Seneca discussion on threat to us political system talking about the impeachment inquiry and use of social media and the role of the courts. From the Brookings Institution this is 90 minutes. [inaudible conversations] good afternoon i would like to welcome you to foreign erinterference and election security. It has been several weeks since impeachment inquiry has been launched and soon we will be moving to public hearings. Heading into the 2020 election concerned about foreign interference with the infrastructure. With a societal discord and you should have copies of the constitution at each of your seats if anything comes up or you need to refer to that legal document feel free to do so. We have four distinguished experts your fellow government studies at brookings and the author of anti pluralism. Molly reynolds is a senior fellow at brookings and the author of exceptions to the i rule and then the senior fellow governor studies at the director for effective Public Management and the
Vice president , good afternoon. I like to welcome you to our if it on impeachment and foreign interdependence in Election Security in 2020. It is been several weeks since Speaker Pelosi honestly impeachment inquiry. Testimonies from a number of administrative officials and simply will be moving to public hearings. At the same time, as we head into the 2020 elections, there is concern about foreign interference in the security of our election infrastructure. The concern about hacking veterans or station databases and la discord and spreading disinformation. You should have copies of the constitution at each of your seats. So if there is anything that comes up during the course of this conversation where you need refer to that legal document, create feel free to do so. Dale was given to these issues, we have four distinguished experts. Senior fellow of government studies at brookings, he writes a column for the wall street journal as the author of anti parlor ism and populist threat to
The House Intelligence Committee taking a break in their hearing due to house votes happening now on the floor. Theyve been hearing from the former National Security Council Analyst on russia fiona hill and david holmes political counselor at the u. S. Embassy in ukraine. We will have live coverage when the hearing resumes. Well get to your calls and comments. Democrats 2027488920, 2027488921, others 2027488922. Nancy pelosi has been talking about the hearings going on. Please let us know. Yes, sir. Before you fully embrace the impeachment inquiry, you said one of the reasons you were cautious about it because you said the process would be long, arduous and divisive. It turns out you were right. It seems as if were in this position. But in the sense that both sides are dug in and impeachment has sort of taken on the tenor of being just like any other partisan dispute. I dont subscribe to that. I cant answer your question predicated on that. Theres not bipartisan support. If the republi
Prosecutors in the kgb and i scwoat you now instruments of oppression. I said that and i believe its true. Finally, mr. Kent, for as long as i can remember, u. S. Foreign policy has been predicated on advancing principled entrants and Democratic Values notably freedom of speech, press awe assembly religion, free and fair open elections and the rule of law. Mr. Kent, when american leaders ask foreign governments to investigate their potential rivals, doesnt that make it harder for us to advocate on behalf of those Democratic Values. I believe it makes it more difficult for our diplomatic representatives overseas to carry out those policy goals, yes. How is that, sir . Well, thrice an credible theres been an issue of credibility hearing diplomats on the ground one thing and hearing leaders Say Something else. Would you agree iould. Would you add how it would make it more difficult for you to do your job, sir. Our credibility is based on respect for united states. And if we damage that re
Had a clear understanding that president zelensky had to commit to an investigation of bidens before the aid got released and the aid got released and you didnt commit to an investigation . I was not wrong about what i told you, which is what i heard. Thats all i said. Ive told you what i heard. And thats the point. What you heard did not happen. It didnt happen. You had three meetings with the guy, he could have told you, he didnt announce he was going to do an investigation before the aid happened. It is not just could it have been wrong, the fact is it was wrong. Because it didnt happen. The whole point was you had a clear understanding that aid will not get released unless there is a commitment, not maybe, not i think the aid might happen, it is my hunch it is going to get released, you used clear language, clear understanding and commitment and those two things didnt happen. So you had to be wrong. Mr. Jordan, the other thing that went on when that assistance was on hold is we sho