Transcripts For CSPAN Senator Moran On Committee Meetings 20

CSPAN Senator Moran On Committee Meetings May 10, 2017

Objection. Mr. Moran mr. President , all 1 after you whether we are republicans or democrats, we ought to want the United States senate to function. We ought to want the United States senate to be able to accomplish its work. This is a its a challenge all the time, but learning what transpired this morning on the senate floor in my view reaches another low for the United States senate. It is hard, i suppose to explain, but it takes unanimous consent for committees to meet while the United States senate is in session, and thats a request thats made on an ongoing basis when the senate convenes, and it happened again this morning. And almost without exception, its routine. The rules require that two hours after the United States senate convened, which we did at 9 30 this morning, no committee can then meet unless there is agreement. And so the majority leader today requested that that unanimous consent be granted, just like almost every other day in the United States senate. But what was different today was objection was raised by the minority whip. And apparently the explanation is the firing of the director of the f. B. I. Last night. Now, how the senate is functioning or not functioning seems to me to be unrelated to what transpired last night related to the director of the f. B. I. And so in this place that were trying to do the peoples work and to make decisions and to do good for america, the spillover over partisan politics, the spillover about playing a political game, highlighting a point, has now caused the United States senate to not be able to conduct hearings today. And, in fact, the minority members apparently of the United States senate were instructed, requested on their own volition, something, all left the hearings that were already being conducted this morning in protest over what transpired last night. I am of the view that this is a diverse country. I am of the view people in the United States senate represent people from across the country, different philosophies, different political parties, different backgrounds. We all bring to the United States senate a set of characteristics that are different, one from another. But i have great regard and respect for every United States senators point of view, and i would say that every senator ought to have the ability to express their views on behalf of their constituents, but we can only do that if we allow the senate to function. I was on the senate floor not longing a praising the fact that we finally were successful in the appropriations process, that we passed fy 2017 appropriations bill. For too long the appropriations process has been broken down and we have conducted business in the United States by a continuing resolution. I thought we were back on a path in which there was enough agreement, respect among members, enough setting aside of partisan differences to actually accomplish legislation. I was pleased that we did that, but today we fall back into the pattern when something happens, we want to make a political point, we then obstruct the ability of others in the United States senate to conduct their work, to express their opinion, to gather the information that they need. This came to my attention, what transpires today, because because this afternoon at 2 30 was scheduled a hearing by the Senate Veterans affairs committee. That hearing has absolutely nothing to do with the f. B. I. We have a new secretary of the department of Veterans Affairs scheduled to testify about the departments plan for a new Program Modifications to a program called choice that is so important to me and to my constituents, to the veterans of kansas, that i was so pleased the hearing had been scheduled and looking so forward to questioning and having the conversation with the secretary of the Veterans Affairs about how do we make this system of choice work for veterans who live in kansas, from the rural side of our state to the suburban and urban side of our state. But because of a peak of anger, a political posturing, the hearing is apparent ploly no longer apparently no longer able to take place. The hearings this morning which could only last for an hour and a half and for which i guess the minority members walked out seemed to me at least they sound like things that would be very important for us to pursue. The Armed Services committee, subcommittee on emerging threats and capabilities was to have a closed briefing this morning. The Homeland Security was to examine Cyber Threats facing america. Focusing on an overview of cyber threat landscape. The list is significant in the things that we ought to be paying attention to, and yet because of an objection, those hearings will not take place or were shortened or were disrupted by only one party participation. Im not here trying to create further partisanship between republicans and democrats. Im here trying to real estate mind ourselves im hearing trying to remind ourselves that there is value in allowing cooperation between the minority and majority, not for our own benefits but for the benefit of the country and the citizens that we represent. Everything does not have to be partisan. Everything does not have to be political. And today we see the senate sliding back into the habit of making things that we have really nothing to do with, werent the cause of, taking place partnersly to make a apparently to make a political point and perhaps to score votes or support in a political way. We ought to all, as United States senators, respect the opinions and values, the position of others, but we do that in a setting in which we all come together, not in which we cancel meetings as a political statement. I appreciate the opportunity to express my concerns about whats transpired, to ask for us to go back to the time in which we worked together on a daily basis and not use an exc senator feinstein also sent two tweets. The president s decision leaves me incredulous given the ongoing trump russia investigation. It