Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:00UNDERWAY. AND THE STAKES COULD NOT BE HIGHER.
00:00:03EVERY SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS UP FOR GRABS.
00:00:06ALONG WITH 33 U.S. SENATE RACES, AND THE OUTCOME OF BOTH COULD
00:00:10RESHAPE THE BALANCE OF POWER IN WASHINGTON.
00:00:13VOTERS WILL ALSO DECIDE 36 GUBERNATORIAL CONTESTS.
00:00:17FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO ELECTION NIGHT, FOLLOW CAMPAIGN
00:00:222026 WITH THE C-SPAN NETWORKS. C-SPAN, BRINGING YOU DEMOCRACY
00:00:26UNFILTERED.
00:00:26>> ON THURSDAY, HOUSE DEMOCRAT
00:00:32LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES, REVEREND AL SHARPTON AND OTHERS ADDRESS
00:00:35THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DISCUSS THE
00:00:38CURRENT STATE OF DEMOCRACY, AMONG OTHER ISSUES.
00:00:42WATCH LIVE THURSDAY AT 9:00
00:00:45EASTERN ON C-SPAN2, C-SPAN NOW,
00:00:50OR ONLINE AT C-SPAN.ORG.
00:00:52>> FRIDAY ON CEASEFIRE.
00:00:57A BAYPORT -- A BIPARTISAN DISCUSSION OF THE MIDTERM
00:01:01ELECTIONS FEATURING FORMER COLORADO SENATOR TIM WIRTH AND
00:01:04FORMER CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SHAYS.
00:01:07JOINED BY HOST, DASHA BURNS. THEY WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE
00:01:10CURRENT STATE OF CONGRESS, AND THE IMPACT OF MONEY IN POLITICS.
00:01:13WATCH CEASEFIRE, ONLY ON C-SPAN.
00:01:19>> NEWLY SWORN IN ATTORNEY
00:01:23GENERAL TODD BLANCHE WAS JOINED BY OTHER FEDERAL OFFICIALS IN ANNOUNCING ARRESTS IN THE
00:01:27UNSEALING OF AN INDICTMENT CHARGING 11 INDIVIDUALS WITH
00:01:31FACILITATING AN ALLEGED MERIT -- MARRIAGE FRAUD SCHEME.
00:01:34THE CASE CENTERS ON U.S. SENATOR
00:01:36-- CITIZENS AND CHINESE NATIONALS ATTENDING TO GET GREEN
00:01:39CARDS FOR OTHER FOREIGN NATIONALS. ATTORNEY GENERAL BLANCHE ALSO
00:01:43TOOK QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
00:02:00A.G. BLANCHE: CHARGING 11
00:02:05INDIVIDUALS FOR ALLEGEDLY OVERSEEING AN EXTENSIVE, DECADES
00:02:08LONG MARRIAGE FRAUD SCHEME
00:02:14INVOLVING FRAUD MARRIAGES BETWEEN CHINESE NATIONALS AND
00:02:18UNITED STATES CITIZENS, WITH THE FRAUDULENT APPLICATIONS FOR GREEN CARDS.
00:02:24THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST MARRIAGE FRAUD PROSECUTIONS IN UNITED STATES HISTORY.
00:02:28THE SCHEME WAS NOT A QUICK
00:02:31FLY-BY-NIGHT OPERATION, BUT RATHER A YEARS LONG MULTIMILLION
00:02:33DOLLAR COTTAGE INDUSTRY, TO CRIMINALLY ASSIST PEOPLE WHO
00:02:37LEGALLY COULD NOT OTHERWISE BECOME CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.
00:02:43THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO
00:02:45FACILITATED THE SCHEME WERE ALL
00:02:48NATURALIZED CITIZENS FROM CHINA,
00:02:51AND ONE GREEN HARD -- GREEN CARD HOLDER.
00:02:54THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS
00:02:58AT DHS, TO SECURE THE BORDER AND PROTECT AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.
00:03:01SOMETHING THAT WAS IGNORED DURING THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.
00:03:06NOT ONLY ARE WE PROTECTING OUR
00:03:07PHYSICAL BORDERS FROM UNLAWFUL
00:03:11CROSSINGS, BUT WE ARE ALSO PREVENTING IMMIGRATION FRAUD SCHEMES THAT ARE JUST ANOTHER
00:03:15WAY TO SKIRT THE IMMIGRATION LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
00:03:17AS ALLEGED, SOME OF THE CHARGE
00:03:22DEFENDANTS ACTED AS FACILITATORS , WHO ORCHESTRATED THE MARRIAGE
00:03:24FRAUD SCHEME PAIRING FOREIGN NATIONALS SEEKING IMMIGRATION
00:03:28STATUS WITH UNITED STATES
00:03:32CITIZENS WILLING TO PARTICIPATE
00:03:37AND ENGAGE IN A SHAM MARRIAGE.
00:03:41THEY DEPLOY OFFICIANT'S, -- SOME
00:03:46OF THE DEFENDANTS ACTED AS RECRUITERS, BY FINDING AND
00:03:50RECRUITING UNITED STATES CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHEME, AND OTHER DEFENDANTS
00:03:53ACTING AS OFFICIANT'S,
00:03:55OFFICIATING DOZENS OF THESE ALLEGED FAKE MARRIAGES.
00:04:01THE WAY THAT THIS SCHEME ALLEGEDLY WORKED IS FACILITATORS
00:04:05USED SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER
00:04:08FORMS OF ADVERTISING TO MARK --
00:04:11TO MARKET FRAUDULENT SERVICES TO FOREIGN NATIONALS, PRIMARILY
00:04:15FROM CHINA, AND CHINESE NATIONALS WOULD PAY THESE
00:04:17FACILITATORS AS MUCH AS $100,000
00:04:21FOR ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING A MARRIAGE WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO APPLY FOR A GREEN CARD.
00:04:26THE FACILITATORS ALSO PAY
00:04:28WILLING U.S. CITIZENS AS MUCH AS
00:04:30$30,000 TO ENGAGE IN THE SHAM MARRIAGE WITH THE FOREIGN
00:04:34NATIONAL.
00:04:39DEFENDANTS WOULD STAGE IMAGES OF FAMILIES AND RESTAURANTS TO CREATE THE APPEARANCE OF A
00:04:43LEGITIMATE WEDDING.
