MSNBC "The Beat with Ari Melber" - Transcript: "AOC vs. Zuckerberg."
Interview
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MELBER: Facts matter and Ambassador Bill Taylor`s explosive listing of what he said were provable facts, reinforce many other provable pieces of evidence that have accrued in the impeachment probe already. Taylor making waves, saying, that he could expand on the infamous smoking gun text that said at the time it was crazy to condition money for Ukraine on this benefit to trump - a Biden probe. And that gives new meaning to Ambassador Volker`s text that said a meeting with the Ukrainian leader would require that Ukraine investigate/get to the bottom of things. It also adds new light to Donald Trump`s request for a quote "favor" in the same context. The Ambassador also bolstered other allegations that we first learned about in that anonymous whistleblower report and it reinforced is something that Trump`s own chief of staff said before walking it back - walking back and forth to that podium in a manner that has added to the impeachment evidence. I turn now to Democratic Congressman Anthony Brown of Maryland, who is an Army veteran and personally knows Ambassador Taylor. Good evening. I wanted to ask you about. But before we get into today`s fireworks, as someone who knows the ambassador, what do you think of what he asserted and his credibility?
REP. ANTHONY BROWN (D-MD): Ari, first of all thanks for having me on.
MELBER: Yes sir.
BROWN: Bill Taylor, I served with him in Iraq. He was Director of the Reconstruction Management Office and I was assigned there. He`s the consummate professional and you know as far back is West Point and having served in Vietnam. But you know over the course of his career he served four Democratic administrations, Republican administrations. So when Bill Taylor says he`s got concerns, we should all be concerned. His interest is only that of the United States, the people the country. So what he says I think we ought to credit greatly.
MELBER: And we`ve heard that sentiment from a lot of folks who know him, as those people who were involved in the fact-finding. Then I want to play for you something that we touched on earlier in the show, which is your colleagues, who seem touched off more by the Taylor testimony than anything else thus far, leading to this this sort of protest, shout down, shutdown freak out. Take a look. This is Congressman Gaetz saying, we`re going to see if we can get in there and then they got in there and started shutting down the hearing. In accordance with some of the security protocols we`re only showing certain parts of this. My question to you is what is your view of what happened there and what is the Democratic response?
BROWN: Right. So clearly inappropriate going in to skiff, especially since they brought electronic devices, but that`s just a distraction that they intended to make focusing on these erroneous claims that the process is somehow faulty. What we`re not hearing from Republicans are reasoned arguments that would support, justify, that would back up the President`s abuse of power, because they can`t. Yesterday`s testimony from a Bill Taylor was explosive. But, remember, it really always comes back to that transcript summary of the July 25th call--
MELBER: Yes. But I`m going to press you, because people at home and people around the country who watch this are wondering, OK does an impeachment probe, does Congress` work just get shut down by who brings more bodies? I mean do you guys need more bouncers outside the room?
BROWN: No, that`s definitely not the case and that would distract from the important work that has to be done. Again, that`s what they`re trying to do. 25 percent of the Republican Conference has access - legitimate access to those hearings, that`s unprecedented. There are no restrictions placed on Republicans that aren`t placed on Democrats, their staff--
MELBER: So how do you get this testimony if we didn`t - if the country didn`t get it to today?
BROWN: Well, look we`re going to - you know Chairman Schiff will continue to schedule meetings. He`ll ensure there are protocols and practices in place so that witnesses can appear, that we can control access. Look, I don`t think anyone expected this was going to happen today. But if this was going to be a regular course of business, Chairman Schiff has at his disposal tools to prevent this from happening. If their effort is to delay and deter, I don`t think that necessarily helps their cause.
MELBER: Congressman Brown, we wanted to get you in given your knowledge of the issues as well as the ambassador. And I appreciate you making time for us tonight.
BROWN: Thanks Ari.
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