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Sen. John Kennedy (R) Louisiana is Interviewed about New Mueller Report Claims; Moore Faces Backlash; Nurse Adopts Infant She Cared for in Hospital. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired April 04, 2019 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:33:12] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: "The New York Times" reports this morning that some members of the special counsel's team believe that the Mueller report is more damaging to President Trump than Attorney General Barr has revealed in his short summary. "The Washington Post" goes on to say that the evidence on obstruction was, quote, alarming and significant, according to the investigators.

Joining us now is Republican Senator John Kennedy. He serves on the Judiciary Committee. He's here to talk about this and so much more.

Good morning, senator.

SEN. JOHN KENNEDY (R), LOUISIANA: Good morning, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Does it concern you that some of Robert Mueller's investigators believe that Attorney General Barr somehow mischaracterized their findings?

KENNEDY: I read "The New York Times" article. It's very hard to evaluate because the investigators won't give their names. So, you know, you don't -- you don't -- you can't judge their credibility. You don't know if they have an agenda.

I think this time next week, in all likelihood, it will be an academic question because I think -- I don't have any inside information, but I think Bill Barr is going to release the report sometime next week, the week after at the latest.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

KENNEDY: He said -- he said mid-April and Bill Barr is a pretty straight shooter.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

KENNEDY: And then we will all get to judge for ourselves.

CAMEROTA: I mean I think that what is significant -- one of the things that's significant this morning is that there really were not leaks during the two years of the Mueller investigation. And so are you saying that you don't know that you believe that the Mueller team is credible?

KENNEDY: Well, there were leaks. I mean, I read reports all the time, either that or the reporters made the stuff --

CAMEROTA: No, no, I mean -- well, just -- just to stop you for a second.

KENNEDY: Sure.

CAMEROTA: I mean a lot of that was based on court documents. You know there were these speaking indictments, as they said. So much of -- at least what I know that we reported during the past two years was based on paperwork that was submitted to court. That's not a leak.

[08:35:04] KENNEDY: Well, I'm not saying CNN, but I read plenty of articles at least implying that someone from the Mueller investigation had this to say about that. And they're hard to evaluate, as you know, when people don't give their names.

My feeling about the whole report is, let it all hang out. I mean, I know they have to redact grand jury materials because there's a federal statute making them do that. They've got to be concerned about national security, that sort of thing.

But I think Bill Barr -- Bill Barr, whatever you might think of him, and I think he's a straight shooter, is not -- is not a dumbbell. He's a smart guy and he is going to release, I believe, as much as he can. And I think it will happen in the next two weeks. I'm not as concerned, Alisyn, about what the Washington elite thinks about the report, because everybody up here has an agenda one way or the other.

I'm interested in what the American people think. They'll draw their own conclusions. Some -- for some it will be a big yawn. They will be more interested in Justin Bieber sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber.

CAMEROTA: Is he doing that? That is fascinating.

KENNEDY: But -- he is. Yes, I read that, too.

CAMEROTA: OK. I see your news sources are a little different than we may have suspected about you.

KENNEDY: Well, but Justin -- Justin went on the record. He didn't try to hide his name.

CAMEROTA: All right. So in terms of your -- in terms of your credo to let it all hang out --

KENNEDY: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Do you want to see President Trump's taxes?

KENNEDY: Yes, I would like to, but I think he has -- has, at least if you take the president at his word, a legitimate reason for not turning them over. He says he's in the middle of an audit.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

KENNEDY: And his CPAs say don't turn it over. And I take him at his word and I respect that.

I think all things being equal, I would like to see the president's taxes. You know, I wouldn't be adverse to turning over my tax. I don't have anything to hide.

CAMEROTA: Well, we'll see about that, senator.

KENNEDY: But -- but we --

CAMEROTA: But, I mean, I guess my point is, is that it's -- you -- you agree that it's totally within the purview of the chair of the Ways and Means Committee to get those taxes and to look at them?

KENNEDY: I think -- I think it is probably within his purview. I think he has an ulterior motive. I think that --

CAMEROTA: What's that?

KENNEDY: I think the chair hates President Trump and --

CAMEROTA: What makes you say that?

KENNEDY: Be -- be -- it's just my judgment based on everything he's said. He doesn't appear to me to be objective. And I think he wishes President Trump hadn't won the election.

This --

CAMEROTA: But what has he said that's hateful?

KENNEDY: This -- well, everything he says is hateful about the president. I just don't think he can be objective.

That -- now, this is America. That's OK. You're entitled to have your opinion. But I guess the point I'm trying to make is, Alisyn, that I trust the American people and I think they see through most of what we all do up here. And I know you're in New York, but most of what we all do in Washington, D.C., because it's been my experience in Washington, D.C., there are two main rules, number one, the main concern about everybody up here is to keep their job.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

KENNEDY: And, number two, everybody's got an agenda.

CAMEROTA: Well, of course. I understand. Listen, New York is not that different.

But, just, in terms of Richard Neal, Chairman Richard Neal, he seems to have an ironclad legal basis, predicate, for asking for this. But -- but --

KENNEDY: I'm not saying he doesn't. I haven't -- CAMEROTA: And I just didn't -- I hadn't heard him being quite as -- as strong -- as aggressive as you're saying that he has about President Trump.

KENNEDY: Well, I don't think this is a news flash. I -- I think that the strategy of my friends on the Democratic side of the aisle, in both the Senate and the House, is to give Trump as much trouble as they can and try to beat him in 2020. I don't think that's a news flash for most Americans.

