS ROOM, TAKING SHELTER FROM THE MOB. UM, I JUST
[01:12:04] WANTED TO OPEN WITH SOME
[01:12:06] QUESTIONS. HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING LAW
[01:12:09] ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON JANUARY
[01:12:11] 6th?
[01:12:13] >> I BELIEVE AROUND 120. UM,
[01:12:17] APPROXIMATELY. BUT I COULD BE OFF A FEW MORE IF YOU.
[01:12:20] >> IF YOU ARE, THE ANSWER IS MORE THAN 200. AND HOW MANY OF
[01:12:24] THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAD THEIR
[01:12:26] SENTENCES COMMUTED OR WERE PARDONED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP?
[01:12:29] >> PRESIDENT TRUMP EITHER COMMUTED OR PARDONED EVERY
[01:12:32] DEFENDANT FROM THE JANUARY 6th EVENTS. >> THAT'S CORRECT. AND IN THIS
[01:12:35] ROOM RIGHT NOW, AND OUTSIDE THIS
[01:12:37] ROOM ARE CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS PROTECTING US IN THIS HEARING
[01:12:40] ROOM. HOW MANY OF THEM DO YOU
[01:12:42] THINK MIGHT HAVE FRIENDS OR COLLEAGUES WHO WERE ATTACKED BY
[01:12:46] SUPPORTERS OF THE PRESIDENT ON JANUARY 6th?
[01:12:50] >> I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS, BUT I'M SURE MANY OF THE CAPITOL
[01:12:52] POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY WORKED EITHER WERE WORKING
[01:12:56] IN JANUARY 6th, OR KNEW PEOPLE WHO WERE.
[01:12:59] >> I'LL JUST SAY THAT I CONSIDER IT A SHAMEFUL SLAP IN THE FACE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
[01:13:03] LAW ENFORCEMENT. FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING POLICE OFFICERS TO HAVE BEEN PARDONED,
[01:13:07] I KNOW YOU WERE NOT SERVING AS DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL WHEN
[01:13:11] PRESIDENT TRUMP PARDONED THOSE FOLKS. BUT YOU SAID JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO THAT YOU WERE NOT
[01:13:15] CELEBRATING THIS DECISION BY THE PRESIDENT. HE WAS EXERCISING HIS
[01:13:18] CONSTITUTIONAL POWER. BUT EARLIER THIS YEAR, IN FRONT OF
[01:13:22] CPAC, A CONSERVATIVE EVENT, UM, I WOULD SAY FROM THE TRANSCRIPT,
[01:13:26] YOU ACTUALLY TRUMPETED IT AS AN ACHIEVEMENT. AND I QUOTE SAYING,
[01:13:30] IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN CONVICTED
[01:13:32] BECAUSE OF JANUARY 6th, BY 5 P.M. ON JANUARY 20th, EVERY ONE
[01:13:35] OF THEM WAS EITHER PARDONED OR
[01:13:38] HAD THEIR SENTENCE COMMUTED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP. SO WHEN FOLKS
[01:13:41] SAY, YOU'VE DONE NOTHING, I SAY YOU HAVE A VERY SHORT MEMORY.
[01:13:44] WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE PROUD OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DECISION TO
[01:13:48] PARDON INDIVIDUALS WHO ASSAULTED LAW ENFORCEMENT? >> NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS
[01:13:52] SAYING THERE AT ALL, SENATOR. SO I WAS RESPONDING TO INQUIRIES
[01:13:55] AROUND WHY MORE HADN'T BEEN DONE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[01:13:59] WITH RESPECT TO JANUARY 6th DEFENDANTS. AND SO MY ANSWER WAS
[01:14:03] THAT THEY. JANUARY 6th
[01:14:05] DEFENDANTS AND SOME OF THEIR LAWYERS HAD A SHORT MEMORY,
[01:14:08] BECAUSE A LOT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. INDEED, BY THE END OF THE
[01:14:11] DAY, ON JANUARY 20th, THEY HAD ALL BEEN PARDONED OR COMMUTED.
[01:14:15] SO I WASN'T CELEBRATING IT. I
[01:14:17] WAS MERELY STATING A FACT, WHICH IS THAT THE JANUARY 6th
[01:14:21] DEFENDANTS DID RECEIVE A A VERY
[01:14:23] GENEROUS, UM, PARDON OR COMMUTATION FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP. EVERY ONE OF THEM ON JANUARY.
[01:14:27] >> A GENEROUS AND IN MY VIEW, FOR THOSE WHO HAD ASSAULTED
[01:14:31] POLICE OFFICERS, UNWARRANTED, UNJUSTIFIED, AHISTORICAL, AND A
[01:14:35] TERRIBLE PRECEDENT. LET ME MOVE
[01:14:36] ON TO QUESTIONS I'VE ASKED IN
[01:14:39] PREVIOUS HEARINGS. IS PRESIDENT TRUMP JUST AS A SIMPLE MATTER OF
[01:14:42] CONSTITUTIONAL LAW ELIGIBLE TO RUN FOR ANOTHER TERM AS
[01:14:45] PRESIDENT IN 2028? >> I DON'T BELIEVE HE IS. NO.
[01:14:48] >> UM, THAT IS CORRECT. IN MY VIEW, READING OF THE PLAIN
[01:14:52] LANGUAGE OF THE 22nd AMENDMENT. UM, WHY DO YOU THINK SEVERAL OF
[01:14:55] THE JUDICIAL NOMINEES OF THIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE REFUSED
[01:14:58] REPEATEDLY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION SIMPLY AND CLEARLY, AS
[01:15:01] YOU JUST DID? WHEN I PUT IT TO THEM.
[01:15:03] >> I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THEY ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> ME NEITHER.
[01:15:07] >> I MEAN, I WAS ASKED TO
[01:15:09] SPECULATE ABOUT SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW. >> IS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[01:15:12] THAT YOU ARE RUNNING INDEPENDENT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. >> THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
[01:15:16] LIKE EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT IN THE EXECUTIVE, IS PART OF THE
[01:15:19] EXECUTIVE. I MEAN, ARTICLE TWO OF THE CONSTITUTION, UM, GIVES
[01:15:23] THE POWER OF THE EXECUTIVE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. SO WE CERTAINLY
[01:15:26] OPERATE WITH INTEGRITY. WE
[01:15:30] CERTAINLY OPERATE IN THE SINGLE MINDSET TO SERVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
[01:15:33] UM, BUT, BUT I'M A MEMBER, IF
[01:15:36] CONFIRMED, I WILL BE A MEMBER OF THE CABINET. I'M SERVING IN THE
[01:15:39] ACTING CAPACITY THAT WAY. NOW, JUST LIKE THE OTHER CABINET
[01:15:42] MEMBERS. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP CAN FIRE ME WHENEVER HE WANTS.
[01:15:46] >> SO DO YOU HAVE A SENSE WHY HE FIRED YOUR PREDECESSOR?
[01:15:49] >> I HAVE NO IDEA. PRESIDENT TRUMP, WE ALL SERVE AT THE
[01:15:53] PLEASURE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THIS ADMINISTRATION.
[01:15:56] >> AND PRESIDENT TRUMP EVER POST
[01:15:58] ON TRUTH SOCIAL, DIRECTING YOUR
[01:16:00] PREDECESSOR TO GET AT IT, TO PROSECUTE HIS PERCEIVED
[01:16:04] POLITICAL ENEMIES. >> I DON'T THINK THOSE WERE HIS EXACT WORDS, BUT. >> THOSE WERE NOT HIS EXACT
[01:16:07] WORDS. BUT CLEARLY, THAT WAS THE INTENTION. UM, IT IS MY
[01:16:11] IMPRESSION, SIR, THAT YOU ARE HERE RATHER THAN YOUR
[01:16:14] PREDECESSOR, BECAUSE THE
[01:16:16] PRESIDENT WAS UNHAPPY WITH HER
[01:16:19] FAILURES TO ACTUALLY SECURE CONVICTIONS OF FOLKS LIKE ATTORNEY GENERAL TISH JAMES OR
[01:16:22] FORMER FBI DIRECTOR JIM COMEY.
[01:16:26] IF YOU'RE CONFIRMED AND YOU'RE ASKED TO TAKE AN ACTION YOU BELIEVE TO BE ILLEGAL OR
[01:16:29] UNETHICAL, WOULD YOU RESIGN. >> I THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. BUT
[01:16:32] YES, IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN, I'M NOT GOING TO VIOLATE MY OATH TO
[01:16:36] THE CONSTITUTION. >> I APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER. UM, YOU DID ANSWER A QUESTION BY A
[01:16:40] COLLEAGUE ABOUT INPUT THAT YOU GAVE TO THE PRESIDENT. DID YOU
[01:16:44] EVER SAY NO TO THE PRESIDENT ON
[01:16:46] THE SLUSH FUND, THE ANTI WEAPONIZATION FUND? DID YOU ADVISE HIM AGAINST THIS?
[01:16:51] >> UM, I AM NOT WILL NOT TALK
[01:16:54] ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS I HAVE WITH THE PRESIDENT. I SERVED AS HIS
[01:16:57] LAWYER FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE HE WAS ELECTED. I'M THE
[01:17:01] DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL. SO I'M
[01:17:03] NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS THAT I HAVE WITH
[01:17:06] HIM. BUT, SENATOR, I WILL SAY THAT, UM, PRESIDENT TRUMP TRUSTS
[01:17:09] ME TO GIVE HIM COUNSEL. UM,
[01:17:12] COUNSEL DOES NOT MEAN YES, MAN. AND SO THAT'S AND THAT'S TRUE
[01:17:16] IN MY CASE, LIKE IT SHOULD BE IN ANY ATTORNEYS GENERAL CASE.
[01:17:18] >> LET ME JUST FOR A MINUTE,
[01:17:22] BEAR DOWN ON THE ANTI WEAPONIZATION FUND. YOU'VE
[01:17:23] TESTIFIED TO THE HOUSE. WE ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT
[01:17:27] FUND PERIOD. BUT YOU'VE REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO PUT THAT COMMITMENT IN WRITING OR TO SUBMIT A DECLARATION TO THE
[01:17:30] COURT. YOU'RE AN OFFICER OF THE COURT, A MEMBER OF THE BAR. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT
[01:17:33] ASSERTION IN A COURT FILING, OR
[01:17:35] EVEN IN A LETTER SUBMITTED TO
[01:17:38] THIS BODY ON MAY 19th. YOU
[01:17:41] TESTIFIED BEFORE THE THE JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE, SINCE THE CASE HAD BEEN
[01:17:44] DISMISSED, THERE WAS NO JUDGE AND NO MECHANISM FOR JUDICIAL
[01:17:48] REVIEW. BUT IN AN OPINION THIS
[01:17:49] WEEK, A FEDERAL JUDGE WROTE, AND
[01:17:52] I'M QUOTING THAT YOUR TESTIMONY WAS AT BEST MISLEADING AND AT
[01:17:56] WORST, DISINGENUOUS, EXPLAINING THE COURT REMAINED AVAILABLE TO
[01:17:59] REVIEW THIS AGREEMENT. HAD YOU SOUGHT RELIEF, WHY NOT SEEK
[01:18:02] REVIEW OF THE SETTLEMENT
[01:18:04] AGREEMENT OR SUBMIT SOME RECORD,
[01:18:07] SOME WRITING? GIVEN THAT THE
[01:18:09] PRESIDENT CONTINUES TO PUBLICLY CHAMPION THIS WEAPONIZATION
[01:18:12] FUND, AND GIVEN YOUR PREVIOUS ANSWER TO ME IN ANOTHER HEARING,
[01:18:16] THAT YOU WOULDN'T SAY WHETHER OR
[01:18:17] NOT THOSE WHO ASSAULTED COPS ON
[01:18:20] JANUARY 6th WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PAYOUTS.
[01:18:24] >> SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THERE. FIRST OF ALL,
[01:18:27] WE HAVE PUT IT IN WRITING. IT'S
[01:18:28] IN REPEATED COURT FILINGS IN
[01:18:31] EDVA. AND, UM, AND D.C. SO THIS NARRATIVE THAT YOU WON'T PUT IT
[01:18:35] IN WRITING HAPPENS NOT TO BE
[01:18:38] TRUE. THE REASON WHY NEITHER MYSELF NOR SECRETARY BESSENT
[01:18:41] AGREED TO PUT A DECLARATION IN IS BECAUSE THERE'S LONG
[01:18:45] STANDING PRECEDENT THAT JUDGES CANNOT ASK CABINET SECRETARIES
[01:18:49] OR PEOPLE LIKE ME TO PUT IN DECLARATIONS. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE THE WHETHER THE
[01:18:52] FUND IS ALIVE. I'M UNDER OATH TODAY, AND I'VE SAID IT'S DEAD
[01:18:56] REPEATEDLY. I SAID IT TO THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND
[01:19:00] I'M HAPPY TO SAY AS MANY TIMES
[01:19:03] AS NECESSARY, UM, AS FAR AS WHAT
[01:19:05] THE JUDGE SAID IN FLORIDA, JUST THE LAST QUESTION YOU ASKED
[01:19:08] ABOUT FLORIDA, UM, DID THAT JUDGE DISAGREED WITH WHAT I
[01:19:11] SAID? I STILL BELIEVE THAT 11th CIRCUIT PRECEDENT, WHICH I'VE
[01:19:14] STUDIED. UM, I AM RIGHT. SO WE'LL SEE.
[01:19:18] >> YOU DID SAY EARLIER, THIS IS THE MOST TRANSPARENT DEPARTMENT
[01:19:22] OF JUSTICE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. WE HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE. AND YOU
[01:19:24] STARTED BY SAYING, WE'RE HERE
[01:19:28] TO REBUILD TRUST, TWO DECISIONS
[01:19:31] OR TWO OLC OPINIONS. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN. I'M THE SENIOR DEMOCRAT ON DEFENSE AND
[01:19:34] INTELLIGENCE APPROACH. I'M THE MOST SENIOR MEMBER OF THE
[01:19:37] FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ON MY SIDE, WHO'S CURRENTLY SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE. UM,
[01:19:41] I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHY THE MOST
[01:19:43] TRANSPARENT DEPARTMENT HAS
[01:19:45] REFUSED TO RELEASE THE OLC OPINION THAT JUSTIFIES THE 66
[01:19:49] STRIKES THE MILITARY HAS CONDUCTED ON BOATS IN THE CARIBBEAN, WHICH HAVE KILLED
[01:19:51] MORE THAN 220 PEOPLE, EITHER A
[01:19:54] REDACTED VERSION OR IN A
[01:19:56] CLASSIFIED SETTING. TO ME AND
[01:19:59] OTHERS WHO ARE IN RELEVANT DECISION MAKING POSITIONS.
[01:20:02] >> WELL. >> SENATOR, WE MADE THE HEAD OF
[01:20:05] OLC AVAILABLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS TO EXPLAIN THAT TO TO YOU AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
[01:20:09] COMMITTEE. UM, AND THAT IS
[01:20:12] EXTRAORDINARILY TRANSPARENT AND UNPRECEDENTED THAT WE'VE DONE
[01:20:14] THAT, WHETHER AN ALL KEY OPINION
[01:20:17] IS RELEASED. THERE'S A LOT OF PROCESS THAT GOES INTO THAT. BUT THE IDEA THAT WE WERE NOT
[01:20:21] TRANSPARENT ABOUT OUR LEGAL BASIS THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOT
[01:20:25] TRUE. >> OKAY. ANOTHER CHANCE TO BE TRANSPARENT. UM, THE FISA COURT
[01:20:28] IN MARCH CERTIFIED YOUR SECTION
[01:20:30] OF SECTION 702 PROCEEDINGS, BUT
[01:20:34] FOUND COMPLIANCE DEFICIENCIES. UM, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POWER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WILL SOON BE UP AGAIN FOR A
[01:20:38] VOTE. AND YOU HAVE NOT
[01:20:40] DECLASSIFIED THAT OPINION. SENATORS COTTON AND WARNER,
[01:20:44] REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT, LEADS
[01:20:46] ON INTELLIGENCE IN APRIL, WROTE THE ADMINISTRATION, SAYING THAT THEY EXPECTED DECLASSIFICATION
[01:20:50] OF THIS MARCH OPINION WITHIN TWO WEEKS. YET IT REMAINS
[01:20:54] CLASSIFIED. YOU HAVE A BIPARTISAN REQUEST FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF INTEL. WILL YOU
[01:20:58] DECLASSIFY IT OR MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO US? >> UM, WE'LL. >> WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT
[01:21:02] THAT. I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
[01:21:04] AND WE NEED 702. UM, REAUTHORIZED.
[01:21:07] >> THANK YOU. LAST QUESTION, IF I COULD. THE SAFER, THE SAFER
[01:21:11] SUPERVISION ACT IS CO-SPONSORED BY SENATORS LEE CORNYN TILLIS
[01:21:15] AND LANKFORD, AND IT GIVES A PATH FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT
[01:21:19] FEDERAL PROBATION AND PAROLE IS MORE EFFECTIVE. WE'VE DISCUSSED
[01:21:22] IT BEFORE. WILL YOU MEET WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT WAYS THAT THIS
[01:21:26] IMPORTANT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL LAW
[01:21:29] ENFORCEMENT, COULD MOVE FORWARD?
[01:21:31] >> I THINK THAT THAT >> THAT.
[01:21:34] >> I THINK. >> IT'S YES, I VERY MUCH AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THERE, SENATOR.
[01:21:38] >> THANK YOU.
