On this “Face the Nation” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
- Sen. Raphael Warnock, Democrat of Georgia
- Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger
- Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson
- Rep. Mike Lawler, Republican of New York
- Paul Whelan, Marine veteran freed in prisoner swap with Russia
Click on right here to browse full transcripts of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan. And this week on FACE THE NATION, candidates are crisscrossing battleground states, making their remaining pitches to voters.
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump held dueling rallies final evening. And with 16 days to go till Election Day, the assaults are turning more and more private.
(BEGIN VC)
DONALD TRUMP (R), (Former U.S. President And 2024 Presidential Candidate): You are a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) vp. The worst. You are the worst vp. Kamala, you are fired!
KAMALA HARRIS, (Vice President Of The U.S. (D) And U.S. Presidential Candidate): He’s solely targeted on himself, and now he is ducking debates and canceling interviews due to exhaustion.
(END VC)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll discuss with Georgia’s Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock.
New York Republican Mike Lawler, who’s working in a detailed Home race, can even be a part of us.
Early voting is underway in a lot of the nation, with report turnout in some battleground states. We’ll discuss with two secretaries of state, Georgia’s Brad Raffensperger, and Michigan’s Jocelyn Benson.
Plus, in his first interview since turning into a free man, Paul Whelan recounts the 5 and a half years he was wrongfully detained by Russia.
It is all simply forward on FACE THE NATION.
Good morning, and welcome to FACE THE NATION, the place we’re two weeks and two days till the election.
We start this morning with Caitlin Huey-Burns who’s with the Trump marketing campaign in Pittsburgh.
(BEGIN VT)
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS (voice over): Campaigning at an airport hangar close to Pittsburgh, former President Trump ramped up his assaults on the present administration and his opponent, Kamala Harris.
DONALD TRUMP (R), (Former U.S. President And 2024 Presidential Candidate): This election is a selection between whether or not we could have an unbelievable 4 extra years of failure and such a horrible 4 years. We had a horrible – consider the – all the things they contact turns to (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS (voice over): Trump misplaced Pennsylvania in 2020, and he desires it again. The state’s 19 electoral votes are up for grabs, with CBS Information polling displaying a useless warmth.
FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: We’ll reduce your taxes, demolish inflation, slash your costs, increase your wages and switch the US into the manufacturing superpower of the world.
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS (voice over): Trump spent greater than ten minutes off script, with an uncommon tribute to the legendary professional golfer and Pennsylvanian, Arnold Palmer, the namesake of the rally’s venue.
FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: It is a man that was all man. This man was robust and difficult. And I refuse to say it, however when he took showers with the opposite execs, they got here out of there, and so they stated, oh, my God. That is unbelievable.
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS (voice over): And final week, when one potential voter expressed concern about his dealing with of January sixth, Trump was defiant.
FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: You had lots of of 1000’s of individuals come to Washington. They thought the election was a rigged election. And that is why they got here. A few of these folks went right down to the Capitol. I stated, peacefully and patriotically. Nothing executed unsuitable in any respect. Nothing executed unsuitable.
However that was a day of affection.
(END VT)
CAITLIN HUEY-BURNS: Trump is campaigning throughout Pennsylvania once more in the present day, and his feedback are offering extra fodder for his opponent, Kamala Harris.
My colleague Weijia Jiang is touring with the vp within the battleground state of Georgia.
(BEGIN VT)
WEIJIA JIANG (voice over): Final evening in Atlanta, Vice President Harris made an uncommon transfer to name consideration to what she says is a Trump administration coverage, overturning Roe v. Wade.
KAMALA HARRIS, (Vice President Of The U.S. (D) And U.S. Presidential Candidate): Roll the clip.
WEIJIA JIANG (voice over): Harris confirmed supporters a video, telling the story of a pregnant girl whose dying after Georgia’s restrictive six-week abortion ban went into impact galvanized abortion rights supporters. Her mother and father had been within the crowd.
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: I promised Amber’s mom that we’ll at all times keep in mind her story, and converse her identify, Amber Nicole Thurman.
WEIJIA JIANG (voice over): And Harris emphasised Trump’s position in overturning Roe v. Wade.
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: Donald Trump nonetheless refuses to take accountability.
WEIJIA JIANG (voice over): In Michigan, house to the most important Arab American group within the nation, there are issues from Democrats that Biden administration’s assist for Israel’s battle in Gaza might price Harris votes. Final week she introduced up the dying of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar.
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: Everybody should seize this chance to lastly finish the battle in Gaza, and finish the struggling as soon as and for all.
WEIJIA JIANG (voice over): Not solely is Harris targeted on Trump’s insurance policies, however she stepped up her assaults on Trump personally, together with on his psychological health.
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: He is turning into more and more instable and unhinged, and it requires that response.
WEIJIA JIANG (voice over): One other Harris problem, attracting male voters. Former President Obama has been serving to to undermine Trump’s efforts to win the so-called bro vote.
