DPCC Co-Chair Jeffries: House Republicans Have Failed To Focus On Improving American People’s Lives
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) and Democratic Caucus Chair-designee, appeared on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer on CNN to discuss how the Republicans majority is choosing to spend the lame duck period obsessing over James Comey, while Democrats remain focused on fighting for the people. Below are excerpts from the interview. Click here to watch the video.
"I think it's important that the President fill the vacancy with someone who is respected on both sides of the aisle. William Barr has a decent reputation as far as I can tell, has the appropriate degree of experience. He'll, of course, have to be vetted by Senators who are Republicans and Democrats as part of the confirmation process, but we do need to move beyond the current Acting Attorney General who appears to be nothing but a lackey for Donald Trump and someone who does not do justice to the Department of Justice."
"Well I think we want to see further evidence to the extent that Bob Mueller deems it necessary to lay out the case as to what actually happened in 2016 and whether there was collusion and/or a real conspiracy that took place between Russian operatives at the direction of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump's campaign team with respect to selling out our democracy, and we just have to make sure that Bob Mueller can be Bob Mueller in continuing to do his job, lay out the facts, gather the evidence and then present that to the American people. And, simultaneously, Wolf, House Democrats are going to pursue our "For the People" agenda, focused on kitchen table, pocketbook issues like lowering healthcare costs for everyday Americans."
"It's certainly a tactic that we've seen used by prosecutors all throughout the country in regular cases that are brought before our court system. And, this particular instance, if a witness has provided substantial assistance, as Bob Mueller appears to be indicating Michael Flynn has done, then the recommendation is often for a lenient sentence. It is quite extraordinary that you would have the Trump National Security Adviser, who as a result of that position and the breach of trust that took place by at least pleading guilty to lying to a federal agent, the recommendation would be no jail time which seems to suggest that a significant amount of information has been presented, and that could be damaging for the Trump Administration."
"That's a great question. First of all, the hearings should be in public view so that the American people can hear what James Comey has to say, if the Republicans are going to go through the process of dragging him before our committee. What we really should be focusing on, dealing with issues that improve the lives of everyday Americans, and what's sad to me, Wolf, is that in the lame duck final hours of Republican rule in the House of Representatives, this is what they choose to focus on. They have an obsession with James Comey that they just can't escape even after the American people have rejected them because of their failure to do things to improve the lives of everyday Americans."