'Why Is It So Hard For You To Tell Me What You Think?': Kennedy Grills Biden Noms On Steele Dossier

let me ask Miss Franklin and Miss Williams a question your jurisdiction let me be sure I get the title correct uh privacy and civil liberties oversight board I got that right your jurisdiction is pretty broad isn't it uh so the jurisdiction is brought in some ways in that the board has oversight over counterintelligence programs across the intelligence Community with regard to privacy and civil liberties but it's focused on counterintelligence with or it's focused on counterterrorism not all privacy and civil liberties issues right right okay I I think this is a very important board but I'm sitting here thinking we spent three four years with some some not all I'm going to emphasize that but some not all members of our Earth FBI and our department of justice selling the steel dossier does that embarrass you so Senator I think um you know there have been three Inspector General reports with regards to some of the things that went on and um I think that the recommendations in them are are a good recommendation let me issue this deep this way do you think the steel dossier is true oh Senator I have no basis to believe uh it's true or either way I I you don't have an opinion I mean I I don't I don't have any factual basis to know whether or not I I do what I've from what I've read it sounds like there's some concerns with the way it was procured so you don't you I don't understand do you believe it's true or not true so I I haven't read the steel dossier but from from the news reports it sounds like there may be falsehoods in it but again I don't have personal knowledge of it Thomas Franklin do you know if do you have an opinion whether it's true or not true I also have not had access to read the dossier but I can say that I share your concern I don't know if it's true I'm gonna ask I want to understand where you're coming from do you believe it's true or not true I believe that the inspector general of the justice department found significant problems in three reports including 17 significant errors or omissions in the fisa applications regarding cartilage I believe that the inspector General found these errors and omissions which are highly concerned I agree with the Inspector General I I find the inspector General's report very convincing yes okay so you don't believe they're still dossier is true I why is it so hard for you all to tell me what you think here that's pretty basic I would turn to the errors and Emissions that the inspector General did point to which were significant and I uh know that Congress has attempted to take steps to address those well here's what I'm getting I mean I can tell y'all don't want to answer and I really really regret that I mean I this to me is it's not political it was this these allegations that turned out not to be true it doesn't matter who they were about but the some members of our federal government put the full force and weight of the power of the office behind the starsier and it didn't matter whether who they were and I I can't believe you can't agree with me that it's not true I mean there have been three inspectors General reports where where where was your agency did anybody your agency stand up and say wait a minute before we make all these allegations on the basis of the steel dossier shouldn't we check whether they're true I mean FBI director Comey sold this thing for five years James Clapper was prepared to make a public statement that that we we're not sure if the if the dossier is accurate and and uh director Comey called him and said no don't say that where were you guys at the board you're supposed to protect civil liberties you're supposed to protect privacy doesn't matter whose privacy and simply civil liberties are being infringed either one sister Senator I wasn't at the board I haven't been at the board yet but I agree with you that that is exactly the role of the privacy and civil liberties oversight board right I'm sure to ensure that the privacy and civil liberties are of Americans are taken into account and to make sure that our intelligence agencies are being completely forthright and truthful with decisions thank you for that you were there miss Franklin right you weren't there no no Senator okay well when you when you both get there I I wish you would talk to your colleagues over there they ought to hide their heads on a bag they're in charge of protecting American civil liberties and privacy and it doesn't matter who you are and they sit there sucking on their teeth like a bump on a log and never said a word I'm done thank you for your Indulgence Mr chairman and father likes your haircut haven't had one in a while thank you Senator Kennedy and uh I'd just like to say to those who are new to this environment that the mini bar exam that Senator Kennedy gives to many of these uh Witnesses reminds me of my anxiety in law school where I sat in the last row and slumped down the point where I have curvature of the spine in the hopes that I wouldn't be called on to answer what 15b is or anything like that but nevertheless always entertaining and always well presented the second objection made by the senator relates to your lack of Candor on this side of the table we're a different branch of government than what you're aspiring to by and large and we have opinions on everything and express them willingly particularly if it's televised and uh very seldom hold back we know that on the judicial side the opposite is true you don't want to put yourself on the record in this situation that may disqualify you from a case and the frustration Senator Kennedy feels with some of your lack of Candor we felt on the Democratic side with any other Administration it is by nature a reflection on the branches of government being a little different in philosophical approach to say the least so before I join today I want to thank you for cooperation patience especially to Caroline and Jamie are they still back there good good job kids questions for the record will be due to the nominees by 5 PM on Wednesday January 19th and the record remains open until that time to submit letters and similar materials and with that this hearing is stands adjourned

Channel: Forbes Breaking News

Views: 1,085,674

Keywords: Sen. John Kennedy, President Biden, Senate

Id: gXMqy6FlGco

Length: 8min 0sec (480 seconds)

Published: Wed Jan 12 2022