Rep. Tom Cotton: Russia bounty intel 'selectively leaked' to help Biden campaign

REPUBLICAN SENATOR TOM COTTON OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY AND INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES JOINS ME NOW. GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING, GOOD TO BE ON WITH YOU. >> Harris: SO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS IF DEMOCRATS ACTUALLY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET COURT PACKING PASSED? AND THOSE DEMOCRATS WHO WERE PUSHING AGAINST IT, WHAT IS THE POLITICAL PLAY HERE FOR THEM? >> THE WHOLE POINT IS THE DEMOCRATIC POWER GRAB. THEY’RE ANGRY THEY DON’T HAVE A LIBERAL MAJORITY ON THE SUPREME COURT AND THEY WANT TO ADD FOUR JUSTICES, SHOCKING THE EXACT NUMBER THEY NEED TO GET DEMOCRATIC APPOINTED JUSTICES INTO A MAJORITY ON THE COURT. THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PASS THIS IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW IN PART BECAUSE THE SENATE IS EVENLY DIVIDED. PART OF THIS THE DEMOCRATS TRYING TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE. IF THEY WIN LARGER MAJORITIES AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE THEY’LL PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THEIR COLLEAGUES TO VOTE FOR THIS AND ULTIMATELY TO PACK THE COURT. YOU’VE SEEN THAT SOME FROM THE OBAMA ERA TO THE BIDEN ERA. THE CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR IT WAS THE CONVENTIONAL POSITION FOR ALL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES TO INCLUDE JOE BIDEN. THAT’S WHY IT’S ESSENTIAL WE DENOUNCE IT TODAY AS AN ILLEGITIMATE ATTACK ON THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF THIS COUNTRY, THE RULE OF LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT. AND THAT WE WIN BACK THE HOUSE AND SENATE NEXT YEAR TO MAKE SURE IT HAS NO CHANCE OF HAPPENING. >> Harris: AS YOU READ THIS AND YOU START TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN WE SAW SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI, WE CARRIED IT LIVE HERE ON "THE FAULKNER FOCUS" SIMPLY SAY SHE HAS NO INTENTION AT THIS POINT OF TAKING ANYTHING LIKE THIS TO THE FLOOR. I MEAN THAT TOOK SOME OF THE WIND OUT OF THE SAILS A FEW MINUTES LATER DEMOCRATS WERE ANNOUNCING THE BILL. SO AGAIN IS THIS INTIMIDATION TO THE COURT FROM DEMOCRATS? OH, THEY MAY NOT GET THEIR WAY BUT CAN THEY INTIMIDATE THE COURT BY PRETENDING THAT THEY MIGHT? >> THAT’S ANOTHER EFFORT BY THE DEMOCRATS AS WELL. SOMETHING THEY’VE DONE IN THE PAST. CHUCK SCHUMER LAST YEAR STOOD ON THE STEPS OF THE SUPREME COURT AND SAID JUSTICES BY NAME WOULD REAP THE WHIRLWIND IF THEY RULED IN A WAY HE DIDN’T FAVOR. THIS IS A LONG-TERM EFFORT TO NOT CHANGE THE BALANCE OF OPINION TO ULTIMATELY PACK THE COURT BUT TRY TO INTIMIDATE JUSTICES ON THE SUPREME COURT TO HEDGE AND TRIM AND TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE LAW AND FACTS OF EACH CASE. >> Harris: I JUST REMEMBER SOME INCLUDING JOE BIDEN PUSHING AGAINST THAT MANEUVER THAT FDR WAS ACCUSED OF AND RUTH BADER GINSBERG SAID NINE ARE ENOUGH. PEOPLE HAVE FR* THE LEFT SAID IT WOULD BE A DANGEROUS IDEA. I WONDER WHAT HAS CHANGED FOR THEM? >> WHAT’S CHANGED THEY’RE DRUNK WITH POWER AND THEY’LL DO NOTHING TO SEIZE MORE CONTROL AND POWER OVER THE LIVES OF AMERICANS. YOU’RE RIGHT JOE BIDEN HAS TAKEN THE POSITION WE SHOULDN’T EXPAND THE COURT. THE LATE JUSTICE GINSBERG AND BREYER ANOTHER LIBERAL ON THE COURT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO GAVE A SPEECH TO SAY WE SHOULDN’T EXPAND THE COURT. THE DEMOCRATIC POLITICIANS IN CONGRESS SEE A CENTER RIGHT MAJORITY ON THE COURT AND WORRY THAT MAJORITY MIGHT UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AS IT IS WRITTEN AND CONSTRAIN THEIR POWER OR THE POWER OF DEMOCRATIC POWERS TO LOCK DOWN THEIR ECONOMIES TO THE