00:04:45SOME OF THE -- FACILITATED SHAM
00:04:50MARRIAGES OVERSEAS IN CHINA.
00:04:52AFTER THE MARRIAGES TOOK PLACE,
00:04:56MARRIED COUPLES WOULD VISIT A LOCAL OFFICE AFFILIATED WITH THE SCHEME.
00:05:00SIGNED FORMS FOR SUBMISSION --
00:05:02ADMISSION TO THE U.S., LEARN
00:05:07ABOUT THE INTERVIEW PROCESS TO APPLY FOR A GREEN CARD AND THEN
00:05:10EXECUTE PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS,
00:05:16WHICH WAIVED THEIR RIGHTS TO
00:05:20SHARE IN THE OTHER'S ESTATE UPON
00:05:23DEATH, CHILD SUPPORT AND OTHER CLAIMS AND MARITAL PROPERTY.
00:05:26ONE PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT EVEN PROVIDED -- AND I'M QUOTING FROM
00:05:30THE INDICTMENT, EXCEPT IN THE
00:05:32NAME OF HUSBAND AND WIFE, BOTH PARTIES LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND
00:05:36MUST NOT INTERFERE WITH EACH OTHER.
00:05:41THE FACILITATORS OF THIS SCHEME WOULD PREPARE AND SUBMIT FRAUDULENT GREEN CARD APP YOU
00:05:45LICK IT -- APPLICATIONS AND WORK WITH COUPLES THROUGH THE
00:05:48INTEGRATION PROCESS, SO MANY
00:05:51PHOTOGRAPHS, OPENING JOINT BANK ACCOUNTS, MOBILE PHONE ACCOUNTS,
00:05:54ALL TO OBTAIN GREEN CARDS TO ALLOW THEM TO STAY IN THIS COUNTRY.
00:05:59BUT THAT IS ILLEGAL.
00:06:02THESE CHARGES AND THE INDICTMENTS SHOW HOW FAR PEOPLE WILL GO TO CHEAT OUR IMMIGRATION
00:06:07SYSTEM. GAINING AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AND
00:06:11LEGAL STATUS TO RESIDE IN THIS GREAT NATION IS A SACRED
00:06:15PRIVILEGE. WE WILL ENSURE THAT IT IS ALWAYS
00:06:17DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES AND NATIONAL SECURITY.
00:06:23THESE SCHEMES HAVE REAL COSTS. THEY ROBBED OUR COUNTRY OF ITS
00:06:26ABILITY TO KNOW WHO SHOULD BE
00:06:27AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN AMERICA.
00:06:32THIS DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS, AND I
00:06:37THINK -- OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT
00:06:43OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM AND OUR COUNTRY'S BORDERS ARE AGGRESSIVE
00:06:46AND EXHAUSTIVE.
00:06:50NO MATTER HOW COMPLICATED THE SCAN, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO STOP IT.
00:06:55WE DIRECTED U.S. ATTORNEYS OFFICES AROUND THE COUNTRY, TO
00:06:59WORK WITH DHS, TO PRIORITIZE THE
00:07:01INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF
00:07:07SCHEMES.
00:07:09WE ALSO PRIORITIZED -- WHO HAVE
00:07:14OBTAINED CITIZENSHIP THROUGH FRAUD. OUR LAWYERS HAVE FILED A RECORD NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, MORE THAN
00:07:18120 AT THIS POINT, SINCE JANUARY
00:07:2220, 2025.
00:07:25WE ARE A NATION OF BORDERS AND SOVEREIGNTY.
00:07:28THE GREATNESS OF AMERICA IS ONLY AS STRONG AS OUR WILLINGNESS TO PROTECT IT.
00:07:31I AM PROUD TO BE PART OF THE
00:07:33GOVERNMENT APPROACH, TO BRING
00:07:37DOWN SOPHISTICATED NETWORKS LIKE THIS. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE WORK
00:07:41WE ARE DOING, TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE.
00:07:44WE WILL CONTINUE, AND NOT RELENT IN OUR EFFORTS TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY.
00:07:49I WANT TO THANK THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FOR THEIR
00:07:51WORK IN THIS CASE, AND OUR
00:07:53PARTNERS AT DHS, HOMELAND
00:07:57SECURITY, AND THE FBI, FOR THE TIRELESS WORK IN INVESTIGATING
00:08:00THIS CASE, BRINGING THIS PROSECUTION.
00:08:04I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO
00:08:06OUR NEWLY CONFIRMED UNITED
00:08:09STATES ATTORNEY, JAMIE MCDONALD.
00:08:16MR. MCDONALD: THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
00:08:21I AM THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK.
00:08:24AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LAID OUT, TODAY AN INDICTMENT HAS
00:08:26BEEN UNSEALED, CHARGING 11
00:08:30DEFENDANTS WITH AN EXPANSIVE CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MARRIAGE AND IMMIGRATION FRAUD.
00:08:35AS ALLEGED IN THE INDICTMENT,
00:08:36OVER A DECADE, THE DEFENDANTS AND CO-CONSPIRATORS ORCHESTRATED
00:08:40MORE THAN 1000 SHAM MARRIAGES,
00:08:42DESIGNED TO FRAUDULENTLY OBTAIN LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT
00:08:45STATUS, GREEN CARDS, FOR FOREIGN
00:08:50NATIONALS FROM THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.
00:08:53THE DEFENDANTS ALLEGEDLY RAN A FULL-SERVICE FRAUD SCHEME.
00:08:57CHARGING AS MUCH AS $100,000.
00:09:01THEY RECRUITED U.S. CITIZENS TO ENGAGE IN SHAM MARRIAGES,
00:09:05ARRANGE SHAM WEDDING CEREMONIES COMPLETE WITH ATTENDEES AND PHOTOGRAPHERS.
00:09:11THEY PUT TOGETHER GREEN CARD APPLICATIONS, WHICH THEY
00:09:14SUBMITTED WITH MANUFACTURED EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE
00:09:18APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING STAGED PHOTOGRAPHS AND JOINT ACCOUNTS.