BARACK OBAMA, (Former U.S. President): The lads who appear to suppose Trump’s conduct of bullying folks and placing them down is one way or the other a macho signal of power. I am telling you, that is not what actual power is. By no means has been.
(END VT)
WEIJIA JIANG: Obama and Harris will lastly marketing campaign collectively for the primary time on Thursday. This morning, the vp is attending a service at this Baptist church, and will probably be taking part in occasions geared toward reaching black voters.
Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is Weijia Jiang reporting from Atlanta.
We go now to Democratic Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock of Georgia.
Good morning to you.
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK (D-GA): Good morning, Margaret. Nice to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, we have now seen unbelievable turnout on the polls in Georgia thus far. On Friday, although, Vice President Harris spoke about assaults on the liberty to vote, and he or she particularly referenced the state of Georgia.
As , the Division of Justice and the state have been combating, going all the way in which again to 2021 about some state legal guidelines that the Justice Division stated denied or bridged the correct of black Georgians to vote on account of their race or colour. The Justice Division didn’t win that case.
Do you suppose that the vp’s continued feedback might backfire right here by way of discouraging folks from displaying as much as vote?
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK: No, I believe the intention of voter suppression is to discourage folks from voting.
Look, we – we noticed the shenanigans of the Georgia state board of elections for what they’re, this effort to actually change the foundations whereas individuals are voting. And the courts rightly pushed again on that.
Keep in mind that throughout my runoff, my final runoff, we – I needed to sue the state of Georgia, state officers, simply so folks might vote the primary weekend of the runoff. Fortunately, the courts received it proper throughout my election. By the way in which, my margin of victory was near the quantity of people that voted that first weekend that they stated we could not vote.
The courts received it proper in my case. They received it proper once more this week. However I believe an important factor is for people to point out up. The way in which to reply to that is to not – to permit your – to not permit anybody to silence your voice. I am glad that we’re see factor unbelievable turnout all throughout our state. I believe it speaks to the vigilance of the folks of Georgia. And I hope they’re going to stick with it all through early voting, which ends on November 1st.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK: After which that they’ll get others there on November fifth.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However your governor, Brian Kemp, stated the reality is that it is simple to vote and onerous to cheat in Georgia. And he has criticized the vp and Democratic officers saying they lied about Georgia’s election legal guidelines to boost marketing campaign money and spare folks. Does not this excessive turnout assuage a few of what you name makes an attempt at voter suppression.
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK: Hear, I have been by a couple of elections in Georgia. And what we noticed was traces wrapped round buildings. We noticed the trouble of state officers to make it inconceivable for folks to vote the primary weekend of our runoff. And Georgians stood up.
Hear, the truth that voter – voters turned out does not imply there is no voter suppression. It simply signifies that folks aren’t prepared to have their voices silenced or muted. And the excellent news is that they are displaying up. And we’ll preserve this going between now and November 1st after which present up on election day on November fifth.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you stand by your – your perception that there are makes an attempt to suppress the vote in Georgia?
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK: Hear, we – we – we noticed what the state board of elections did simply this final week.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the court docket –
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK: They actually try to vary the election guidelines in the midst of an election –
MARGARET BRENNAN: However – however the court docket struck these down.
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK: Of an election, and the courts – the courts needed to undo what they had been attempting to do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK: And what I am saying to the folks of Georgia is that the way in which to reply to that is to maintain displaying up, as a result of after we present up, we win.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And, lastly, are you involved in any respect about political violence in your state?
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK: Hear, I believe it is crucial that each one of us remind ourselves that in the US of America, we have now sturdy arguments concerning the route of the nation, concerning the measurement of presidency, about what authorities ought to ship, and people arguments are sturdy and generally rambunctious with a purpose to keep away from violence. And so, I belief that cooler heads will prevail, and that we’ll keep in mind that on the finish of the day that opposite to what Donald Trump has advised, our enemies are usually not inside. We’re an American folks. We do not at all times agree on all the things. However the great point is that we will have this dialog. That is what democracy seems to be like. And we’re seeing it play out proper now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. Thanks on your time this morning.
SENATOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK: Nice to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: FACE THE NATION will probably be again in a single minute.
Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
Welcome again to FACE THE NATION.
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER (R-GA): Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You simply heard the senator from Georgia’s feedback that top turnout doesn’t show there’s a lack of voter suppression in your state. He pointed to that failed state election board try to vary election guidelines as type of proof of intent there.
How do you reply to that and the way do you shore up confidence in your state’s system?
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Nicely, it was truly very unhappy to listen to what he stated, however he is been hand-picked by Stacey Abrams when he ran a number of years in the past. And he or she is definitely the founding father of the election denial motion. She misplaced again in 2018 by 55,000 votes. After which after we handed the Election Integrity Act of 2021, she stated it was Jim Crow 2.0.
However what you have seen within the 2022 election and this election is report turnout. We now have photograph I.D. for all types of voting. Folks had been involved about signature match. We would truly been sued by the Democrat Occasion and the Republican Occasion questioning, , the validity of signature match. So, we added that, layered that on prime, , of – we added photograph I.D. on prime of signature match so that individuals know we’re figuring out who these voters are.