PREJUDICE OF SAY PEOPLE WHO ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO HAVE A BIBLE STUDY IN THEIR HOME. IT IS THE ULTIMATE POWER GRAB, IT IS DANGEROUS AND THREAT ENS TO UNDERMINE THE RULE OF LAW IN AMERICA. >> Harris: THAT’S INTERESTING. SO YOU SEE A BIT OF MISSION CREEP WITH THIS AMONG DEMOCRATS. IT WOULD CREEP INTO EVERY AVENUE THEY WOULD WANT TO TAKE MORE PROGRESSIVE. JACKIE MENTIONED THIS AND WE DO WANT TO GET TO THAT. REPUBLICANS TROLLING SENATOR MARKEY A BIT FOR THAT WE NEED NINE PHOTO BACK IN 2016 AND HERE ARE A FEW MORE. SENATOR MARSHA BLACKBURN TWEETING IS THIS YOU? KEN BUCK ON WITH ME YESTERDAY POSTING, I THOUGHT WE ONLY NEEDED NINE. IT IS HARD TO TAKE THOSE PICTURES AWAY. WE’LL MOVE TO THE NEXT TOPIC. SENATOR. PRESIDENT BIDEN DECLARING THE THREAT FROM RUSSIA A NATIONAL EMERGENCY ISSUING SANCTIONS AGAINST THE COUNTRY OVER ITS HACKING AND ELECTION MEDDLING AND RECENTLY CALLED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN A KILLER. DESPITE ALL OF THAT THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE STILL WANTS TO LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN FOR DIALOGUE. LET’S WATCH AND I GET YOUR REACTION ON THE FLIP. >> President Biden: WE COULD HAVE GONE FURTHER BUT I CHOSE NOT TO DO SO. I CHOSE TO BE PROPORTIONATE. WHEN I SPOKE TO PRESIDENT PUTIN I EXPRESSED MY BELIEF THAT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO OF US PERSONALLY AND DIRECTLY WAS TO BE ESSENTIAL IN MOVING FORWARD TO A MORE EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP AND HE AGREED ON THAT POINT. TO THAT END, I PROPOSED THAT WE MEET IN PERSON THIS SUMMER IN EUROPE FOR A SUMMIT TO ADDRESS A RANGE OF ISSUES FACING BOTH OF OUR COUNTRIES. >> Harris: RUSSIA HAS RESPONDED WITH THIS. SUCH AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR WILL UNDOUBTEDLY TRIGGER A RETALIATION. WASHINGTON SHOULD REALIZE IT WILL HAVE TO PAY A PRICE FOR THE DEGRADATION OF THE BILATERAL TIES. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, SENATOR? >> WELL, IT MEANS JOE BIDEN IN THAT VERY SPEECH ANNOUNCED HE WAS EMOTION EMPLOYING HALF MEASURES. HE COULD HAVE GONE FARTHER BUT HE DIDN’T. IF HE REALLY WANTED TO PUNISH RUSSIA FOR THE SOLAR WINDS HACK AND SO MANY OF OUR GOVERNMENTS AND COMPANIES IF HE WANTED TO SEND A MESSAGE HE WOULD HAVE SHUT DOWN RUSSIA’S PIPELINE TO GERMANY. IN THE FINAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT. THE MOST IMPORTANT FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVE IN RUSSIA NOW TO GET THE PIPELINE FINISHED SO THEY CAN SELL GAS TO GERMANY AND IT IS TERRIBLE GERMANY IS DOING THIS TO OUR NATO ALLIES IN EASTERN EUROPE. CONGRESS HAS GIVEN THE ADMINISTRATION THE TOOLS ON THE BOOKS TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON THE RUSSIAN FIRMS FINISHING THE PIPELINE AND EUROPEAN FIRMS ARE INSURING IT AND FINANCING IT. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSED MONTHS AGO TO STOP THE FINAL MILES OF THE PIPELINE BEING BUILT. I HAVE REPORTS HIS ADMINISTRATION IS DRAGGING ITS FEET ON IT AND IT’S THE WAY YOU WOULD HAVE PUNISHED RUSSIA FOR ITS ACTIVITIES. THAT’S THE WAY YOU WOULD HAVE SENT THE RIGHT MESSAGE. AS JOE BIDEN ADMITTED THIS IS NOTHING BUT HALF MEASURES. >> Harris: SO INTERESTING YOU HAVE GIVEN US A TANGIBLE WAY TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THIS PRESIDENT IS SERIOUS IN THIS MATTER. WE’LL MOVE TO THIS. THE U.S. INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS BACKING OFF REPORTS FROM LAST SUMMER THAT RUSSIA PUT BOUNTIES ON THE HEADS OF U.S. TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN. AND OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS ONLY LOW TO MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN THOSE REPORTS. A "NEW YORK POST" OP-ED WITH THE HEADLINE THE RUSSIAN BOUNTY STORY WAS ONE MORE DEEP