00:09:21THEY COACHED COUPLES BEFORE
00:09:25USCIS INTERVIEWS, AND ONCE A FOREIGN NATIONAL OBTAINED A GREEN CARD, THEY ARRANGED FOR DIVORCE.
00:09:30THE DEFENDANTS ARRESTED TODAY
00:09:33PLAYED VARYING ROLES IN THE SCHEMES.
00:09:40SOME FOUND OR RECRUITED U.S. CITIZENS, TO ENTER INTO SHAM
00:09:43MARRIAGES TO CARRY OUT THE SCHEME.
00:09:46SOME FACILITATED THE FRAUDULENT APPLICATIONS BY LEVERAGING A
00:09:49NETWORK OF MARRIAGE OFFICIANT'S, ATTORNEYS, TAX PREPARERS, AND
00:09:52OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS. THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE
00:09:56DEFENDANTS MADE ENORMOUS SUMS OF MONEY FOR THEMSELVES.
00:10:00WE BELIEVE THIS NETWORK TOOK IN TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER
00:10:04ITS DECADES LONG OPERATION. MAKING IT ONE OF THE LARGEST
00:10:07MARRIAGE FRAUD PROSECUTIONS IN U.S. HISTORY.
00:10:11INVESTIGATIONS OF THIS SCALE REQUIRE EXTRAORDINARY TEAMWORK.
00:10:16THE CHARGES UNSEALED TODAY ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY A COORDINATED
00:10:18LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE,
00:10:21INVOLVING FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL PARTNERS WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR OFFICE.
00:10:27SOMETIMES YOU ASK HOW DID THIS INVESTIGATION COME TOGETHER?
00:10:30THE WAY THIS CASE DEVELOPED WAS
00:10:35REMARKABLE. IT BEGAN WITH A SINGLE COMMUNICATION, THAT OUR OFFICE
00:10:39UNCOVERED IN AN ENTIRELY UNRELATED CASE.
00:10:43ARE PROSECUTORS IDENTIFIED THAT COMMUNICATION, THOUGHT IT COULD
00:10:47BE
00:10:52THEY OBTAINED WARRANT AFTER WARRANT AND FOLLOWED THE FACTS WHERE THEY LEAD.
00:10:56OUR PROSECUTORS AND OUR PARTNERS
00:10:59ANALYZED COMMUNICATIONS, IMMIGRATION FILINGS, FINANCIAL
00:11:01RECORDS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER
00:11:05EVIDENCE AND IDENTIFY THE KEY
00:11:06PARTICIPANTS IN THE SCHEME AND
00:11:09THE MANY, MANY SHAM MARRIAGES THEY BROKERED.
00:11:13OUR PROSECUTORS BUILT AND THEN
00:11:17CHARGED A CASE AIMED AT DISMANTLING THE NETWORK ITSELF AND THAT IS WHAT THE CASE TODAY DOES.
00:11:22THEIR WORK WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE OUTSTANDING
00:11:25CONTRIBUTIONS OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS BUT I WANT
00:11:27TO NOTE THAT WHILE THIS CASE
00:11:31TODAY IS AIMED AT DISMANTLING THE NETWORK, OUR INVESTIGATION
00:11:35INTO OTHER ASPECTS OF IT GOING UP AND DOWN THE CHAIN IS CONTINUING.
00:11:39I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
00:11:43SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE WORKED WITH FOR THEIR INVALUABLE
00:11:46CONTRIBUTIONS. HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS AND IN PARTICULAR, THE HUDSON
00:11:52VALLEY HSI, THE FBI AND ITS
00:11:56WESTCHESTER TASK FORCE, THE U.S.
00:12:01CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES FRAUD DETECTION AND
00:12:02NATIONAL SECURITY DIRECTORATE,
00:12:05THE UNITED STATES ARMY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION, THE
00:12:08WESTCHESTER COUNTY DA'S OFFICE, THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN
00:12:11THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA,
00:12:15HSI, AND JACKSONVILLE. ALL DOING EXTRAORDINARY WORK TO INVESTIGATE AND DISRUPT THE
00:12:19SOPHISTICATED AND EXPANSIVE FRAUDULENT NETWORK WITH REMARKABLE SPEED.
00:12:23I COMMEND OUR PROSECUTORS AND
00:12:26STAFF IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ESPECIALLY IN OUR WHITE PLAINS OFFICE WHICH IS
00:12:30WHERE THIS INVESTIGATION WAS RUN AND WHERE THE PROSECUTION WILL
00:12:33PROCEED FOR THEIR SPEED, CREATIVITY, JUDGMENT, AND
00:12:38DETERMINATION WITH WHICH THEY BUILT THIS CASE.
00:12:40THE DEFENDANTS WILL BE PRESENTED
00:12:44IN THE WHITE PLAINS COURTHOUSE LATER TODAY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THINK IN
00:12:48PARTICULAR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
00:12:50AND HIS OFFICE FOR HIS SUPPORT IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND
00:12:54CONTINUED EFFORTS OF OUR OFFICE AND ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS.
00:12:57THIS CASE SHOWS WHAT COORDINATION, HARDWARE, THE
00:13:01WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT APPROACH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MENTIONED IN
00:13:05CREATIVITY OF OUR NATION'S DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS CAN
00:13:08ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU.
00:13:16>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM THE DEPUTY FOR HOMELAND
00:13:19SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS.
00:13:22TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT DEMONSTRATES THE STRENGTH AND PURPOSE OF HOMELAND SECURITY
00:13:25TASK FORCE, BRINGING TOGETHER
00:13:28FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY,
00:13:30INVESTIGATE, AND DISRUPT COMPLEX
00:13:33TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL NETWORKS
00:13:36THAT CROSS JURISDICTIONS AND EXPLOIT LAWFUL SYSTEMS FOR PROFIT.
00:13:41I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN THE
00:13:45SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND OUR FEDERAL, STATE, AND
00:13:47LOCAL PARTNERS WHOSE OUTSTANDING
00:13:51WORK BROUGHT THIS CASE TO THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE.
00:13:55TODAY, WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE RESULTS OF A BROAD COORDINATED INVESTIGATION LED BY HSI HUDSON
00:13:59VALLEY NEW YORK AND TO AN ALLEGED NATIONWIDE AND
00:14:02INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE FRAUD NETWORK.