And then you definitely have a look at the turnout. We’re virtually pushing 1.4 million who’ve already voted early or who we have accepted their absentee ballots. We’re most likely going to see a report turnout early voting. In all probability 65, possibly even 70 p.c of all Georgians are going to vote that means. However they’ve a free will selection on the way to vote.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Because it pertains to the state election board guidelines, I by no means supported any of these. I used to be very vocal about it on day one. And so they had been dominated unconstitutional. They had been shut down.
However each Republican counties, two Republican managed boards and two election boards truly joined these fits and – and fought in opposition to these state election board.
So, it is truly very simple to vote. We have now photograph I.D. We confirm citizenship. And we have now report turnout.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, it – there’s additionally doubt on the Republican facet of the ledger. As , your occasion’s not a monolith. And Georgia Congresswoman Margorie Taylor Greene is claiming fraud is underway in Whitfield County. She stated Dominion voting machines had been flipping votes. The county board stated there was only one case of a printed poll not reflecting a voter’s choice.
After which one among your colleagues stated this was simply human consumer error.
So, because the state’s prime election official, have you ever seen any proof of fraud?
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: No. And what occurred in Whitfield County was, the girl thought she had pressed a sure, , choice. After which when she printed out the poll, she famous that. She – she noticed that and so then she made them conscious of it and it received corrected. After which it received blown out of proportion by those who like to make use of, , Twitter and different types of social media.
However we’ll reply rapidly to those kinds of issues in 2024 as a result of it is not supported by the info. The tools’s working. We have executed all kinds of audits, , for the reason that final election and coming as much as this election.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, it wasn’t just a few folks, it was an elected consultant for that district, the congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who stated that.
However I wish to ask you about one other factor as a result of we – I believe it is vital to stage set for folks at house about what is occurring with this election.
As I perceive it, almost all votes solid on this upcoming election will probably be recorded on paper. Final evening –
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Completely, 100% will probably be.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: It is truly safety paper with the state seal on it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, vital level to determine as a result of yesterday President Trump stated one thing and implied that as a result of it will probably take time to tabulate votes, there is likely to be one thing nefarious right here.
Take a hear.
(BEGIN VC)
DONALD TRUMP (R), (Former U.S. President And 2024 Presidential Candidate): They spent all this cash on machines, after which they announce, we count on to have the outcomes like seven days after the election. When you had paper ballots, you get them at 10:00. France went to paper as a result of what we did did not work.
(END VC)
MARGARET BRENNAN: He is pointing to an absence of paper ballots as an issue right here. Is he precisely describing what’s occurring? And the way lengthy will it take to tabulate votes?
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: In Georgia – in Georgia, 100% of all of the votes solid will probably be on a paper poll. However, truly, nationwide, it should be over 96 p.c to 97 p.c of all voting in America will probably be on paper ballots.
However we additionally simply put into legislation this 12 months with SB-189 that each one early votes and all early accepted ballots, all of them must have their outcomes reported by 8:00 p.m. That is 70 – possibly even 75 p.c of all of the vote totals will probably be reported no later than 8:00 p.m. on election evening.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will not take seven days to tabulate votes as he stated?
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Completely not. What we will probably be ready for is the abroad ballots that are available no later than Friday. And so these will then be the ultimate numbers. And we’ll simply see if that makes a distinction within the complete vote totals. I perceive we’re very aggressive. That is why we have executed all the things since day one to ensure we have now quick, correct, and safe elections for all my voters right here in Georgia.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re a Republican. You have got stated prior to now that you simply supported Donald Trump in 2016 and in 2020. You famously refused his makes an attempt to overturn election ends in your state after the 2020 election.
For the report, this 12 months, if the presidential candidate of the opposite occasion wins, will you implement election certification for that winner?
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: I’ll be sure that whoever wins this race, that’s what will get licensed. I’ll comply with the legislation and comply with the Structure. I’ll do my job, and that is what the folks of Georgia have elected me to do. I characterize the voters of Georgia.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, at a rally in August, Donald Trump publicly praised these state board of election officers we talked about earlier. Three of them who had been there as his supporters current on the rally. He referred to as them pit bulls combating for transparency and victory, and he stated this –
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), (Former U.S. President And 2024 Presidential Candidate): Your governor, Kemp, and Raffensperger, they’re been doing all the things potential to make 2024 tough for Republicans to win. They – what are they doing? I do not know. They have one thing in thoughts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARGARET BRENNAN: He is speaking about you. This feels like an try and affect election officers. Does this cross a line?
SECRETARY OF STATE BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: Nicely, it would not affect me, as a result of all the things we have executed, from Home Invoice 316 again in 2019, SB-202 in 2021 and SB-189, all the things we have executed is to shore up voter’s concern, shore up safety, but in addition we’re ensuring that the traces that, , Senator Warnock simply talked about, there’s state legislation now, traces must be shorter than one hour on Election Day, and we observe it. And the common wait time in 2022 was truly three minutes and generally received down to 2 minutes. And even throughout this early voting interval, traces we have been seeing reported on the early vote facilities, however traces have been lower than an hour.