[01:21:41] >> BEFORE I CALL ON SENATOR
[01:21:44] SCHMITT AND AFTER SCHMITT GETS DONE, SPEAKING, QUESTIONING, UH,
[01:21:47] WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A 15 MINUTE
[01:21:50] BREAK. AND THAT 15 MINUTE BREAK STARTS WHEN YOU LEAVE THE CHAIR
[01:21:53] AND BE BACK IN AT THE 15th
[01:21:55] MINUTE. BEFORE THEN, I'D LIKE TO
[01:21:58] ENTER INTO THE RECORD, UH, FOR YOUR SUPPORTING YOUR NOMINATION
[01:22:02] FROM 382, 000 MEMBERS OF THE
[01:22:07] NATIONAL FRATERNAL PEACE,
[01:22:09] FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE. THE LETTER EMPHASIZED. MR.
[01:22:13] BLANCHE'S DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND HIS
[01:22:16] COMMITMENT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE
[01:22:19] NATION, THE LETTER STATES,
[01:22:21] QUOTE, WE BELIEVE MR. BLANCHE'S
[01:22:24] LEADERSHIP WILL HELP ENSURE THAT
[01:22:26] THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REMAINS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC
[01:22:30] SAFETY. THE RULE OF LAW, AND PROVIDING UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR
[01:22:34] THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
[01:22:38] PROFESSIONALS WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES DAILY TO PROTECT OUR
[01:22:41] FAMILIES, END QUOTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, IT WILL BE ENTERED.
[01:22:45] SENATOR SCHMITT. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. UM,
[01:22:48] MR. BLANCHE, WELCOME. UM, YOU
[01:22:53] ARE YOU'RE ENTERING THIS ARENA IN THIS CONFIRMATION HEARING. AS
[01:22:56] THE NATION'S CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AT A VERY
[01:23:00] INTERESTING TIME IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY, WHERE THE
[01:23:02] FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DAIS, THE DEMOCRATS, IN MY VIEW,
[01:23:06] HAVE JUST TAKEN AN ALL OUT ASSAULT ON THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
[01:23:09] THIS COUNTRY WHO SERVE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY. WE JUST A
[01:23:13] COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, GOT THROUGH A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
[01:23:17] WHERE I WAS ON THE SENATE FLOOR LISTENING TO THINGS THAT I NEVER
[01:23:21] HEARD. CERTAINLY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL SAY IN CHARACTERIZING
[01:23:24] THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE THIS COUNTRY TO ENFORCE ITS LAWS,
[01:23:27] CALLING THEM THE GESTAPO.
[01:23:29] PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SECRET POLICE,
[01:23:32] UH, MASKED MERCENARIES. THIS IS
[01:23:36] INSANE. THESE CALLS TO DEFUND
[01:23:38] ICE, THIS HAMMER AND SICKLE WAVE
[01:23:42] THAT CAME THROUGH NEW YORK JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO, THAT'S NOW DOMINATING THE DISCUSSION ON THE
[01:23:45] OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, THE CENTRAL PLANK, OF COURSE, IS
[01:23:49] DEFUNDING THE POLICE,
[01:23:51] ASSAULTING, OVERTHROWING WESTERN
[01:23:54] CIVILIZATION. THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S DEMOCRAT PARTY.
[01:23:57] AND YOU'RE YOU'RE FIELDING
[01:24:00] QUESTIONS. UM, THAT I THINK ARE TOTALLY UNFAIR, BUT IT'S ALL
[01:24:03] MEANT, I THINK, TO UNDERMINE AND
[01:24:06] DEMORALIZE. I SAW IT IN MY TIME
[01:24:09] AS ATTORNEY GENERAL IN MISSOURI, WHERE WE HAD A SOROS FUNDED
[01:24:13] PROSECUTOR WHO REFUSED TO
[01:24:14] PROSECUTE CRIME. UH, AND POLICE
[01:24:17] OFFICERS, MANY RETIRED EARLY,
[01:24:19] UM, FEWER CAME INTO THE RANKS TO
[01:24:22] PROTECT AND SERVE. AND SO, UH, YOU'RE COMING AT AN IMPORTANT
[01:24:25] TIME. I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP, LIKE HE HAS WITH THE MILITARY, HAS INSPIRED, UM, THE MEN AND
[01:24:29] WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINES TO SERVE. UM, YOU'RE HELPING, I
[01:24:33] THINK, RESTORE THAT WITH YOUR FOCUS ON VIOLENT CRIME, YOUR
[01:24:36] FOCUS ON FRAUD. UM, I HEARD ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAY THAT THIS
[01:24:39] IS THE MOST TROUBLED DEPARTMENT
[01:24:41] OF JUSTICE IN HISTORY. UH, I,
[01:24:44] UH, I HAPPEN TO LIVE THROUGH THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION WHERE
[01:24:48] YOU HAD A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[01:24:52] COMPLETELY WEAPONIZED AGAINST POLITICAL OPPONENTS. THEY TRIED TO TRY TO THROW THEIR CHIEF
[01:24:55] POLITICAL OPPONENT IN JAIL, RUIN
[01:24:56] HIS FAMILY'S LIVES. YOU WERE
[01:25:00] HIS LAWYER TO SEE SOME OF THAT. AND I WAS WITH YOU IN A COURTROOM IN NEW YORK TO WITNESS
[01:25:04] THAT DEFENSE. AND ONE OF THOSE
[01:25:07] CASES, UM, WERE AIMED AGAINST
[01:25:09] CATHOLICS IN THIS COUNTRY WHO HAPPEN TO ATTEND A TRADITIONAL
[01:25:12] CATHOLIC LATIN MASS, WENT AFTER
[01:25:14] PARENTS UNDER THE PATRIOT ACT
[01:25:17] FOR SHOWING UP TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, TO OBJECT TO CRITICAL
[01:25:21] RACE THEORY, OR THE MASKING OF
[01:25:23] THEIR KIDS WE LIVED THROUGH JACK
[01:25:26] SMITH, AND THE CHAIRMAN HAS JUST REVEALED NEW REVELATIONS, OF
[01:25:29] COURSE, THAT HE WAS READING TEXT
[01:25:31] MESSAGES. BY THE WAY, JACK SMITH
[01:25:33] TESTIFIED UNDER OATH. HE DIDN'T
[01:25:37] DO THAT. HE TESTIFIED THAT THEY JUST HAD THE PHONE LOGS. WE KNOW
[01:25:40] THAT'S NOT TRUE. NOW, JACK
[01:25:43] SMITH SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION FOR LYING TO
[01:25:47] CONGRESS. SO THIS WEAPONIZATION,
[01:25:50] LET'S DRAW A DISTINCTION. WHEN YOU GO AFTER YOUR POLITICAL
[01:25:53] OPPONENTS, THAT IS A WEAPONIZATION. WHEN YOU HOLD
[01:25:56] PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, WHO WEAPONIZE THE JUSTICE SYSTEM,
[01:25:58] THAT'S NOT THE SAME THING. SO YOU HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT JOB. I
[01:26:01] WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS
[01:26:05] THAT YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR, IN
[01:26:06] YOUR TIME AS, AS, AS ACTING
[01:26:09] ATTORNEY GENERAL, HOPEFULLY AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, YOU'RE
[01:26:13] CONFIRMED. YOU CREATED THE NATIONAL FRAUD ENFORCEMENT DIVISION. I THINK THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. I THINK IT'S
[01:26:17] THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN MINNEAPOLIS,
[01:26:21] UH, IN CALIFORNIA AND PLACES
[01:26:22] THAT THAT I THINK THE WORK WILL
[01:26:25] CONTINUE, CARRIED OUT THE, THE
[01:26:27] LARGEST HEALTH CARE FRAUD
[01:26:30] TAKEDOWN IN DEPARTMENT HISTORY, EXPANDED THE FIGHT AGAINST
[01:26:33] MEDICAID FRAUD AFTER THE $90 MILLION MINNESOTA FRAUD
[01:26:36] TAKEDOWN, YOU SECURED SIX FRAUD
[01:26:41] CONVICTIONS INVOLVING MORE THAN 1.1 BILLION IN LESS THAN THREE
[01:26:43] WEEKS, CLEARED THE BACKLOG OF
[01:26:46] IMMIGRATION CASES, ALLOWING FOR
[01:26:48] DEPORTATIONS, MORE DEPORTATIONS.
[01:26:50] YOU FILED A HISTORIC NUMBER OF DENATURALIZATION CASES. YOU
[01:26:54] SECURED MAJOR ANTI DAI DAI WINS
[01:26:56] AGAINST IBM AND PAYPAL. UH, YOU
[01:27:01] ENDED THE EEOC RACIST, DISPARATE
[01:27:04] IMPACT REGIME. YOU SECURED 450 YEARS OF PRISON TIME FOR ANTIFA
[01:27:08] MEMBERS INVOLVED IN THE
[01:27:09] TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST ICE.
[01:27:12] YOU PROSECUTED THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER FOR SECRETLY FUNNELING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO
[01:27:17] THE KKK AND NEO-NAZIS. UM,
[01:27:22] THAT'S A PRETTY THAT'S A HELL OF
[01:27:24] A RECORD. IN 100 DAYS. UM, BUT,
[01:27:27] UH, MORE WORK CONTINUES. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO. AND I'M GOING TO
[01:27:31] ALLOW YOU TO ANSWER, UM, TO, TO
[01:27:35] FOCUS ON. UM, FIRST, I THINK WE
[01:27:36] HAVE TO BREAK THIS SANCTUARY
[01:27:40] CITY SCAM. THE SYSTEM TO THE, TO
[01:27:44] THE PEOPLE WATCHING OR LISTENING AT HOME. WHAT IS A SANCTUARY
[01:27:46] JURISDICTION? HERE'S WHAT IT
[01:27:48] MEANS. IT MEANS THAT IF YOU ARE
[01:27:52] A CRIMINAL CHILD RAPIST AND YOU'RE HERE ILLEGALLY, AND
[01:27:56] YOU'VE BEEN RELEASED FROM
[01:27:58] PRISON, THEY WILL NOT TELL
[01:28:01] FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES THAT YOU'RE BEING THAT THAT
[01:28:05] PERSON IS BEING RELEASED. THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE THAT
[01:28:06] INDIVIDUAL, THAT MONSTER,
[01:28:09] RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY THAN
[01:28:11] BE DEPORTED. THAT'S HOW SICK
[01:28:14] THIS REGIME IS. AND SO, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE IN THE ICE FUNDING. I WAS ABLE TO SECURE IN
[01:28:18] THE ICE FUNDING, $350 MILLION TO
[01:28:22] CLEAN UP THIS MESS, TO ALLOW ICE IN THOSE SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS
[01:28:25] TO ACTUALLY CARRY OUT THOSE DEPORTATIONS. SANCTUARY CITIES
[01:28:29] BE UM, WILL YOU USE EVERY TOOL
[01:28:32] THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR TOOLBOX TO GO AFTER THESE SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS?
[01:28:36] >> I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY, YOU JUST HIT THE NAIL ON THE, ON THE HEAD
[01:28:38] WHEN YOU DESCRIBED ONE EXAMPLE. BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
[01:28:42] EXAMPLES OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS BEING PUT AT RISK, BECAUSE INSTEAD OF GOING INTO A
[01:28:46] JAIL TO ARREST SOMEBODY OR TAKE SOMEBODY WHO'S HERE ILLEGALLY,
[01:28:50] EVEN WITH A FINAL ORDER OF DEPORTATION, THAT INDIVIDUAL
[01:28:53] GETS RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND IT PUTS EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY AT RISK. IT
[01:28:57] PUTS LAW ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT AT RISK. IT'S NOT
[01:29:01] CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW. AND SO, YES, I DEFINITELY PLEDGE TO YOU
[01:29:04] THAT WE WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN AT THE DEPARTMENT TO, TO COMBAT THAT.
[01:29:07] >> THE SECOND ONE IS TO CRUSH THE MACHINERY THAT CONVERTS
[01:29:11] ILLEGAL CONDUCT INTO POLITICAL
[01:29:13] POWER FOR THE LEFT. AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE RACIAL
[01:29:16] GERRYMANDERING. UM, THE STRAW
[01:29:18] DONATIONS, >> FOREIGN MONEY, IDENTITY
[01:29:21] THEFT, FRAUDULENT ONLINE
[01:29:24] CONTRIBUTIONS. THE NONPROFITS THAT FINANCE EXTREMISM WHILE
[01:29:28] LYING TO THEIR DONORS. WILL YOU
[01:29:29] ENFORCE THE CONSTITUTION AND VOTING RIGHTS ACT AGAINST
[01:29:32] UNLAWFUL RACIAL. AND INVESTIGATE
[01:29:36] CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OF STRAW DONATIONS, FOREIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, IDENTITY FRAUD, AND OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITY
[01:29:40] THROUGH ACTBLUE OR OTHER FUNDRAISING PLATFORMS? >> YES. >> OF COURSE. SENATOR. YES.
[01:29:44] >> THANK YOU.
[01:29:45] >> THIRD, PROTECT FREE SPEECH
[01:29:48] FROM THE NEW CENSORSHIP MACHINE. SEARCH ENGINES DETERMINE WHAT
[01:29:52] INFORMATION AMERICANS FIND WERE MORE AND MORE RELIANT ON THESE THINGS. APP STORES DETERMINE
[01:29:56] WHICH PLATFORMS CAN REACH THE PUBLIC. AI SYSTEMS INCREASINGLY
[01:30:00] DETERMINE WHICH CLAIMS ARE TREATED AS TRUE, FALSE,
[01:30:03] RESPECTABLE, EXTREME, OR BEYOND DISCUSSION. WILL YOU ENFORCE A
[01:30:05] ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHO PRESSURE
[01:30:09] TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES TO SUPPRESS LAWFUL SPEECH AND WORK WITH
[01:30:13] CONGRESS TO EXPOSE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THE COMPANIES
[01:30:17] CONTROLLING SEARCH, SOCIAL MEDIA, APP DISTRIBUTION, AND AI?
[01:30:21] >> ABSOLUTELY. YES, SENATOR. >> THANK YOU. I WANT TO JUST
[01:30:25] GIVE, FOR THE 2.5 MINUTES I HAVE LEFT WITH MY TIME, I GUESS, GIVE
[01:30:27] YOU AN OPPORTUNITY. YOU SAW, UM,
[01:30:32] WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DEPARTMENT
[01:30:35] OF JUSTICE UNDER MERRICK GARLAND
[01:30:37] AND THE DIRTBAG JACK SMITH, AND
[01:30:40] UNDER JOE BIDEN'S REGIME, WHAT
[01:30:44] WHAT LESSONS DO YOU DRAW FROM THAT?
[01:30:46] >> THE BIGGEST ONE IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BELONGS IN
[01:30:50] THE BUSINESS OF PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO WHEN I
[01:30:54] TALKED ABOUT DURING MY OPENING STATEMENT ABOUT BRINGING THE
[01:30:57] VIOLENT CRIME RATES DOWN AND
[01:31:00] COMBATING FRAUD AND GOING AFTER
[01:31:04] THE FENTANYL CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY, THAT'S THAT'S THE LESSON I LEARNED, IS THAT WE DO
[01:31:06] NOT NEED TO BE SPENDING MILLIONS
[01:31:09] AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BRINGING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS, IF NOT
[01:31:12] THOUSANDS OF PROSECUTORS TO D.C. TO GO AFTER, UM, LITERALLY AN
[01:31:15] ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION. YES. THE PRESIDENT, YES, HIS FAMILY, BUT
[01:31:19] ALSO ANYBODY THAT KNEW HIM, ANYBODY THAT WORKED WITH HIM,
[01:31:23] HIS GARDENER AT MAR-A-LAGO WAS TARGETED. UH, WE WE SHOULD NOT
[01:31:25] BE DOING THAT. WE SHOULD BE ARRESTING BAD GUYS. WE SHOULD BE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
[01:31:29] DOING. SO WE'RE EMPOWERING ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEYS AROUND
[01:31:32] THE COUNTRY, FBI, ATF, MARSHALS,
[01:31:36] DEA AGENTS, TO GO OUT AND MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFE. AND IN MY
[01:31:39] MIND, WHEN IT COMES TO THE
[01:31:41] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S
[01:31:47] COMBATING DRUG DEALING, UM, COMBATING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, UM, NARCO TERRORISM, USING OUR
[01:31:51] HSF TASK FORCES. UM, AND, AND ABOVE ALL, AND JUST AS
[01:31:54] IMPORTANTLY, IS FRAUD AND
[01:31:56] BRINGING MONEY THAT IS STOLEN FROM THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER AND
[01:32:00] GETTING IT BACK AND PUTTING THE GUYS RESPONSIBLE IN PRISON.
[01:32:03] THAT'S WHAT I'VE LEARNED, IS THAT WE CAN JUST GO OUT AND DO
[01:32:07] OUR JOBS, AND WE CAN DO IT.
[01:32:09] THERE'LL BE NOISE IN DC. LIKE I
[01:32:11] SAID, WE PROSECUTED NEARLY
[01:32:15] 100,000 INFORMATIONS AND INDICTMENTS SINCE JANUARY 20th.