00:14:05THE INDICTMENT UNSEALED TODAY CHARGES 11 INDIVIDUALS WITH
00:14:09PARTICIPATING IN A COMPUTER SPEED INVOLVING -- CONSPIRACY
00:14:14INVOLVING GAY MARRIAGES, FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTATION
00:14:17INTENDED TO UNLAWFULLY OBTAIN GOVERNMENT BENEFITS. THE ALLEGED SCHEME OPERATED FOR
00:14:21MORE THAN A DECADE AND INVOLVED
00:14:23COUNTLESS SHAM MARRIAGES AND GENERATED TENS OF MILLIONS OF
00:14:27DOLLARS IN ILLICIT PROCEEDS. THE INVESTIGATION FOCUSED ON A
00:14:31NETWORK THAT ARRANGED SHAM MARRIAGES BETWEEN FOREIGN
00:14:35NATIONALS AND THE UNITED STATES CITIZENS. THESE CRIMES WERE NOT ONLY
00:14:37TAKING PLACE IN NEW YORK, THEY REACHED ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES
00:14:41AS WELL AS OVERSEE THAT HSI IS
00:14:49UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO INVESTIGATE. MARRIAGE FRAUD IS NOT SIMPLY A PAPERWORK ISSUE.
00:14:56WHEN INDIVIDUALS ORGANIZATIONS ALLEGEDLY MANUFACTURE RELATIONSHIPS, FALSIFY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, STAGE
00:15:00EVIDENCE, AND ATTEMPT TO MISLEAD THE FEDERAL PROCESS, THEY UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR
00:15:04SYSTEMS. AND THESE ARE RELIED UPON BY THE PUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT ALIKE. FROM THE EARLIEST STAGES OF THIS
00:15:08INVESTIGATION, HSI HUDSON VALLEY SPECIAL AGENTS FOLLOWED THE
00:15:10EVIDENCE ACROSS CRIMINAL,
00:15:14FINANCIAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE LANES. THE WORK REQUIRED PATIENCE. IT REQUIRED PRECISION AND IT REQUIRED EXTENSIVE COORDINATION.
00:15:17THROUGH THE HOMELAND SECURITY TASK FORCE, INVESTIGATORS WERE ABLE TO SEAMLESSLY SHARE CRITICAL INFORMATION, CONNECT LEADS ACROSS JURISDICTIONS, AND
00:15:21MOBILIZE THE FULL STRENGTH OF OUR COLLECTIVE CAPABILITIES WHEN AND WHERE THEY WERE NEEDED MOST.
00:15:41TOGETHER, HSI AND ITS HOMELAND SECURITY TASK FORCE PARTNERS COMBINED COMPLEX FRAUD
00:15:44EXPERTISE, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES, AND LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
00:15:47TO ADDRESS AN ALLEGED NETWORK
00:15:48THAT REACHED BEYOND ANY ONE
00:15:51JURISDICTION. I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE HSI NEW YORK'S HUDSON VALLEY OFFICE FOR ITS LEADERSHIP IN
00:15:55THIS INVESTIGATION, ALONG WITH
00:15:58THE FBI, CIS, ATF, ARMY, CID, AND MANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT
00:16:03PARTNERS.
00:16:10TODAY'S INDICTMENT REPRESENTS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS.
00:16:13HSI WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SEEK TO PROFIT FROM FRAUD, DECEPTION,
00:16:17AND THE EXPLOITATION OF LAWFUL
00:16:18GOVERNMENT PROCESSES.
00:16:27WE WILL DO SO PROFESSIONALLY, METICULOUSLY, AND IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH PROSECUTORS AND
00:16:30LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AT
00:16:34EVERY LEVEL OF THE US GOVERNMENT.
00:16:37I WANT TO THANK THE SPECIAL AGENTS OF HSI, OUR TASK FORCE
00:16:40OFFICERS, ANALYSTS, PROSECUTORS, AND EVERY PARTNER AGENCY THAT
00:16:43CONTRIBUTED TO THIS INVESTIGATION.
00:16:46THEIR, THEIR WORK REFLECTS THE
00:16:47BEST OF COORDINATED LAW
00:16:51ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES.
00:16:54THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANKS EVERYBODY.
00:16:57WE'LL TAKE A COUPLE OF
00:16:59QUESTIONS, DAVID.
00:17:03>> -- WANTED TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES TO SPY FOR CHINA.
00:17:08IS THERE AN ESPIONAGE ASPECT TO THIS? >> NOT AS ALLEGED IN THE INDICTMENT, NO, I MEAN, I THINK
00:17:11THAT THAT AS THE US ATTORNEY MENTIONED, THIS INVESTIGATION, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT GIVEN THE NUMBERS AND WHAT WE DESCRIBED
00:17:14TODAY, IS NOT OVER.
00:17:18SO IF THERE'S THERE'S MORE TO COME IN THAT SPACE OR ANYWHERE
00:17:22ELSE, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT IT, BUT
00:17:27NOT AS ALLEGED IN THE INDICTMENT. WELL, NO, I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE.
00:17:30>> AS THESE, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
00:17:33RECEIVES A REFERRAL FROM
00:17:34-- >> WELL, NO, I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE.
00:17:38AS THESE, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE RECEIVES A REFERRAL FROM CONGRESS, THERE'S A PROCESS,
00:17:41THERE'S A, THERE'S A PROCESS OF
00:17:49HOW WE TAKE IT IN AND HOW WE INVESTIGATE IT.
00:17:53BUT ANY UPDATE THAT I WOULD
00:17:54EXPECT TO COME FROM THIS
00:18:03DEPARTMENT WOULD BE IF THERE'S ULTIMATELY A DECISION MADE, AND THAT CERTAINLY WON'T BE ANYTIME SOON. WHAT, WHAT ABOUT THE REFLECTIVE?
00:18:07>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WHAT YOU MEAN BY THE WHITE HOUSE HAS
00:18:10ASKED US TO DO THAT, BUT NO, I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT.
00:18:12I THINK THERE'S BEEN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS AND SOURCE-BASED COMMENTS ABOUT
00:18:17WHAT, IF ANYTHING'S HAPPENING WITH THAT CASE. THE JUDGE RULED IN THAT CASE, OR
00:18:20WE'RE WAITING FOR THE RULING, AND I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE, NO.
