Of the four amendments under consideration in the senate. Well bring you that briefing live at 12 15 here on cspan3. And until then, well go back to the segment with delegate plas ket. Our first guest of the morning delegate plas ket from Virgin Islands here to talk about issues about the Reform Committee and other topics. Good morning to you. Good morning. Before we start though, your thoughts on the shooting from yesterday. Weve been through this before. What do you think the reaction from congress will be this time around . I think what well see is members are going to have a moment of silence. They are going to say this is a tragedy. And unfortunately i believe the majority is just going to move on from there and well continue to talk about the things weve been talking about. You know, this raises so much issues. Not just about shooting and gun safety and gun control, but also about mental health, about support systems within our schools, all are things that congress, members of congress we should be having hearing, discussions, and even bills that are out there bringing to the floor for regular order. Why do you think that on those issues there cant be a coming together . I would, you know, we have seen so many of these tragedies occur in this country, whether it be in schools, places of worship, night clubs, every venture weve h venture veneer weve had Mass Shootings and nothing done to date. And im sorry to the families who have had loss of life and for the children the ones who have survived who are going to be irreparably harmed by this. This will harm them for the rest of their lives. But i dont see our colleagues to have discussion and debate are willing to do so. You are a member of the house committee. Trey goudy wants to look at the vetting process especially in light of rob porter. First of all whats your opinion on this . The white house and executive branch has issues with vetting. We know there is an allowance for interim security clearance. We are also aware ultimately the president has the say in someones security clearance. And it would appear that there are quite a number of members of the white house who has problems. Its not unusual to have people on an interim security clearance for a number of months avenue administration. But the amount of members that have interim security clearances and length of time of those interim security clearances are tremendously problematic. And raise quite a bit of questions about the safety of this country and the information. I mean, listen, people have questions and flags raised about their security clearance because there is a belief they may be compromised by past lifestyle, by past issues related, whether related to financial, personal behavior, et cetera. And that need to be vetted through. Thats why we have the fbi. Thats why we have this process that goes through. And im very concerned for the safety of this country. And for our own security. Because of the number of people that flags have been raised on their security clearance. When the chairman announced he would take a look at it, what was your initial reaction . Surprise chtd because i know since the election, since november 16th, the ranking member, Elijah Cummings has issued at least 14 letters, to the chairman, which have gone unanswered, which have not been taken care of. So that led me to believe that this was not an issue that the chairman of the oversight and government Reform Committee wanted to take up. Because ultimately, of course, he has the say in what hearings we have. And whether or not there are going to be new investigations. Along with speaker ryan determining how resources are run in terms of investigations. So i was pleasancy surprised. Ive asked for details on what does this investigation mean. Is it just at staff level . Is it going to be both majority and minority staff working together . Will there actually be a panel of members that work specifically on this investigation . Those things have not been flushed out or im not aware of this em. And no response to those specific questions . Not at this point. Its my understanding this will be bipartisan in terms of the staff that are going to be working on the investigation. But, you know, when chairman goudy says that hes going to do something, hes usually very forthright and goes through with them. Ive been frustrated with the amount of briefings that weve had rather than hearings. Hes much more amiable to having closed door sessions where members meet with individuals and ask the questions they want. I think its his belief there is less grandstanding and politics goes on in that venue. But my concern is when members come out of it, they can of course spin that how they wish to do rather than the general public getting a sense on their own. The lines available to you if you want to ask our guests question. For republicans. 