[01:32:17] WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 3 OR 4. UM, AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT,
[01:32:21] THAT I TAKE TO, TO PROSECUTORS AROUND THE COUNTRY. >> THANK YOU. AND I, AND I ALSO
[01:32:24] WANT TO THANK YOU. UM, EARLY ON
[01:32:28] WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION IN KANSAS CITY, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN
[01:32:30] SAINT LOUIS, WORKING WITH THE
[01:32:33] DEPARTMENT. KASH PATEL OTHERS, SAINT LOUIS GOT THE LARGEST
[01:32:36] INFUSION OF PERMANENT FBI AGENTS ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, AND THEY'RE HELPING CLEAN UP THE
[01:32:40] STREETS. PEOPLE FEEL SAFER. UH, IT'S A GREAT AMERICAN
[01:32:43] TURNAROUND AS RELATES TO CRIME. THOSE NUMBERS HOPEFULLY WILL CONTINUE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
[01:32:47] WORKING WITH YOU ON THOSE EFFORTS AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL. THANK
[01:32:49] YOU, SENATOR. >> UH.
[01:32:52] >> BEFORE WE TAKE THIS 15 MINUTE
[01:32:53] BREAK, I WANTED TO SAY THAT FROM
[01:32:59] 1230 TO 1, I'LL BE IN THE CAPITOL TO VOTE. ANOTHER REPUBLICAN WILL CHAIR THE
[01:33:02] MEETING. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO ON
[01:33:04] THROUGH THE NOON HOUR. AND, UH, SO WE'LL TAKE A BREAK NOW, AND
[01:33:08] WE'LL BE BACK AT 1145. AND
[01:33:10] SENATOR BLUMENTHAL WILL BE THE
[01:33:13] FIRST PERSON TO ASK QUESTIONS
[01:34:24] >> THANK YOU. >> UH, WELCOME BACK, MR. BLANCHE. THANK YOU FOR BEING
[01:34:28] HERE. THANK YOU TO YOUR FAMILY. AND I WANT TO JOIN IN THANKING
[01:34:32] THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
[01:34:35] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UH, FOR
[01:34:39] THEIR SERVICE. UM, I WANT TO
[01:34:42] BEGIN WHERE? MAYBE WE HAVE SOME COMMON GROUND. YOU WOULD AGREE
[01:34:46] THAT THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
[01:34:51] IRAN IS WELL KNOWN TO DETAIN,
[01:34:55] TORTURE, EVEN KILL POLITICAL
[01:34:58] DISSIDENTS INCLUDING EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS. WOULD YOU NOT
[01:35:02] >> UM, YES, SENATOR. THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE DONE THAT. YES.
[01:35:06] >> AND LAST WEEK, THE IRANIAN
[01:35:08] AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
[01:35:11] FILED A LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS
[01:35:15] ADOPTED A POLICY OF
[01:35:16] COLLABORATING WITH THE ISLAMIC
[01:35:21] REPUBLIC OF IRAN TO PROVIDE DETAILS ABOUT ASYLUM APPLICANTS.
[01:35:24] THIS IS THE UNITED STATES
[01:35:26] GOVERNMENT PROVIDING INFORMATION
[01:35:29] REGULARLY AND FREQUENTLY TO THE
[01:35:32] IRANIAN GOVERNMENT ABOUT IRANIAN
[01:35:35] NATIONALS WHO ARE SEEKING ASYLUM
[01:35:38] HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE
[01:35:42] ARE DECLARATIONS MADE UNDER OATH
[01:35:45] BEFORE THE COURT ABOUT HIGH OFFICIALS STATIONED HERE WITH
[01:35:49] IRAN GETTING INFORMATION FROM
[01:35:52] THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT,
[01:35:54] AND THEN THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
[01:35:57] DEPORTING HUNDREDS OF
[01:35:59] INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING
[01:36:02] EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN. BACK TO
[01:36:04] IRAN, WHERE THEY FACE TORTURE,
[01:36:07] IMPRISONMENT, POTENTIAL DEATH,
[01:36:10] WERE YOU OR THE DEPARTMENT OF
[01:36:12] JUSTICE CONSULTED ABOUT THIS POLICY?
[01:36:16] >> WELL, I THAT'S NOT OUR POLICY, SENATOR. WE WOULD NEVER
[01:36:19] SEND SOMEBODY HOME TO BE TORTURED. THAT'S NOT WHAT THE
[01:36:22] AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT OF US. THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT WHAT
[01:36:25] PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES. SO I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LAWSUIT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. BUT THERE'S NO SUCH POLICY.
[01:36:29] >> WILL YOU COMMIT TO INVESTIGATE THESE ALLEGATIONS?
[01:36:33] >> I HAVEN'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE LAWSUIT. I WILL, UH, WHEN I
[01:36:35] SAY YOU, SAY COMMIT TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS. WE
[01:36:38] DON'T DO THAT. BUT CERTAINLY, IF THE LAWSUIT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED, AND PART OF THAT
[01:36:42] INCLUDES INVESTIGATION. ABSOLUTELY. >> WELL, YOU DO INVESTIGATE
[01:36:46] ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGALITY. THIS POLICY WOULD CLEARLY BE NOT ONLY ILLEGAL.
[01:36:50] >> THERE IS. >> NO SUCH MORALLY REPUGNANT,
[01:36:52] WOULD IT NOT? YOU AGREED WITH ME
[01:36:54] THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE THE POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES TO DO IT.
[01:36:57] >> BUT IN YOUR QUESTION, YOU'RE SUGGESTING THERE IS SUCH A POLICY. I'M TELLING YOU, THERE
[01:37:01] IS NO SUCH POLICY. >> WELL, IF THERE IS NO SUCH
[01:37:04] POLICY, THEN I PRESUME YOU WOULD
[01:37:08] INVESTIGATE IT. >> UM, WHEN I SEE THE LAWSUIT,
[01:37:11] I'M JUST NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT. WE WILL, OF COURSE, DO WHAT'S APPROPRIATE.
[01:37:14] >> YOU. YOU'D AGREE WITH ME THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG., >> THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG,
[01:37:18] MEANING IT WOULD BE WRONG TO SEND SOMEBODY HOME TO BE
[01:37:21] TORTURED. YES.
[01:37:22] >> LET ME ASK YOU, UH ABOUT
[01:37:29] ALLEGATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH
[01:37:30] DAVID GENTILI. I THINK WE TALKED
[01:37:33] ABOUT THE THESE ALLEGATIONS WHEN YOU VISITED ME. THANK YOU FOR
[01:37:36] COMING TO MY OFFICE IN MAY OF
[01:37:39] 2025. DAVID GENTILI WAS
[01:37:41] SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN
[01:37:44] PRISON FOR HIS ROLE IN AN ALMOST
[01:37:48] $1.8 BILLION PONZI LIKE SCHEME.
[01:37:52] THAT DEFRAUDED OVER 10,000
[01:37:54] INVESTORS, MANY OF THEM MIDDLE
[01:37:57] CLASS RETIREES OF THEIR HARD
[01:37:59] EARNED SAVINGS. AND HE WAS
[01:38:03] IMPRISONED, HE BOASTED TO FELLOW
[01:38:06] INMATES AND OTHERS THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE RELEASED BECAUSE HE
[01:38:09] PAID $2.5 MILLION FOR CLEMENCY.
[01:38:14] EVIDENCE COLLECTED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
[01:38:18] SUPPORTED THOSE ALLEGATIONS. UH,
[01:38:22] AND REPORTEDLY ALSO INCLUDED
[01:38:26] STATEMENTS BY FATHER FRANK MANN
[01:38:31] THAT HE SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT
[01:38:33] ABOUT DAVID GENTILI, THE EASTERN
[01:38:36] DISTRICT OF NEW YORK WAS INVESTIGATING THESE ALLEGATIONS
[01:38:40] AND REPORTEDLY RECEIVED A CALL
[01:38:41] FROM ONE OF YOUR TOP DEPUTIES
[01:38:47] INSTRUCTING THEM ABOUT THE
[01:38:49] CONCERNS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
[01:38:51] JUSTICE. THE INVESTIGATION WAS
[01:38:55] STOPPED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK. I WROTE TO YOU ON
[01:38:57] JUNE 23rd AND UNITED STATES
[01:39:00] ATTORNEY JOSEPH NOCELLA ABOUT
[01:39:03] THESE ALLEGATIONS, THAT
[01:39:06] INVESTIGATION INTO THIS
[01:39:08] IMPROPRIETY WAS SHUT DOWN AT THE
[01:39:10] REQUEST OF YOUR OFFICE. DID YOU
[01:39:15] HAVE ANY INVOLVEMENT OR
[01:39:18] KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE COMMUTATION
[01:39:22] OF MR. GENTILI SENTENCE? >> PRESIDENT TRUMP, UM, AS I'VE
[01:39:26] SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES TODAY,
[01:39:27] HAS FULL AUTHORITY TO PARDON OR COMMUTE ANYBODY CONVICTED OF FEDERAL CRIMES.
[01:39:31] >> THAT'S NOT MY QUESTION. >> SO I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION, SENATOR.
[01:39:34] >> DID YOU. >> ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? UM, SO,
[01:39:37] UM, WHAT MY COMMUNICATIONS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, I WILL NOT TALK
[01:39:41] ABOUT, UM, HE DOES NOT, NOR
[01:39:42] SHOULD HE. HE HAS NO OBLIGATION
[01:39:45] TO DISCUSS, UM, PARDON OR COMMUTATION DECISIONS WITH ME.
[01:39:48] AND HE HAS NOT AS FAR AS THE,
[01:39:50] THE, UM, WHAT YOU JUST SUGGESTED ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION, I
[01:39:54] BELIEVE YOU'RE REFERRING TO A
[01:39:57] NEWS ARTICLE THAT WAS THE RESULT
[01:39:59] OF, UM, APPARENT LEAKS. AND I, I
[01:40:03] WOULD CAUTION THAT THERE'S FALSEHOODS IN THOSE NEWS ARTICLES.
[01:40:06] >> I'M ASKING YOU WHETHER YOU HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUTING
[01:40:09] THAT SENTENCE OR IN STOPPING THE
[01:40:12] INVESTIGATION INTO THE
[01:40:15] ALLEGATIONS OF IMPROPRIETY,
[01:40:19] PAYMENT TO POSSIBLY PAYMENT TO FATHER FRANK MANN.
[01:40:22] >> AND I ANSWERED THE FIRST QUESTION. BUT WHEN YOU SAY STOPPING AN INVESTIGATION,
[01:40:25] THERE'S AN ASSUMPTION BUILT INTO YOUR QUESTION THAT I WILL
[01:40:27] NOT CONCEDE. WE WILL NOT TALK
[01:40:32] ABOUT WHETHER INVESTIGATIONS EXIST OR DON'T EXIST. AND CERTAINLY SOME LEAK ABOUT
[01:40:34] SOMETHING THAT WE SUPPOSEDLY DID DOESN'T WARRANT AN ANSWER, EITHER.
[01:40:38] >> THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION, CORRECT?
[01:40:41] >> I AM NO, I THAT'S MY WHOLE POINT IN SAYING IS THAT THERE'S AN ASSUMPTION BAKED INTO YOUR
[01:40:45] QUESTION THAT I DON'T THINK IS
[01:40:46] TRUE, MEANING THAT WE CANNOT
[01:40:49] COMMENT ON EVEN THE EXISTENCE OF INVESTIGATIONS. >> YOU COMMENTED THIS MORNING TO
[01:40:53] REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES ABOUT SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS.
[01:40:56] >> NO, I HAVEN'T. >> WELL, YOU COMMENTED IN
[01:40:59] RESPONSE TO THE CHAIRMAN ABOUT THE FISA INVESTIGATION. >> ABOUT THE WHAT?
[01:41:02] >> EXCUSE ME, THE INVESTIGATION THAT HE ASKED YOU ABOUT.
[01:41:05] >> SO, SENATOR, MY POINT IS THAT YOU'RE ASKING ME QUESTIONS
[01:41:08] ABOUT A NEWS ARTICLE, THE SOURCE OF WHICH WAS APPARENTLY LEAKS.
[01:41:11] UM, IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME AS THE ACTING ATTORNEY
[01:41:15] GENERAL, TO COMMENT ON SUCH
[01:41:17] LEAKS OR NEWS ARTICLES THAT
[01:41:21] YOU'RE REFERENCING. >> BUT WHEN IT GOES, I, I ACCEPT THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ANSWER
[01:41:24] MY QUESTION, BUT I THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR THE INSPECTOR
[01:41:27] GENERAL TO LOOK INTO THE INVESTIGATION. THAT WAS
[01:41:30] APPARENTLY, ACCORDING TO THESE
[01:41:33] ARTICLES AND OTHER INFORMATION, STOPPED AS A RESULT OF YOUR
[01:41:36] INTERVENTION. LET ME LET ME MOVE
[01:41:37] ON. UH, IN 2017, MORE THAN
[01:41:45] 10,009/11 VICTIMS FILED SUIT AGAINST THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI
[01:41:49] ARABIA. UH, THAT LAWSUIT IS
[01:41:50] HEADING TO TRIAL INFORMATION.
[01:41:55] UH, WAS PROMISED BY PRESIDENT
[01:41:57] TRUMP IN SEPTEMBER OF 2019. THAT
[01:42:02] INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED. WILL YOU COMMIT TO
[01:42:04] MEET WITH THOSE FAMILIES AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THEY
[01:42:08] NEED FOR THEIR LAWSUIT?
[01:42:09] >> UM, UH, FOLKS FROM MY OFFICE
[01:42:13] HAVE MET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE
[01:42:14] FAMILIES. WE WILL COMMIT TO CONTINUING TO, TO HAVE
[01:42:18] COMMUNICATIONS, OF COURSE. >> AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION THEY'RE SEEKING. >> WELL, YOU'RE SAYING I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INFORMATION IS
[01:42:22] YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. SO OBVIOUSLY, I CAN'T JUST COMMIT TO PROVIDING THE INFORMATION.
[01:42:26] >> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT OTHER
[01:42:27] INFORMATION. INFORMATION ABOUT
[01:42:32] THE EPSTEIN ABUSES. YOUR
[01:42:36] PREDECESSOR APOLOGIZED TO THE EPSTEIN SURVIVORS WITH GOOD
[01:42:39] REASON, BECAUSE, AS YOU'VE SAID
[01:42:41] TODAY, MISTAKES WERE MADE. I'M
[01:42:46] ASKING YOU TODAY WITH EPSTEIN
[01:42:48] SURVIVORS IN THIS ROOM TO
[01:42:52] APOLOGIZE THEM.
[01:42:53] >> WELL, SO MY HEART BREAKS FOR
[01:42:58] EVERY VICTIM OF ANY SEXUAL CRIME, WHETHER IT'S INVOLVING
[01:43:02] MR. EPSTEIN OR SOMEBODY ELSE. AND SO IF YOU'RE ASKING ME TO APOLOGIZE THAT THIS HAPPENED TO
[01:43:06] THEM. OF COURSE. ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS A HORRIBLE THING, WHICH
[01:43:09] IS WHY THIS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THIS ADMINISTRATION, IS
[01:43:13] FOCUSED VERY HEAVILY ON GOING AFTER THESE PREDATORS. AND SO,
[01:43:16] YES, OF COURSE, THAT'S PART OF MY JOB AS BEING EMPATHETIC TO
[01:43:20] THE VICTIMS. >> APOLOGIZE TO THEM FOR THE MISHANDLING AND MISTAKES THAT
[01:43:23] WERE MADE BY THE UNITED STATES
[01:43:27] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. >> I WILL, I WILL ABSOLUTELY SAY
[01:43:31] THAT ANY MISTAKE THAT WE MADE
[01:43:33] SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN MADE. AND I VERY MUCH I VERY MUCH HOPE I CAN
[01:43:36] ANSWER THE QUESTION, OR YOU CAN JUST INTERRUPT ME, SENATOR, BUT
[01:43:40] I AM ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. I
[01:43:43] VERY MUCH, AND I HAVE SAID THIS TO ANYBODY THAT ASKS AND
[01:43:45] PUBLICLY, BEFORE ANY MISTAKE
[01:43:47] THAT WAS MADE IS NOT APPROPRIATE. AND SO, YES, I AM
[01:43:50] SORRY THAT IN ABOUT 1% OF THE OF
[01:43:54] THE DOCUMENTS, MISTAKES WERE MADE. BUT WHAT I WILL SAY ON TOP
[01:43:56] OF THAT IS WE PUT TONS OF
[01:43:59] RESOURCES TO RECTIFYING THOSE MISTAKES IMMEDIATELY, INCLUDING
[01:44:03] PULLING DOWN DOCUMENTS WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING INFORMED THAT
[01:44:06] THEY WERE. THERE WERE MISTAKES, POTENTIAL MISTAKES MADE, AND
[01:44:08] WORKING 24/7 TO RECTIFY ANY MISTAKES. AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I
[01:44:12] WOULD EXPECT. THE VICTIMS WOULD WANT US TO DO. AND THEIR COUNSEL
[01:44:15] AND THIS BODY AS WELL.
[01:44:17] >> AND YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME,
[01:44:20] WOULDN'T YOU, THAT YOU CAN WELL
[01:44:23] MEET WITH ANY OF THE SURVIVORS OR VICTIMS WITH THEIR COUNSEL
[01:44:26] PRESENT. YOU SAID YOU CAN'T MEET WITH THEM, BUT YOU COULD MEET WITH THEM.
[01:44:30] >> I NEVER SAID I CAN'T MEET WITH THEM. I SAID, IF THEY WERE REPRESENTED, I HAD TO MEET
[01:44:33] THROUGH, THROUGH COUNSEL. BUT OF
[01:44:36] COURSE I CAN MEET WITH THEM. I'M THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL
[01:44:39] OF THE UNITED STATES, SO YES, I CAN. I VERY STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT IF FOR THESE VICTIMS TO
[01:44:43] TELL THEIR STORIES AND THE EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE, THEY
[01:44:45] SHOULD MEET, LIKE ANY VICTIM OF
[01:44:48] A CRIME WITH THE FBI OR A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENT, AND THAT WE
[01:44:52] WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
[01:44:54] PROSECUTE IF WE CAN.