However you additionally get checked in with the digital ballot pads in lower than two minutes. I received checked on this previous week with my spouse. We received checked in, in lower than 47 – 47 seconds. I timed it. Fairly superb.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary Raffensperger, we’ll be watching your battleground state intently. Good luck.
We’ll be proper again. And much more FACE THE NATION.
Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to Michigan’s secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson.
Good morning to you, Madame Secretary.
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON (D-MI): Good morning.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, greater than 1 million folks have already voted in Michigan, greater than 2 million folks have requested absentee ballots. I do know you solid your personal poll in Detroit, which started voting yesterday. What is the turnout like?
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON: Nicely, individuals are energized and it has been actually thrilling to see. Now we’re over two weeks out, simply over two weeks out and already, as you talked about, over 1,000,000 residents have returned their absentee ballots, which is a superb signal for an engaged voters on each side of the aisle.
After which yesterday, Detroit launched early, in-person voting, the place residents might come and really put their ballots into the machine. That is what I did. And I joined near 2,000 others who did that.
And simply to present you some comparability. The primary day of early, in-person voting in Detroit, within the August major, we noticed simply over 200 folks vote. This time we noticed 2,000 – or near 2,000. Ten instances virtually as many. So, that exhibits Detroit residents are overwhelmingly enthusiastic and engaged. And I am actually grateful for all our companions who’ve been educating residents about their rights to vote in these remaining weeks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, I wish to ask you a similar query I requested your colleague from Georgia. If the presidential candidate from the opposite occasion wins, will you implement election certification for that winner if it is doubtlessly Donald Trump?
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON: Sure, with out hesitation. I imply that is my job. That is our job as skilled election directors, to ensure it is simple to vote, onerous to cheat and that all of us stand by the need of the folks, no matter that could be.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How rapidly do you count on to get outcomes?
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON: Nicely, , in 2020, we had the outcomes of our highest turnout election in Michigan historical past inside 24 hours of the polls closing. The unofficial outcomes had been accomplished by 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday. So, we’re monitoring that once more this 12 months. We do have extra choices to course of ballots prior to Election Day, which is the place we had been restricted in 2020. So, I am optimistic we might see outcomes even sooner. However I might estimate finish of the day on Wednesday as one of the best guess on how we’ll carry out.
However that stated, we’ll at all times prioritize accuracy and safety over effectivity. Understanding how a lot folks will need these outcomes, we’re nonetheless going to ensure the method is safe and correct earlier than we put something out to the general public.
However that stated, we perceive folks’s power and pleasure and we’ll be working onerous to make sure these outcomes are prepared as quickly as potential.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You have got been posting on X, formally often known as Twitter, about Elon Musk, who you’ve got accused deliberately spreading false details about Michigan voters. He’s an enormous supporter of Donald Trump. He owns that platform. Do you consider – what do you consider his intention is right here, and the way involved are you that he is deceptive voters?
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON: Nicely, I will say two issues. One, we all know adversaries to democracy proper now try to create chaos and confusion and sow seeds of mistrust round our very clear and bonafide and correct and safe processes of working elections, not simply in Michigan however across the nation. So, it is incumbent upon all of us to look to trusted sources of knowledge, like your native election official, and use information to judge questions versus people who find themselves working social media firms with specific agendas and who’ve a historical past in amplifying conspiracy theories and false info.
So, on this second, will probably be my duty, and actually everybody’s, to look and promote and amplify trusted details about our elections so that individuals can know each the place to go along with questions and in addition place confidence in the outcomes.
We have now arrange an internet site, michigan.gov/electionfacts, which addresses each single query folks have raised. And we encourage residents to go there, versus social media, for searching for trusted and correct details about our elections.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You have got beforehand stated that Michigan, your state, is being focused by international actors who’re attempting to disrupt the democratic course of. Have you ever been given concrete proof or examples by U.S. intelligence about what is occurring in your battleground state? Like, what type is it taking?
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON: We all know that our – as a result of our programs are safe, there are international unhealthy actors and adversaries to democracy on a world scale who will search to doubtlessly not hack our programs however hack voters’ minds, to unfold falsehoods and misinformation, not simply to sow seeds of mistrust, however to decrease residents’ confidence within the course of and in their very own voices.
And also you see it amplifying now as a result of if there’s sufficient noise, you’ll be able to trigger folks to doubtlessly quit and say –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON: I do not know what to consider, I am disengaging all collectively. That is the purpose.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON: So, we’re seeing efforts to amplify misinformation and are ready to, once more, push again with actual info.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood.
SECRETARY OF STATE JOCELYN BENSON: However we’d like voters to be part of that as effectively.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
Thanks for setting the desk for us, Madam Secretary.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to FACE THE NATION.
We go now to Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York.
Good morning and welcome to the present.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER (R-NY): Good morning, Margaret. Thanks for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Positive.
