CNN "The Lead with Jake Tapper" - Transcript Interview with Chris Van Hollen

Interview

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Joining me now to discuss is Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.

Senator Van Hollen, first of all, let me just ask you. I have already seen some conservatives on social media saying that it was inappropriate of President Obama to be talking politics in such a stark way while eulogizing John Lewis. What's your response to that?

SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): Well, that's a lot of nonsense.

John Lewis would have very much appreciated President Obama's eulogy today, because so much of what he was about was ensuring equal justice and equal rights. And you can't have that if you don't have access to the ballot box.

And, of course, John Lewis' first encounter was at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where he encountered state police, who beat him bloody. And he was organizing a march for the right to vote back in 1965.

So, I think that John Lewis would very much see the dots that connected what happened to him in 1965 with what's happening today and President Trump's efforts to suppress the vote.

TAPPER: Speaking of President Trump, how seriously do you take his comment, his tweet about trying to delay the election?

I know he doesn't have the power to do so. Congress does. But how seriously do you take it?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, Jake, it's an indication of the president thinking once again that somehow he hovers above the Constitution, that he has the power to change the Constitution, or maybe just has never read the Constitution of the United States, because it does not allow him to change the date.

The date is not going to change. It's going to proceed as scheduled.

I see this as a sign of weakness from the president. He knows that the public overwhelmingly disapproves of his terrible handling of the coronavirus crisis. We have been much harder-hit in terms of the health impact, with over 150,000 Americans dead.

The economy is really taking a big hit, much more than it would have to if we had had a plan to deal with the coronavirus. Today's news was annual GDP declining at an annual rate of 30 percent.

So, the president has made a mess of dealing with the coronavirus. And I think he's seen the polls and trying to find a way out. But he's not going to find one.

TAPPER: Well, let me ask you, because the president has -- in that interview with Chris Wallace a few Sundays ago, the president did not say that he would definitely accept the results of the election, which I think surprised a lot of people.

Attorney General Barr was asked this week before the House Judiciary Committee if he would leave office if President Trump lost in November, and he said -- quote -- "if the results were clear."

How concerned are you about a peaceful transfer of power, if -- and that's a big if -- if President Trump does not win in November?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, Jake, those kinds of comments obviously are very worrying.

I think it's a moment where all Republican senators and members of the House need to speak up. We have heard a few voices, but everyone needs to say loudly and clearly not only the election -- that the election will be held as scheduled, but that they will accept the results of the election.

The president needs to know that there's no way out. There's no way to contest the results of an election in November.

He's clearly trying to undermine people's faith and confidence in the system. And I just think it needs to make Americans all the more determined to get out to vote.

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And that's what John Lewis would want. And that's why I think it was important that President Obama remind people of the legacy of John Lewis.

TAPPER: Let me ask you on a separate topic, where is the Senate right now on negotiating this next stimulus bill?

Americans, obviously millions of them, are worried about being evicted in August, which comes up on Saturday, about being able to pay their bills if they don't have jobs. Where is the Senate in terms of negotiating with the House and White House in getting something passed so Americans can at least breathe a sigh of relief for at least another few months?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, Jake, it's been just grossly irresponsible for Senator McConnell and Republicans in Senate to run out the clock on these very important protections for Americans, protections against evictions, the unemployment compensation, the additional money each week. And now, we have at the last minute, a Republican proposal that is totally inadequate to meet the needs.

And again, Republicans themselves are divided. We're hearing that, you know, maybe half the Republican Senate caucus won't support any measure to help Americans in trouble.

So, we're kind of in limbo because of their refusal to negotiate in a serious manner. We're still trying. There are ongoing conversations between Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer and White House officials.

But Senator McConnell doesn't have his own caucus behind his inadequate proposals. And so, we're very nervous. This is another indication of the total dysfunction of this administration and Republicans in the United States Senate.

And that dysfunction unfortunately has very serious and bad consequences for the American people. That's why I hope they will wake up and do something soon. We're ready to join in any serious solution when they're ready.

TAPPER: Senator Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, thank you so much for your time, sir.

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