[01:44:59] >> THE JUDGE IN FLORIDA YOUR
[01:45:03] MISCONDUCT. SHE CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS MISCONDUCT AND
[01:45:05] MISREPRESENTATION AND IMPROPER
[01:45:08] PURPOSE IN THAT LEGAL ACTION TO
[01:45:11] THE BAR OF NEW YORK FOR
[01:45:14] POTENTIAL DISCIPLINE, INCLUDING
[01:45:17] LOSING YOUR LAW LICENSE. I KNOW YOU DISAGREE WITH THE RESULT OF
[01:45:21] THE RULING. HAS THAT KIND OF
[01:45:22] REFERRAL EVER HAPPENED BY A
[01:45:25] FEDERAL JUDGE FOR AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES?
[01:45:28] >> CAN YOU. >> I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'LL TELL
[01:45:31] YOU SOMETHING. UM, THAT JUDGE NEVER ASKED US TO RESPOND. SHE
[01:45:33] NEVER GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO ANYTHING. AND SHE DIDN'T REFER ME. SHE JUST ASKED
[01:45:37] THAT A COPY OF THE ORDER BE PROVIDED TO THE NEW YORK BAR,
[01:45:41] BECAUSE THERE'S SEVERAL ACTIVIST GROUPS THAT HAVE FILED
[01:45:43] COMPLAINTS AGAINST ME. SO. SO LISTEN, I, AS I'VE SAID
[01:45:46] EARLIER, I THINK ANYBODY ON THIS COMMITTEE, ESPECIALLY THE
[01:45:49] LAWYERS THAT HAVE PRACTICED, CAN READ THAT OPINION AND REACH
[01:45:51] THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS. BUT I
[01:45:53] VERY MUCH DISAGREE, UM, WITH,
[01:45:56] WITH THE JUDGE'S INSINUATIONS
[01:45:58] ABOUT ME. UM, AND, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE
[01:46:01] THAT RIGHT. >> ONE, ONE LAST QUESTION. WOULD
[01:46:03] YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT AGENTS OF
[01:46:06] THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT FIRE INTO CARS UNLESS THERE'S
[01:46:09] FIRE THEIR WEAPONS INTO CARS, UNLESS THERE IS AN IMMINENT
[01:46:13] THREAT? >> GIVE A SHORT ANSWER TO THAT.
[01:46:17] >> THERE'S A WELL ESTABLISHED STANDARD AS TO WHEN AN AGENT CAN DISCHARGE THEIR FIREARM. AND I
[01:46:21] THINK THAT THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED IN EVERY CASE.
[01:46:24] >> AND THAT INCLUDES NOT FIRING
[01:46:28] WEAPONS INTO CARS >> MR. CHAIRMAN.
[01:46:31] >> BEFORE I WELL, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT?
[01:46:33] >> I MEAN, THERE'S NOT REALLY A
[01:46:36] RESPONSE. IT IT REQUIRES FEDERAL AGENTS TO FOLLOW THE RULES.
[01:46:39] >> THEN LET'S MOVE ON. BEFORE I
[01:46:41] CALL ON SENATOR BRITT, I WANT TO
[01:46:43] ANOTHER LETTER SUPPORTING THE
[01:46:47] NOMINEE FROM THE AMERICAN BORDER
[01:46:49] STORY, A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION
[01:46:52] REPRESENTING 300 ANGEL FAMILIES.
[01:46:55] QUOTING FROM THE LETTER, THE
[01:46:56] FAMILIES WE WORK WITH ARE NOT
[01:47:00] FOCUSED ON POLITICS. THEY WANT
[01:47:02] LEADERS WHO TAKE CRIME
[01:47:04] SERIOUSLY, WHO UNDERSTAND THE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS
[01:47:08] OF OPEN BORDER, CRIMINAL, OPEN
[01:47:11] BORDER, CRIMINAL NETWORKS, AND
[01:47:14] WHO WILL PRIORITIZE VICTIMS OVER
[01:47:18] IDEOLOGY. WE BELIEVE TODD BLANCHE UNDERSTANDS THAT
[01:47:22] RESPONSIBILITY AND WOULD
[01:47:26] APPROACH THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL WITH SERIOUSNESS. IT DEMANDS, END QUOTE, WITHOUT
[01:47:30] OBJECTION, THAT WILL BE ENTERED IN THE RECORD. SENATOR BRITT. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND
[01:47:34] I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT SEGUE. I APPRECIATE YOUR
[01:47:38] COMMITMENT TO ALL OF THE VICTIMS. THE EPSTEIN VICTIMS,
[01:47:42] YOUR COMMITMENT TO HEAR FROM THEM AND FIGHT FOR THEM. THANK
[01:47:45] YOU FOR SAYING THAT. TODAY. I
[01:47:48] ONLY WISH THAT MY DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES HAD THAT SAME LEVEL
[01:47:51] OF CONVICTION WHEN IT CAME TO
[01:47:54] MEETING WITH THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES
[01:47:57] AT THE HANDS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT LETTER.
[01:48:01] THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THEY WILL
[01:48:04] ANSWER THE CALL AND MEET WITH
[01:48:07] THEIR OWN CONSTITUENCIES, WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE LOST, UM,
[01:48:11] ONES THAT THEY HOLD DEAR. MR. BLANCHE, I WANT TO APPLAUD THE
[01:48:14] WORK THAT YOU AND DOJ HAVE DONE
[01:48:17] TO REDUCE CRIME AND VIOLENT CRIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'VE
[01:48:21] HEARD IT A NUMBER OF TIMES HERE
[01:48:22] TODAY, BOTH IN THE CHAIRMAN'S OPENING TO SENATOR MOODY,
[01:48:26] TALKING ABOUT IT TO YOU, TALKING
[01:48:28] ABOUT IT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE LOWEST MURDER RATE THAT WE'VE
[01:48:32] HAD SINCE 1900. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT VIOLENT CRIME
[01:48:34] ARRESTS, WE ARE UP 184%. THIS IS
[01:48:38] REAL RESULTS. THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING,
[01:48:42] KEEPING AMERICANS SAFE. WE KNOW THAT YOU'VE DONE THAT THROUGH A
[01:48:44] NUMBER OF WAYS. UM, TASK FORCE
[01:48:47] AND JOINT OPERATIONS,
[01:48:51] INTERAGENCY COOPERATION. WE'VE SEEN THE FORCES, THOSE TASK
[01:48:54] FORCES SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE
[01:48:56] NUMEROUS CASES IN OUR STATE RELATED TO MAJOR DRUG
[01:49:00] TRAFFICKING RELATED TO FIREARMS TRAFFICKING, UM, ALL OF WHICH
[01:49:04] HAS BEEN LINKED TO, IN MANY CASES, YOU KNOW, BROADER
[01:49:07] CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES. SO WE'RE
[01:49:09] GLAD THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFER AND THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
[01:49:13] SAFER. WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW
[01:49:15] FROM YOU, BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN IN ALABAMA THIS HAVE TREMENDOUS
[01:49:18] RESULTS. WE'VE EVEN SEEN, IN
[01:49:21] ONE CASE, A CORRUPT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE
[01:49:24] SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA,
[01:49:25] WHO HAD ENGAGED IN A RANGE OF
[01:49:29] CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN HIS CAPACITY AS AN OFFICER, BEING
[01:49:31] HELD ACCOUNTABLE THROUGH THIS
[01:49:33] WORK, UM, BASED ON WHAT I'VE
[01:49:36] SEEN IN ALABAMA, I HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE THIS ALL ACROSS THE
[01:49:39] COUNTRY. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE WORK OF THESE TASK FORCES AND
[01:49:42] THE SUCCESS THAT YOU'VE SEEN,
[01:49:44] AND HOW YOU INTEND TO BUILD UPON
[01:49:47] THIS WORK MOVING FORWARD? IF AND
[01:49:48] WHEN CONFIRMED?
[01:49:51] >> YES. SO THE HOMELAND SECURITY TASK FORCE REGIME THAT WE'VE
[01:49:54] SET UP IN EVERY SINGLE STATE AND EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT IN THIS
[01:49:57] COUNTRY, IS DESIGNED TO DO WHAT JUST WHAT YOU WERE DESCRIBING.
[01:50:01] SO WORK, NOT JUST WITH THE
[01:50:02] FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT JUST
[01:50:05] DOJ, BUT TO WORK WITH DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, SHERIFFS,
[01:50:09] COPS, LOCAL PROSECUTORS, UM, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
[01:50:13] ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEYS TO GO INTO THAT COMMUNITY AND
[01:50:16] ERADICATE IT OF HUMAN
[01:50:18] TRAFFICKING, DRUG DEALERS, NARCO TERRORISM. AND THE RESULTS,
[01:50:22] IT'S BEEN SET UP FOR ALMOST A YEAR, AND MOST IN MOST PLACES.
[01:50:25] AND, AND THE RESULTS ARE EVIDENT IN THE STATISTICS THAT WE SHOW,
[01:50:28] BUT THEY'RE REALLY MORE EVIDENT WHEN, WHEN I GO OUT TO U.S.
[01:50:31] ATTORNEY'S OFFICES AND MEET WITH HSF, UM, GROUPS LIKE I DO ALL
[01:50:35] THE TIME, UM, TO A PERSON, THEY SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEEDED
[01:50:39] FOREVER. THIS IS WHAT WORKS. HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GET TOGETHER IN A ROOM AND SAY, WE
[01:50:43] NEED TO TACKLE THIS GANG OR THIS
[01:50:46] APARTMENT BUILDING HAS A DRUG PROBLEM, OR EVEN THIS INDIVIDUAL
[01:50:50] NEEDS TO BE TARGETED BECAUSE HE'S A VIOLENT FELON, AND HE NEEDS TO GO OFF THE STREETS.
[01:50:53] IT'S, IT'S BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT, THAT I'VE DONE
[01:50:56] FOR A LONG TIME, THAT, THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ECHOES AND
[01:51:00] TRUMPETS AND HAS DONE SINCE JANUARY 20th. AND, AND THAT'S
[01:51:02] WHY I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING THE SUCCESS THAT WE'RE
[01:51:06] SEEING. AND WE'RE NOT SLOWING
[01:51:08] DOWN. HSF ARE UP AND RUNNING
[01:51:11] FULL SPEED AHEAD. AND, AND I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO STILL
[01:51:15] SEE THE RESULTS THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST TEN MONTHS OR SO.
[01:51:18] >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THAT AND ALL THE WORK THAT
[01:51:21] YOU'VE DONE. UM, I WANT TO TAKE
[01:51:22] A BRIEF MOMENT. OUR, UM,
[01:51:26] DISTINGUISHED AND LATE COLLEAGUE, SENATOR GRAHAM, WAS
[01:51:28] EXCITED ABOUT YOUR NOMINATION.
[01:51:32] HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT MANY THINGS, UM, WHICH WE SAW HERE IN
[01:51:36] THIS COMMITTEE. UM, JUST AN
[01:51:41] AMAZING WAYS. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE WAS A CHAMPION OF
[01:51:44] WAS THE UNBORN. AND THAT IS A
[01:51:48] DEEPLY HELD CONVICTION THAT WE
[01:51:49] BOTH HAVE. AND I WANT TO TALK TO
[01:51:53] YOU AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF THE
[01:51:55] CHEMICAL ABORTION DRUG THAT WE
[01:51:57] HAVE SEEN JUST SPREAD COAST TO
[01:52:00] COAST, AS YOU KNOW, PURSUANT TO
[01:52:03] A BIDEN ERA ADMINISTRATION, ADMINISTRATIVE, ADMINISTRATIVE
[01:52:06] ACTION, THE FDA, THERE IS NO
[01:52:08] LONGER AN IN-PERSON DISPENSING
[01:52:11] REQUIREMENT IN PLACE FOR THE
[01:52:15] DRUG FOR MIFEPRISTONE. IT ALLOWS
[01:52:16] IT TO LITERALLY BE DISPERSED
[01:52:19] ACROSS STATE LINES ALL ACROSS
[01:52:24] THE COUNTRY, WE ARE LOSING
[01:52:30] CHILDREN, AND WE ARE PUTTING
[01:52:32] WOMEN IN HARM'S WAY LOOK, IT
[01:52:36] HAS NO OVERSIGHT, NO SAFEGUARD.
[01:52:40] I GOT TO HEAR THE STORY OF JONNA
[01:52:43] AFFOLTER, WHO'S HERE WITH US
[01:52:44] TODAY, AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO BE HERE. BUT
[01:52:48] I GOT TO HEAR IT FIRSTHAND YESTERDAY. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE
[01:52:51] HAVE READ HER STORY IN RECENT
[01:52:54] NEWS ARTICLES ABOUT HER THEN BOYFRIEND, NOW EX-BOYFRIEND, A
[01:52:58] DOCTOR, NO LESS, ACTUALLY
[01:53:01] FORCING A CRUSHED ABORTION PILL
[01:53:05] INTO HER MOUTH IN THE MIDDLE OF
[01:53:07] THE NIGHT. THEN TAKING HER KEYS,
[01:53:10] HOLDING HER HOSTAGE SO THAT SHE
[01:53:12] COULD NOT GO GET HELP. THIS IS
[01:53:16] SICK AND TWISTED AND MUST STOP.
[01:53:21] HE USED HIS EX-WIFE'S INFORMATION TO BUY THOSE DRUGS
[01:53:25] ONLINE, TO KILL HIS OWN CHILD,
[01:53:29] AND TO ENDANGER DONNA'S LIFE.
[01:53:31] AND SADLY, HER STORY IS ONE OF MANY. AND SO, CAN YOU COMMIT TO
[01:53:35] ME TODAY THAT THIS
[01:53:37] ADMINISTRATION AND DOJ WILL PRIORITIZE TAKING MEANINGFUL AND
[01:53:40] THOUGHTFUL ACTION TO ADDRESS THE DANGERS THAT OCCURRED IN THE
[01:53:44] CURRENT STATUS QUO TO WOMEN ALL
[01:53:47] OVER THIS COUNTRY?
[01:53:51] >> UH, ABSOLUTELY, SENATOR. >> AND IT'S NOT ONLY WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CAN DO, BUT IT'S WHAT THE FDA IS DOING
[01:53:55] RIGHT NOW. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
[01:53:57] A DECADE, ACTUALLY DOING REAL STUDIES ABOUT THE SAFETY AND THE
[01:54:01] APPROPRIATENESS OF THESE DRUGS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN VIDEO
[01:54:04] MYSELF OF, OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE
[01:54:08] PILLS COMING EVEN FROM OVERSEAS,
[01:54:10] UM, TO, TO YOUNG WOMEN. AND DOESN'T MATTER WHO APPLIES FOR
[01:54:13] IT, ANYBODY CAN GET IT. THERE'S NO INSTRUCTIONS, THEY JUST COME
[01:54:16] DUMPED OUT OF A LITTLE PLASTIC BAG AND, AND IT'S, UM, IT'S
[01:54:20] WRONG. AND I VERY MUCH COMMIT OUR RESOURCES TO, TO STOPPING THIS.
[01:54:24] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO TURN TO AN ISSUE THAT I ALSO
[01:54:28] RAISED WITH FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL BONDI. AND THAT'S
[01:54:31] ILLEGAL OFFSHORE GAMING. AND THE CONCERN AND THE RISE OF ILLEGAL
[01:54:35] GAMING AMONGST MINORS. IN 2024, A STUDY FOUND THAT INDIVIDUALS
[01:54:39] WHO BEGAN GAMBLING BEFORE THE
[01:54:40] AGE OF 18 ARE 50% MORE LIKELY TO
[01:54:46] DEVELOP AN ADDICTION TO GAMBLING. THIS HAS BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE AMONG AMERICA'S
[01:54:49] YOUTH, IN PARTICULAR, AMERICA'S
[01:54:51] YOUNG MEN. JUST LAST YEAR, IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
[01:54:55] ALABAMA, WE SAW A CASE WHERE TEN
[01:54:57] MEN PLEADED GUILTY TO MANAGING A
[01:54:59] SPORTS BETTING OPERATION AND
[01:55:02] ACCEPTED OVER $2 BILLION IN WAGERS VIA AN OFFSHORE SERVER
[01:55:06] LOCATED IN COSTA RICA. SENATOR BLUMENTHAL AND I HAVE WORKED
[01:55:09] TOGETHER ON THIS ISSUE AND RECENTLY INTRODUCED THE GAME
[01:55:12] ACT, WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES AND ADVERTISING
[01:55:16] WEBSITES FROM TARGETING MINORS
[01:55:18] WITH SPORTS BETTING, ADVERTISING
[01:55:20] ONLINE. WE ALSO SENT A LETTER TO DOJ ENCOURAGING THE DEPARTMENT
[01:55:24] TO USE ITS EXISTING STATUTORY AUTHORITIES TO PURSUE INJUNCTIVE
[01:55:28] RELIEF AND TO BLOCK ILLEGAL OFFSHORE GAMING OPERATIONS. I
[01:55:32] WANT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I
[01:55:33] APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE. IT WAS
[01:55:36] VERY SUBSTANTIVE, UM, THAT I GOT TO THAT LETTER, BUT CAN YOU ALSO COMMIT TO ME TODAY THAT YOU'RE
[01:55:40] GOING TO MAKE THIS ISSUE A PRIORITY AND TAKE ROBUST ACTION
[01:55:43] TO COMBAT THE REACH OF ILLEGAL
[01:55:48] GAMING OPERATIONS WITHIN THE UNITED STATES? AND THEN, IN PARTICULAR, THE TARGETING OF
[01:55:51] MINORS THROUGH THIS.? >> YES, SENATOR. ABSOLUTELY.
