CNN "The Lead With Jake Tapper" - Transcript "Interview with DE Se. Chris Coons"

Interview

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Joining me now is Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. He serves on the Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committee.

Senator, thank you so much for joining me.

First question is, what is your reaction to this reporting that the president offered to pardon officials if they break the law in order to get his wall built?

SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): Dana, this is just another in the daily cavalcade of outrages from this president.

The idea that he is so determined to meet one of his campaign promises to build a wall with Mexico and make Mexico pay for it, that, today, two-and-a-half years into his presidency, he is not only diverting money from hurricane relief and from Department of Defense projects, but he is offering to pardon folks in his administration if they break the law by seizing private land, and racing through the contracting process in order to get it done, it's hard to know what to say, other than, it's Wednesday, and our president has done another outrageous thing.

My hope is that the American public is paying attention. And there is a reason why Joe Biden continues to enjoy a double-digit lead over his competitors for the presidential nomination. Americans know that Joe Biden would address these issues.

The ways in which President Trump's antics at the G7, suggesting we should invite Russia back to the table, would be changed fundamentally, and promptly, if Joe Biden were our president.

And the ways in which President Trump's attacks today on Puerto Rico, even as it faces a likely hurricane, would be the exact opposite of how a President Joe Biden would conduct himself in office.

BASH: I think it was pretty obvious there, but we should say you have endorsed Senator Biden. You're a fellow...

COONS: I have endorsed Joe Biden for president, yes.

BASH: A fellow Democrat from Delaware.

I want to ask you about something else that is in the news that we have heard about. And that is Bill Barr, the attorney general, plans to hold a $30,000 Christmas party at the Trump Hotel here in Washington.

[16:45:00] He is paying for it with his own money, says ethics officers signed off. Do you think that's appropriate as a Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee?

COONS: Oh it's troubling that our Attorney General doesn't see any problem with spending a significant amount of money on very publicly holding a Christmas party at a hotel that is owned by and has the name of our president on the very front of it.

President Trump has done nothing to significantly distance himself from his ongoing economic interests and the most recent proof of that was yesterday when at the G7 he publicly announced that next year when the United States hosts the G7, he thinks the best place to have it would be at a Trump-owned resort in Florida, the Doral.

So we have a president who doesn't respect the boundaries between the Emoluments Clause of our Constitution, his own personal interests, and the possible conflicts of interest in his public conduct. And now we have an attorney general who I think is blind to the potential appearance of impropriety by his -- having his annual cocktail party, his holiday party -- excuse me -- at the Trump Hotel in Washington.

BASH: Is there anything Congress can do about it or the Senate?

COONS: It's just another disturbing development.

BASH: Is there anything the Judiciary Committee can do about it as a part of its oversight function?

COONS: Well, when we get back into session September 9th, I'm certainly going to be talking with colleagues about whether there's something we could do in the appropriations process or something we could do as members of the Judiciary Committee to suggest that it's inappropriate for the Attorney General to take this step.

BASH: Before I let you go, I want to ask about some breaking news today out of the Senate, and that is Republican Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia announced that he's going to resign from Congress because of failing health. I know, Senator, that you and he worked well together across party lines which people don't see much these days.

COONS: Johnny is one of the kindest, most decent, most capable people I've ever served with. He and his wife Diane are great friends of my wife's and mine and I am frankly heartsick at the idea of Johnny retiring at the end of this year. I can't imagine the Senate without him. He's part of the glue that holds us together.

He is just exactly the sort of person that you would hope serves in the Senate tireless and advocating for his constituents, someone who has legislated across the aisle repeatedly and successfully, someone who's humble and hard-working, capable, and faithful. I will deeply miss him and I look forward to years of friendship in the future and to serving out the rest of this year with him.

I'm the Vice-Chairman of the Ethics Committee. He's the chairman and he has led the Ethics Committee very capably with a balance of a common sense and good character. And in my first term in the Senate, I was the chairman of the Africa Subcommittee and he was my ranking member. We've traveled together, we've legislated together. I will deeply miss Johnny Isakson in the United States Senate.

BASH: Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, thank you so much, Senator.

COONS: Thank you, Dana.

BASH: And up next, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson making a rare request of the Queen. We'll explain next.

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