MSNBC "The Beat with Ari Melber" - Transcript: Trump Administration
Interview
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MELBER: Well, that`s fascinating. Something you and other experts have been educating us on that the kind of business distinctions that we see here in the United States are not really right to project and how this others that works. That indeed the cutouts and the mix used activities are key parts of these influence operations which raises the key question of what Mueller is pulling at when he pulls this thread tonight with this new 20 indictments.
Ambassador, as always, thank you for your expertise.
I now turn to Hawaii senator Mazie Hirono, a member of the judiciary committee. Thank you for joining us on a busy evening.
Your reaction to this news? What does it mean that Bob Mueller is issuing a 20th indictment and accusing Donald Trump`s former campaign chair of actively trying to obstruct this probe this year?
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HAWAII), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: I think the plot thickens. And that is why Mueller`s investigation which from all appearances is being conducted in a very meticulous way, needs to proceed. And only in a fake world that is Donald Trump`s world is Donald Trump Putin`s worst nightmare.
MELBER: Does it concern you that these new obstruction charges come at a time when people in Trump`s orbit including his main TV lawyer Rudy Giuliani speak openly about the idea that obstruction is OK or not illegal if it comes from the President?
HIRONO: Well, they are taking the extraordinary position that the President is above the law. And so, I think that they feel the news closing and they are just basically saying all kinds of things. I find their comments just extraordinarily dangerous. We are in a democracy after all and Trump is not king.
MELBER: While I have you, another big story we have been covering is what appears to be a widespread abuse and corruption by Scott Pruitt at the EPA which job tails (ph) with others stories you and I have discussed before. Are you concerned about this kind of corruption in the Trump administration? And what can the Senate do about it?
HIRONO: Of course I`m concerned. And in fact, when Tom Price did certain things and he resigned or he was pretty much pushed out. But the tolerance for this kind of corrupt behavior seems to rise with this administration by the day. And because Pruitt is doing certain things that basically eviscerates so many of the environmental protections. As far as Trump is concerned, Pruitt is doing a great job.
So this is yet another conflict of interest. And those kind of issues don`t seem to matter to this administration as they go about doing everything they can to enrich themselves. And of course, with President Trump, it`s all about him all the time every day, all the time.
MELBER: Senator Hirono, thank you very much for making some time for us. Appreciate it.
HIRONO: Thank you.
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