Fox News Interview - Transcript

Interview

FOX NEWS INTERVIEW WITH REP. LAURA RICHARDSON (D-CA)

SUBJECT: CUBA

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MR. WRIGHT: And we are getting brand-new details on the meeting between members of the United States Congress and the Castro brothers, a delegation of three lawmakers from the Congressional Black Caucus traveling to Cuba to meet with Fidel and Raul Castro. They say it's time to turn the page, as President Obama signifies a shift in U.S.- Cuba relations.

Democratic Congresswoman from California Laura Richardson is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and Homeland Security Committee. She was one of the three members to meet with Fidel Castro. She joins us right now. Thank you for joining us, Congresswoman.

REP. RICHARDSON: Thank you.

MR. WRIGHT: Let me begin with the why. Why did you feel it necessary to travel to Cuba and then of course the surprise meeting with Fidel Castro?

REP. RICHARDSON: Well, first of all, as you said, I'm a member of the Transportation Committee and the Homeland Security Committee. Under my jurisdiction is the Coast Guard, where we deal with migration issues.

And on T&I, we have a drop in trade of over 15 percent. So having the trade embargo and having the ability to trade with a neighboring country of 11 million people is an important discussion.

MR. WRIGHT: Now, I understand you were not expected to meet with Fidel Castro, but when you did, of course, he is a man who is in his 80s. We know that he has been in poor health. Were you surprised by his ability to come in, actually talk to you, hold a conversation and be very lucid?

REP. RICHARDSON: Oh, no, not at all. In fact, you know, I'm kind of calling it the (one of three ?) and, you know -- and the meeting with Fidel. We were meeting with President Raul Castro, and after a very successful over four-hour meeting, I asked a question: Is it possible for us to meet with President Fidel? And within an hour or so, he made the arrangements, and we met with Fidel, and his lovely wife, about 12 hours later.

You know, what was interesting of all the stories you hear of president -- former President Fidel, we walked into his home, he was standing. He greeted us, he took pictures with us, and we had over a two-hour meeting. He knew my name; he knew my district; he knew about, you know, the potential impacts of, you know, the iceberg situation with my area. I mean, he was completely briefed, prepared, and went into a very long discussion about, you know, his remembrances of America, where we've kind of come, and some of his interests in American politics today.

MR. WRIGHT: Well, it sounds like he was very charming as a host, but what about the people of Cuba? Do you have any concerns about the fact that some of their human rights violations that have gone on there in Cuba -- how will you assist them in the future?

REP. RICHARDSON: Well, you know, what was particularly interesting about our trip was, we had an opportunity to go throughout Cuba for five days. And so I experienced the freedom to travel. There were no police, you know, following us around. Typically with congressional delegations, usually there are several police cars and a lot of involvement -- no police cars following us. We went to two church services. There was no, you know, police at the door saying you can't have the freedom to worship.

One of the churches -- there was a female pastor.

And then also we had the freedom of speech. There were press conferences every single morning. There was no demonstration of force or anger or dissidence at all.

And so what I walked away with and, I think, many members of Congress walked away with is that Cuba -- you know, with its own independent nation, is working through its issues as every country is working through its issues. But we experienced and saw very -- on an across-the board basis for five days a tremendous amount of freedom.

MR. WRIGHT: Congresswoman, not to interrupt you, but I'm running out of time here.

REP. RICHARDSON: Sure.

MR. WRIGHT: Based on your findings, what do you hope to accomplish with the Obama administration in terms of its future relationships with Cuba?

REP. RICHARDSON: I think what we played a part in is helping President Obama to do exactly what he says he intends upon doing: turning the page. We can talk about what happened 50 years ago, or we can talk about what's happening today. And President Obama has expressed an interest to relieve the travel ban, and we intend upon giving him a report of all the things we learned and actually working with him to do that.

Having a 50-year-old embargo is not helping America. Every other country is working with Cuba except us, and that should change.

MR. WRIGHT: Congresswoman Laura Richardson, thanks for sharing that with us today.

REP. RICHARDSON: Thank you for having me.

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