You might be in a aggressive race in your Hudson Valley space. We all know two years in the past Republicans flipped 4 seats within the state of New York, and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated it was New York that price Democrats the bulk. Your seat was one among them.
So, given all the infighting inside the Republican Occasion proper now, what’s your affirmative argument to your voters doubtlessly right here that Republicans ought to retain management?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER: Nicely, look, we’re in a deeply divided authorities. Clearly, Democrats management the Senate and the White Home proper now. Republicans management the Home. Whatever the end result in November, we’re nonetheless going to have very tight margins, whether or not it is within the Home or the Senate.
And I’ve confirmed myself to be a bipartisan legislator. I have been rated the fourth most bipartisan member of Congress. I’ve handed ten payments, 5 of which have been signed into legislation by President Biden. The voters in my district perceive that I’ll work tirelessly to get issues executed on their behalf, working with Republicans and Democrats.
And on this Congress, , within the Home, we have truly gotten lots executed. We reined in federal spending, saving taxpayers $2.1 trillion over the following decade, capping federal spending at 1 p.c. The reckless spending we noticed within the first two years of the Biden administration is why we handled report inflation, why grocery costs, power costs, housing prices have gone up astronomically.
In my district, Margaret, the common mortgage price is up $1,000 a month over the past 12 months due to excessive rates of interest attempting to comprise inflation.
This has been a problem for people. And after I’m out within the district, what people are most involved about is the affordability disaster, the disaster at our southern border –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER: And the worldwide crises across the globe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
Nicely, there are a variety of contributing elements to inflation. Fiscal spending definitely doubtlessly one among them.
However I wish to comply with up on one thing you simply stated, since you are perceived, definitely right here in Washington, as a reasonable Republican who’s prepared to succeed in throughout the aisle.
In a Fox city corridor this previous week, Donald Trump stated the enemy inside the US is extra harmful than China, Russia, and different nations.
Take a hear.
(BEGIN VC)
DONALD TRUMP (R), (Former U.S. President And 2024 Presidential Candidate): It’s the enemy from inside. And so they’re very harmful. They’re Marxists and communists and fascists. And so they’re sick.
I take advantage of a man like Adam Schiff, as a result of they made up the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax.
We have now China. We have now Russia. We have now all these nations. If in case you have a wise president, they’ll all be dealt with. The harder are – , the Pelosis, these folks, they’re so sick and so they’re so evil.
(END VC)
MARGARET BRENNAN: The chief of your occasion, and doubtlessly the following president of the US, says that Democrats are extra harmful than nuclear Russia, than China. When you’re re-elected, how is it potential that you’d be capable of attain throughout the aisle and work with Democrats?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER: Nicely, I’ve executed it. You understand, I have been praised by President Biden as any individual who he can work with, any individual who can attain throughout the aisle and deal with the challenges that we’re dealing with as a rustic.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However in a Trump administration.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER: I’m a member of the Downside Solvers. A few of my closest colleagues in Washington have been Josh Gottheimer, Ritchie Torres, Jared Moskowitz.
Look, on the finish of the day, the American individuals are going to resolve in 16 days who the following president goes to be, and who controls Congress.
I’ve confirmed, on this Congress, in a divided authorities, that I can work throughout the aisle to get issues executed. And I’ll say this, while you go searching on the challenges dealing with the US, the best risk is the unholy alliance between China, Russia, and Iran, and the work they’re doing to undermine and destabilize the US, Israel, Europe, and the free world. That’s the risk that I’ve been targeted on in Congress. It is why I handed the Particular Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act, why I handed the Ship (ph) Act and the Iran, China Vitality Sanctions Act, to tackle that illicit oil commerce between China and Iran that’s funding terrorism, that’s funding Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and different terrorist networks within the area, and why Israel is beneath fixed risk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, however you’d then, I assume in your reply, be disputing the concept that Democrats are so sick and so evil that they are worse than Russia and China. That appears to be what you are saying. However would not –
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER: Look, we – we – I – I believe that, Margaret, the rhetoric – the rhetoric –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does not rhetoric like that feed into the divisions that our adversaries are exploiting?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER: Sure. Nicely, there is no query that our adversaries exploit our divisions. When Democrats say that Donald Trump is a risk to democracy, that Republicans are a part of a fascist motion, that undermines us as effectively.
All the rhetoric must cease. We have to give attention to the threats which can be truly dealing with the US, that are from China, Russia, and Iran. The disaster at our southern border by which drug cartels are trafficking girls, kids, medication, fentanyl pouring into our nation. These are the challenges we have to give attention to as an American folks and as authorities officers. And that is my dedication, whatever the end result of this election in November.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Earlier than I allow you to go, you’ve got labored on a invoice to attempt to forestall rogue states from taking Individuals hostage. We’ll hear shortly from Paul Whelan, a freed American hostage. How do you cease nations from doing this?
