MSNBC "All in with Chris Hayes" - Transcript: Interview with Rep. Maxine Waters
Interview
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HAYES: Democrats won the House last night for the first time in eight years and the new majority will take effect in January which means that a large number of committees like Judiciary, Intelligence, Ways and Means, all which have the power to subpoena Trump`s tax returns will be chaired by Democrats in 2019. The question now becomes do the Democrats have a unified strategy for what to do with all that power? Joining me now Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Democrat from California who slated to become the chair of the House Financial Services Committee.
I guess the first question to you is, you have been a very vocal critic of Jeff Sessions, extremely vocal critics, has said he should resign, don`t like what he`s done at the Justice Department, your reaction to his firing today?
REP. MAXINE WATERS (D), CALIFORNIA: Well, you know, this action by the president of the United States to fire him is directly connected to the investigation that is being led by Mueller. This president is interested in undermining that investigation, stopping that investigation. He has threatened to fire him.
Of course many of us have been opposed to Jeff Sessions for a lot of reasons -- his racist background, et cetera, et cetera. But this president is focus on him and firing him literally because I think he`s putting into action the plan by which to stop the investigation by putting Whitaker in as the acting attorney general. So we`re talking about a difference situation here.
But this is very dangerous. Nancy Pelosi spoke about it today. For those of us who were willing to see what could be done, to work with this president now that we have the majority in the house, this is very disappointing. For all of the people out there in America who say to us, well, try and work with him. We want, you know, both sides to get together, here he starts off one day after the midterm election, showing us what he thinks about working with us when it`s apparent that what he`s putting into action is a plan by which to get rid of Mueller. How do you work with someone like this?
HAYES: Well, I want to play you something he said today specifically on this question about oversight and whether oversight would be related to any kind of bipartisan work between the House Democrats and himself, take a listen.
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HAYES: What does that phrase mean to you, someone who`s about to be a chair and member of House leadership? What does war-like posture mean to you, congresswoman?
WATERS: Well, let me just say this, I have always maintained that Donald Trump would never be presidential. I am not really shocked or surprised by anything that he may say or do. He has been absolutely outrageous in the way that he has called names, outrageous in the way that he has threatened, outrageous in the way that he`s promoting himself all the time. He wants to act like a dictator, and so here we are.
We find ourselves at a point in time where there are a lot of people who really believed that we could work together. So now he`s talking about investigating those who would in any way be involved in an investigation that is ongoing, that has been under way with special counsel, who has been given the mandate to get it done.
So I think what we`re seeing is a continuation of a president who likes the authority, the ability, the wherewithal to have an appreciation for the constitution, for a way that the protocol dictates that we work, et cetera, et cetera.
HAYES: Well, then let me ask you this.
WATERS: Yes.
HAYES: You`re part of house leadership. Has there been meetings among house leadership, among the committee chairs today, about what to do now? I mean, what is the strategy? Is there a unified strategy? Do you have meetings today? Do you have phone calls today?
WATERS: There will be ongoing meetings about this issue. We cannot help but develop a strategy. I have nothing I can share with you at this moment about that strategy given the unveiling of the firing of Jeff Sessions. But I guarantee you we really do have to get together and determine to have a unified approach to dealing with this issue.
HAYES: All right, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, thank you so much for joining us.
WATERS: You`re so welcome.
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