CNN "The Lead with Jake Tapper" - Transcript Interview with Mazie Hirono

Interview

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And joining me now is Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii.

She sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senator, thank you for coming on.

The first question off the bat, in the wake of the president's comments, are there discussions going on among Democrats on Capitol Hill to prepare for the possibility that President Trump does refuse a peaceful transfer of power if he loses?

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): The president says a lot of things with no facts.

So, I consider this yet another distraction, as we spend a lot of time wringing our hands about what he's saying. But we should be focusing on this next nominee.

[16:05:02]

BROWN: Well, hold on. You don't see it as a concern that the president said this?

HIRONO: Oh, he's made a promise that, as far as he's concerned, if he loses the election, there will be no peaceful transition of power.

So, in his view, if he loses, it's a rigged election. He's been very busy setting that up.

BROWN: So, as a senator, you're in a unique position. What are you going to do about that?

Are there discussions on Capitol Hill about that possibility and what you're going to do about it? Because the president has made it clear time and time again, not just with these latest comments, that, if he loses, he has said that the election is rigged, he won't commit to a peaceful transfer of power.

You, as a senator, what are you going to do about that?

HIRONO: We already passed a resolution that Joe Manchin said, it's a shame that we even have to do it. There are Republicans trying to explain the president's behavior.

But, first and foremost, we have a Supreme Court nomination process about to be rammed down our throats. Everybody should be aware, the American people should know, the real reason that he wants this nominee to go through so fast is because he wants that person in place on the Supreme Court to hear the November 10 arguments on the Affordable Care Act.

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: OK. And we're going to get to the court.

HIRONO: OK.

BROWN: I just want to stick to the topic at hand, because this is something that people are really interested in.

And I don't just want to move on. The fact that the president of the United States is saying this, you said -- you talked about the resolution. Practically, what will that resolution do, besides sending a symbolic message today? What will it actually do if that scenario happens?

HIRONO: If the president refuses to leave, there will be a court challenge. That's probably how it's going to be resolved. He knows that.

That's another reason that he says he wants this nominee to be on the Supreme Court as soon as possible, in case he mounts a legal challenge to the election. That's what's going to happen.

In the meantime, the real issue here, as far as I'm concerned, is just the tip of the iceberg with this nominee is. What's going to happen to everybody's health care? This will be a nominee who will hear the case.

BROWN: And, again, we're going to get to that. We're going to get to that.

HIRONO: OK.

BROWN: I promise you, we're going to get to that. But, again, I want to stick to the topic...

HIRONO: Can we get to it, Pamela?

BROWN: Yes, we're going to get right to the topic at hand, though, because people want to hear what you have to say, as a United States senator on this, and then we're going to get to that, because I do want to ask you.

(CROSSTALK)

HIRONO: OK.

BROWN: President Trump and some Republicans are pointing to the fact that Hillary Clinton, in an August interview, said Joe Biden should not concede the election if it's too close.

What is your response to that?

HIRONO: My response to that is, Hillary Clinton is not a candidate. Joe Biden is.

So the Republicans' obsession with whatever Hillary says is just that, an obsession. Why don't we listen to what the candidates are saying?

You have one candidate who is already setting up a possibility, if he loses, of a legal challenge. And then you have another candidate saying, the election is not rigged. There's no evidence of that that Trump is putting forth.

And so you have the other candidate, Joe Biden, saying he will abide by the will of the people.

But know this, Pamela, that there is voter suppression. The Republican Party is spending 420 million to try to make it harder for people to vote. There's another $100 in dark money that's going to be there to help the Republicans try to keep as many people from voting as possible.

I think our voters care about that. That's clear and present going on right now.

BROWN: And the voters want to also have confidence in this election and the results.

HIRONO: Yes.

BROWN: And the argument could be made that comments casting doubt on it could be a form of voter suppression.

And I want to get to...

HIRONO: Of course.

BROWN: ... as I promised, what's going on with the president's Supreme Court pick.

You are on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will be holding hearings, which would hold hearings on the Supreme Court pick.

The chairman, Lindsey Graham, Senator Lindsey Graham, says, this just reveals the importance of having a full court, nine justices, before Election Day, so that they can weigh in on this matter.

What do you think of that?

HIRONO: The reason that they need to have somebody on the Supreme Court as soon as possible is for that person to hear the arguments on the Affordable Care case on November 10 and to vote down the Affordable Care Act.

That is what is going on.

And the president has long been against the Affordable Care Act, which provides health care to millions of people, including 100 million people with preexisting conditions. That has been on the top of his hit list for a -- well, ever since he got elected.

And then it's also been on the hit list for the Republicans. So now they have a chance, with this Supreme Court nominee, to put somebody in there who will strike down the Affordable Care Act.

The American people know that that is what's going on. That is why the Republicans are doing a 180 on the so-called McConnell rule that he articulated in 2016.

And now they're turning themselves into pretzels trying to justify them going against their own word.

So, how can you trust people who can't even keep their word about a Supreme Court nomination process? So, there you have it.

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: Yes.

I mean, is there anything, given your views on this, that you can do?

[16:10:01]

HIRONO: Oh, one of the biggest things I'm doing is to lend my voice to alert the American people that their health care is at jeopardy, and they should rise up and say, wait a minute, this whole Supreme Court nomination process shouldn't even be happening right now.

Republicans should stick with their word. That is what I am doing.

You know what? I tell you, I have faith in the American people that, when they figure out that their health care is in jeopardy with this nominee, and they can stop that by one, raising their voices, one hopes that even Republicans, they will listen to their constituents.

But, if not, then we will have a situation where they will ram through a nominee and steal two Supreme Court seats, so that the president and the Republicans can get their way. And I should say -- think that there will be consequences.

BROWN: Just really quickly, on the...

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: ... what do you say to the Republicans, like Mitt Romney, who has pushed back against the president historically, who say it's his constitutional right to do this?

HIRONO: It was also a constitutional right for President Obama to nominate Merrick Garland.

And there was no -- there's nothing in the Constitution that says that Mitch McConnell could make up his own rule back then and then do a 180 today.

So, they should follow their own rule. At the same time, they should be really clear with American public as to what they're really doing. And what they're doing is to place a very conservative person -- doesn't matter man or woman -- that is why the chair of the committee, Lindsey Graham, has said the Republicans on the committee will vote for this nominee.

The nominee hasn't even been named. It doesn't matter to them. It will be somebody who will strike down the Affordable Care Act. And that is something that the people of this country should know.

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: All right, Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, thank you so much.

HIRONO: Sure.

BROWN: I appreciate you coming on and sharing your perspective, Senator.

HIRONO: You're welcome.

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