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER: Look, we should be very agency and resolute. Clearly, Russia has engaged on this for years. You see seven Individuals nonetheless being held hostage by Hamas on this battle at present. Iran, through the years, has taken Individuals hostage. We have to implement sanctions on these regimes, and we have to get our allies to acknowledge –
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER: These are usually not people we will work with.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE LAWLER: And so we have launched laws to fight it instantly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And we’ll hear from Paul Whelan up subsequent.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Freed hostage American Paul Whelan got here again house this August after a 5 and a half 12 months imprisonment on trumped up espionage costs. In his first interview since turning into a free man and getting back from Russia, Whelan shared with us his expertise.
(BEGIN VT)
PAUL WHELAN (Launched American Hostage): The Russian authorities needed to place stress on the US by treating me badly. Sleep deprivation is taken into account torture. What the Russians did in Lefortovo Jail, it is the FSB jail in Moscow, they saved a light-weight on 24 hours in my cell. So, sleeping was very tough. On the labor camp for 4 years, they’d come each two evening – or each two hours to my mattress at evening, and they might wake me up. They’d shine a light-weight in my face and take an image. Each evening, each two hours, I used to be woken up.
Getting off that sleep sample has been very, very tough.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You had been in Moscow in 2018, as I perceive it, for a pal’s wedding ceremony. And Russia, I suppose, has now launched a video of your arrest, displaying an acquaintance who labored for the FSB placing a flash drive into your hand in a Moscow lavatory. Moments later, you’re arrested. Who was that man? I believe his identify’s Ilya Yatsenko. Who was he and did he set you up?
PAUL WHELAN: Nicely, these are points that I am probably not ready to talk about proper now. I’m going to jot down a e book, and that is a scenario I will clarify within the e book.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you suppose, although, that you simply had been focused, that – that you simply had been being arrange?
PAUL WHELAN: Nicely, I used to be definitely focused. I hadn’t executed something. I hadn’t dedicated espionage. I used to be accused of being a brigadier basic with the U.S. Protection Intelligence Company, the DIA. I definitely, , was by no means a basic, and I by no means labored for the DIA, and I used to be by no means a undercover agent. So, the case they got here up with was, , materially false. I used to be clearly arrange.
MARGARET BRENNAN: On the time you had been a world head of safety for an auto elements agency.
PAUL WHELAN: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You have got a background within the Marines. You have got a background as a police officer. And also you had begun corresponding with Russians. You traveled to Russia on a reasonably frequent foundation. Did it ever enter your thoughts that there was cause to suspect that you simply had been a spy?
PAUL WHELAN: Nicely, , since an early age I have been touring the world. I had taken my mother and father to Russia to see Moscow. It was protected for vacationers. The – the issue, although, is, , you’ll be able to by no means inform what a rogue regime goes to do. And that is what the Russians are. And so they got here after me. They stated I used to be a spy, after which, clearly, they held me as a hostage. And that is – that is an vital half to carry up, is that I used to be a hostage. And from day one the Russians informed me that they had been holding me to do a commerce with the US.
MARGARET BRENNAN: As a result of they know that the American authorities will struggle to get Americans again.
PAUL WHELAN: Proper. Sure. Who desires to go away a vacationer in jail for no cause?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Had been you working in any means for any authorities? I do know you’ve got citizenship in Canada, the U.S., Eire, the U.Ok.
PAUL WHELAN: Nicely, these are points that I will talk about within the e book. It is nothing that I wish to get into now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you do suppose you had been focused by the FSB, which is a part of Russian intelligence?
PAUL WHELAN: The FSB runs Russia. Sure, Sure. We have now to be clear about that. So, when the FSB picked me up, it – they weren’t simply, , a pair beat cops that noticed an American and thought they’d seize any individual. This – this type of factor comes down from Putin.
MARGARET BREANN: So, while you had been taken, a couple of 12 months into your detention, your employer, BorgWarner, they restructured and so they laid you off.
PAUL WHELAN: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That will need to have hit you actually onerous as you had been sitting in Russia in detention. How did you cope with that?
PAUL WHELAN: When you can name an act by an employer un-American, that was un-American. What actually bothered me wasn’t a lot shedding my job, however that BorgWarner continued to do enterprise in Russia whereas I used to be being held prisoner there. They refused to cooperate with the U.S. authorities. They refused to cooperate with those who had been attempting to assist me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is only a distinction with different Individuals who had been detained. “The Wall Road Journal” reporter Evan Gershkovich.
PAUL WHELAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The WNBA star, Brittney Griner. That they had advocacy behind them. Did you are feeling that you simply had been simply there alone? Not that –
PAUL WHELAN: Neglected to dry?
MARGARET BRENNAN: And never –
PAUL WHELAN: Sure, BorgWarner left me out to dry. Sure, BorgWarner left me out to dry.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, in 2020, you are sentenced to 16 years in a Russian labor camp. After which, in 2022, the world adjustments dramatically. Not solely is WNBA star Brittney Griner taken in mid-February of that 12 months, Vladimir Putin shocks the world by invading Ukraine. How a lot of this had been you listening to by way of what was occurring outdoors the jail?
