CNN "The Situation Room" - Transcript: Interview with Senator Dick Durbin
Interview
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BLITZER: All right. We'll get back to you. Jim Acosta at the scene for us at that campaign rally in Sanford, Florida.
Meanwhile, Senate confirmation hearings started today here in Washington in the fast track nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court. The real fireworks likely will be tomorrow when senators will have an opportunity to question Judge Barrett.
We're joined now by the number two Democrat in the U.S. Senate, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. He's also a member of the Judiciary Committee. Let me get first get your reaction to what we just heard the President's doctor saying he's now tested negative in consecutive days. What do you say to that, Senator?
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): Listen, I'm not a medical expert and don't pretend to be, but trying to follow the President's claims and then the statements by his medical team, it's been pretty tough. You know, this President comes off the helicopter, does his balcony scene, veto moment, strips off his mask and says I'm cured, who knows? At this point, he's making it all up as far as I'm concerned. I hope the doctor's report is accurate.
BLITZER: Yes, we all hope it's accurate. And we hope the President is going to be just fine. You participated, Senator, in today's confirmation hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett. You joined your fellow Democrats in pointing to what her confirmation potentially could mean, for example, for the Affordable Care Act, which will come before the U.S. Supreme Court for arguments a week after the election. So, why are Democrats focusing in specifically right now on health care? Will that remain the case throughout the remainder of these confirmation hearings?
DURBIN: Because we're smack dab in the middle of a pandemic and America is worried about its health, and to think that this President wants to put somebody on the Supreme Court who's going to eliminate the Affordable Care Act. Take away health insurance from 20 million plus Americans say that our own health insurance won't cover people with pre-existing conditions, you bet it's an issue. And every single Democrat drove at home today. We were glad to do it, and I hope the American people are following this debate.
BLITZER: You've been very critical of the timing and the speed at which the Republican majority in the Senate that they are moving forward with this confirmation process but appears the Republicans do have the numbers to confirm Judge Barrett. So, what do you hoped to accomplish in the next few days leading up to the election?
[17:35:03]
DURBIN: Listen, they're at breakneck speed. And I want to tell you, Wolf, there's an announcement just a few minutes ago that Graham, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, is going to change one of the other deadlines to make it even faster to move her through the committee. I just wish this weren't the case. It's a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land.
And what we're trying to say to people, the reason why it's at breakneck speed is because they want this new justice on the Supreme Court in time to hear the oral argument on November 10th, and then to eliminate the Affordable Care Act. That's what this is all about.
BLITZER: The 22 members of the Judiciary Committee, the Democrats and the Republicans, they can start asking questions of Judge Barrett tomorrow morning when she appears at the committee. Once again, today, she just delivered her opening statement, the senators all made their own respective opening statements. So, what questions do you want to hear her answer?
DURBIN: Well, we're going to have quite a few. On the Affordable Care Act, she's basically said it's unconstitutional. We know where she's going. We're certainly going to ask her questions on that. Other decisions that she's handed down, she's had about 100 decisions so far. We've gone through them, there are some that really kind of define her in terms of her values.
And, frankly, we want to know whether or not the President is right. Is she being put on the Supreme Court to defend him if there's an election contest? If she willing to say flat out, she'll recuse herself from any election contest, so there won't be any question about her honesty and integrity. These are critical questions.
BLITZER: But realistically, they have the votes, right? There's limited -- there's limits to what you guys can do on the Democratic side.
DURBIN: Wolf, of course, we're limited, but let's put it down to the basics. If one Republican senator on the Senate Judiciary Committee says I've had enough, I can't push this through this quickly. I can't afford to go back home and explain how these people lose their health insurance.
If one Republican Senate says that it's tie vote, we hold her in committee. If two on the floor say that, even if she comes out of committee, she's not going to be able to be considered. We already have two Republican senators who've stepped up and said they don't want to be part of this farce.
BLITZER: But they still, the Republican majority, even if she doesn't get confirmed in the committee, they could still bring it up for a vote on the Senate floor.
DURBIN: They can, but let me tell you. If there are questions being raised by the American people about how in the midst of a pandemic, we can eliminate the Affordable Care Act with no substitute, nothing to take its place. If those questions are asked of many Republican senators who were in cycle, Wolf, in very close election contest, perhaps we'll see a change of heart.
BLITZER: We'll have live coverage of the Q&A tomorrow at the committee. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, thanks as usual for joining us.
DURBIN: Thanks, Wolf.
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