raises questions about the timing of an investigation that could implicate trump. Here is senator feinstein. P. M. ,ight at 5 30 President Trump called saying he would remove director comey from his leadership position at the fbi. President trump specifically stated that the recommendation was provided by Deputy Attorney general rosenstein and attorney general sessions. He said the reason was because the department is a mess. I was obviously surprised and taken aback. The official announcement was released, the white house provided three documents. One a lttetter from the presidet firing director comey, two a letter from director sessions recommending comey be removed on the basis of his personal evaluation that a fresh start is needed at the leadership of the fbi. Deputyee, a memo from attorney general rosenstein outlining serious concerns about director comeys handling of secretary clintons email investigation. Memo, raisesa n and additional questions. Why did the president make reference to the russia investigation in his letter, dismissing director comey . Was the reason for his dismissal because the department was a mess and lacked leadership are not . Or not . If the reason for firing comey was because of his handling of the clinton investigation, why now . As the night went on, more and more stories began to unfold about the events surrounding director comeys dismissal. The press reported that director comey found out about the firing through Television News coverage that broke while he was speaking to fbi agents in los angeles. He wasnt told directly, and reportedly believed at first, it was a prank. Appealing the president s letter had not been t delivered to fbi headquarters before the news became public. Beganl news outlets also reporting that the administration had been considering firing comey for some time and charged with building a case against director comey for at least as week. Specifically, the New York Times reported, excuse me, that attorney general sessions had been charged with the responsibility of coming up with reasons to fire director comey. This morning, politico was reporting that trump has grown angry with the russia investigation, particularly comey admitting in front of the senate the fbi was investigating his campaign. And that the fbi director would not support his claims that president barack obama had tapped his phones in trump tower. As i reflect on the decision to dismiss director comey, i become incredulous thinking about the ongoing fbi investigation into russias interference with our president ial election and possible connections to associates of the trump. Campaign and Administration One thing, mr. Chairman, that sticks in my mind is the classified briefing that you and i had from director comey on march 15. Directorriefing, comey outlined the counterintelligence and criminal investigations the fbi is conducting involving russias covert action to influence the president ial election. I cant go into the specifics, but you and i know that it was rather comprehensive for this kind of briefing. The fbi director was precise and he presented us with substantial information. It was clear the fbi was taking his job seriously and that a substantial investigation was. Underway in addition, just last week, on may 3, director comey came before the Judiciary Committee and promised to update the committee and provide briefings on the russia investigation in a classified setting as necessary. Then last night, cnn reported that federal prosecutors have begun taking additional steps in the russia investigation in the past two weeks, including issuing grand jury subpoenas to associates of Michael Flynn seeking Business Records as part of the russia investigationi. In fact, reporters learned that prosecutors were issuing subpoenas as part of the Ongoing Investigation into russi andan interference in the election just hours before director comey was fired. At a minimum, the decision to fire comey raises questions about the appropriateness and timing of firing the person in charge of an investigation that could, i wont say would, but could implicate the administration. To have this happen and happen now is beyond surprising. I believe it is important to have Deputy Attorney general rosenstein and Deputy Director mccabe come before the Judiciary Committee and brief members on the reasons and the timing of the firing, as well as what steps are being taken to ensure this action will have no impact on the work of the fbi on the Ongoing Investigation. I also plan to work with senator blumenthal on legislation to ensure that a truly independent prosecutor can be appointed. However, while we work on that legislation, i want to renew my call to have a special prosecutor appointed to oversee the russia investigation. I have said on some occasions now were in unusual times and i recognize todays hearing is meant to be on the nominees before us for three important positions at justice. But, given the events of the last 24 hours, i believe members should have the opportunity to speak out about these events. So, mr. Chairman, i hope you will allow other members to say a few words if they would like, but i want you to know i very much appreciate this courtesy. Thank you. Cspan, where history unfolds daily. In 1979, cspan was created as a Public Service by americas Cable Television companies. And is brought to you today by your cable or satellite provider. Few tweets on the firing of james comey from the hill. For ramping comey up russia collusion investigation. From salon, donald trump was so enraged that the fbi was investigating him, he would scream at the tv. And President Trump tweeting dems have been complaining for months about director comey. Now that he has been fired, they pretend to be agreed. Hypocrite. We will hear from President Trump on the firing of director comey next. Followed by remarks by Vice President pence. And the white house to questions on the firing. Well get reaction from senators. You can watch all the video at cspan. Org

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