STATE ATTEMPT TO HURT TRUMP. DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT BIDEN, ATTACKED PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR NOT ACTING ON THE REPORT WHICH HE CALLED A HOAX. HERE IS JEN PSAKI ON THAT, THE PRESS SECRETARY. >> PRESIDENT HAVE ANY REGRETS ABOUT HOW HE ATTACKED TRUMP ABOUT NOT TAKING ACTION AGAINST RUSSIA ON THIS ISSUE. >> I WON’T SPEAK ON THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. WE HAD ENOUGH CONCERN ABOUT THESE REPORTS AND ABOUT THE TARGETING OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN SERVING, THE MEN AND WOMEN PROUDLY SERVING AROUND THE WORLD WE WANTED OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO LOOK INTO IT. >> Harris: SENATOR, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THIS RETRACTION BASICALLY? >> JOE BIDEN OWES PRESIDENT TRUMP AN APOLOGY. HE USED THAT LINE OF ATTACK MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. I REMEMBER WHEN IT FIRST SURFACED LAST SUMMER I WAS OPEN MINDED TO IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND THE RUSSIANS WOULD DO. I SIT ON THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE AND REVIEWED IT CAREFULLY AND I COULD NOT SEE WHERE THESE REPORTS IN THE MEDIA WERE COMING FROM. WE HAVE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ITSELF CONFIRMING THEY ONLY HAD LOW TO MODERATE CONFIDENCE. PRETTY LOW IN TERMS OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY’S ASSESSMENT. SO JOE BIDEN REALLY OWES DONALD TRUMP AN APOLOGY HAS DOES EVERY DEMOCRAT THAT ATTACKED HIM ON THE BASIS OF UNSUBSTANTIATED MEDIA REPORTS. >> Harris: LOW TO MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN INTELLIGENCE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHY EVEN FLOAT THE STUFF OUT THERE? HOW DID THIS GET GOING ONCE YOU AND OTHERS TOOK A LOOK AT IT THERE WASN’T ENOUGH THERE THERE? >> SO IT REFERS TO THE QUALITY OF THE SOURCING AND METHODS. I CAN’T GET INTO THAT BUT IT IS ON A SCALE. PRETTY LOW ON THAT SCALE OF WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE TRUE. HOW DID IT GET OUT THERE? UNFORTUNATELY PROBABLY SOME PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNMENT WHO DIDN’T LIKE DONALD TRUMP AND WANTED JOE BIDEN TO GET ELECTED AND LEAKED IT WITHOUT PROVIDING THE PROPER CONTEXT TO IT. >> Harris: IS THERE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT, PUNISHMENT? >> THERE SHOULD BE. NO ONE SHOULD EVER LEAK CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. A DANGEROUS THING TO GET INTO. AND THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TAKE MORE STEPS TO TRY TO INSURE ON THE ONE HAND PEOPLE WHO LEAK CLASSIFIED INFORMATION ARE BEING PUNISHED. BUT ALSO THAT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION TRULY IS CLASSIFIED. WE HAVE OVER CLASSIFICATION PROBLEM IN SOME CASES. WE SHOULDN’T HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT IS UNDER CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS BUT WHEN THE STUFF IS REALLY CLASSIFIED, WHEN IT IS TRULY SENSITIVE THERE NEED TO BE CONSEQUENCES FOR LEAKING IT. >> Harris: SENATOR COTTON CALLING ON THE CURRENT PRESIDENT TO APOLOGIZE TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT OVER THIS. WE’LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

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Keywords: politics, donald trump, president biden, fox news, tom cotton, sen. tom cotton, joe biden, breaking news, fox news channel, joe biden russia, tom cotton fox news, fox news russia, fox news live, sen. tom cotton (r-ar), sen. tom cotton military service, fox news channel live, fox news argument, harris faulkner fox news, harris faulkner fox news today, the faulkner focus fox news, russian bounty, vladimir putin

Id: CIiXdbXAppM

Length: 9min 49sec (589 seconds)

Published: Fri Apr 16 2021