ON “CBS THIS MORNING,” SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT PAM BONDI SAYS PRESIDENT TRUMP “WOULD LOVE” TO TESTIFY BUT PROBABLY WON’T
Pam Bondi, a special adviser to President Donald Trump, joined CBS THIS MORNING for her first interview since she began her new role on Monday. Bondi, who was previously Florida’s attorney general, reacted to the impeachment hearings and spoke about the chance of the president testifying.
Watch Here: https://cbsn.ws/2Oy9npS
Photo Credit: CBS News
Excerpts:
- On how well President Trump knows Gordon Sondland: “We’re going to hear what Gordon Sondland has to say today... He was ambassador to the Ukraine. He is ambassador to the Ukraine, and the president knows him. The president does not know him very well. He’s a short-term ambassador. Of course he knows him. He’s the ambassador.” https://bit.ly/2OtNd8j
- On the likeliness that President Trump testifies in front of Congress: “The president – I know why he wants to testify. Of course he wants to testify, because he did nothing wrong. But do I think it’s likely he’s going to testify? Probably not, because no one would advise him to testify because this is a sham court. It really is. What they’re telling him [is] come in and prove your innocence – is that the system in which we live now? I believe things will be equal and fair if it goes to the Senate, when it goes to the Senate. But no, the president should not testify. I know exactly why he wants to, though. But no human being should have to come in and prove their innocence ever.” https://bit.ly/345oiP3
- On President Trump’s unplanned hospital visit and his health: “First of all, going early to a physical was getting it out of the way because he had a day on his calendar where he could get to Walter Reed. I was with the president yesterday, and I can tell you directly from him, his health is excellent. He did not suffer a stroke, he did not suffer a heart attack, not even close. That is 100% fake news, and thank you for asking, Gayle. His health is wonderful. He’s fine.” https://bit.ly/2D2cwsQ
Rush Transcript:
ANTHONY MASON: Pam Bondi is a special adviser to the president. This is her first interview since she started on Monday. Bondi was previously Florida’s attorney general. She joins us from Washington. Ms. Bondi, good morning, welcome, thanks for being here.
PAM BONDI: Good morning, thank you, Anthony.
MASON: As we mentioned, Ambassador Sondland is a key witness this morning. Initially he testified there was no link between aid for the Ukraine and an investigation into the Bidens, but later said his memory was refreshed, and that there was a quid pro quo. How do you explain his change in testimony?
BONDI: We’re not going to get ahead of the testimony. The testimony is going to speak for itself today. Every day during this testimony, what has everyone been saying? “Explosive testimony – it’s going to take down the president of the United States.” That has not happened, and that’s not going to happen. You know, being a career prosecutor and an attorney general, and a lawyer of all things, the most important thing to know is that this is our constitution. This is the most serious job that the House of Representatives can do, to try to impeach a sitting president. Yet what have we seen so far? Absolutely nothing. The witnesses yesterday did nothing to hurt the president, and we believe nothing will happen going forward. You know this all started in a bunker with Adam Schiff and Democrats. Republicans weren’t allowed in the door. In fact, they were kicked out of the hearings.
TONY DOKOUPIL: Well, miss –
BONDI: Hearsay was admissible. That’s just what’s continuing on and on. If you –
DOKOUPIL: Ms. Bondi –
BONDI: If you got a ticket for jaywalking, you would have more rights than the president’s been afforded. I’m sorry. Go ahead, Tony.
DOKOUPIL: Yeah, I want to point out that we’ve heard from career diplomats, nonpartisans who have served multiple presidents, and some people who were brought in to work for the Trump administration specifically. So I think their concerns are significant. And it sounds like you’re going to stick by whatever Gordon Sondland has to say this morning. But the testimony that has already been released regarding him suggests that he does say there was a quid pro quo. So I think a key question here now is he’s bragged about having a direct line to the president, he’s bragged about being in touch with the president. The president says he barely knew him. So what’s the truth?
