Fox News "The Story' - Transcript: Coons: Kavanaugh Hearing Should be Paused for Investigation

Interview

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MACCALLUM: So, Senator Chris Coons is one of the Judiciary Committee's 10 Democrats, of course. And he will be questioning some of the witness both of them tomorrow and he's going to join us in a moment after this.

Oh, Chris Coons joins us right now. So, good to have you with us tonight, Senator. Tell me a little bit about your reaction to all of what is coming in here, and what your line of questioning will be tomorrow?

SEN. CHRIS COONS , D-DEL.: Well, Martha. My concern is that we're going ahead with a hearing tomorrow. Without having had the FBI involved to try and get to the bottom of the rapidly growing number of alarming allegations against Judge Kavanaugh.

As Judge Pirro suggested, some of this is evidence that really could be a better developed, better refined. I think we ought to take a weeklong pause, I'm speaking for myself and hold the hearing open until we've had an opportunity for some of the challenging or corroborating witnesses to be questioned.

(CROSSTALK)

MACCALLUM: Is there any chance in your mind -- So, you know, obviously, this has been going on a long time already. And you have to wonder if you keep moving it and delaying it are you just going to continue to get -- you know, more information coming in and will the hearing ever happen?

So, it's understandable on both sides that the delay is frustrating the Republicans and that -- you know, the Democrats feel like it should keep going on and on.

But you said something very interesting the other night which I -- which I --

COONS: Martha, let me -- Martha, let me be clear about my view. I don't think this should just continue going on and on. I think we ought to come to a date certain and agree that for one more period --

(CROSSTALK)

MACCALLUM: But that's happened a couple of times already, hasn't it?

COONS: No. Meaning that there was an agreement that we would have the FBI do a background check on the various people who are either supporting Judge Kavanaugh's assertions or denials or supporting a Dr. Ford's allegations that hasn't happened.

MACCALLUM: So, you want background checks done on all the people on both sides who are signing these letters?

COONS: Yes. Well, we've got three now. Different folks who have come forward with concerning allegations. And I know Judge Kavanaugh wants to clear his name, wants to be able to move forward if confirmed and served on the Supreme Court with his integrity restored.

MACCALLUM: Right.

COONS: I think the only way to get to a fair process is for the members of the committee to have more witnesses and more evidence beyond just Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh.

MACCALLUM: Are you --

COONS: My hope, Martha, is that tomorrow's hearing will be respectful, and fair, and appropriate. But the committee has very little to go on beyond just a he-said, she-said, tomorrow, and I don't think that's going to get to the bottom of this.

MACCALLUM: You know, you raise an interesting question. And I'm wondering if we're going to see a repeat of what we saw last time. So, when everybody sits down in this room, are we going to start hearing from Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, and perhaps, from you that this can't happen? "We're not doing this today, this is not going to go on. We want this investigation to be opened." Are we going to see a repeat of that tomorrow?

COONS: That's not what you're going to hear from me. I'm speaking for myself, I've got questions for Judge Kavanaugh and questions for Dr. Ford. I will tell you that I think it's a mistake for us to only do one round of five minutes of questioning of these two witnesses. There are other witnesses I wish were in front of us. Like Mark Judge, one of Judge Kavanaugh's close friends. Dr. Ford alleges that he was in the room for the assault. Why not have him also give sworn testimony.

But you're going to hear me participate in questioning both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh tomorrow.

MACCALLUM: All right, I want to play a sound piece of sound that you said the other night. And I want to get your thoughts on this because it's raised a lot of questions. Let's play that.

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MACCALLUM: So, you say that it's his burden to prove that he is innocent. Here is what Lindsey Graham said about that.

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MACCALLUM: I mean, since when in this country is that the way this works?

COONS: Let's be clear, Martha. This is not a criminal trial.

MACCALLUM: Right.

COONS: So, neither Dr. Ford nor Judge Kavanaugh should be on trial tomorrow. But he does have the challenge of persuading the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the members of the Senate.

(CROSSTALK)

MACCALLUM: And so, does she, correct? She also has the same challenge.

COONS: Hang in a minute, stop. Martha, Martha, his challenge is to persuade us that he has the judicial temperament and the integrity to serve on the Supreme Court. President Trump has other equally credentialed nominees who he could bring forward.

Dr. Ford, I'll remind you has nothing to gain from this. And has already suffered significant harm to herself and her family. I think she's come forward with credible allegations. And I do think the challenge now is for us to be persuaded that Judge Kavanaugh has addressed that.

(CROSSTALK)

MACCALLUM: But what -- can I just -- I have to -- I have to wrap it up, but I got to ask you one more time.

COONS: Sure.

MACCALLUM: Don't they both bear the burden of proving their own credibility and why would you walk into this situation having already decided that she's credible, what you just said, and that you don't think he is? How can -- how could you already be at that point?

COONS: What I've been calling for consistently, in this interview and in the last week is for the committee to have in front of them the evidence of the FBI questioning a whole series of additional witnesses.

Dr. Ford's going to come forward tomorrow with three more affidavits of folks to whom she disclosed this alleged sexual assault years ago. Before anyone knew, Judge Kavanaugh might be on the Supreme Court. And Judge Kavanaugh has come forward in your interview with him, and letters from folks who support his integrity.

I don't know how the committee will ultimately make a decision without more evidence. But frankly, that's the challenge we're going to face tomorrow.

(CROSSTALK)

MACCALLUM: But you've already made your decision, you said you believe that she is credible. So, you have made your decision on that. Is that correct?

COONS: Martha, I made my decision to vote against Judge Kavanaugh based on his legal jurisprudence. Based on my questioning of him about presidential power. That's a decision I reached last week before this became of a central issue.

MACCALLUM: You're not answering my question about whether or not you've already decided that she is credible.

COONS: I think she has brought forward credible allegations. And I think if she presents credible testimony tomorrow, that will leave a significant cloud hanging over Judge Kavanaugh --

MACCALLUM: Well, the President just said moments ago that he's going into --

COONS: -- that he's going to have a chance to clear his good name.

MACCALLUM: The President just said he's what -- he's going into this with an open mind he said. He could change his mind about Judge Kavanagh tomorrow so I don't really see much point to the whole exercise if that isn't the way everybody feels on both sides. So we'll see. Thank you very much, Senator. We'll be watching tomorrow. Thank you for being here tonight.

COONS: Thank you, Martha.

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