2078,000 for democrats. And independents 2028,0002. Why do you think it took rob porter to bring that to the committee . I think that is someone so extremely close to the president to have flags within his security clearance. Listen, we issued letters after flynn asking for background and information as to why he was kept on in the manner he was after having so many flags on his security clearance and other members. I cant say what the breaking point is, but you know sometimes its a very small thing that the Little Feather finally pushes something over the cliff. When it comes to security clearances what should disqualify someone . Even on the personal side like Domestic Violence abuse allegations . Thats what we have experts for. I think, i know i saw recently another member of the white house resigned because of his security clearance, appears to be related to past marijuana use. Was that something disqualify someone . I think there are varying degrees of thoughts on that. But i think that thats what we have the fbi, nsa, all those other agencies to go through this to determine based upon those individuals past experience will they be compromised. Do you think there is a process itself the length of time kind of interviews, is there a way not so much to streamline it but make it more efficient . That is what they are trying to find out. Thats why we issued the request from the white house, ask them to have hearings so we can look at the pros stes acess and dete something needs to be changed. So many people think the oversight and government Reform Committee is really a gotcha committee. But really supposed to be reforming government. So we need to understand what happened in the past so we can fix it for the future. Our guest is here to take questions. First one comes from jeff. Jeff is in nebraska. Republican line. On with our guest. Good morning, go ahead. Hi. Listen, when they changed over from the white house huey helicopter to the vh 6 they went to the marine corp. They wanted 20 to sit there along with the president and provide communications for the white house. I was one of those individuals. It took me 14 months to get my tssci clearance. And i was right there next to the president. So i know what this guy is going through, because they stopped my clearance probably four different times and told me, and they had to tell me, and they couldnt tell nobody else, but they told me, you have to go figure this out. It was about parking tickets. It was about one time of a 1950 for disturbing the peace that i was charged in salem, west virginia. It was ridiculous why they would stop these clearances. And once they stop it, they dont start it until you come back with the answer, and then theyll start it back up. I cant believe anybody that people dont know this. Because its ridiculous lust. Jeff, thanks for telling us your story. So two things related to what he was saying. Yes, you know, there seems to it be a length, a long period of time in which security clearances. Ive had it happen to me. Ive been through this process when i was at the Justice Department as political appointee and understand that. And so the government and the oversight government Reform Committee really needs to look at the process to see if there needs to be changes. Thats on the one line of questioning. But for many of us, the issue is not just that it took this long, but the number of people in very sensitive positions, listen, rob porter is seeing every piece of paper that is coming before the president as his secretary. And that puts him in a position to really be at a level in which he could be in fact compromised and security of our country be compromised. And its not just that itss on person, but numerous people in this white house very sensitive positions for the length of time. That in its totality is the reason this is problematic. East point, michigan, democrats line, joe is next. Good morning. Two things. First, white house knew, they knew about this guy. They knew for months. And its all going to come to light, all of this pretty quickly, i hope. Another thing, i was cleared for top secret, i was in the air force, air force security clearance, 19yearold sergeant, and the osi, office of special investigation went to my high school, they went to people that i had worked for in the summer, they asked about my character. You either got cleared or you did not. And it was done very quickly. Had i been a young wife beater i would have been off the radar immediately. This white house thinks they dont have to vet anybody. That they can do anything that they want to without any oversight at all. And i wonder what mr. Trump is hiding, what did the russians really have on him. Why dont he show us his tax returns. He is not qualified to have a clearance. Thanks, joe. This caller raises another issue that is also of concern to many on the committee and also to Many Americans. Is that what did the white house know and when did it know it . And it raises the issue of character in some respects. And particularly with regard to the chief of staff general kelly t you know, we went into the white house understanding that this was someone who would really bring order and discipline into the white house because there was great concern on both sides of the aisle that there had not been that kind of order in the white house up to date. But we are finding in numerous instances where general kelly, in fact, is someone who was allowing things and exacerbating the issue. Whether statements he makes about a member of congress that turn out not to be factually correct. In terms of what was said or not said by that member of congress. Whether its statements that he makes about dreamers. And now we understand that he might have very well been not only aware of what the allegations were and what the issues were with regard to mr. Porter and the white house, but that he in fact when talking to members of the press and to others gave erroneous dates when he knew that information. Fort bell, democrats line, james is next. James, you are on. Go ahead. Good listen, i have a couple things i want to say, but im going to say them quickly here. This is