CNN "Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees" - Transcript: "Interview with Rep. Bennie Thompson"
Interview
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[20:24:04] BERMAN: As we mentioned at the top of the program, President Trump did not wait for the intensifying Hurricane Dorian to pass to take another shot at Puerto Rico.
He tweeted and I'm quoting here: Puerto Rico is one of the most corrupt places on Earth. Their political system is broken and their politicians are either incompetent or corrupt. Congress approved billions of dollars last time, more than any place else has ever gotten, and it is sent to crooked pols. Not good.
Last night, you heard the mayor of San Juan praised the effort federal authorities are making to help this time. But as for the president himself, she advised him to, quote, get out of the way, unquote, and let them do their jobs.
That said, as we reported last night, the administration is siphoning money out of the FEMA disaster relief fund, at least $155 million, to be used for border enforcement measures.
Joining us is Congressman Bennie Thompson, Democrat of Mississippi and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
Mr. Chairman, thanks so much for being with us.
First of all, what does it say to you that the president couldn't resist slamming Puerto Rico just as they were bracing for a potential hit from Hurricane Dorian?
REP. BENNIE THOMPSON (D-MS): Well, you know, that's who Donald Trump is. He's a bully. He talks about American citizens and it's all about him. In the time Puerto Rico is being faced with another disaster, he talks about the people there who are American citizens and unfortunately, in the midst of this, he's diverting money that should go to the disaster relief effort for a manufactured crisis that he created along the border.
So for the people in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and not too long, Florida, we'll get it right. Maybe Donald Trump will come to his senses and understand that as president of the United States, he's obligated to help Americans in time of need.
BERMAN: You say that aversion of these funds could have deadly consequences. How?
THOMPSON: Well, there is no question. We're in the midst of hurricane season. We have a number of disasters on going. Who knows?
But, Mr. President, you created the disaster along the border and now you're diverting much-needed FEMA funds to this effort. More importantly, is we don't even have anybody in charge at FEMA. We have an acting director.
There are just so many other things the president could be involved in other than making light of the people in Puerto Rico and, obviously, this manufactured crisis along the border. This Remain in Mexico policy is a Trump-initiated policy that they are now admitting is not working.
So, for whatever reason, he just throws taxpayers' moneys around like it grows on trees, and so, Democrats are prepared to work with this administration if they want to. But you know, you have to sit and talk to people as if they are adults. Nobody is a child.
So, if this administration is willing to talk to Democrats, Democrats are prepared to sit and work out common solutions for our American problems.
BERMAN: You criticized the diversion of the funds from FEMA to the border and Speaker Pelosi called stunningly reckless stealing from appropriated funds she says.
But is that really the case? Don't get funds -- don't funds get transferred all the time under agencies in the same department?
THOMPSON: Well, they do. But usually, the transfer in this instance should be for extenuating circumstances.
There is no real extenuating circumstance along the border because we just gave the largest appropriated amount in the history of department for immigration and other purposes. So, what the president is trying to do is to satisfy his base that he's doing everything he can to browbeat the people on the southern border. Asylum seekers are still people who are in this seeking -- (CROSSTALK)
BERMAN: But if this money went for beds for these asylum seekers, as you note who are human beings, and I think you would also note that the numbers of people on the boarder is at a crisis level, the asylum seekers in this case, would it be OK to divert the funds to help them?
THOMPSON: Well, you know, it's a manufactured crisis. The number is coming down overall and this is kind of pits and highs and lows that we experienced.
But again, we through the Trump administration manufactured this crisis. And so, what we are prepared to do in a calm orderly fashion, work on a solution, but this knee-jerk effort that he continues to do to satisfy his base is not working.
BERMAN: Were you critical -- I just want to know --
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THOMPSON: Democrats are not going to fall to this knee-jerk response.
BERMAN: I just want to note, the Obama administration did shift funding in 2014 from disaster relief to cover the ice budget in 2014. Were you supportive of that shift of funds in 2014?
THOMPSON: Well, but he shifted consistent with what the law say. As you know, this administration is a month late on the shift.
So I understand that there are things that happen, but if the guidelines say you have to do it within a certain period of time, you can't come a month later and do it and say oh, well, we just have to do it. We have regulations.
Even Donald Trump and his administration has regulations, whether they want to follow them or not.
BERMAN: Chairman Thompson, thank you for being with us tonight.
I do want to note as this storm passes over Florida, our --
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[20:30:00] BENNIE THOMPSON, CHAIRMAN, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY: -- Donald Trump and his administration has regulations whether they want to follow them or not.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: Chairman Thompson, thank you so much for being with us tonight. And I do want to note, as the storm passes over Florida, our meteorologist just note it could head into the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi perhaps could be in the path, as well. So, good luck to you and I know that people in your state are looking for help. So thanks for with us tonight.
THOMPSON: Yes. Thank you very much, John.
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