CNN "The Lead With Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Interview With Delaware Senator Chris Coons
Interview
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: That was President Trump just moments ago speaking about the now two accusations of sexually inappropriate behavior that have been launched against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Let's bring in Democratic Senator Chris Coons from Delaware. He's on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Senator, first of all, I would like to get your reaction, if possible, to what President Trump just said there, including his argument that Brett Kavanaugh is suffering and his family is suffering.
SEN. CHRIS COONS (D), DELAWARE: Well, I was struck that President Trump initially made some positive and appropriate statements. He actually said, we should have a full and fair hearing process, and that we should hear Dr. Ford's allegations.
[16:35:08]
That didn't last very long. And there wasn't much substance behind it, because the president and the White House declined to direct the FBI to actually investigate Dr. Ford's allegations.
And, as you have heard, Majority Leader McConnell and President Trump have both taken the side of Judge Kavanaugh, said, this is a shame. They do not believe Dr. Ford, and a number of other Republican senators have said slighting or disparaging things about Dr. For and now Deborah Ramirez.
And, frankly, I'm concerned that what we have heard from Majority Leader McConnell, that he intends to plow through the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh, is the majority opinion of the majority party here.
TAPPER: Well, the argument from Trump and Kavanaugh supporters -- we just heard from a Trump supporter on our panel -- is that Brett Kavanaugh has already been through five or six FBI background checks. They haven't found anything untoward. Why conduct another one?
COONS: Great question.
Why would the FBI have known to go back and question Judge Kavanaugh about an alleged sexual assault in high school or college, if no accuser had come forward? So, he may very well have cleared previous FBI background checks in which there was some questioning about high school behavior.
Every federal nominee for a federal judgeship is questioned about drug abuse, alcohol use. But they wouldn't have known to ask any questions about sexual abuse or assault.
And one of the things, Jake, I think is important for members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the general public to better understand is that the vast majority of victims of sexual assault don't come forward, don't share their terrible experiences, even with their closest friends and family members, often for decades.
TAPPER: What do you make of the "New Yorker" story about Deborah Ramirez, who, by her own admission, had been drinking a lot on the night in question and doesn't have a full memory of the incident?
Do you think that there is enough in that story to merit another investigation?
COONS: Well, I think that's exactly why we should have the professionals at the FBI conduct a prompt, but thorough investigation of the allegations of both Dr. Ford and Ms. Ramirez.
I will remind you that, 27 years ago, when Professor Anita Hill came forward with disturbing allegations of sexual harassment by then Judge Thomas, the hearing that was held in the room right behind me had an FBI investigation that preceded it. And there were 20 witnesses, witnesses who were brought forward in no small part by that FBI investigation.
And it didn't take months. It didn't even take weeks. There is still plenty of time for the FBI to investigate these allegations. This is about the reputation, the credibility of the Supreme Court. Why would we want two justices on the United States Supreme Court who have a cloud over their service of unresolved, not fully addressed allegations of sexual assault?
TAPPER: Do you believe the accusations made by Christine Blasey Ford and made by Deborah Ramirez?
COONS: I believe...
TAPPER: Do you think they're telling the truth? COONS: I believe them both. And I think it's important for other
senators,in order to assess their truthfulness, to have them testify in front of us, and to have an FBI investigation that would put in front of us more facts.
An easy question, I think, is, why not have Mark Ford come forward and testify? Excuse me, Mark Judge. Why not have Judge Kavanaugh's friend, who is named by Dr. Ford, who has written and spoken widely about his drunken and lewd behavior in high school, why not have him in front of us under oath?
It seems to me that there may well be something here that the majority is trying to not have put in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
TAPPER: Now, you have said that you agree with Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. You want Thursday's hearing postponed because you want the FBI to investigate all the allegations.
COONS: Correct.
TAPPER: Obviously, there was a lot of effort made to bring Professor Ford and the Judiciary Committee to an agreement. Is there any sign that Chairman Grassley is at least considering that?
I mean, and what do you say to the argument that, let's just let Professor Ford tell her story Thursday? She's willing to do it. Let's do it.
COONS: I do think that it is a positive thing that we are going to hear the testimony of Dr. Ford. I do think we should also be hearing from Ms. Ramirez.
And the point that I keep making and the ranking member of the committee, Senator Feinstein, keeps making is that, for us to be able to assess these facts, we need them to be further investigated by the FBI.
In the absence of that, it really is likely to turn into a he said/she said sort of hearing.
TAPPER: Senator...
COONS: I will remind you, Dr. Ford is not on trial here. It's Judge Kavanaugh who is seeking a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.
[16:40:05]
TAPPER: Mitch McConnell says -- we only have 30 seconds.
Mitch McConnell says this is all a smear campaign by Democrats because you couldn't stop Brett Kavanaugh.
COONS: I disagree, and I disagree fervently.
I think what we have here is an opportunity for the Judiciary Committee to show that we can give a respectful hearing to the allegations of victims of sexual abuse.
TAPPER: What do you make of the fact that Brett Kavanaugh and his wife are giving an interview to FOX News?
COONS: Well, they're welcome to give interviews to any outlet they wish. What matters is what they're going to say in front of the Judiciary Committee.
I wish he would also submit to a lie-detector test, which Dr. Ford did, or submit to further FBI background questioning. You know, if Judge Kavanaugh wants to set this record straight, there are easy ways for him to come forward. An interview on FOX News doesn't quite rise to that standard.
TAPPER: A lie-detector test. Senator, lie-detector tests aren't even admissible in court. You know that.
COONS: Yet they are widely used by the federal government in order to conduct certain background checks and to confirm that certain folks are appropriate to serve in federal law enforcement functions.
I'm just pointing out that, compared to doing an interview on FOX News, Dr. Ford volunteered to have a former FBI agent administer a lie-detector test.
What really would count, in my view, is if both of them would submit to further questioning by the FBI and bring forward names of folks who they would suggest would be able to corroborate their side of the story.
TAPPER: Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, thank you so much, sir. Appreciate it.
COONS: Thank you, Jake.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source