Fox News "The Ingraham Angle" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. Bill Cassidy
Interview
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Two prominent GOP Senators recently introduced a resolution that would designate Antifa as a domestic terror organization. It states Antifa is a movement that intentionally combines violence with the group's Alt Left positions. Here now is one of the bill sponsors, resolution sponsor Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. Senator why haven't we already Antifa as a domestic terror group? Why is this even a close call?
SEN. BILL CASSIDY, R-LA: I think it's a close call because people on the left don't want to acknowledge that it's an issue. They want to say it is just few rambunctious teenagers throwing barricades through windows and hidden with billiard clubs. So one we're trying to do is just kind of elevate the profile of the evil that it is.
INGRAHAM: We had Christopher Wray on Capitol Hill this week stating that most of the domestic terror incidents have been perpetrated by white nationalists-type groups. I think the Democrats will always point to that saying, don't blame us it's the white nationalists. Even the FBI Director said that.
CASSIDY: So don't tolerate them either. We on the right don't tolerate. On the other hand, the left should not be tolerating Antifa and they should label them what they are. I would love to see Presidential Candidates condemn Antifa for their assault on Andy Ngo. Wouldn't that be great?
INGRAHAM: We didn't have many. I think we ultimately had Andrew Yang, Biden a few.
CASSIDY: Get them all.
INGRAHAM: Swalwell dropped out but he condemn them. A few did but I don't think they want to go near the Salon, the favorite reading material Senator and a piece that they wrote about your resolution. They said the move looks to be a transparent attempt to saddle congressional democrats with a divisive political debate declaring themselves either against Antifa or in support of it invariably alienating some of the party's supporters ahead of a critical presidential election. It's a shocker that Salon might not have a big audience.
CASSIDY: So think about it. They're assuming that Antifa and Antifa's supporters are supporting democratic candidates that in itself a few real is an indictment of those democratic candidates.
INGRAHAM: Just saw people understand what the definition domestic terrorism is, this is the FBI's definition, "Perpetrated by individuals and or groups, inspired by or associated with primarily U.S. based movements that exposes extremist ideologies of a political, religious, social, racial or environmental nature".
So they're involved in violent acts motivated by those general ideas seems like it fits pretty clearly. So how many people are supporting your resolution? It's not legislation. Is that right? It's a resolution?
CASSIDY: It's a resolution. Right now it's Cruz and me. We'll get other people on board. Because it is something that should have its profile elevated. You may recall about a year ago, they surrounded a building in Portland in which ICE agents were doing their job. They were following people to pick up their children from ball games. They were publishing doxing them if you will--
INGRAHAM: It's going to get worse than that though.
CASSIDY: The landlord came and threatened them with needles they say we are HIV infected. It was tolerated by the Mayor the whole time.
INGRAHAM: This is some of the media types that I'm sure you've seen almost normalizing Antifa. Watch.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It says it right in the name. Antifa Anti-fascism, which is what they were there fighting. Listen. No organization is perfect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are certainly aspects of them that are true to a cause. That is a good cause. They want social justice. Fighting hate is right.
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INGRAHAM: Senator, nobody is perfect. No organization is perfect from Don Lemon. Is that where it is now?
CASSIDY: That is to not look through this kind of facade of actually caring about other people, to the fact that they want to beat up people to inhibit their first amendment rights their freedom of association which a previous guest was talking about is a little mind-blowing.
INGRAHAM: Yes, Gabriel who was just on it was a member of Antifa. He said they won't even tolerate questions from within. That harkens back to the old Soviet days of the young constables. You couldn't dissent from within.
CASSIDY: If you think Cuomo and Lemon should be about the first amendment rights and Antifa is trying to inhibit your first amendment rights that in itself should be offensive right to them. And nothing else should come after. It's that they're trying to inhibit people's first amendment rights.
INGRAHAM: Senator, we're going to be tracking who does and who does not sign on to your resolution. And please keep us informed us well.
CASSIDY: Thank you.
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