00:18:24UM, WE'VE LEARNED THAT HAS
00:18:27UNSEALED A CASE AGAINST THE, UM, THE FORMER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE SOUTHERN POVERTY
00:18:31LAW CENTER.
00:18:35CAN YOU PLEASE SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED AS PART OF THAT INVESTIGATION AND IF WE SHOULD EXPECT MORE
00:18:38CHARGES? >> SO I'M NOT, SO YES, TODAY MY
00:18:42UNDERSTANDING IS TODAY THERE WAS, THERE WAS AN ARREST MADE
00:18:46AND THERE IS A NEW INDICTMENT THAT INCLUDES THE FORMER CFO OF SPLC.
00:18:50I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT
00:19:01WHETHER WE'VE SAID FROM THE
00:19:05BEGINNING, EVERYBODY, NOT JUST ME BUT ANYBODY WHO'S TALKED ABOUT THIS CASE, LIKE VIRTUALLY
00:19:09EVERY CRIMINAL CASE, THE FACT THAT AN INDICTMENT IS RETURNED
00:19:11DOESN'T.
00:19:14AND THE INVESTIGATION. IT'S JUST PART OF THE
00:19:17INVESTIGATION IN MOST CASES, WHICH IS CERTAINLY TRUE IN THIS
00:19:21CASE, I THINK AS ALLEGED IN THE INDICTMENT, THIS INDIVIDUAL
00:19:24PARTICIPATED IN THE SCHEME AS
00:19:28ALLEGED.
00:19:29I BELIEVE SHE WAS PART OF THE
00:19:41EFFORT TO OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS AND
00:19:43COMPLETE FICTITIOUS COMPANIES'
00:19:47NAMES AND MAKE PAYMENTS TO
00:19:55INDIVIDUALS FOR REASONS THAT
00:19:56WERE NOT.
00:20:01THEY WERE NOT ACCURATE AS DESCRIBED, BUT I DON'T HAVE, I THINK THE INDICTMENT WAS UNSEALED THIS MORNING.
00:20:04I DON'T HAVE, OR I BELIEVE IT WAS UNSEALED THIS MORNING. I THINK THE ARREST WAS THIS MORNING. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY BEYOND THAT EXCEPT TO SAY THAT
00:20:08THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID WOULD HAPPEN IN A CASE LIKE THIS, WHICH IS THAT OUR INVESTIGATORS AND THE US ATTORNEYS AND THE AGENTS WORKING THE CASE WILL KEEP ON WORKING IT
00:20:12EVEN AFTER THE INITIAL INDICTMENT. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID THAT HE'S EXPLORING FEDERAL OPTIONS AGAINST NEW YORK CITY'S SECOND HOME TAX.
00:20:15IS THE DOJ EXPLORING LEGAL OPTIONS TO COUNTER THAT TAX RIGHT NOW? >> I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ANY
00:20:19COMMENT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO EXPLORE LEGAL OPTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THAT TAX. I THINK THAT'S A COMBINATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND
00:20:23POTENTIALLY OTHER AGENCIES THAT WOULD LOOK INTO WHAT TO DO. THE PRESIDENT'S SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT HIS VIEWS OF IT, AND WE STAND. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS
00:20:27FILED CIVIL LAWSUITS AGAINST CITIES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHERE APPROPRIATE, BUT WE HAVEN'T FILED A LAWSUIT YET, AND
00:20:30I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON WHAT WE'RE DOING AROUND THAT. YES. ABOUT UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
00:20:34OH, THANK YOU. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN
00:20:36INVESTING A LOT OF RESOURCES IN
00:20:40COMBATING FRAUD ON TAXPAYER PROGRAMS, IN ADDITION TO CASES THAT TARGET BENEFICIARIES AND
00:20:43PROVIDERS WHO FILE FRAUDULENT
00:20:44CLAIMS.
00:20:53CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE THE JUSTICE
00:20:54DEPARTMENT PURSUE STATE
00:20:58OFFICIALS WHO HAVE BEEN AWARE OF
00:21:01EXTENSIVE FRAUD BUT HAVE FAILED
00:21:06TO STOP IT?
00:21:12WELL, SO WE'VE TALKED EXTENSIVELY, AS HAS THE VICE
00:21:16PRESIDENT OF THE TASK FORCE, THAT WE VERY MUCH BELIEVE THAT
00:21:20ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE A
00:21:24MASSIVE FRAUD PROBLEM AND A MASSIVE ISSUE OF PEOPLE STEALING FROM TAXPAYER MONEY IS BECAUSE STATE OFFICIALS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB IN MAKING SURE THAT
00:21:28THERE'S APPROPRIATE CHECKS IN PLACE TO STOP THE FRAUD. NOW THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STATE EMPLOYEE OR STATE OFFICIAL NOT DOING THEIR JOB AND COMMITTING A CRIME.
00:21:32AND SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING ADMINISTERED BY THE STATES
00:21:35AND WE SEE ABSOLUTELY NO EFFORT
00:21:49TO DO ANYTHING TO POLICE WHO'S RECEIVING THE MONEY, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE OF COURSE WILL
00:21:53INVESTIGATE, BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHEN WHAT WHETHER WE WILL ULTIMATELY CHARGE AN
00:21:56INDIVIDUAL. WITH A CRIME, IF WE LEARN THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS COMMITTED A
00:22:00CRIME, WHETHER IT'S A
00:22:05PARTICIPANT IN THE SCHEME, A LEADER, OR A CITY OFFICIAL OR A
00:22:10CITY LEADER, YES, WE WILL ABSOLUTELY INDICT AND PROSECUTE THAT PERSON, WHICH IS WHAT WE WOULD DO IN ANY CASE. BUT I DO THINK THAT AS THE VICE
00:22:14PRESIDENT HAS TALKED ABOUT REPEATEDLY, ONE OF THE WAKE UP CALLS WE HOPE GOVERNORS AND CITY OFFICIALS WILL TAKE FROM WHAT
00:22:16WE'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS, 9 MONTHS IS TO REALIZE THAT THEY NEED TO PUT THIS IS
00:22:20MONEY, THIS IS TAXPAYER MONEY, THE GENEROSITY OF THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER, AND SO THEY NEED TO DO
00:22:22THEIR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT
00:22:35THEY ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE, THAT THE PEOPLE APPLYING FOR THESE BENEFITS ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE THEM.