[01:55:54] >> THANK YOU. THE U.S. CENSUS
[01:55:56] BUREAU REPORTED OVER A DECADE,
[01:55:59] BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020, THAT THE
[01:56:01] OVER 65 POPULATION IN THE UNITED
[01:56:03] STATES EXPERIENCED THE LARGEST EVER TEN YEAR NUMERIC GAIN IN
[01:56:07] PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN TERMS OF SHARE OF THE OVERALL
[01:56:10] POPULATION. IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS LAST DECEMBER, THE
[01:56:14] FTC NOTED THAT TOTAL FRAUD
[01:56:16] LOSSES BY OLDER AMERICANS,
[01:56:19] DEFINED AS AGE OF 60 AND OLDER,
[01:56:22] INCREASED ALMOST FOURFOLD FROM
[01:56:25] 2020 TO 2024, SHOOTING UP FROM
[01:56:28] 600,000,000 IN 20 20 TO 2 POINT
[01:56:33] 4,000,000,000 IN 2024. AS OUR
[01:56:35] SOCIETY AGES AND WE CAN, IT WILL
[01:56:37] CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM THAT WE MUST TAKE ROBUST ACTION TO
[01:56:40] ADDRESS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN
[01:56:43] TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND OTHER WAYS THAT THIS FRAUD IS OCCURRING. I INTRODUCED THE
[01:56:47] GUARD ACT WITH SENATOR GILLIBRAND, AND IT WOULD ALLOW
[01:56:50] STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
[01:56:53] AGENCIES AND TO USE CERTAIN FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING TO UTILIZE
[01:56:56] BLOCKCHAIN FOR INVESTIGATING
[01:56:59] FINANCIAL FRAUD. IT ALSO PERMIT FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
[01:57:03] ASSIST STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH TRACING TOOLS
[01:57:06] FOR BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY. I'M THRILLED IT WAS REPORTED OUT OF
[01:57:08] THIS COMMITTEE BY VOICE VOTE
[01:57:11] EARLIER THIS YEAR. I KNOW THAT
[01:57:13] DOJ HAS PROGRAMS IN PLACE LIKE ELDER JUSTICE INITIATIVE, BUT
[01:57:17] CAN YOU SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO DOJ'S EFFORTS WITH RESPECT TO
[01:57:21] ELDER FINANCIAL FRAUD AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE WILL WORK TO
[01:57:24] CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE
[01:57:28] IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION WITH
[01:57:30] STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AS WE WORK TO BRING
[01:57:33] JUSTICE TO THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSED. >> YES,
[01:57:36] >> SENATOR, WE ARE VERY FOCUSED, NOT ONLY AT MAIN JUSTICE, BUT AT EVERY U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
[01:57:40] UM, ON, ON PROTECTING OUR
[01:57:45] ELDERLY WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY VICTIMS OF SCAMS OF ANY SORT. AND MANY OF THE SCAMS ARE COMING
[01:57:49] FROM, UM, OVERSEAS, FROM BURMA
[01:57:51] AND FROM, OF THESE, OF THESE
[01:57:55] LITERALLY ENTIRE BUILDINGS FILLED WITH, UM, WITH INDIVIDUALS COLD CALLING OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, TRYING TO GET
[01:57:59] THEM TO GIVE THEM MONEY OR SEND THEM, SEND THEM MONEY. AND SO WE
[01:58:01] ARE, WE'VE, WE'VE CHARGED, I
[01:58:03] THINK OVER 300 THIS YEAR ALONE.
[01:58:07] UM, WE'LL KEEP ON DOING THAT. AND IT IS A, IT HAS BEEN A
[01:58:09] PRIORITY, AS IT SHOULD BE, AND IT WILL REMAIN A PRIORITY OF THE
[01:58:13] DEPARTMENT TO, TO TARGET THESE, UM, THESE CRIMINALS, AGAIN, MANY
[01:58:16] OF WHOM ARE NOT EVEN IN THIS COUNTRY, GOING AFTER OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
[01:58:19] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
[01:58:21] SUPPORTING YOUR NOMINATION. >> THANK YOU. SENATOR. >> BEFORE I CALL ON SENATOR
[01:58:25] RONA, I HAVE ANOTHER LETTER, UH,
[01:58:30] FOR THE NOMINEE SUPPORTING MR. BLANCHE. UH, FROM THE AMERICANS
[01:58:34] UNITED FOR LIFE, A PRO-LIFE
[01:58:38] ORGANIZATION. I QUOTE MR.
[01:58:41] BLANCHE. HIS COMMITMENT TO
[01:58:43] RESPECTING HUMAN LIFE IS EVIDENT
[01:58:45] IN HIS ACT AS ACTING ATTORNEY
[01:58:49] GENERAL. WE AT AMERICANS UNITED
[01:58:51] FOR LIFE ARE CONFIDENT IN MR.
[01:58:53] BLANCHE COMMITMENT TO A FAIR AND
[01:58:56] EVEN APPLICATION OF LAW. END OF
[01:58:59] QUOTE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, IT
[01:59:03] WILL BE ENTERED IN THE RECORD. SENATOR HIRONO. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[01:59:06] WELCOME. MR. BLANCHE TO ENSURE
[01:59:09] THE FITNESS TO SERVE, UH, OF OF
[01:59:12] ALL NOMINEES WHO COME BEFORE ANY OF MY COMMITTEES, I ASK THE
[01:59:15] FOLLOWING TWO INITIAL QUESTIONS. SINCE YOU BECAME A LEGAL ADULT,
[01:59:18] HAVE YOU EVER MADE UNWANTED
[01:59:22] REQUESTS FOR SEXUAL FAVORS, OR
[01:59:23] COMMITTED ANY VERBAL OR PHYSICAL
[01:59:26] HARASSMENT OR ASSAULT OF A SEXUAL NATURE? >> NO. SENATOR.
[01:59:30] >> HAVE YOU EVER FACED DISCIPLINE OR ENTERED INTO A
[01:59:33] SETTLEMENT RELATING TO THIS KIND
[01:59:34] OF CONDUCT? >> NO, SENATOR.
[01:59:37] >> MR. BLANCHE, OVER THE COURSE
[01:59:39] OF THE PAST FIVE MONTHS, THE NEW
[01:59:42] MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS
[01:59:45] TALKED TO YOUR STAFF ABOUT GETTING ACCESS TO INFORMATION
[01:59:49] FOR ITS INVESTIGATION INTO
[01:59:52] ALLEGED CRIME AT JEFFREY
[01:59:55] EPSTEIN'S ZORRO RANCH. WILL YOU
[01:59:57] AND YOUR TEAM CONTINUE TO
[02:00:00] COOPERATE WITH THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND HELP
[02:00:04] IT GET THE INFORMATION IT NEEDS?
[02:00:06] >> YES, WE'RE CONTINUING TO
[02:00:08] WORK WITH WITH THEM. AND, YES. >> THANK YOU, MR. BLANCHE. AT AN
[02:00:12] APRIL 8th PRESS CONFERENCE, A
[02:00:15] REPORTER ASKED YOU A QUESTION
[02:00:16] ABOUT PRESIDENT DESIRE TO SEE
[02:00:19] HIS PERCEIVED POLITICAL ENEMIES
[02:00:22] PROSECUTED. YOU ANSWERED, QUOTE,
[02:00:24] THAT IS HIS RIGHT, AND
[02:00:34] INDEED, IT IS HIS DUTY TO DO
[02:00:35] THAT TO.
[02:13:35] .
[02:15:19] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER. MR. THUNE: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
[02:15:23] NOTWITHSTANDING RULE 22, THE
[02:15:24] SENATE VOTE ON THE CLOTURE
[02:15:27] MOTION WITH RESPECT TO MOTION TO
[02:15:30] PROCEED TO S. 4668 AT A TIME TO
[02:15:35] BE DETERMINED BY THE MAJORITY LEADER IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
[02:15:36] DEMOCRATIC LEADER NO LATER THAN
[02:15:40] SEPTEMBER 23. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[02:15:44] MR. THUNE: THE ONLY AMENDMENTS REMAINING IN ORDER BE THE
[02:15:46] FOLLOWING TO BE OFFERED BY THE
[02:15:50] SPONSOR OR THEIR DESIGNEE,
[02:15:54] COLLINS, 6732, COLLINS 6750, AND BUD 6747.
[02:15:58] FURTHER, UPON THE USE OR
[02:15:59] YIELDING BACK OF THAT TIME, THE
[02:16:03] SENATE VOTE ON IN RELATION TO
[02:16:05] THE BUDD AMENDMENT AND COLLINS
[02:16:08] AMENDMENT -- THE BILL, AS AMENDED, BE READ A THIRD TIME
[02:16:10] AND THE SENATE VOTE ON THE
[02:16:13] PASSAGE OF THE BILL WITH 60
[02:16:17] AFFIRMATIVE VOTES FOR PASSAGE.
[02:16:20] THE TITLE, AS AMENDED, BE AGREED
[02:16:22] TO, AND THE MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER BE CONSIDERED MADE
[02:16:25] AND LAID UPON THE TABLE WITH NO INTERVENING ACTION OR DEBATE. FURTHER, THAT FOLLOWING
[02:16:29] DISPOSITION OF H.R. 6500, THE
[02:16:32] CLOTURE MOTION WITH RESPECT TO THE BLANCHE NOMINATION RIPEN AND
[02:16:36] IF CLOTURE IS INVOKED, ALL TIME IS EXPIRED AND THE SENATE VOTE ON THE CONFIRMATION OF THE
[02:16:39] NOMINATION AND IF CONFIRMED, CONSIDERED MADE AND LAID UPON THE TABLE, AND THE PRESIDENT BE
[02:16:43] IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE SENATE'S ACTION.
[02:16:45] AND THAT THE SENATE RESUME LEGISLATIVE SESSION PROVIDED
[02:16:48] THAT IT THEN BE IN ORDER FOR THE
[02:16:52] SENATOR FROM OHIO, MR. HUSTED OR
[02:16:55] HIS DESIGNEES TO MOVE TO HIS
[02:16:57] MOTION AND -- ON THE MOTION TO
[02:16:59] PROCEED AND THE MOTION RIPEN IMMEDIATELY AND THE SENATE VOTE
[02:17:03] ON THE CLOTURE MOTION WITHOUT WITH NO INTERVENING ACTION OR
[02:17:06] DEBATE AND IF AGREED TO, THE
[02:17:09] MOTION BE AGREED TO UPON THE USE
[02:17:11] OR YIELDING BACK OF THAT TIME, THE BILL WILL BE READ A THIRD
[02:17:14] TIME AND THE SENATE VOTE ON THE
[02:17:17] BILL WITH 60 AFFIRMATIVE VOTES
[02:17:19] REQUIRED FOR PASSAGE. FURTHER, IF CLOTURE ON THE
[02:17:23] MOTION TO PROCEED IS NOT AGREED TO, THE THE MAJORITY LEADER MAKE
[02:17:26] A MOTION TO ADJOURNED PURSUANT TO THIS ORDER.
[02:17:29] IF THE SENATE HAS AGREED TO THE
[02:17:31] MOTION PURSUANT TO THIS ORDER,
[02:17:34] WHEN THE SENATE COMPLETES THE
[02:17:36] BUSINESS ON AUGUST 8 TO DISPENSE
[02:17:38] WITH WRAP-UP ITEM, PRO FORMA
[02:17:44] SESSIONS ONLY. 10:00 A.M. ON MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2026. 8:00 A.M. ON THURSDAY,
[02:17:48] AUGUST 13, 2026. 1:30 P.M. ON MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2026.
[02:17:49] 11:30 A.M. ON THURSDAY,
[02:17:53] AUGUST 20, 2026. 12:30 P.M. ON MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026. 8:00 A.M. ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026. 11:30 A.M. ON MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2026.
[02:17:57] 12:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026. 10:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY,
[02:18:01] SEPTEMBER 4, 2026. 1:15 P.M. ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026. 3:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY,
[02:18:02] SEPTEMBER 10, 2026.
[02:18:08] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION? WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. THUNE: MR. PRESIDENT, I
[02:18:11] SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
[02:18:13] WILL CALL THE ROLL.
[02:18:19] QUORUM CALL:
[02:18:23] THE CLERK: MS. ALSOBROOKS.
[02:30:35] QUORUM CALL:
[02:31:02] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: I RECOGNIZE THE SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA. MR. BUDD: I ASK TO VITIATE THE
[02:31:06] QUORUM CALL. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, ALL
[02:31:09] PENDING AMENDMENTS AND MOTIONS ARE WITHDRAWN WITH THE EXCEPTION
[02:31:12] OF AMENDMENT NUMBER 6732.
[02:31:15] MR. BUDD: MR. PRESIDENT, I CALL
[02:31:16] UP MY AMENDMENT 6747 AND ASK
[02:31:20] THAT IT BE REPORTED BY NUMBER. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
[02:31:23] WILL REPORT. THE CLERK: MR. BUDD PROPOSES
[02:31:27] AMENDMENT NUMBERED 6747 TO
[02:31:30] AMENDMENT 6732. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THERE ARE
[02:31:33] NOW TWO MINUTES OF DEBATE
[02:31:36] EQUALLY DIVIDED. MR. BUDD: MR. PRESIDENT.
[02:31:40] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA. MR. BUDD: MR. PRESIDENT, NINE
[02:31:44] MONTHS AGO BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, THEY OVERWHELMINGLY
[02:31:46] VOTED TO CLOSE THE HEMP
[02:31:52] LOOPHOLE. IT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE.
[02:31:54] THEY WANTED TO STOP INTOXICATED
[02:31:57] HEMP PRODUCTS FROM BEING SOLD AND MARKETED TO KIDS.
[02:32:00] THESE PRODUCTS ARE MADE TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE SOMETHING A KID WOULD WANT.
[02:32:04] EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS HAVE SEEN
[02:32:06] A 461% INCREASE IN CASES OF
[02:32:14] PEDIATRIC CANNABIS POISONING.
[02:32:15] MOST OF THOSE WERE CHILDREN FOUR
[02:32:18] YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER. THIS BODY AGREED RIGHT HERE NINE
[02:32:21] MONTHS AGO THAT WE WOULDN'T COMPROMISE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
[02:32:25] ESPECIALLY OUR KIDS. SO TODAY I'M SIMPLY ASKING MY
[02:32:28] COLLEAGUES JUST TO REAFFIRM A
[02:32:31] DECISION WE MADE NINE MONTHS AGO
[02:32:35] RIGHT HERE. MY OPPONENTS HAVE ASKED, WELL,
[02:32:37] WHAT'S THE HARM IN A MONTH-LONG DELAY?
[02:32:40] I'M GOING TO TELL YOU. THE GOAL IS NOT AN EXTRA MONTH
[02:32:44] TO WORK ON POLICY, AS MANY HAVE SAID.
[02:32:47] THE WELL-OILED HEMP LOBBYING
[02:32:50] MACHINE, IT'S ALREADY HAD NINE MONTHS TO DO THAT. THE REAL GOAL IS TO GENTLELADY
[02:32:54] US IN DECEMBER -- -- THE REAL
[02:32:56] GOAL IS TO JAM US IN DECEMBER ON
[02:32:59] A MUCH MORE PERMANENT PACKAGE.
[02:33:03] OPPONENTS SAY THAT THIS WOULD STOP RESEARCH INTO HETCH-DERIVED
[02:33:07] PRODU PRODUCTS SENIORS, VETERANS AND
[02:33:11] PEOPLE WHO RELY ON MEDICARE. BUT WHAT DOES ALLOWING AN
[02:33:14] UNREGULATED, INTOCK INDICATING HE HADABLES ON GAS STATION
[02:33:18] SHELVES HAVE TO DO WITH CMS
[02:33:20] ABILITY TO STUDY HEMP-DERIVED
[02:33:23] PRODUCTS FOR PAIN RELIEF? NOT A THING. NOT A THING AT ALL.
[02:33:26] SO ONCE AGAIN I ASK MY
[02:33:29] COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN DOING WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE NINE
[02:33:33] MONTHS AGO -- SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT.
[02:33:36] JUST VOTE NO TO TABLE THIS.
[02:33:39] AND CLOSE THIS DANGEROUS LOOPHOLE.
[02:33:43] JUST AS 76 OF US, REPUBLICANS
[02:33:45] AND DEMOCRATS, DID JUST NINE
[02:33:47] MONTHS AGO.
[02:33:54] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: I RECOGNIZE THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA.
[02:33:57] MS. KLOBUCHAR: MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE THIS EVENING ON BEHALF OF
[02:34:00] MYSELF AND SENATOR SHEEHY AND
[02:34:03] SEVERAL OTHERS, DEMOCRATS AND
[02:34:07] REPUBLICANS. I REPRESENT FARMERS, SMALL
[02:34:10] BUSINESSES, BREWERS, AND CONSUMERS IN MY STATE, AND I
[02:34:14] URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO TABLE
[02:34:16] SENATOR BUDD'S AMENDMENT AND
[02:34:19] GIVE THIS BODY FOUR MORE WEEKS
[02:34:21] TO WORK TOWARDS LEGISLATION THAT
[02:34:25] SUPPORTS A THRIVING HEMP
[02:34:28] INDUSTRY, ENSURES PROPER REGULATION, AND PROTECT KIDS
[02:34:32] FROM DANGEROUS PRODUCTS.