to all of the all your listeners and all of the callers who are going to call in. All right. Yes, were going through a trying period right now, all right, with this quote unquote 45 president. However, all right, come october, i dont know what your religious belief is but i prayed on it. Because of those individuals that died, the 17, my heart goes out to them. We did nothing because of the nra. But thats all right. We need to get the democrats in the house, and guess what, we contain the beast because think about this. His hotel is 666, all right. That is the sign of the devil in the beginning. Okay, james. Thanks. Possibility of a democratic turnover in the house . Well, you know, thats something that of course im very hopeful for. I know that our the Democratic Congressional campaign committee, the Senatorial Campaign committee are working really, really hard to organize and to put mechanisms in place at the grass roots level to do that. I think were at a disadvantage because of how many of these districts have been the lines were drawn. It makes it a real push for us, an uphill battle, but i think it can be done. For democrats right now, its really to try and get a message out there that lets americans know what the Democratic Party is working on and what were doing. And not get so in the weeds as we often do with speaking in policy and speaking in really wonkish areas. Listen, the Democratic Party is trying to show americans what this tax bill is going to do to them and what so many of the policies of the majority have been that are detrimental to every day americans. I think that message is resonating. Weve seen it in some of the special elections that have come up, but the true test, of course, will be in november. Youre on the transportation and infrastructure committee. The president unveiling his plans for infrastructure, the creation of this poll in order to allow states to get access to money. What do you think fundamentally about this plan . I think its a hollow plan. You cannot have a federal infrastructure plan that does not put federal dollars into the plan. Insent vying peop incentivizing people to go into building is one thing, but to put the onus on the states is a nonstarter. I know many met with the president yesterday to talk about his infrastructure plan. There seems to be some confusion as to for the president is for or not for a gas tax. Im also a member of the new Democratic Coalition and cochair of our Infrastructure Task force. Were really interested not just only in increasing funding by the federal government to fix our crumbling infrastructure but also an Infrastructure Bank and also putting serious money in those areas that have been left behind, areas that like my district, the Virgin Islands, which is not going to be able to provide 80 of the funding necessary to build our roads and our ports the way they should be. From durham, north carolina, independent line, richard. Good morning. Caller yes, id like to say to the Virgin Islands delegate today, the biggest problem we face in America Today is the race problem. The race problem is permeating everything that happens in this country from top to bottom. And we need to really recognize it from being led by the United States, israel, eastern europe, western europe. All of it is infected by the race problem, even the issue that happened yesterday with the guns. Its infected by the race problem. Until we make up our minds to solve this race problem, we are not going to solve any of these problems, and its only going to get worse. The rigged election we just had that put trump in, we have very few delegates in the Electoral College of color. All of them were white and all of them happened to be the product of a gerrymandered Voting System which is rigged from top to bottom. Okay, guest. Well leave it there, let the guest respond. I think that we dont have a race problem today. I think theres always been issues of race in this country. You look at the foundation of the country and how it was built. I think what were seeing today is this is coming to head and were hearing this much louder. I see it in the immigration policy where theyre pitting dreamers against those of african and caribbean descent, whether youre going to allow diversity lottery or the dreamers to come into this country. I heard it in much of the speech that was given to us at the state of the union address. Were trying to color the dreamers as gang members. And you know, saying that individuals of the nfl who were speaking out in a very patriotic manner in my mind were unamerican. So i think this is just an issue that has been with us for almost 300 years and now its just coming to a head. From mary in north carolina, republican line, hi. Caller hi, good morning. I appreciate the news. Sometimes i agree, and sometimes i disagree. I think this vetting at the white house, honestly, i dont believe any of it. I believe there is a conspiracy, and every day the president is attacked. I dont i think that something will come out. Im glad that trey gowdy is investigating the fbi. Also, i dont believe theres a race problem. Im white, and i didnt vote for obama, but i tolerated him and respected him because he was our president for eight years. I think its vile and disrespectful that every single day the president is bullied. I really do believe that he wants to help the dreamers, and i think that the democrats its very sad have gone so far left that all they do is obstruct. I dont believe theres a race problem in this