PAUL WHELAN: I used to be lucky. The ambassadors and the consular groups from my 4 nations, America, Canada, Eire and England would come and go to me frequently on the labor camp. I obtained a variety of info from them. You understand, I did get mail from house. There – , the Russian media is simply propaganda. And so they did not report a lot on the battle as a result of they had been shedding. And that was attention-grabbing for us. Data got here in very, very slowly. However when the Russian authorities began taking prisoners from our camps to go to the battle, then we knew they had been actually in hassle.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is when mercenaries, the Wagner group, this – this Russian group, was going into the prisons and telling convicts, you may get out should you come struggle in Ukraine.
PAUL WHELAN: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Did you lose folks you knew to that struggle?
PAUL WHELAN: Sure. Sure, from my camp, 450 went.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Wow.
PAUL WHELAN: I knew all of them. A few of them are useless. Some have legs and arms lacking. They’ve all received some type of, , PTSD. They went by a traumatic expertise. They had been used on the entrance traces to stroll by minefields. They had been used as cannon fodder. You understand, they’d be despatched out in entrance of patrols to attempt to attract the enemy hearth. I imply, that is what Russia is doing with these folks. And so they’re all younger. Putin has thrown away a technology of his youth within the Ukraine, for nothing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you involved with a few of these convicts who went out on the battlefield?
PAUL WHELAN: Sure. Sure. Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And that is what they’re sharing with you?
PAUL WHELAN: The – the prisoners from the camp that went to the entrance line, they’d communication, and they might talk with us. And the communication from them, I used to be passing again to the 4 governments and –
MARGARET BRENNAN: How?
PAUL WHELAN: Via unlawful cellphones.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You bought a cellphone into the Russian labor camp?
PAUL WHELAN: Sure, we had burner telephones.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is fairly unbelievable.
PAUL WHELAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And the guards did not learn about it or they simply appeared the opposite means?
PAUL WHELAN: They appeared the opposite means. A Russian jail guard will get $300 to $400 a month. You give them a carton of cigarettes and you are able to do absolutely anything you need.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Trevor Reed, he was freed –
PAUL WHELAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In change for a Russian drug vendor. American diplomats informed us Trevor Reed received out as a result of the U.S. feared he was going to die in jail.
PAUL WHELAN: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However you had been left behind.
PAUL WHELAN: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That needed to damage.
PAUL WHELAN: Devastating. Devastating. I used to be informed a deal was within the works. I used to be informed that I might be house quickly. Now, Trevor and I might be getting on a aircraft, flying out of Russia.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Collectively?
PAUL WHELAN: Collectively. Sadly, I used to be sitting within the manufacturing unit working and on the – the radio, the Russian radio, I heard {that a} deal had been made and a path – a commerce had taken place for Trevor to go house. All I might do was simply sit again and attempt to course of what I had simply heard in Russian. And all I might do was simply, , carry on working. After which later I received to a telephone and I used to be in a position to name Roger Carstens, and I requested him some fairly direct questions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: He is the hostage envoy.
PAUL WHELAN: Sure. I requested him some fairly direct questions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: What did you say?
PAUL WHELAN: Mainly, WTF. Sure. Why am I right here? I used to be glad that Trevor went house. That is not an issue. I used to be glad that Trevor went house, particularly as a result of he – he was struggling some medical situations. He had, , some points. And I stated, OK, that is nice, however what about me? I am nonetheless right here. What are you going to do?
You understand, I requested to talk to Secretary Blinken. And, in fact, he and I had a number of long-winded telephone calls from – from jail.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Between the State Division and the jail?
PAUL WHELAN: Sure
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are talking with the secretary of state.
PAUL WHELAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Did he apologize?
PAUL WHELAN: He defined, and he let me know that, , the US was coming for me. They had been doing all the things they might. That the Russians saved altering the goalposts.
He is a great man. And, , I’ve met with him personally since my launch. I believe that he and his crew had been doing all the things that they might at their stage to get me house. You understand, whether or not different folks at larger ranges actually had been, I do not know.
MARGARET BRENNAN: In order that’s April. After which, months later –
PAUL WHELAN: Proper. I am nonetheless there.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You are still there. And Brittney Griner, a WNBA star who’d been picked up on, , drug costs, was freed in change for Viktor Bout.
PAUL WHELAN: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: The service provider of dying. Your twin brother, David, stated it was “a public disappointment,” however he feared it might be a “disaster” for you. Your loved ones was actually apprehensive about your well-being.
PAUL WHELAN: Nicely, I used to be too. I used to be too.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Was that your lowest level?
PAUL WHELAN: That was. And, , I began to elucidate earlier that I had been working within the manufacturing unit. I used to be referred to as to the warden’s workplace. The FSB is there, et cetera, et cetera. There is a telephone name for me. I decide up the telephone. It is the White Home. It is one of many – the – the officers with the – the DHS. And he principally tells me that, , Brittney Griner was going house, that the commerce was for Viktor Bout. And, , I requested him level clean, I stated, so what else do it’s a must to commerce? And he stated, nothing. I stated, you gave up your negotiation platform. There’s nothing else. How do you now get me again? And he stated, effectively, , we’ll reconvene tomorrow to debate that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Oof.