BONDI: Well, let’s let the testimony come out, and let’s see, let’s see what the Democrats ask him and what the Republicans ask him. And –
DOKOUPIL: Does the president know Gordon Sondland well? Are they in frequent contact? Have they been?
BONDI: We’re going to hear what Gordon Sondland has to say today. He’s ambassador –
DOKOUPIL: What does the president say?
BONDI: For a short while –
MASON: What does the president say?
BONDI: He was ambassador to the Ukraine. He is ambassador to the Ukraine, and the president knows him. The president does not know him very well. He’s a short-term ambassador. Of course he knows him. He’s the ambassador. But you know, let’s go back to the two witnesses that you talked about. Vindman and Williams. What did they say based on the transcript that – by the way, other people have heard the transcript. Read the transcript. It’s very important. The transcript speaks for itself.
DOKOUPIL: It’s not a transcript I want to point out; it’s a call summary. There’s been some dispute about whether everything was included.
BONDI: They said it was substantially accurate. They both said it was substantially accurate.
DOKOUPIL: I want to get to the facts. I think they’re very important. The American people want to hear, as well –
BONDI: I do, too.
DOKOUPIL: Somebody who’s got all the facts in his head right now is President Trump himself. He said he’s going to strongly consider testifying. Would you support that, and when could it happen?
GAYLE KING: And how likely do you think it is, Ms. Bondi, that the president will actually testify?
BONDI: Good morning, Gayle.
KING: Good morning.
BONDI: The president – I know why he wants to testify. Of course he wants to testify, because he did nothing wrong. But do I think it’s likely he’s going to testify? Probably not, because no one would advise him to testify because this is a sham court. It really is. What they’re telling him [is] come in and prove your innocence – is that the system in which we live now? I believe things will be equal and fair if it goes to the Senate, when it goes to the Senate. But no, the president should not testify. I know exactly why he wants to, though. But no human being should have to come in and prove their innocence ever.
DOKOUPIL: Ms. Bondi, is the concern that the president, if he were to testify, he would have to take an oath to tell the truth. Is that problematic?
BONDI: Absolutely not. The president has done nothing wrong and would love to take an oath and tell the truth. However, when you have a one-sided court where they’re telling him, “Come in and prove your innocence….” You know, Tony, if you got a jaywalking ticket walking across the street in New York, which I know you don’t do, you would have more rights than the president of the United States has been afforded. It’s really been outrageous. It’s a sham what they’ve been trying to do. Yet the president has continued running our country every day, and every day when this is going on, every day these hearings, what are we missing? USMCA, how important that is, drug pricing, everything else.
MASON: Ms. Bondi, I want to go back to Ambassador Sondland because he’s testifying again today. He has bragged he talked to the president whenever he wanted. Is that accurate?
BONDI: Well, he clearly had conversations with the president of the United States. He’s ambassador to Ukraine. But as far as aid getting held up – aid was released, and we’re very proud of that. Lethal [sic] aid to Ukraine. Much more than the last administration without any investigation being open. We’re very, very proud of that. They’re saying he held aid back because of all these reasons. That’s not why. Aid was released well, well before the deadline. It was released on Sept. 15, and a lot of things were going on in our world then. Have you seen the letter that Ron Johnson wrote about the aid being released? Back on August 31, Ron Johnson says in a letter that the president talked to him and said, “Good things are going to happen, aid’s going – I think you’re going to be very happy with what’s going to happen regarding the aid.” And –
KING: Ms. Bondi, before you go –
BONDI: Go ahead, Gayle –
KING: How is the president’s health? We know he said he was getting a jump-start on his physical – I don’t know any man that goes early to a physical. Can you just tell us how he’s doing? How is his health?
BONDI: Okay, first of all, going early to a physical was getting it out of the way because he had a day on his calendar where he could get to Walter Reed. I was with the president yesterday, and I can tell you directly from him that his health is excellent. He did not suffer a stroke, he did not suffer a heart attack, not even close. That is 100% fake news, and thank you for asking, Gayle. His health is wonderful. He’s fine.
ANCHORS: Pam Bondi, thank you so much for being with us.
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