[02:34:35] AS IS THE BIPARTISAN CONTINUING
[02:34:38] RESOLUTION THAT IS BEFORE US DELAYS A BAN ON NATURALLY
[02:34:42] PRODUCED HEMP PRODUCTS FOR FOUR
[02:34:44] WEEKS, WHILE TAKING SYNTHETIC
[02:34:50] HEMP DERIFFIVES OFF THE MARKET.
[02:34:53] THAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
[02:34:57] THE ORIGINAL BAN, THE BROAD BAN,
[02:34:59] THE ENTIRE BAN -- AND I NOTE IN MY STATE WE HAVE SAFETY RULES IN
[02:35:03] PLACE THAT HAVE WORKED VERY
[02:35:06] WELL; THE PRODUCT IS TAXED.
[02:35:07] WE HAVE NOT HAD ISSUES WITH IT SINCE WE PUT THOSE RULES IN
[02:35:11] PLACE. THE ORIGINAL BAN WAS TUCKED INTO
[02:35:15] A BILL TO REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT LAST NOVEMBER.
[02:35:18] MANY MEMBERS DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT IT.
[02:35:22] THERE HAD BEEN NO HEARINGS.
[02:35:24] NOW THEY LEARN MORE. BILLS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN
[02:35:27] THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE,
[02:35:30] BIPARTISAN BILLS, TO REGULATE THIS MARKET.
[02:35:33] AND BACK THEN, THAT BAN MOVED
[02:35:36] FORWARD WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE
[02:35:38] PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE IMPACTED.
[02:35:40] IN MY STATE ALONE, HETCH
[02:35:45] PRODUCTS -- HEMP PRODUCTS
[02:35:47] BROUGHT IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN 2025.
[02:35:51] SENATOR BUDD HAS RAISED
[02:35:53] CONCERNS, AND I AGREE WITH HIM. THAT'S WHY BAD ACTORS WHO SELL
[02:35:57] THE PRODUCTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED
[02:35:59] TO SELL THEM IN THIS CONTINUING
[02:36:03] RESOLUTION. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES IN VOTING
[02:36:05] TO TABLE THIS AMENDMENT AND MAINTAINING THE BATTALION
[02:36:09] AGREEMENT IN THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION. I MOVE TO TABLE AMENDMENT NUMBER
[02:36:13] 67847 AND I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS.
[02:36:16] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
[02:36:20] BUD .
[02:36:23] MR. BUDD: DO I STILL HAVE TIME? THE PRESIDING OFFICER:NESS NO REMAINING TIME.
[02:36:26] THERE APPEARS TO BE. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
[02:36:33] VOTE: THE CLERK: MS. ALSOBROOKS.
[02:36:36] MR. ARMSTRONG. MS. BALDWIN. MR. BANKS. MR. BARRASSO.
[02:36:40] MR. BENNET. MRS. BLACKBURN.
[02:36:43] MR. BLUMENTHAL. MS. BLUNT ROCHESTER. MR. BOOKER.
[02:36:46] MR. BOOZMAN. MRS. BRITT.
[02:36:49] MR. BUDD.
[02:37:14] MS. CANTWELL.
[02:37:18] MRS. CAPITO.
[02:37:33] MR. CASSIDY.
[02:37:43] MS. COLLINS. MR. COONS. MR. CORNYN.
[02:37:47] MS. CORTEZ MASTO.
[02:37:53] MR. COTTON. MR. CRAMER.
[02:37:55] MR. CRAPO.
[02:38:02] MR. CRUZ.
[02:38:02] MR. CURTIS.
[02:38:11] MR. DAINES.
[02:38:55] MS. DUCKWORTH.
[02:38:58] MR. DURBIN.
[02:39:29] MS. ERNST.
[02:39:29] MR. FETTERMAN.
[02:39:35] MRS. FISCHER. MR. GALLEGO.
[02:39:38] MRS. GILLIBRAND.
[02:39:41] MS. GRAHAM.
[02:39:43] MR. GRASSLEY.
[02:39:45] MR. HAGERTY.
[02:39:51] MS. HASSAN.
[02:39:59] MR. HAWLEY.
[02:40:06] MR. HEINRICH. MR. HICKENLOOPER.
[02:40:09] MS. HIRONO.
[02:40:11] MR. HOEVEN.
[02:40:14] MR. HUSTED.
[02:40:16] MRS. HYDE-SMITH.
[02:40:18] MR. JOHNSON.
[02:40:21] MR. JUSTICE.
[02:40:30] MR. KAINE. MR. KELLY. MR. KENNEDY.
[02:40:34] MR. KIM.
[02:40:35] MR. KING.
[02:40:39] MS. KLOBUCHAR.
[02:40:40] MR. LANKFORD.
[02:41:03] MR. LEE. MR. LUJAN.
[02:41:07] MS. LUMMIS. MR. MARKEY. MR. MARSHALL.
[02:41:10] MR. McCONNELL. MR. McCORMICK.
[02:41:12] MR. MERKLEY.
[02:41:15] MRS. MOODY.
[02:41:18] MR. MORAN.
[02:41:28] MR. MORENO.
[02:41:31] MS. MURKOWSKI.
[02:41:34] MR. MURPHY. MRS. MURRAY.
[02:41:37] MR. OSSOFF.
[02:41:41] MR. PADILLA.
[02:41:44] MR. PAUL. MR. PETERS.
[02:41:48] MR. REED. MR. RICKETTS. MR. RISCH.
[02:41:52] MS. ROSEN.
[02:41:59] MR. ROUNDS.
[02:42:01] MR. SANDERS.
[02:42:04] MR. SCHATZ.
[02:42:05] MR. SCHIFF.
[02:42:27] MR. SCHMITT. MR. SCHUMER.
[02:42:30] MR. SCOTT OF FLORIDA.
[02:42:33] MR. SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
[02:42:37] MRS. SHAHEEN. MR. SHEEHY. MS. SLOTKIN.
[02:42:40] MS. SMITH. MR. SULLIVAN. MR. THUNE.
[02:42:43] MR. TILLIS. MR. TUBERVILLE. MR. VAN HOLLEN.
[02:42:47] MR. WARNER. MR. WARNOCK. MS. WARREN. MR. WELCH.
[02:42:51] MR. WHITEHOUSE.
[02:42:55] MR. WICKER.
[02:42:57] MR. WYDEN.
[02:43:02] MR. YOUNG.
[02:46:04] VOTE:
[02:46:18] SENATORS VOTING IN THE
[02:46:22] AFFIRMATIVE -- CANTWELL,
[02:46:26] HICKENLOOPER, HUSTED, KAINE,
[02:46:29] KLOBUCHAR, LEE, MARSHALL,
[02:46:33] McCORMICK, SCHATZ, SHAHEEN.
[02:46:36] SENATORS VOTING IN THE
[02:46:38] NEGATIVE -- ARMSTRONG, BUDD,
[02:46:41] COLLINS, CORNYN, DURBIN, ERNST,
[02:46:46] HAWLEY, LUMMIS, MURKOWSKI,
[02:46:49] PADILLA, ROUNDS.
[02:46:54] MR. REED, AYE.
[02:47:02] MR. BENNET, AYE.
[02:47:11] MR. BANKS, NO.
[02:47:14] MR. WELCH, AYE.
[02:48:02] MR. SHEEHY, AYE.
[02:48:22] MR. JOHNSON, AYE.
[02:48:24] MR. SCOTT OF FLORIDA, AYE.
[02:48:32] MS. HIRONO, NO.
[02:50:05] MS. GRAHAM, AYE.
[02:50:27] MS. BALDWIN, AYE.
[02:51:10] MRS. MURRAY, AYE.
[02:52:09] MR. TUBERVILLE, AYE.
[02:52:43] MR. MORAN, NO.
[02:52:48] MRS. MOODY, AYE.
[02:53:00] MR. WHITEHOUSE, AYE.
[02:53:03] MRS. FISCHER, NO.
[02:53:10] MRS. HYDE-SMITH, NO.
[02:53:22] MRS. HYDE-SMITH, AYE.
[02:53:27] MRS. CAPITO, NO.
[02:53:46] MR. RISCH, AYE.
[02:53:47] MR. RICKETTS, NO.
[02:54:18] MRS. BLACKBURN, NO.
[02:54:19] MS. DUCKWORTH, AYE.
[02:54:36] MS. WARREN, AYE.
[02:55:24] MR. GALLEGO, AYE.
[02:55:28] MR. MURPHY, AYE.
[02:55:47] MR. PETERS, AYE.
[02:58:31] MS. HASSAN, NO.
[02:58:43] MR. LUJAN, AYE.
[02:58:48] MS. SMITH, AYE.
[02:59:21] MRS. BRITT, NO.
[02:59:59] MR. WYDEN, AYE.
[03:00:03] VOTE:
[03:00:07] MR. OSSOFF, AYE.
[03:00:46] MR. COONS, AYE.
[03:01:37] MR. KELLY, AYE.
[03:02:01] MR. SULLIVAN, AYE.
[03:02:33] MR. HOEVEN, AYE.
[03:02:45] MR. MERKLEY, NO.
[03:03:00] MR. SANDERS, AYE.
[03:03:53] MR. HEINRICH, NO.
[03:04:02] MS. CORTEZ MASTO, NO.
[03:05:02] MS. ALSOBROOKS, AYE.
[03:05:23] MS. BLUNT ROCHESTER, NO.
[03:05:35] MS. ROSEN, NO.
[03:06:12] MR. YOUNG, NO.
[03:07:58] MR. WARNER, AYE.
[03:08:38] MR. SCHIFF, NO.
[03:08:59] MR. WICKER, AYE.
[03:09:07] MS. SLOTKIN, NO.
[03:09:12] MR. JUSTICE, AYE.
[03:09:55] MR. CRAPO, AYE.
[03:10:06] MR. MARKEY, AYE.
[03:10:55] MS. SLOTKIN, AYE.
[03:11:46] MR. SCHMITT, AYE.
[03:12:13] MR. CRUZ, AYE.
[03:12:16] MR. PAUL, AYE.
[03:13:26] MR. DAINES, AYE.
[03:13:46] MR. CASSIDY, NO.
[03:14:17] MR. GRASSLEY, NO.
[03:14:52] VOTE:
[03:15:43] MR. BOOKER, AYE.
[03:16:35] MR. CURTIS, AYE.
[03:16:47] MR. SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
[03:16:48] AYE.
[03:17:48] MR. MORENO, AYE.
[03:17:56] MR. WARNOCK, AYE.
[03:18:17] MR. THUNE, AYE.
[03:19:39] MR. VAN HOLLEN, AYE.
[03:20:11] MR. SCHUMER, AYE.
[03:20:27] MRS. GILLIBRAND, AYE.
[03:20:35] MRS. GILLIBRAND, NO.
[03:20:55] MR. BARRASSO, AYE.
[03:22:01] MR. KIM, AYE.
[03:22:03] MR. FETTERMAN, AYE.
[03:24:11] MR. BLUMENTHAL, AYE.
[03:27:56] MR. HAGERTY, NO.
[03:29:39] VOTE:
[03:33:08] MR. KENNEDY, NO.
[03:36:21] THE PRESIDING IDING OFFICER: ON VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 61.
[03:36:25] THE NAYS ARE 32.
[03:36:25] AND THE MOTION IS AGREED TO.
[03:36:30] UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, AMENDMENT 6732 IS AGREED TO, AND
[03:36:33] THE CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE BILL A THIRD TIME.
[03:36:37] THE CLERK: CALENDAR 320, H
[03:36:43] HH
[03:36:47] HH. H.R. 6500, AN ACT TO EXTEND DUTY-FREE TREATMENT PROVIDED WITH RESPECT TO IMPORTS AND SO
[03:36:50] FORTH AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
[03:36:53] MS. COLLINS: MR. PRESIDENT. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM MAINE. MS. COLLINS: MR. PRESIDENT.
[03:36:57] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: ORDER. MS. COLLINS: I URGE MY
[03:37:01] COLLEAGUES TO PASS THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION IN ORDER TO PREVENT A GOVERNMENT
[03:37:04] SHUTDOWN, AND I YIELD BACK ALL
[03:37:05] TIME.
[03:37:09] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE QUESTION IS ON THE PASSAGE OF
[03:37:11] THE BILL, AS AMENDED.
[03:37:23] IS THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND? THERE APPEARS TO BE. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
[03:37:28] VOTE:
[03:37:32] THE CLERK: MS. ALSOBROOKS. MR. ARMSTRONG.
[03:37:34] MS. BALDWIN. MR. BANKS.
[03:37:37] MR. BARRASSO.
[03:37:39] MR. BENNET.
[03:37:42] MRS. BLACKBURN.
[03:37:45] MR. BLUMENTHAL.
[03:37:47] MS. BLUNT ROCHESTER.
[03:37:50] MR. BOOKER.
[03:37:56] MR. BOOZMAN.
[03:38:01] MRS. BRITT.
[03:38:23] MR. BUDD.
[03:38:40] MS. CANTWELL.
[03:38:41] MRS. CAPITO.
[03:38:51] MR. CASSIDY.
[03:38:52] MS. COLLINS.
[03:38:56] MR. COONS.
[03:40:00] MR. CORNYN.
[03:40:01] MS. CORTEZ MASTO.
[03:40:05] MR. COTTON.
[03:40:07] MR. CRAMER.
[03:40:11] MR. CRAPO. MR. CRUZ.
[03:40:13] MR. CURTIS.
[03:40:22] MR. DAINES.
[03:40:23] MS. DUCKWORTH.
[03:40:30] MR. DURBIN.
[03:40:32] MS. ERNST.
[03:40:43] MR. FETTERMAN.
[03:40:47] MRS. FISCHER.
[03:40:51] MR. GALLEGO.
[03:40:52] MRS. GILLIBRAND.
[03:40:57] MS. GRAHAM.
[03:40:59] MR. GRASSLEY.
[03:41:06] MR. HAGERTY.
[03:41:08] MS. HASSAN.
[03:41:13] MR. HAWLEY.
[03:41:17] MR. HEINRICH. MR. HICKENLOOPER.
[03:41:19] MS. HIRONO.
[03:41:35] MR. HOEVEN. MR. HUSTED.
[03:41:37] MRS. HYDE-SMITH.
[03:41:42] MR. JOHNSON.
[03:41:43] MR. JUSTICE.
[03:41:47] MR. KAINE. MR. KELLY.
[03:41:49] MR. KENNEDY.
[03:41:52] MR. KIM. MR. KING.
[03:41:56] MS. KLOBUCHAR. MR. LANKFORD.
[03:41:59] MR. LEE.
[03:42:04] MR. LUJAN.
[03:42:04] MS. LUMMIS. MR. MARKEY.
[03:42:08] MR. MARSHALL. MR. McCONNELL.
[03:42:11] MR. McCORMICK.
[03:42:20] MR. MERKLEY.
[03:42:23] MRS. MOODY.
[03:42:25] MR. MORAN.
[03:42:44] MR. MORENO. MS. MURKOWSKI.
[03:42:47] MR. MURPHY. MRS. MURRAY.
[03:42:51] MR. OSSOFF.
[03:42:58] MR. PADILLA. MR. PAUL.
[03:42:58] MR. PETERS.
[03:43:03] MR. REED. MR. RICKETTS. MR. RISCH.
[03:43:05] MS. ROSEN. MR. ROUNDS.
[03:43:09] MR. SANDERS. MR. SCHATZ.
[03:43:13] MR. SCHIFF.
[03:43:13] MR. SCHMITT.
[03:43:20] MR. SCHUMER.
[03:43:21] MR. SCOTT OF FLORIDA.
[03:43:28] MR. SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
[03:43:31] MRS. SHAHEEN. MR. SHEEHY.
[03:43:34] MS. SLOTKIN. MS. SMITH. MR. SULLIVAN.
[03:43:38] MR. THUNE.
[03:43:49] MR. TILLIS.
[03:43:50] MR. TUBERVILLE.
[03:43:55] MR. VAN HOLLEN.
[03:43:59] MR. WARNER. MR. WARNOCK. MS. WARREN. MR. WELCH. MR. WHITEHOUSE.
[03:44:03] MR. WICKER. MR. WYDEN.
[03:44:05] MR. YOUNG.
[03:44:16] SENATORS VOTING IN THE
[03:44:16] AFFIRMATIVE -- ARMSTRONG,
[03:44:20] BALDWIN, BARRASSO, BENNET,
[03:44:23] BLACKBURN, BLUMENTHAL, BLUNT
[03:44:25] ROCHESTER, BOOKER, BRITT, BUDD,
[03:44:29] CANTWELL, CAPITO, COLLINS,
[03:44:33] COONS, CORNYN, CORTEZ MASTO,
[03:44:36] CRAMER, CRAPO, CRUZ, CURTIS,
[03:44:41] DAINES, DUCKWORTH, DURBIN,
[03:44:43] ERNST, FETTERMAN, FISCHER,
[03:44:47] GALLEGO, GRASSLEY, HAGERTY,
[03:44:50] HASSAN, HEINRICH, HICKENLOOPER,
[03:44:52] HOEVEN, HUSTED, JOHNSON, KELLY,
[03:44:56] KENNEDY, KIM, KLOBUCHAR, LEE,
[03:45:00] LUJAN, LUMMIS, MARSHALL,
[03:45:02] MCCORMICK, MERKLEY, MOODY,
[03:45:05] MORAN, MORENO, MURRAY, OSSOFF,
[03:45:09] PADILLA, PETERS, REED, RICKETTS,
[03:45:12] RISCH, ROSEN, ROUNDS, SCHATZ,
[03:45:16] SCHIFF, SCHMITT, SCHUMER, SCOTT
[03:45:19] OF FLORIDA, SHAHEEN, SHEEHY,
[03:45:21] SLOTKIN, SMITH, SULLIVAN,
[03:45:26] TUBERVILLE, WARNER, WARNOCK,
[03:45:32] WHITEHOUSE, WICKER, YOUNG.
