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Uncut: Kentucky senator reflects on 13-hour stand on the Obama administration's use of drones, criticism from McCain and Graham and more
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-- I -- is there couldn't be with him.
But today the attorney Jeff the United States wrote a letter and it says -- art is come to my attention they have now -- an additional question.
As a president authorities -- weaponized or to kill an American -- it's about America so well the answer questions note Eric it over here.
When it.
Well we -- -- this morning apply a little bit after you've got the letter apparently it was sent to the media outlets and announced on TV and we were calling my office saying we have a letter from the White House because we've been waiting for this.
To try to determine whether let the -- -- nomination.
Do you have any question about whether or not it was.
Some whites are -- because it says it has come to my attention.
They now passes that day after -- on the floor and I think it's quite evident.
You were asking that question or local time.
We're not only were we asking it during a thirteen hour filibuster we've been asking it for about six weeks and we think it's an important question and where I'm glad that a lot of people are invested in it.
It's a question of whether or not all American citizens get Fifth Amendment sixth amendment protections or whether you can be accused.
Either detained or even killed without a trial and I think it's a pretty important question.
It says an additional question.
-- -- that was this additional question asking Detroit general.
That's the same question we've been asking can you would drone strikes kill an American on American soil.
Not engaged in combat.
And so we've been asking is over and over again in fact we got no answers for about six weeks and and we asked the members of the intelligence committee to help us.
And then we did finally get an answer but it was an answer is -- well we might.
We might not we don't intend to do that I didn't think saying I don't intend to break the constitution was enough.
-- -- -- presidential oath of office says I will protect the constitutional we will defendant doesn't say I will they intend to defend it.
Well how do you interpret the tone of this letter from the attorney general is it just you.
Answering a question and senator we -- know that you -- this question at this question here's the answer.
Or I -- does that kind of -- -- it was has come to our kids economy Ellis recovered the filibuster.
I guess -- way I look at it is is a great victory because we've been asking a question of the president and this is a question that limits of presidential power.
Presidents Republican and Democrat they don't want to limit their power so this was the body of the senate saying to the president are you going to Obey the constitution.
And I think -- it's a blow for freedom that we got the president to admit that yes I don't have this -- this is a power I do not have.
It's it's a little sad that it came to this that we had to get use pressure to get him to admit this but I think still a big victory for the people that he says you know what.
In America you do get a trial.
The main reason for asking this question was we have drone strikes overseas where people are being killed who are not actively engaged in combat.
And they may be bad people but they're not actively engaged in combat.
I don't think in America.
If you're in a cafe if -- emailing somebody even if you're conspiring these should be summarily killed.
You should be arrested if they think you're guilty of something you should get a trial meant to turn in all the due process.
In America we do have the -- rights act as our soldiers are fighting for totally we should give that up to say -- the whole world is a zone war.
And therefore you can be named in enemy enemy combatants and and walked it off to prison somewhere.
Putting in fact that one of their colleagues in the Republican Christ -- and senator Lindsey Graham.
Well they were actually that they they accused him of theatrics or political stump -- that because it turns its that he used.
Any thoughts about as is -- a fierce debate and -- respond but think it's it's a good debate I think they're on the wrong side of history you minded economists.
Well I don't.
Particularly you know I admire that kind of ad hominem and -- what I would say is is that.
They've been arguing that you can indefinitely -- -- US citizen in fact I asked Senator McCain directly can you send a US citizen.
To Guantanamo Bay without -- trial for ever.
And his answer was yes if I deem them to be.
-- safety risk the problem is is that's an accusation.
If the government or a politician calls you an enemy combatant is that enough to whisk you off.
To Guantanamo bag or is that enough to have a drone strike point.
And see both of these senators argue that America is part of the battlefields to build those the laws of war applaud.
With the laws of war sometimes don't involved to process and I acknowledge that.
-- soldiers -- if the -- shooting at our soldiers there is no due process involved that we should back to kill or no judges and juries.
But America's different I guess if there's one thing has -- a political debate.
You know and it is very important issues.
Another prison and frankly the Wall Street Journal an act as well it it wasn't just we don't use an error it's much more aggressive coming back yeah I think see the question becomes -- the question needs to go back to people who argue it is is that.
If you're going to name people as enemy combatants that's an accusation or charge.
So if we have an Arab American who lives in Dearborn Michigan and they're emailing some people who live in the Middle East tour cousins of -- And then you -- said -- cousins.
Are -- are associated with Hamas or Hezbollah.
Do you now draw drones on the person here would you accuse them of something -- they would get a trial they would get to present.
Well that's not me I'm not associated with terrorism or would you say -- no.
You're an enemy combatant and you go to Guantanamo Bay that's -- -- arguing for.
There arguing for no ability to defend yourself if the government needs to be an enemy combatant and I think we shouldn't give up on the rise.
So I think at think certainly what the issues in debate explicitly talking about the issue here is evidence is out.
One thing is -- that -- previous chair of the RNC about 10:47 PM last night which is about.
It is either filibustered ENS -- it all arms -- GOP senators like that that.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Though he and I've worked together on a lot of issues and I think one of the neat things about this is that you look to the support we got on this issue.
Some on the left some on the right there are people who believe in civil liberties who are liberals I think Ron Wyden is a good liberal I really do I think he's honest he's consistent.
He believes in his position and some of his position overlaps with my position.
And so I've worked with him on many issues for five Democrats senators which is to me -- great compliment came up to me afterwards -- said.
They agreed with what I was saying they appreciated this period they appreciated -- -- And so.
-- and it was a great compliment needed people felt like I was fighting for some higher calls than simply partisanship I feet.
That -- -- I need to rest let's Tyson rubio gave advice and that.
-- water nearby.
-- -- the next filibuster you advice but where -- yet but you know I didn't take his advice because you know what you don't want too much water because of water needs drastic as some point there.
And you can't leave the floor you can't sit down you not want to go anywhere said.
Actually was very minimal amount water and today let me inside and when -- get.
You know it was hard to pick and ending time because you -- -- have a victory.
And ultimately today we had a victory because the White House finally.
Conceded that we at a point and they answered our question so that leaves a huge victory last night midnight I didn't know it.
We went to midnight because that also because we went into the next day would have pushed the voting until Saturday.
-- you -- you have a little leverage if people have to work on the weekend.
And it's our leverage today at the White House would -- responded would have been.
We'll see on Saturday for the that sometimes speeds up the process of trying to get.
What we considered to be something very admirable -- that the president will that it constitution.
There will be no drone strikes on Americans in America -- but what I did it at.
That's not -- and I'll have another hour to see us get energized because senator cruises Sandra Lee had come.
And that you know that are young -- -- energy they were also in debating back and forth the white paper my eyes were a little -- by the end.
But so I was energized by having their support and others on the floor.
I think -- -- much less taxes.
