Fox News "Hannity" - Transcript Interview with Joni Ernst

Interview

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Senator, thank you so much for joining us here. Explain what your new bill would do.

SEN. JONI ERNST, R-IOWA: Well, it is great to be with you, Jason. Thank you very much.

And the bill would prevent federal taxpayer dollars from going to those autonomous zones, and the mayors and the governors that enable the lawlessness to continue. For those mayors that prevent law enforcement from actually going into these areas and policing as they should be doing, we would strip away the federal funding that goes to those cities.

So, we think it is a right thing to do. We certainly don't want to enable those areas. If they truly want to be autonomous, then they can exist on their own.

CHAFFETZ: Yeahs, I think most people would be shocked and surprised by how many funeral funds flow to these different cities, states, Department of Justice grants, those types of things.

Senator, when you see what has happened and transpired in Seattle, in CHOP or CHAZ, or whatever they're calling themselves at the moment, what runs through your mind?

ERNST: Well, I think it is actually quite ironic because we saw with the death of George Floyd, a law enforcement officer that had lost morality, was corrupt, lost all empathy for a fellow human beings, and that's exactly what we see these different groups embracing, is lawlessness, corruption, and anarchy. You know, everything that they said that they were against, they are actually practicing in these autonomous zones.

So, I think it is rather ironic that they are going down that path and I think it's actually very sad. We truly are a great nation and we should celebrate our diversity, have peaceful discussions. Anarchy is not part of that conversation.

CHAFFETZ: And how do you react to those cities and states, and that really the Democrats on the far left wing -- they have taken this position about defunding the police department? Defunding things seems to get their attention. It seems your bill would actually get even more of their attention.

ERNST: Right, it should get their attention. However, defunding the police is just a provocative catchphrase that the liberal elites will use just to get attention. But truly, when the day comes, when they have defunded and dismantled their police departments, and they really need someone to come to their aid, they will regret that movement.

We are a country of law and order, and we need to make sure that we are training our police properly, that we are moving forward on police reform legislation which the Senate Democrats blocked the other day. I don't understand that move.

But we do have the best and brightest out there working in uniforms and blue. And so, we need to support them. Make sure that they are trained and equipped properly. Make sure that they can de-escalate certain situations. But simply getting rid of them, dismantling them, it is not a viable option.

CHAFFETZ: And what is Chuck Schumer and the Democrats there in the Senate, what are they thinking about when Senator Tim Scott puts forward a bill? My understanding is that we're going to be up to some odd 20-something amendments that would be allowed in this process.

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ERNST: Uh-huh.

CHAFFETZ: But the Democrats literally voted to block even the debate of this bill.

ERNST: Exactly. It is so disheartening when our nation is crying out for justice, correction (ph) of racial injustice, and that we have an opportunity to come together in Congress and provide a path forward and the Democrats blocked it. Just straight out, didn't even want to debate the merits of the bill, which the Tim Scott bill had probably 70 to 80 percent of what the Democrats wanted to see as a first step.

And yet, they were unwilling to make a move and debate the merits of the bill. And that tells me when you don't want to debate a bill, you're not really looking for solutions.

And Tim Scott --

CHAFFETZ: Yes.

ERNST: -- said it best. He really did.

It wasn't that they didn't want a bill. They just didn't want us, the Republicans, leading on the bill.

CHAFFETZ: Oh, that's exactly right.

Now, Senator, I've got to tell you, law and order will be a key component going into 2020. I don't know how a national party like the Democrats fights against the Border Patrol, against ICE, and against law enforcement in general and survives.

I've only got like ten seconds or so, but if you had to guess right now, who does Joe Biden pick up as his vice president?

ERNST: Well, I will guess -- either Stacey Abrams or Val Demings. But again, I don't think it's going to matter in the end, because I think President Trump will see another term.

CHAFFETZ: Yes, I do, too. I think Americans when they study this, they look at it, and I can't wait for the debates.

Senator, congratulations on the new book and thanks for joining us on this Friday night. We do appreciate it.

ERNST: Thank you, Jason.

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