[03:45:35] MR. COTTON, AYE.
[03:45:37] MR. KING, AYE.
[03:45:46] MRS. HYDE-SMITH, AYE.
[03:45:48] MRS. GILLIBRAND, AYE. SENATORS VOTING IN THE
[03:45:52] NEGATIVE --
[03:45:54] CASSIDY, KAINE, MARKEY, PAUL,
[03:45:58] SANDERS, AND WARREN.
[03:46:03] MR. THUNE, AYE.
[03:46:44] MR. MURPHY, AYE.
[03:47:49] MS. HIRONO, AYE.
[03:47:56] MR. JUSTICE, AYE. MR. SCOTT OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA,
[03:47:59] AYE.
[03:48:07] MR. BANKS, AYE. MR. WELCH, AYE.
[03:48:11] MR. WYDEN, AYE.
[03:48:14] MS. MURKOWSKI, AYE.
[03:48:34] MR. HAWLEY, AYE.
[03:49:10] MS. ALSOBROOKS, AYE.
[03:50:42] MR. BOOZMAN, AYE.
[03:53:16] MR. VAN HOLLEN, AYE.
[03:58:57] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE YEAS ARE 90, THE NAYS ARE 6.
[03:59:00] THE 60-VOTE THRESHOLD HAVING ACHIEVED, THE BILL IS SPASSED.
[03:59:04] ONE SENATOR RESPONDED PRESENT.
[03:59:07] UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE COLLINS AMENDMENT, NUMBER 6750,
[03:59:10] TO THE TITLE IS AGREED TO. THE TITLE, AS AMENDED, IS AGREED
[03:59:13] TO, AND THE MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER BE CONSIDERED MADE
[03:59:16] AND LAID UPON THE TABLE.
[03:59:19] MR. THUNE: MR. PRESIDENT. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY LEADER. MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I
[03:59:22] ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO WAIVE
[03:59:24] THE MANDATORY QUORUM CALLS WITH RESPECT TO THE BLANCHE NUCLEAR
[03:59:27] OPTION AND THE CLOTURE MOTION ON
[03:59:28] THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO
[03:59:31] S. 5271. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[03:59:35] THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE.
[03:59:37] THE CLERK: CLOTURE MOTION --
[03:59:39] WE, THE UNDERSIGNED SENATORS, IN
[03:59:43] ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 22 OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE, DO HEREBY MOVE TO BRING TO A CLOSE DEBATE ON THE NOMINATION OF TODD BLANCHE OF
[03:59:47] FLORIDA TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL,
[03:59:48] SIGNED BY 17 SENATORS. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: ORDER IN
[03:59:51] THE CHAMBER, PLEASE. UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE MANDATORY QUORUM CALL UNDER
[03:59:56] RULE 22 HAS BEEN WAIVED. THE QUESTION IS, IS IT THE SENSE
[03:59:58] OF THE SENATE THAT DEBATE ON THE NOMINATION OF TODD BLANCHE OF
[04:00:02] FLORIDA TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL BE BROUGHT TO A CLOSE.
[04:00:05] THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE MANDATORY UNDER THE RULE.
[04:00:07] THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
[04:00:14] VOTE:
[04:00:20] THS. ALSOBROOKS.
[04:00:22] MR. ARMSTRONG.
[04:00:26] MS. BALDWIN.
[04:00:26] MR. BANKS.
[04:00:36] MR. BARRASSO.
[04:00:41] MR. BENNET.
[04:01:01] MRS. BLACKBURN.
[04:01:13] MR. BLUMENTHAL.
[04:02:01] MS. BLUNT ROCHESTER.
[04:02:29] MR. BOOKER.
[04:02:31] MR. BOOZMAN.
[04:02:51] MRS. BRITT.
[04:02:56] MR. BUDD.
[04:03:03] MS. CANTWELL.
[04:03:24] MRS. CAPITO. MR. CASSIDY.
[04:03:26] MS. COLLINS.
[04:03:31] MR. COONS.
[04:03:40] MR. CORNYN.
[04:03:41] MS. CORTEZ MASTO.
[04:03:49] MR. COTTON.
[04:03:56] MR. CRAMER.
[04:04:03] MR. CRAPO.
[04:04:08] MR. CRUZ.
[04:04:11] MR. CURTIS.
[04:04:12] MR. DAINES.
[04:04:23] MS. DUCKWORTH. MR. DURBIN.
[04:04:26] MS. ERNST.
[04:04:27] MR. FETTERMAN.
[04:04:38] MRS. FISCHER. MR. GALLEGO.
[04:04:41] MRS. GILLIBRAND.
[04:04:51] MS. GRAHAM.
[04:04:51] MR. GRASSLEY.
[04:04:58] MR. HAGERTY.
[04:05:02] MS. HASSAN. MR. HAWLEY.
[04:05:05] MR. HEINRICH.
[04:05:14] MR. HICKENLOOPER.
[04:05:16] MS. HIRONO.
[04:05:20] MR. HOEVEN.
[04:05:23] MR. HUSTED.
[04:05:35] MRS. HYDE-SMITH.
[04:05:39] MR. JOHNSON.
[04:05:47] MR. JUSTICE. MR. KAINE.
[04:05:48] MR. KELLY.
[04:06:04] MR. KENNEDY. MR. KIM.
[04:06:06] MR. KING.
[04:06:11] MS. KLOBUCHAR. MR. LANKFORD.
[04:06:13] MR. LEE.
[04:06:19] MR. LUJAN.
[04:06:23] MS. LUMMIS.
[04:06:26] MR. MARKEY.
[04:06:30] MR. MARSHALL. MR. McCONNELL.
[04:06:33] MR. McCORMICK.
[04:06:35] MR. MERKLEY. MRS. MOODY.
[04:06:39] MR. MORAN. MR. MORENO.
[04:06:42] MS. MURKOWSKI.
[04:06:44] MR. MURPHY.
[04:06:46] MRS. MURRAY. MR. OSSOFF.
[04:06:50] MR. PADILLA. MR. PAUL. MR. PETERS. MR. REED.
[04:06:54] MR. RICKETTS.
[04:07:00] MR. RISCH.
[04:07:01] MS. ROSEN.
[04:07:04] MR. ROUNDS. MR. SANDERS. MR. SCHATZ.
[04:07:07] MR. SCHIFF.
[04:07:09] MR. SCHMITT.
[04:07:24] MR. SCHUMER.
[04:07:33] MR. SCOTT OF FLORIDA.
[04:07:34] MR. SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
[04:07:39] MRS. SHAHEEN.
[04:07:41] MR. SHEEHY.
[04:07:45] MS. SLOTKIN.
[04:07:50] MS. SMITH. MR. SULLIVAN. MR. THUNE.
[04:07:53] MR. TILLIS. MR. TUBERVILLE.
[04:07:57] MR. VAN HOLLEN.
[04:08:03] MR. WARNER.
[04:08:04] MR. WARNOCK.
[04:08:09] MS. WARREN. MR. WELCH. MR. WHITEHOUSE. MR. WICKER.
[04:08:12] MR. WYDEN.
[04:08:14] MR. YOUNG.
[04:08:22] SENATORS VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE -- ARMSTRONG, BARRASSO, BLACKBURN,
[04:08:26] BOOZMAN, BRITT, CAPITO, CORNYN,
[04:08:29] COTTON, CRAMER, CURTIS, DAINES,
[04:08:32] ERNST, FISCHER GRAHAM, GRASSLEY,
[04:08:37] HAGERTY, HAWLEY, JOHNSON,
[04:08:39] JUSTICE, KENNEDY, LEE, LUMMIS,
[04:08:42] MARSHALL, McCORMICK, MOODY,
[04:08:44] MORENO, PAUL, RISCH, ROUNDS,
[04:08:46] SCOTT OF FLORIDA, SULLIVAN,
[04:08:49] THUNE, TILLIS, TUBERVILLE,
[04:08:50] WICKER, AND YOUNG.
[04:08:54] SENATORS VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE -- ALSOBROOKS, BALDWIN, BENNET,
[04:08:58] BLUMENTHAL, BLUNT ROCHESTER,
[04:09:00] CANTWELL, COLLINS, DUCKWORTH,
[04:09:02] DURBIN, FETTERMAN, GALLEGO,
[04:09:04] HASSAN, HEINRICH, HICKENLOOPER,
[04:09:07] KAINE, KELLY, KIM, KING, LUJAN,
[04:09:11] MERKLEY, MURKOWSKI, MURPHY,
[04:09:13] MURRAY, OSSOFF, PADILLA, PETERS,
[04:09:16] REED, ROSEN, SANDERS, SCHATZ,
[04:09:19] SCHIFF, SHAHEEN, SLOTKIN, SMITH,
[04:09:24] VAN HOLLEN, WARNER, WARREN,
[04:09:26] WELCH, WHITEHOUSE, AND WYDEN.
[04:09:39] MS. KLOBUCHAR, NO.
[04:09:48] MR. CRUZ, AYE.
[04:09:54] MR. BANKS, AYE.
[04:10:08] MR. MARKEY, NO.
[04:10:12] MR. WARNOCK, NO.
[04:10:27] MR. LANKFORD, AYE.
[04:10:33] MR. SCHUMER, NO.
[04:10:52] MR. BOOKER, NO.
[04:10:54] MR. CASSIDY, AYE.
[04:10:58] MR. SHEEHY, AYE.
[04:11:45] MR. MORAN, AYE.
[04:12:19] MR. HOEVEN, AYE.
[04:12:44] MS. HIRONO, NO.
[04:12:51] MR. BUDD, AYE.
[04:12:55] MRS. GILLIBRAND, NO.
[04:13:07] MR. RICKETTS, AYE.
[04:13:21] MR. SCHMITT, AYE.
[04:14:00] MR. SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
[04:14:03] AYE.
[04:15:03] MS. CORTEZ MASTO, NO.
[04:15:46] VOTE:
[04:15:49] VOTE:
[04:16:36] MR. CRAPO, AYE.
[04:17:13] MR. COONS, NO.
[04:17:33] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE AYES ARE 50, THE NAYS ARE 49.
[04:17:36] THE MOTION IS AGREED TO. THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE
[04:17:39] NOMINATION. THE CLERK: NOMINATION,
[04:17:42] DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, TODD BLANCHE, OF FLORIDA, TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
[04:17:46] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE QUESTION OCCURS ON THE NOMINATION.
[04:17:49] IS THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND? THERE APPEARS TO BE. THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
[04:17:55] VOTE:
[04:17:57] THE CLERK: MS. ALSOBROOKS.
[04:18:00] MR. ARMSTRONG.
[04:19:06] MS. BALDWIN.
[04:19:21] MR. BANKS. MR. BARRASSO. MR. BENNET.
[04:19:24] MRS. BLACKBURN.
[04:19:29] MR. BLUMENTHAL.
[04:19:31] MS. BLUNT ROCHESTER.
[04:19:35] MR. BOOKER.
[04:19:36] MR. BOOZMAN.
[04:19:40] MRS. BRITT. MR. BUDD.
[04:19:43] MS. CANTWELL. MRS. CAPITO.
[04:19:46] MR. CASSIDY.
[04:19:48] MS. COLLINS.
[04:19:52] MR. COONS. MR. CORNYN.
[04:19:55] MS. CORTEZ MASTO.
[04:19:59] MR. COTTON. MR. CRAMER. MR. CRAPO.
[04:20:03] MR. CRUZ.
[04:20:40] MR. CURTIS.
[04:20:41] MR. DAINES.
[04:20:44] MS. DUCKWORTH.
[04:20:48] MR. DURBIN. MS. ERNST.
[04:20:51] MR. FETTERMAN.
[04:20:55] MRS. FISCHER.
[04:20:57] MR. GALLEGO.
[04:21:17] MRS. GILLIBRAND. MR. GRAHAM.
[04:21:19] MR. GRASSLEY.
[04:21:27] -- MRS. GRAHAM.
[04:21:30] MR. GRASSLEY. MR. HAGERTY.
[04:21:33] MS. HASSAN. MR. HAWLEY. MR. HEINRICH. MR. HICKENLOOPER.
[04:21:37] MS. HIRONO. MR. HOEVEN. MR. HUSTED. MRS. HYDE-SMITH.
[04:21:41] MR. JOHNSON.
[04:21:56] MR. JUSTICE.
[04:21:57] MR. KAINE.
[04:22:03] MR. KELLY. MR. KENNEDY.
[04:22:06] MR. KIM.
[04:22:07] MR. KING.
[04:22:20] MS. KLOBUCHAR. MR. LANKFORD.
[04:22:22] MR. LEE. MR. LUJAN. MS. LUMMIS.
[04:22:26] MR. MARKEY.
[04:22:34] MR. MARSHALL. MR. McCONNELL.
[04:22:36] MR. McCORMICK.
[04:22:53] MR. MERKLEY.
[04:22:55] MRS. MOODY.
[04:22:59] MR. MORAN. MR. MORENO.
[04:23:01] MS. MURKOWSKI.
[04:23:07] MR. MURPHY.
[04:23:08] MRS. MURRAY.
[04:23:29] MR. OSSOFF. MR. PADILLA. MR. PAUL.
[04:23:32] MR. PETERS.
[04:23:33] MR. REED.
[04:23:57] MR. RICKETTS. MR. RISCH. MS. ROSEN.
[04:23:59] MR. ROUNDS.
[04:24:04] MR. SANDERS.
[04:24:09] MR. SCHATZ. MR. SCHIFF. MR. SCHMITT. MR. SCHUMER.
[04:24:12] MR. SCOTT OF FLORIDA. MR. SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
[04:24:15] MRS. SHAHEEN. MR. SHEEHY.
[04:24:19] MS. SLOTKIN.
[04:24:24] MS. SMITH. MR. SULLIVAN. MR. THUNE.
[04:24:26] MR. TILLIS.
[04:24:33] MR. TUBERVILLE. MR. VAN HOLLEN. MR. WARNER.
[04:24:36] MR. WARNOCK.
[04:24:42] MS. WARREN. MR. WELCH. MR. WHITEHOUSE.
[04:24:45] MR. WICKER. MR. WYDEN.
[04:24:48] MR. YOUNG.
[04:25:19] SENATORS VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE -- ARMSTRONG, BANKS,
[04:25:22] BARRASSO, BLACKBURN, BOOZMAN,
[04:25:24] BRITT, CAPITO, CASSIDY, CORNYN,
[04:25:28] COTTON, CRAMER, CRAPO, CURTIS,
[04:25:31] DAINES, ERNST, FISCHER, GRAHAM,
[04:25:35] GRASSLEY, HAGERTY, HAWLEY,
[04:25:37] HUSTED, HYDE-SMITH, JOHNSON,
[04:25:39] JUSTICE, KENNEDY, LANKFORD, LEE,
[04:25:42] LUMMIS, MARSHALL, McCORMICK,
[04:25:45] MOODY, MORENO, MORAN, PAUL,
[04:25:48] RICKETTS, RISCH, ROUNDS,
[04:25:50] SCHMITT, SCOTT OF FLORIDA, SCOTT
[04:25:52] OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THUNE AND
[04:26:01] TUBERVILLE.
[04:26:03] MR. WICKER, AYE.
[04:26:14] SENATORS VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE -- ALSOBROOKS, BALDWIN,
[04:26:16] BENNET, BLUMENTHAL, BLUNT
[04:26:18] ROCHESTER, COLLINS, COONS,
[04:26:21] CORTEZ MASTO, DUCKWORTH,
[04:26:23] FETTERMAN, GALLEGO, HASSAN,
[04:26:26] HICKENLOOPER, KAINE, KELLY, KIM,
[04:26:30] KING, KLOBUCHAR, LUJAN, MERKLEY,
[04:26:33] MURRAY, OSSOFF, PADILLA, PETERS,
[04:26:35] REED, ROSEN, SCHATZ, SCHIFF,
[04:26:38] SHAHEEN, SLOTKIN, SMITH, WARNER,
[04:26:41] WARREN, WELCH, WHITEHOUSE, AND
[04:26:43] WYDEN.
[04:26:56] MR. SHEEHY, AYE.
[04:26:58] MR. DURBIN, NO.
[04:27:02] MR. KOOUZ, AYE.
[04:27:06] -- MR. CRUZ, AYE.
[04:27:23] MR. HOEVEN, AYE.
[04:27:31] MS. MURKOWSKI, NO.
[04:27:45] MR. BUDD, AYE.
[04:27:50] MR. TILLIS, AYE.
[04:27:57] MRS. GILLIBRAND, NO. MS. CANTWELL, NO.
[04:28:00] MR. YOUNG, AYE.
[04:28:06] MR. VAN HOLLEN, NO.
[04:28:27] MS. HIRONO, NO.
[04:28:57] MR. SCHATZ -- MR. SANDERS, NO.
[04:29:03] MR. MURPHY, NO.
[04:29:37] MR. SCHUMER, NO.
[04:29:56] MR. MARKEY, NO.
[04:30:29] MR. BOOKER, NO.
[04:31:24] MR. WARNOCK, NO.