00:22:38BUT, BUT, BUT IF WE LEARN THAT THEY'RE NOT ONLY YOU KNOW,
00:22:41CLOSING THEIR EYES AND LETTING
00:22:44IT HAPPEN, BUT AFFIRMATIVELY
00:22:55HELPING IN A CRIMINAL WAY, WE'LL DEFINITELY MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
00:22:57>> IT'S BEEN A WHILE NOW SINCE
00:23:01VICE PRESIDENT VANCE REFERRED THE TOP DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP OF MINNESOTA TO DOJ FOR THIS TYPE OF INVESTIGATION. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE STATUS OF
00:23:04WHERE THAT STANDS? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'VE OPENED ON OR YOU INTEND TO, OR CAN YOU
00:23:08JUST KIND OF JUST, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD THAT END?
00:23:11>> WE'VE SPENT A TON OF
00:23:17RESOURCES AND WE CONTINUE TO
00:23:21SPEND A TON OF RESOURCES IN
00:23:22MINNEAPOLIS COMBATING FRAUD, AND
00:23:28THAT INCLUDES A VERY INTENSE
00:23:45LOOK AT THE LEADERSHIP AND THE PROGRAMS AND WHO'S ADMINISTERING THEM. BUT BEYOND, AND THE GOVERNOR KNOWS THAT AND EVERYBODY KNOWS
00:23:49THAT AND THAT SHOULD BE THE CASE. THAT'S WHAT EVERY SINGLE PERSON SHOULD EXPECT US TO DO AS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
00:23:53SO, BUT I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE OR COMMENT ON HOW THAT'S PROGRESSING BEYOND THE, BEYOND THE FACT THAT YES, WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES SPENDING THERE.
00:23:57>> YES, ATTORNEY GENERAL, THIS IS EITHER FOR YOU OR FOR THE US ATTORNEY. THERE'S A HEARING SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY IN THE LUIGI MANGIONE
00:24:01CASE, AND THE QUESTION IS WHETHER DOES THIS INDICATE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PLEA IN THE OFFING IN THAT CASE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN UPDATE
00:24:05US ON THAT ISSUE? >> YEAH, GO AHEAD. >> THERE THERE'S A CONFERENCE
00:24:09SCHEDULED FOR 11 A.M. ON FRIDAY, UM, AND THAT, THAT, THAT'S ALL WE CAN SAY AT THIS
00:24:13TIME. I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT WERE THE COMMON THEMES HERE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE AMERICANS THAT WERE TARGETED IN THIS, IF YOU CAN CLARIFY HOW THIS WAS, YOU KNOW,
00:24:17MAYBE DISCOVERED AND HOW THESE
00:24:17PEOPLE WERE FOUND TO TAKE PART
00:24:22IN THIS.
00:24:25IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
00:24:41I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE WAS A COMMON THEME WITH RESPECT TO THE
00:24:44AMERICANS.
00:24:45I THINK THERE WERE COMMON THEMES
00:24:48IN RESPECT TO THE WAYS THAT THEY
00:24:52WERE RECRUITED.
00:25:02THEY WERE RECRUITED THROUGH VARIOUS NETWORKS, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE'VE CHARGED TODAY, SOME OF THEM WERE RECRUITERS.
00:25:05THEY WERE OUT TRYING TO IDENTIFY PEOPLE WHO WOULD SERVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THESE SHAM MARRIAGES. THEY THEN USED THEIR OWN NETWORKS TO TRY TO RECRUIT
00:25:09ADDITIONAL PEOPLE. A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF IT WAS DONE THROUGH VARIOUS METHODS OF COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISEMENTS THAT WERE
00:25:13SORT OF VEILED WHERE THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN APPARENT ON THEIR FACE THAT THEY WERE RECRUITING US CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE SHAM MARRIAGES, BUT THAT
00:25:16COULD LEAD TO THE INITIAL DISCUSSION AND THEN IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS THEY WERE, THEY WERE RECRUITED TO BE PART OF THE, TO BE PART OF THE SCHEME.
00:25:20>> ALEX. >> AND ONE ON THIS CASE, JUST ON THE NUMBER OF MARRIAGES, THE
00:25:241000 NUMBER, I MEAN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THE GREEN CARDS? IS THERE A PROCESS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ULTIMATELY HAVE
00:25:28THEIR GREEN CARDS REVOKED AND THEN ON A SEPARATE QUESTION AFTERWARDS IF I CAN, SURE, SO IT
00:25:30DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
00:25:34SO THIS SCHEME STARTED IN 2016,
00:25:35ENDED NOW.
00:25:40WE JUST BROUGHT IT DOWN AND SO DEPENDING ON WHERE A CRIMINAL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE, WHERE THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS. OF THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS.
00:25:43SOME, SOME OF THEM WILL BE
00:25:54EARLIER ON. SOME OF THEM ALREADY HAVE THEIR GREEN CARD. SOME OF THEM MAY ACTUALLY ALREADY BE CITIZENS.
00:25:58SO DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE, YES, THAT'S PART OF THE INVESTIGATION THAT WE'RE DOING NOW, AND THERE'S A LOT OF WORK. THERE'S THOUSANDS OF MARRIAGES
00:26:01THAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO AND SO I
00:26:02EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE MORE
00:26:06WORK, WHETHER THAT'S CIVIL LIKE
00:26:08YOU JUST ASKED WHERE YOU'RE
00:26:19PULLING THEIR THEIR IMMIGRATION
00:26:21STATUS AND DEPORTING THEM OR
00:26:25CRIMINAL DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE PROOF THAT WE HAVE EXACTLY BUT THAT'S A THAT'S A BIG EFFORT THAT WE'RE
00:26:29TAKING THAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING NOW AND I THINK THAT IT'S HARD TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH EVERY SINGLE SHAM MARRIAGE
00:26:33BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON THE
00:26:34EVIDENCE AND THE FACTORS.
