CNN "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) Vermont
Interview
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COOPER: So, how could these senators come away with such a different understanding of what happened to Khashoggi than the President and some of his cabinet members? Last night on this program, Max Boot said it's simple, in his opinion, he said, it's a cover-up.
Joining me now is Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator Sanders, thank you so much for being with us. Why do you think the President won't admit the crown prince was involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi?
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: Well, I think the President, sadly enough, has a great fondness for authoritarian-type leaders around the world, whether it's Putin in Russia or Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, or other authoritarian leaders.
Second of all, it is possible that the President, himself, through Trump enterprises may have some financial dealings in Saudi Arabia. But, Anderson, I think I agree with, you know, what the other senators have said, what Graham and the other senator -- Corker have said.
COOPER: Corker.
SANDERS: But here is the more important point. What MBS did and what the Saudis did to Jamal Khashoggi is unspeakable and an absolute disgrace. But I will tell you what is even worse which we don't talk about enough is what the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen has done to 28 million people in that country, all right?
Khashoggi's death was terrible, but in the last three years, 85,000 children have starved to death. And according to the United Nations, you got millions of people who are facing imminent starvation. There are 10,000 new cases of cholera breaking out every single week.
And the resolution that I authored along with Senator Mike Lee and Senator Chris Murphy which I hope will come up tomorrow or next week, we got it out of committee, basically says that the United States has got to end its participation in this horrible, destructive war led by Saudi Arabia.
[20:35:18] COOPER: I want to play something else that your Republican colleague, Senator Corker, said today.
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COOPER: Your bill calls for the end of U.S. support for the war in Yemen within 30 days. We've certainly now started to hear some of the strongest language yet from Republicans over the last few days in terms of taking action against Saudi Arabia. Do you think the tide is it turning here?
SANDERS: Oh, yes, no question about it. Senator Lee and Senator Murphy and I brought this privilege resolution up in March, we got 44 votes. Last week in order to get it out of committee, we got 63 votes. We may lose some of those Republican senators for one reason or another, but I think we have the strong majority of votes in the Senate.
I think it is -- I think the murder of Khashoggi has given the Congress and the entire world a glimpse into the despotic and brutal regime that now has power in Saudi Arabia and all over this country the American people are saying, "No, we should not be following their lead in the destruction of a poor country like Yemen."
And the other issue that I think many senators, Anderson, are beginning to think about, is that the constitution of the United States is pretty clear and it says that it is the Congress, not the president, not a Republican president or a Democratic president, who has war-making responsibility.
And I think more and more members of the Senate understand that over the years, we have abdicated that responsibility, and people want it back. If my colleagues want to go to war in Saudi Arabia, let them vote to go to war, but they cannot continue to turn their backs on what this administration or any other administration has done. They have got to accept their constitutional responsibility.
And lastly, I think it is pretty clear to most Americans right now that we have got to rethink our relationship to the Saudi government in general. So it is the horrible destruction in Yemen, it is regaining our constitutional responsibility as senators, and it is rethinking our relationship to a very despotic and undemocratic government in Saudi Arabia. That's the issue that we're dealing with.
COOPER: Senator Bernie Sanders, I appreciate your time. Thank you.
SANDERS: Thank you.
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