[04:31:43] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: ON THIS
[04:31:46] VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 50, THE NAYS ARE 49.
[04:31:49] THE NOMINATION IS CONFIRMED.
[04:32:05] UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS CONSIDERED MADE AND LAID UPON
[04:32:09] THE TABLE, AND THE PRESIDENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF
[04:32:12] THE SENATE'S ACTION.
[04:32:13] THE SENATE WILL RESUME
[04:32:17] LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE MAJORITY LEADER. MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I
[04:32:20] MOVE TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR
[04:32:21] NUMBER 547, S. 5271. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
[04:32:25] WILL REPORT.
[04:32:27] THE CLERK: MOTION TO PROCEED TO
[04:32:30] CALENDAR NUMBER 547, S. 5271, TO
[04:32:35] REQUIRE VOTERS PROVIDE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION. MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I
[04:32:38] SEND A CLOTURE MOTION TO THE DESK. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
[04:32:42] WILL REPORT THE MOTION.
[04:32:45] THE CLERK: CLOTURE THE UNDERSIGNED SENATORS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 22 OF THE STANDING RULES
[04:32:49] OF THE SENATE DO HEREBY MOVE TO BRING TO A CLOSE DEBATE ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR
[04:32:52] NUMBER 547, S. 5271, A BILL TO
[04:32:55] AMEND THE HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002 TO REQUIRE VOTERS
[04:32:59] PROVIDE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION, SIGNED BY 17 SENATORS.
[04:33:02] MR. THUNE: I ASK CONSENT THE READING OF THE NAMES BE WAIVED.
[04:33:05] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
[04:33:06] OBJECTION.
[04:33:22] MR. HUSTED: MADAM PRESIDENT. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO IS RECOGNIZED.
[04:33:25] MR. HUSTED: MADAM PRESIDENT,
[04:33:26] USING A PHOTO I.D. TO VOTE IS
[04:33:30] COMMON SENSE. IT'S AN ISSUE AMERICANS BROADLY
[04:33:33] SUPPORT. SO TONIGHT, THIS EARLY MORNING,
[04:33:36] I'M OFFERING A CLEAN, SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD BILL TO REQUIRE
[04:33:39] A PHOTO I.D. TO VOTE IN AMERICA.
[04:33:43] VOTERS CAN USE A DRIVER'S
[04:33:45] LICENSE, A STATE-ISSUED I.D.,
[04:33:48] PASSPORT, MILITARY OR VETERAN'S I.D., OR TRIBAL I.D.
[04:33:51] NO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS. NO TRICKS. NO GAMES.
[04:33:55] NO PROBICSES ON -- PROHIBITIONS
[04:33:58] ON ABSENTEE VOTING.
[04:34:00] 36 STATES REQUIRE SOME FORM OF PHOTO I.D.
[04:34:04] THESE HAVE BEEN TESTED IN ELECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND THEY WORK.
[04:34:07] SO TONIGHT, I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO ANSWER ONE SIMPLE
[04:34:11] QUESTION -- SHOULD YOU HAVE TO
[04:34:13] PROVE WHO YOU ARE WHEN YOU VOTE?
[04:34:17] AMERICANS THINK WE SHOULD, AND TONIGHT WE'LL FIND OUT IF THEIR
[04:34:20] SENATORS AGREE. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO VOTE YES
[04:34:23] ON THIS BILL TO ESTABLISH A
[04:34:27] NATIONWIDE PHOTO I.D. STANDARDS AND GIVE AMERICANS BETTER-RUN
[04:34:30] AND HONEST AND FAIR ELECTIONS.
[04:34:33] I YIELD THE FLOOR.
[04:34:47] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE.
[04:34:50] MR. PADILLA: MADAM PRESIDENT.
[04:34:53] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA. MR. PADILLA: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
[04:34:56] COLLEAGUES, HERE WE ARE, AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF CONTINUING
[04:34:58] TO DEBATES THIS BILL, WHICH STILL HASN'T PASSED.
[04:35:02] WE SHOULD BE DEBATING HOW TO BRING COSTS DOWN FOR WORKING
[04:35:05] FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES HOW WE'RE GOING TO
[04:35:09] GET OUT OF THIS WAR IN IRAN.
[04:35:11] INSTEAD, HERE'S THIS MEASURE AGAIN, WHICH IS NOT A SIMPLE VOTER I.D. BILL.
[04:35:15] AS WRITTEN, IS STRICTER THAN
[04:35:18] MOST VOTER I.D. IN STATES THAT ALREADY HAVE A VOTER I.D. LAW IN PLACE.
[04:35:22] THIS GOES FURTHER. REQUIRING VOTERS TO INCLUDE A
[04:35:26] COPY OF THEIR I.D. WHEN THEY VOTE BY MAIL.
[04:35:28] AS YOU KNOW, TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS VOTE BY MAIL.
[04:35:32] THIS BILL WOULD DO AWAY WITH SECRET BALLOTS AS WE KNOW IT.
[04:35:35] SO COLLEAGUES, I URGE YOU TO
[04:35:37] VOTE NO ON THIS MEASURE.
[04:35:45] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
[04:35:46] WILL REPORT THE MOTION TO INVOKE
[04:35:50] CLOTURE. THE CLERK: CLOTURE MOTION,
[04:35:53] THE UNDERSIGNED SENATORS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 22 OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE DO HEREBY MOVE TO BRING TO A CLOSE DEBATE ON THE
[04:35:58] MOTION TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR
[04:35:59] NUMBER 547, S. 5271, TO AMEND
[04:36:03] THE HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002 TO REQUIRE VOTERS PROVIDE
[04:36:06] PHOTO IDENTIFICATION, SIGNED BY 17 SENATORS. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: UNDER THE
[04:36:09] PREVIOUS ORDER, THE MANDATORY QUORUM CALL UNDER RULE 22 HAS
[04:36:13] BEEN WAIVED.
[04:36:14] THE QUESTION IS, IS IT THE SENSE
[04:36:17] OF THE SENATE THAT DEBATE ON THE
[04:36:20] MOTION TO PROCEED TO S. 5271, A
[04:36:24] BILL TO AMEND THE HELP AMERICA
[04:36:27] VOTE ACT OF 2002, TO REQUIRE
[04:36:30] VOTERS TO PROVIDE PHOTO
[04:36:32] IDENTIFICATION, SHALL BE BROUGHT TO A CLOSE.
[04:36:35] THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE MANDATORY UNDER THE RULE.
[04:36:38] THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
[04:36:42] VOTE:
[04:36:44] THE CLERK: MS. ALSOBROOKS.
[04:41:15] MR. ARMSTRONG.
[04:41:21] MS. BALDWIN.
[04:41:38] MR. BANKS.
[04:41:50] MR. BARRASSO.
[04:41:51] MR. BENNET.
[04:41:55] MRS. BLACKBURN.
[04:42:01] MR. BLUMENTHAL.
[04:42:15] MS. BLUNT ROCHESTER. MR. BOOKER.
[04:42:16] MR. BOOZMAN.
[04:42:31] MRS. BRITT. MR. BUDD. MS. CANTWELL.
[04:42:33] MRS. CAPITO.
[04:42:36] MR. CASSIDY.
[04:42:45] MS. COLLINS.
[04:42:51] MR. COONS. MR. CORNYN. MS. CORTEZ MASTO.
[04:42:54] MR. COTTON. MR. CRAMER.
[04:42:57] MR. CRAPO.
[04:43:07] MR. CRUZ.
[04:43:22] MR. CURTIS.
[04:43:23] MR. DAINES.
[04:43:30] MS. DUCKWORTH. MR. DURBIN. MS. ERNST.
[04:43:34] MR. FETTERMAN.
[04:43:38] MRS. FISCHER.
[04:43:39] MR. GALLEGO.
[04:43:43] MRS. GILLIBRAND. MS. GRAHAM. MR. GRASSLEY.
[04:43:47] MR. HAGERTY.
[04:43:52] MS. HASSAN. MR. HAWLEY. MR. HEINRICH.
[04:43:56] MR. HICKENLOOPER. MS. HIRONO.
[04:44:00] MR. HOEVEN. MR. HUSTED.
[04:44:04] MRS. HYDE-SMITH.
[04:44:07] MR. JOHNSON.
[04:44:08] MR. JUSTICE. MR. KAINE.
[04:44:12] MR. KELLY. MR. KENNEDY.
[04:44:15] MR. KIM. MR. KING.
[04:44:18] MS. KLOBUCHAR. MR. LANKFORD.
[04:44:22] MR. LEE. MR. LUJAN.
[04:44:25] MS. LUMMIS.
[04:44:35] MR. MARKEY. MR. MARSHALL. MR. McCONNELL.
[04:44:37] MR. McCORMICK. MR. MERKLEY. MRS. MOODY.
[04:44:41] MR. MORAN. MR. MORENO.
[04:44:44] MS. MURKOWSKI.
[04:44:46] MR. MURPHY.
[04:44:50] MRS. MURRAY. MR. OSSOFF. MR. PADILLA.
[04:44:54] MR. PAUL. MR. PETERS. MR. REED. MR. RICKETTS.
[04:44:58] MR. RISCH. MS. ROSEN.
[04:45:00] MR. ROUNDS. MR. SANDERS. MR. SCHATZ.
[04:45:04] MR. SCHIFF.
[04:45:07] MR. SCHMITT. MR. SCHUMER.
[04:45:10] MR. SCOTT OF FLORIDA.
[04:45:12] MR. SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
[04:45:18] MRS. SHAHEEN. MR. SHEEHY. MS. SLOTKIN. MS. SMITH.
[04:45:21] MR. SULLIVAN. MR. THUNE.
[04:45:24] MR. TILLIS.
[04:45:27] MR. TUBERVILLE. MR. VAN HOLLEN.
[04:45:29] MR. WARNER. MR. WARNOCK.
[04:45:32] MS. WARREN.
[04:45:35] MR. WELCH.
[04:45:38] MR. WHITEHOUSE.
[04:45:40] MR. WICKER.
[04:45:42] MR. WYDEN.
[04:45:44] MR. YOUNG.
[04:46:15] SENATORS VOTING IN THE
[04:46:18] AFFIRMATIVE -- ARMSTRONG, BANKS,
[04:46:21] BARRASSO, BLACKBURN, BOOZMAN,
[04:46:23] BRITT, BUDD, CAPITO, CASSIDY,
[04:46:27] COLLINS, CORNYN, COTTON, CRAMER,
[04:46:30] CRAPO, CRUZ, CURTIS, DAINES,
[04:46:33] ERNST, FISCHER, GRAHAM,
[04:46:35] GRASSLEY, HAGERTY, HAWLEY,
[04:46:38] HOEVEN, HUSTED, HYDE-SMITH,
[04:46:41] JOHNSON, JUSTICE, KENNEDY,
[04:46:43] LANKFORD, LEE, LUMMIS, MARSHALL,
[04:46:47] MCCORMICK, MOODY, MORAN, MORENO,
[04:46:53] MURKOWSKI, PAUL, RICKETTS,
[04:46:54] RISCH, ROUNDS, SCHMITT, SCOTT OF FLORIDA, SCOTT OF SOUTH
[04:46:59] CAROLINA, SHEEHY, SULLIVAN,
[04:47:01] THUNE, TILLIS, TUBERVILLE,
[04:47:04] WICKER, AND YOUNG.
[04:47:09] SENATORS VOTING IN THE NEGATIVE
[04:47:10] -- ALSOBROOKS, BALDWIN, BENNET,
[04:47:14] BLUMENTHAL, BLUNT ROCHESTER, BOOKER, CANTWELL, COONS, CORTEZ
[04:47:17] MASTO, DUCKWORTH, DURBIN,
[04:47:19] FETTERMAN, GALLEGO, GILLIBRAND,
[04:47:22] HASSAN, HEINRICH, HICKENLOOPER,
[04:47:25] HIRONO, KAINE, KELLY, KIM, KING,
[04:47:29] KLOBUCHAR, LUJAN, MARKEY,
[04:47:32] MERKLEY, MURRAY, OSSOFF,
[04:47:35] PADILLA, PETERS, REED, ROSEN,
[04:47:38] SANDERS, SCHATZ, SCHIFF,
[04:47:40] SCHUMER, SHAHEEN, SLOTKIN,
[04:47:44] SMITH, VAN HOLLEN, WARNER,
[04:47:47] WARREN, WARNOCK, AND WYDEN.
[04:48:15] MR. MURPHY, NO.
[04:48:39] MR. WHITEHOUSE, NO.
[04:52:13] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: ON THIS
[04:52:16] VOTE, THE YEAS ARE 52.
[04:52:21] THE NAYS ARE 46. THREE-FIFTHS OF THE SENATORS DULY CHOSEN AND SWORN, NOT
[04:52:25] HAVING VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE,
[04:52:26] THE MOTION IS NOT AGREED TO.
[04:52:31] THE MAJORITY LEADER. MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I
[04:52:33] MOVE TO ADJOURNED PURSUANT TO THE UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER.
[04:52:36] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE QUESTION IS ON THE MOTION.
[04:52:40] ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ALL OPPOS
[04:52:43] ALL OPPOSED SAY NO. THE AYES DO HAVE IT.
[04:52:47] THE MOTION IS AGREED TO. THE
[04:53:55] JUDICIARY, MATTHEW R. BYRNE, OF OHIO, TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO.
[04:53:58] MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, SEND A CLOTURE MOTION TO THE DESK. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL
[04:54:01] THE CLERK: CLOTURE THE UNDERSIGNED SENATORS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 22 OF THE STANDING RULES
[04:54:05] OF THE SENATE, DO HEREBY MOVE TO BRING TO A CLOSE DEBATE ON THE
[04:54:07] NOMINATION OF MATTHEW R. BYRNE,
[04:54:11] OF OHIO, TO BE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO. SIGNED BY 17 SENATORS AS FOLLOWS.
[04:54:14] MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE
[04:54:17] READING OF THE NAMES BE WAIVED. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. THUNE: I ASK UNANIMOUS
[04:54:20] CONSENT THE SENATE RESUME LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
[04:54:24] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[04:54:25] MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I
[04:54:29] MOVE TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR NUMBER -- THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
[04:54:33] WILL REPORT. THE CLERK: MOTION TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR 423, H.R. 3633, AN ACT
[04:54:36] TO PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM OF
[04:54:39] REGULATION FOR THE OFFER AND
[04:54:41] SALE OF DIGITAL COMMODITIES BY
[04:54:45] THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND SO FORTH AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
[04:54:48] MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, SEND A CLOTURE MOTION TO THE DESK. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL
[04:54:52] THE CLERK: CLOTURE MOTION, WE, THE UNDERSIGNED SENATORS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 22 OF THE STANDING RULES
[04:54:54] OF THE SENATE, DO HEREBY MOVE TO
[04:54:59] BRING TO A CLOSE DEBATE ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO CALENDAR
[04:55:01] NUMBER 423, H.R. 3633, AN ACT TO
[04:55:05] PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM OF REGULATION FOR THE OFFER AND
[04:55:08] SALE OF DIGITAL COMMODITIES BY
[04:55:09] THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND THE COMMODITY
[04:55:13] FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION AND SO FORTH AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. SIGNED BY 17 SENATORS AS FOLLOWS.
[04:55:17] MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE READING OF THE NAMES BE WAIVED.
[04:55:21] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. THUNE: I ASK UNANIMOUS
[04:55:22] CONSENT THAT NOTWITHSTANDING
[04:55:27] RULE 22, AT A TIME TO BE DETERMINED BY THE MAJORITY
[04:55:31] LEADER IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER,
[04:55:34] H. CON. RES. BE DISCHARGED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION --
[04:55:37] FURTHER, THAT THERE BE SIX HOURS ONLY TO BE DETERMINED BY THE
[04:55:41] LEADERS THAT FOLLOWING THE USE
[04:55:43] OR YIELDING BACK OF THAT TIME, THE SENATE VOTE ON THE ADOPTION
[04:55:46] OF THE CURRENT RESOLUTION. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[04:55:49] MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
[04:55:52] THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE BE --
[04:56:00] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT,
[04:56:03] NOTWITHSTANDING THE UPCOMING
[04:56:05] ADJOURNMENT OF THE INTERPARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCES
[04:56:09] AUTHORIZED BY LAW BY CONCURRENT ACTION OF THE TWO HOUSES OR BY
[04:56:10] ORDER OF THE SENATE.
[04:56:16] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I
[04:56:19] ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT WHEN THE
[04:56:23] SENATE ADJOURNS ON THE DEATH,
[04:56:35] THAT FOLLOWING THE PRAYER AND PLEDGE, THE JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS BE APPROVED TO DATE, THE MORNING HOUR BE DEEMED
[04:56:38] EXPIRED, THAT THE TIME FOR THE TWO LEADERS BE RESERVED FOR THEIR USE LATER IN THE DAY,
[04:56:42] BUSINESS WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK THEREIN FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES EACH THE SENATE BE IN A
[04:56:44] PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS. THE BYRNE NOMINATION RIPEN.
[04:56:47] AND THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO
[04:56:49] CALENDAR 423, RIPEN AT TUESDAY
[04:56:55] AT 2:15 P.M.
[04:57:00] THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[04:57:02] MR. THUNE: MADAM PRESIDENT, IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO
[04:57:06] COME BEFORE THE SENATE MOBILE
[04:59:30] APP, OR ONLINE AT C-SPAN.ORG.
[04:59:37] ♪
[04:59:56] >> IN YOUR NEW BOOK, REGIME CHANGE, YOU DESCRIBE