00:26:41JUST ON A FOLLOW UP, THE PRESIDENT HAS NEVER GONE AS FAR AS YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT THE
00:26:44ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND IS DEAD. NOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN CONFIRMED,
00:26:47YOU KNOW, NARROWLY BECAUSE
00:26:49ARGUABLY OF THAT ANTI-WEAPONS
00:26:53WEAPONIZATION FUND, I'M JUST THE
00:26:57PRESIDENT SAID THIS WEEK HE'D
00:27:02LEAVE IT UP TO YOU.
00:27:06WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER? IS IT DEAD AND IS IT EVER GOING TO COME BACK? WELL, SO I QUIBBLE WITH THAT
00:27:10BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT SAID IN
00:27:14THE CABINET MEETING THAT IT'S
00:27:18DEAD. HE'S ALSO SAID THAT HE LIKES IT, BUT HE HAS ALSO SAID IT'S DEAD. NOW, AS FOR ME, AND I KEEP ON SAYING THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
00:27:22BUT I'M HAPPY TO SAY IT ONE MORE
00:27:23TIME.
00:27:28I HAVE TESTIFIED UNDER OATH THAT IT'S DEAD.
00:27:31I HAVE TESTIFIED IN FRONT OF THE
00:27:34HOUSE WHERE I WASN'T UNDER OATH WHERE I SAID IT WAS DEAD.
00:27:37I HAVE ANSWERED QUESTIONS AFTER MY HEARING WHERE I SAID THAT IT WAS DEAD.
00:27:41I HAVE RESCINDED THE ORDER THAT
00:27:43THAT SET UP THE WEAPONIZATION FUND, WHICH MEANS THAT IT DOES
00:27:46NOT EXIST. WE WE'VE SAID REPEATEDLY THERE
00:27:50WERE NEVER COMMISSIONERS. THERE WAS NEVER ANY MONEY WENT
00:27:53WENT ANYWHERE, SO I'M NOT SURE
00:27:58HOW I CAN FURTHER SAY THAT THE ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND DOESN'T
00:28:01EXIST OR WE USE THE WORD DEAD.
00:28:02BUT IF ANYBODY HAS ANY IDEAS, WE
00:28:08ALSO HAVE SAID UNDER OATH THAT IF CONGRESS WOULD LIKE TO TO TO MAKE IT A LAW. WE WOULD SUPPORT THAT, AS WOULD THE WHITE HOUSE. SO I'M NOT SURE.
00:28:12I GET THAT THIS IS A SUPER FUN STORY TO NOT LET DIE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT THAT THAT WRITES THAT YES, THE PRESIDENT FEELS VERY
00:28:16STRONGLY, AS DO I, THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE VICTIMS OF A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT WAS
00:28:20ABSOLUTELY WEAPONIZED, AND HE FEELS VERY STRONGLY.
00:28:23THAT HE WOULD WANT TO MAKE THEM WHOLE, AS DO I, BUT IT WILL NOT
00:28:25BE THROUGH THE
00:28:28ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND, WHICH AGAIN WAS NEVER SET UP AND
00:28:31NOTHING HAS HAPPENED WITH IT. BUT THANKS ALEX SARAH. >> SORRY, I'M SHORT.
00:28:35I HAVE AN ON TOPIC AND AN OFF TOPIC. ON TOPIC, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT SDNY IN PARTICULAR ACTUALLY HAS DONE A LOT OF INVESTIGATIONS
00:28:39OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS INTO, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO WERE HARASSED BY CHINA, WHO ARE POLITICAL DISSIDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO ESCAPE OPPRESSION.
00:28:42SO I'M CURIOUS IF ANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THESE 1000 MARRIAGES WERE MAYBE IN THAT POSITION WHERE THEY WERE TRYING TO GET COVER, YOU KNOW, TO PROTECT
00:28:46THEMSELVES FROM YOU KNOW, BEING HARASSED BY CHINA, THAT'S MY ON
00:28:47TOPIC QUESTION.
00:28:53>> SO I THINK, I THINK, AND
00:28:55JAMIE CAN SPEAK MORE TO THIS IF
00:28:58HE CHOOSES, BUT IT'S HARD TO
00:29:02LABEL A PARTICULAR MARRIAGE AND A PARTICULAR REASON OR WHY IT HAPPENED. YOU'RE RIGHT, SOUTHERN AND
00:29:06EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK HAVE HAD A LOT OF CASES IN THAT SPACE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
00:29:09WHEN I WILL ADD THOUGH THAT IF, IF THERE IS A CHINESE NATIONAL NATIONAL WHO FEELS LIKE THEY'RE
00:29:12BEING HARASSED, THEY HAVE OTHER
00:29:13WAYS TO REMEDY THAT BESIDES
00:29:18ENTERING INTO A SHAM MARRIAGE,
00:29:20RIGHT?
00:29:25YOU CAN'T JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING HARASSED DOESN'T GIVE YOU
00:29:28THE RIGHT TO GO COMMIT A CRIME.
00:29:31SO BUT YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT'S
00:29:37FAIR TO TRY TO SAY SOME PERCENTAGE OR SOME NUMBER MAY HAVE SEPARATELY CLAIMED THAT THEY WERE HARASSED, SO.
00:29:40>> MY OFF TOPIC, I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THERE WERE ANY UPDATES.
00:29:44YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HAVING PRIMARIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND AS USUAL, THE CIVIL RIGHTS
00:29:47DIVISION HAS BEEN SENDING MONITORS IN SOME OF THESE PLACES TO SORT OF KEEP TABS ON THINGS.
00:29:51UM, IN THE PAST THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, THE HEAD OF THE CIVIL
00:29:54RIGHTS DIVISION HAS SAID SOME OF THESE AREAS, SOME OF THESE COUNTIES HAVE HAD IRREGULARITIES, SHE SAID IN THE PAST.
00:29:57WHAT, WHAT'S BEEN THE FEEDBACK SO FAR? HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU SPOKEN? WITH PEOPLE IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS
00:30:00-- HAVE YOU SPOKEN WITH PEOPLE
00:30:04IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE OBSERVING IN THESE PRIMARIES AND IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE RAISED AS THEY'VE BEEN OBSERVING
00:30:07POLLING PLACES. SO I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE -- >> SO I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE
00:30:11NECESSARILY TODAY TO SAY HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT YES, THAT
00:30:12IS A THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE
00:30:21DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AS EVERY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DOES, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE APPROPRIATELY MONITORING BETWEEN NOW AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S
00:30:25PRIMARIES, BUT UP THROUGH THE ELECTION AND AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
00:30:28I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S GOING, THERE'S NOT ANYTHING SECRETIVE ABOUT THIS PROCESS. THERE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE.