country. We you know, we took care of that years ago with the slavery. Got you, caller, got you. Well, you know, im very grateful that she has an opinion and that she feels free to express it. I dont necessarily agree with the opinions that she has. Listen, we do have a race problem. I have four sons who are black young men, have been doing the right thing, and yet still im very every time they go out in the evening, im concerned for their life. And thats not because theyre doing anything bad, but its simply because of the color of their skin. And i dont think that, you know, when you talk about that you tolerated president obama, that speaks volumes in itself, that you would think someone as educated and as sound of mind as he was that he needed to be tolerated as an individual and as a president. But you know, first lets be clear. Trey gowdy is not investigating the fbi. Hes investigating the process. And i think that to say that the president is being bullied is, you know, not true at all. I think that there are issues in which this president has operated that are outside of the box that, are not just outside of the norm but outside of the process. Hes being pulled back into the process because theres a reason that our founders put it in place. Because it is the institution of the United States thats more important than an individual. Thats what this president is going to know at the end of the day. Also, finally, when you talk about the democrats being obstructionists, i think the democrats are sticking to a set of principles and a set of values that they hold. And where this president is willing to work within those values, were willing to work with him, which is why you had a bipartisan, bicameral budget that passed last week. Throughout the eight years of president obama, the leadership of the Republican Party said publicly on tv that we will obstruct and we will not give him anything that he is looking for. That, to me, is the ultimate in obstructionism. You worked at the Justice Department. Remind viewers about your relationship with james comey. So james comey was my boss. I was a republican political apo appointee at the Justice Department. I worked first for Larry Thompson. I stayed on. James comey asked me to stay on and work with him when he was the Deputy Attorney general. Interestingly, during the time i was there, chris wray was the chief of staff for Larry Thompson when i worked on that staff with about 12 attorneys working for him. So i have a very Good Relationship with chris wray. I consider him a friend. I think he is a an amazing, upstanding american and that hes going to do whats necessary to uphold the institution of the fbi. When he tells the fbis version of the vetting of rob porter, do you believe his version of events as far as the process that played out . I think what hes saying is, you know, its not helpful to him personally to say that that was the process because it goes contradictory to the white house and to the chief of staff, and hes an appointee of the president. But i think that chris wray is not just looking to uphold the fbi but ensure that the integrity of the process takes place. So when he gave that timeline under oath, i believe that timeline that hes given. We have to remember, also that, when john kelly has spoken or the president has spoken, they have not spoken under oath, under pain of perjury and criminal charges for lying under oath. Chris wray did that. When we hear from the president under oath or john kelly, then ill have to weigh what they say at that point. As far as the president s treatment not only of the fbi but of jim comey still, what do you think . Well, you know, i think that is our president is a smart man, and he understands that if he continues to chip at the fbi and question its integrity that when it comes after him, there are Many Americans like the caller who are not going to believe what the fbi says about him. Because he has made an effort over the last year to impugn the integrity of that institution and what it does. So that its credibility is now in question. Next week were going to have lannie davis on our program to talk about his book. I dont know if youve read it, but the title says the unmaking of the president 2016 how the fbi director jim comey cost Hillary Clinton the presidency. What do you think of that sentiment . Im so past that election. We are where we are right now, and i think we need to work within with what we have. Its like crying over spilled milk. I think james comey i have Great Respect for him, worked for him. I think that he believes in the integrity of the American People, but as an attorney, i dont think necessarily it was appropriate for him to make any of the statements that he made, whether it was the first one saying that they had an investigation and they found her not to have done anything criminally, or the second one when he said were reopening the investigation. I think part of his feeling he had to come out was in fact because loretta lynch, who was the attorney general at the time, was recused from the matter and couldnt make statements herself. Lets go back to calls. Lake, dallas, texas, democrats line. Caller good morning, everyone. Im just wondering aloud, okay. Even if you consider request, which most of those are legitimate in my point of view and look at the past, lets say, five, give it ten just say ten the last ten products that somebody declassified, in most cases they were all for political gain in some way shape or form. Im of the