PAUL WHELAN: And I stated – , I stated level clean to him, you – you understand what you have executed, that you simply deserted me right here. You – you haven’t any one to commerce. They do not need anybody else. And he stated, sure, sure, we understand that. And I stated, effectively, , , say good day to Brittney. I am glad she’s going house. You understand, she should not have been there in any respect, ever.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However the U.S. authorities did proceed to attempt. And in reality, the Russians began testing out that murderer who had shot useless somebody in the midst of Berlin. That was Vadim Krasikov.
PAUL WHELAN: Sure, as quickly as he was arrested, they stated, we’ll commerce him for Paul.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And this was extraordinarily tough. President Biden needed to persuade the German Chancellor –
PAUL WHELAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: To free a convicted murderer who shot somebody useless within the mild of day in the midst of Berlin.
PAUL WHELAN: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However finally, the German authorities agreed to do this.
What did you consider that commerce?
PAUL WHELAN: I am glad the president did what he did to get Evan and I house. You understand, there have been a couple of others, Alsu, she got here house. A few of Navalny’s folks had been launched.
While you’re the president, it’s a must to make powerful choices. However the U.S. coverage must be one among deterrence. They have to do one thing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: While you did make it out on this hostage swap, you landed right here in the US, and it was President Biden and Vice President Harris who met you on the tarmac.
PAUL WHELAN: I did not understand the president and the vp had been going to be there. You understand, I – I had been in solitary confinement for the 5 days previous to leaving at Lefortovo Jail in Moscow. You understand, I had on garments that I had worn in 2018 after I’d been arrested. You understand, they hadn’t been washed. They had been too huge for me. I used to be very cautious coming down the – the, , the steps from the aircraft. And so I got here down slowly. I, , I waved at those who had been waving at me. After which I gave the president a salute as commander in chief. And I simply walked right down to him and began speaking to him. You understand, I thanked him for getting us house.
President Biden, he was very, very personable. Identical with Vice President Harris. You understand, you noticed us. We embraced. We hugged. We chatted. You understand, at one level the president took the, , the flag lapel pin off his lapel and put it on my shirt. You understand, we sort of milled about chatting and speaking to the media and whatnot. And, , that – that made it actual, as a result of we had been – we had been with actual folks. We talked and we chatted.
There is a humorous image, I believe I’ve – I’ve despatched it to your crew. Within the operations constructing there was a TV on. And I am standing by the TV watching. And any individual stated, oh, that is – that is simply the Olympics. I used to be like, actually, as a result of I hadn’t seen the Olympics. And, , it was – it was girls’s basketball. And as I am wanting, I stated, hey, look, it is Brittney. Brittney’s on TV.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Brittney Griner.
PAUL WHELAN: So – sure. Sure. But it surely was simply – it was a kind of unbelievable moments the place you are, , you are lastly connecting issues. Sure.
And, –
MARGARET BRENNAN: It is surreal.
PAUL WHELAN: It’s. However, , Brittney was an amazing assist. After she got here house, , I believe most likely the, , inside days of her getting house, she – she was speaking to folks about how they might assist me. And he or she had folks making financial donations, sending playing cards, sending letters, providing all kinds of assist. Her – her basketball crew. All kinds of assist.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You stated, it did not really feel actual till you had been flying over England. What was it that you simply noticed that hit house for you?
PAUL WHELAN: So, we would gone to Turkey and now we’re flying bac throughout Europe. And we’re in a small aircraft, CIA aircraft. And – and I knew we had been getting near England. As we received nearer, I noticed the White Cliffs of Dover. So, , there was – there was completely no query. I imply, they’re so white. They’re whiter than the White Home, nevertheless it’s –
MARGARET BRENNAN: You needed to have considered your mother and father too.
PAUL WHELAN: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
PAUL WHELAN: Sure. And, , my members of the family, , in England and Eire, and really in France and Poland additionally, , they had been monitoring what was occurring. They knew what was occurring. And, , I thought of them understanding that I would be flying over, , their houses on my means again.
So, sure, it is nonetheless emotional to at the present time. It isn’t each day that you simply’re held hostage. It isn’t each day that you simply’re launched. So, there’s lots, , we – you discuss PTSD, there’s a variety of that that comes again in a optimistic method. And , that was a kind of moments the place I wasn’t anticipating to see the White Cliffs of Dover, however I did. And, , through the battle they – they guided the Spitfire pilots again. And, , for me, it was guiding me and Evan and Alsu again to United States. So, sure, it is nonetheless – it is nonetheless a kind of issues that – that I take into consideration. It is – it is – it is emotional, and I am certain it at all times will probably be. However , that is one of many good reminiscences.
(END VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us in the present day. Thanks all for watching. Till subsequent week, for FACE THE NATION, I am Margaret Brennan.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