00:30:32I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CIVIL
00:30:34RIGHTS DIVISION IS DOING SOMETHING, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO
00:30:37IT IN SECRET.
00:30:39YOU'LL, YOU'LL KNOW ABOUT IT
00:30:42BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THE
00:30:44AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT TO MAKE
00:30:48SURE THAT WE HAVE ELECTIONS THAT
00:30:52ARE THAT ARE FAIR AND RUN THE
00:30:55RIGHT WAY.
00:30:58SO ALL RIGHT, I'LL TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION.
00:31:02I GOT IT. GO AHEAD.
00:31:05NEXT WEEK THERE'S A DEADLINE IN
00:31:07THE COMEY CASE.
00:31:09THE DEFENSE HAS SAID THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT WAS GATHERED
00:31:12BY THE GOVERNMENT THAT SUGGESTED
00:31:15THERE WERE ALTERNATIVE REASONS,
00:31:19YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE RESTAURANT NARRATIVE OF '86. HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU TODAY THAT THAT CASE WILL SURVIVE TO TRIAL AND ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A CONVICTION?
00:31:23>> SO I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON A DEFENSE FILING IN ANY CASE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT FAIR TO ANY
00:31:27OF THE PARTIES INVOLVED, AND SO I DON'T HAVE A COMMENT ON THE WAY THAT EVERY CASE WORKS IN THIS COUNTRY IS THAT WHEN EVERY INDICTED CASE, IT MEANS A GRAND
00:31:31JURY HAS RETURNED AN INDICTMENT. THAT MEANS THAT A GRAND JURY FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE THAT A
00:31:34CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED. AND AND THERE'S A TRIAL AND THERE'S A LOT OF CASES AS A
00:31:37PROSECUTOR THAT I FELT WERE DEFINITELY GOING TO GET
00:31:40CONVICTIONS AND THAT DIDN'T OR THAT IT WAS A TOUGH TOUGH CONVICTION.
00:31:44THERE'S CASES THAT WERE REALLY, REALLY TOUGH THAT GOT CONVICTIONS AND SO I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO ACT LIKE I HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL AND PREDICT WHAT'S
00:31:47GOING TO HAPPEN. UM, WITH, WITH THAT CASE AT TRIAL, BUT IT'S ENOUGH TO SAY THAT THAT THESE, THIS WAS A CASE
00:31:50THAT WAS RETURNED BY A GRAND
00:31:54JURY.
00:31:58IT'S NOT OUT OF DC. IT'S OUT OF A DISTRICT IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND, AND WE'LL, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
00:32:01ALL RIGHT, THANKS A LOT, EVERYBODY. HAVE A GOOD DAY. [CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2026]
00:32:05[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY. VISIT NCICAP.ORG]
00:32:16>> YOU ARE WATCHING C-SPAN, DEMOCRACY UNFILTERED.
00:32:23C-SPAN BRINGS YOU DEMOCRACY UNFILTERED IN REAL TIME. DEMOCRACY DOES NOT TAKE SIDES
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00:32:52JUST THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS PRESENTED IN FULL WITHOUT
00:32:55INTERRUPTION SO YON THE DEBATES AND HEAR EVERY WORD
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00:33:21>> FRIDAY ON C-SPAN'S CEASE-FIRE, A BIPARTISAN
00:33:25DISCUSSION ON THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS FEATURING DEMOCRATIC
00:33:27SENATOR TIM AND FORMER
00:33:31CONNECTICUT REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SHADES, JOINED BY A POLITICAL PLAYBOOK
00:33:34CO-AUTHOR AND CEASE-FIRE HOST DASHA BURNS AND THEY WILL ALSO
00:33:37DISCUSS THE CURRENT STATE OF CONGRESS AND THE IMPACT OF MONEY IN POLITICS.
00:33:41WATCH CEASE-FIRE, FRIDAY AT 7:00 P.M. AND 10:00 P.M. EASTERN
00:33:45PACIFIC ONLY ON C-SPAN.
00:33:49>> PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ANNOUNCED
00:33:49TO BE A SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WHITE
00:33:53HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY AND KAROLINE LEAVITT WILL BE LEAVING.
00:33:55HIS POST READS IN PART, OUR WONDERFUL WHITE HOUSE PRESS
00:33:59SECRETARY AND ONE OF MY MOST TRUSTED AIDES, KAROLINE LEAVITT, WILL BE DEPARTING HER ROLE AT
00:34:02THE END OF THE MONTH SO SHE CAN SPEND MORE TIME WITH HER BEAUTIFUL YOUNG CHILDREN AND
00:34:07FAMILY, A DECISION I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT.
00:34:11HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT KAROLINE
00:34:14LEAVITT, WHO HAS SERVED AS PRESS SECRETARY, WILL BE ONE OF HIS
00:34:17TOP ADVISERS FOLLOWING HER DEPARTURE.
00:34:20SHE LATER CONFIRMED THAT NEWS IN A POST, SAYING IN PART THAT IT
00:34:24WAS THE HONOR OF A LOT -- OF A LIFETIME TO SERVE AS PRESS SECRETARY.
00:34:27SHE ALSO CITED BEING A MOTHER AND WELCOMING A NEW BABY AS KEY
00:34:31REASONS FOR HER DECISION. A SUCCESSOR HAS YET TO BE NAMED BY THE WHITE HOUSE.
00:34:40A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH NEW YORK
00:34:41CITY MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI, NEW
00:34:44YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES, AND THE STATE'S GOVERNOR, KATHY HOCHUL, ON ICE
00:34:48OPERATIONS. THEY ANNOUNCE NEW LEGISLATIVE
00:34:50EFFORTS AIMED AT ELIMINATING LAW ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION WITH ICE AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN
00:34:55IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS. THIS IS JUST OVER 45 MINUTES.