opinion that we have to have or build some kind of bureaucracy where they handle all of the vetting and the classification and declassification of producting from our country. Okay. Lets leave it there. I think what the caller is talking about in some instances, you know, most recent is the memos that were coming out of the select intelligence committee. With that, democrats were shocked that there was this memo that was going to be not just drafted but was potentially going to be released by the republicans. This is something that hasnt been done in the past with classified information. And what we have not done in the past is we do have a system in place, which is the National Security and security agencies saying they felt this was problematic and was a bad idea to release this memo. Needless to say, it was done anyway. So we have checks and balances in our government between the executive legislative and the judici judicial branch. But i think theres now becoming a lack of respect for each one of those branches of government and people overstepping their bounds. I believe that the republicans in that instance overstepped their bounds. What the democrats were trying to do was to bring balance by having their own memo then put out, which we felt not just refuted but brought light to some of the instances that were in the memo that was drafted by the republicans. I think there needs to be an enormous amount of selfcorrection thats done by congress itself because i think were outside of the norms of government. But i do believe that is them taking a cue from whats happening down the road at pennsylvania avenue in the white house. Todd is the last call. Hes from michigan. Todd, go right ahead, please. Caller hi, how are you doing . Morning. Caller i have a problem with the fbi and the Democratic Party and the mainstream media. It seems like theyre all democrats, and the media is the propaganda arm of the democrats, including cspan. But you guys have actively tried to unseat a duly elected president. Nobody is talking about how bad the fbi has treated president trump. Regardless of whether he said he didnt trust the intelligence community, he has a right to do that. They have lost the American Peoples trust. Okay. Thanks. Thanks. You know, i dont think that the democrats are trying to unseat good nancy pelosi, bad nancy pelosi, whatever your thoughts, the leader of the democrats in the house has said she doesnt want to talk about impeachment, that the president is the president and shes willing to work with him and has gone up to the white house on a number of occasions to do just that. I have never signed on to any impeachment bills. If you look, youll see the majority of democrats have not done that. We are trying to work with the president that we have, which is donald j. Trump. Hes the 45th president of the United States. Most of us have moved on with that. When you talk about the distrust of the fbi, the fbi is not trying to beat up on this president. The fbi is trying to do and follow the law. If the president is outside of the law or there are questions about him doing it, i thank god the fbi is going to check not just the president but each and every one of americans that are not going to follow the laws that have been put in place by this by the people of the United States. Before we let you go, give us a status report on the Virgin Islands, especially posthurricane. Im grateful that Congress Passed a bill that gave us disaster funding and support, particularly in the medicaid area, which allows us the breathing room to be able to build. In terms of disaster, in terms of whats happening on the ground, while most people have electricity, we are compromised in a lot of areas. Our hospitals are still not functioning properly. Most of our dialysis patients are off. Even more importantly, our children. Weve lost nine schools, so kids are on a splitshift session where theyre only in school for four hours and sharing school space. So im hopeful with this money, were going to begin the rebuilding. Its going to take many years. You know, weve seen examples of this, whether its new york and new jersey through sandy, louisiana and mississippi with katrina, but we have the blueprint in place to do that. Thanks for your time. Thanks for having me. This weekend on American History tv on cspan3, saturday at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on lectures in history, former Virginia GovernorDouglas Wilder at virginia commonwealth university. I have a oneword definition that i use for politics. Can anyone guess what that is . And ive said one word would define politics. Money. Give me something thats a proposition before any tribunal that doesnt involve money. Sunday at 10 00 a. M. Eastern from the west point center for oral history, henry hank thomas, a combat medic during the vietnam war. My grandfather served in world war i. My father served in world war ii. Always for a black man. Whenever you served, it was your military service you hope would confirm your bona fides as a firstclass, redblooded american citizen entitled to. At 4 00 p. M. On real america, with the cpac conference in washington, d. C. Next week, we look back to 1988 when president reagan spoke at a cpac dinner. The American People know what limited government, tax cuts, deregulation, and the move toward privatization have meant. Its meant the largest peacetime expansion in our history. And i can guarantee you they wont want to throw that away from a return to budgets behold on to the