CAMEROTA: I want to ask you about your bill.

KENNEDY: OK.

CAMEROTA: About what you're trying -- how are you trying to protect sexual harassment victims? What's changing?

KENNEDY: Well, it's a pretty simple bill. It says, look, if you work for the state, local or federal government and you're a -- you're charged with sexual harassment and you decide to settle the lawsuit, then you can't keep it from the public. You can't put a non-disclosure provision in your settlement where neither you nor the victim can talk.

Now, if the alleged victim doesn't want it to become public, the alleged victim can keep it private, but the politician can't.

CAMEROTA: And it --

KENNEDY: And this is taxpayer money and I think people -- just because you're accused of something doesn't mean you're guilty of it.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

KENNEDY: But if you settle a lawsuit, you're spending taxpayer money.

CAMEROTA: But why should you --

KENNEDY: And even if you're not, you ought to have to show people.

CAMEROTA: But, I mean, but why -- yes, why should you pay -- why should taxpayers pay for your -- anyone's -- sexual harassment settlement? I thought that there was a moment to make those private.

KENNEDY: We did pass legislation. We did pass legislation to curb that abuse. But it's still possible, as I understand the law, to -- to insist -- say, OK, I will settle the lawsuit, but I want a non- disclosure agreement so nobody can talk about it. I don't think that's fair. I think if you're in public office, it's part -- it should be part of the public domain unless the alleged victim doesn't want it.

[08:40:21] CAMEROTA: Yes.

Do you think that Joe Biden's statement went far enough?

KENNEDY: You know, I don't know. I was asked -- I listened -- I saw the video. I was asked about the former vice president's behavior. I don't know him. I've met him one time. I gave an honest answer. I thought -- I think it's -- it's been -- it's happened a lot and it's very unnatural, abnormal. It's weird to me. I don't think it's a generational thing. I think -- I can see how someone, including but not limited to women, would find it, you know, inappropriate.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

KENNEDY: I mean if somebody tries to smell my hair, I'm not going to be a real happy guy about it.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

No, that is uncomfortable.

And do you also think that it's uncomfortable to, you know, have your breasts groped on a plane or have someone try to stick their tongue down your throat? Those are just two of the accusations made of the 15 against President Trump.

KENNEDY: Sure, if they're true. Of course that's -- of course that's inappropriate.

Look, this -- I meant what I said. I didn't mean it directly toward Vice President Biden. This is no country for creepy old men or young men or middle-aged men. And if we've learned anything in the last two years, it's that these -- these instances of harassment or semi- harassment -- I know Vice President Biden said it's not harassment -- well, it's still weird and I just think it's happened a lot more than I ever imagined and it's wrong. And it ought to stop.

CAMEROTA: And you feel that way -- I mean you feel that way across the spectrum, from Vice President Biden to President Trump?

KENNEDY: I feel that about everybody.

Now, just because you're accused of something doesn't mean you're guilty of it. You have the right to due process and you have the right to say and defend --

CAMEROTA: Sure.

KENNEDY: That didn't happen and defend yourself.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

KENNEDY: But to the extent that it does happen, yes, I mean, it's -- it's -- it's wrong. It's disgusting.

And I think there's been a lot of it in this country. And I think it's usually by men, not always, and I think a lot of men figure, well, you know, I've got the superior position here and I can get away with it and -- and they shouldn't be able to and I don't think they will anymore.

And I don't mean any disrespect to Vice President Biden. He may be president of the United States. But I've got to call them like I see them. And I think any fair-minded person would look at what he did and all the instances and say that's abnormal, it's unnatural, it's weird, it's kinky, it's creepy, it's whatever you want to call it.

CAMEROTA: Senator John Kennedy, thank you very much for sharing your perspective.

KENNEDY: Thanks, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, backlash over President Trump's pick to join the Federal Reserve board. Is Stephen Moore too partisan for the job?

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[08:46:03] BERMAN: President Trump's pick to fill one of two vacancies on the Federal Reserve board, Stephen Moore, is facing backlash, but does his coziness with the president and other issues make him a questionable choice?

CNN's Cristina Alesci is here to explain.

A lot of questions all of a sudden, Cristina.

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Indeed. And many economists that I speak to oppose Stephen Moore because they believe that he's going to make decisions for the short-term benefit of the president versus the long-term benefit of the economy. He's a former CNN contributor. Very controversial. His entire professional record has been scrutinized and now his personal record is being looked at.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Steve, I'm talking -- still talking --

STEPHEN MOORE: (INAUDIBLE) or the big loser.

LEMON: Still talking, Steve. I'm talking here.

ALESCI (voice over): Stephen Moore, President Trump's controversial pick for the Federal Reserve board, still has the administration's backing, even as new and unsavory details about an extramarital affair become public.

LARRY KUDLOW, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL: I spoke to the president yesterday. Completely supports Steve. I certainly do. People are being awful hard on him. I -- I don't know. This town is a toxic town in some respects.

ALESCI: Moore has been on the defense since Trump nominated him. Critics say he's not qualified and too partisan.

MOORE: I'm not so sure we could have a presidential candidate would -- that would deliver these kinds of results.

ALESCI: A former CNN contributor, Moore advised President Trump's 2016 campaign, and that concerns economists who believe the Fed should operate above the political fray. Moore says his support of the president won't color his judgment.

MOORE: I love what he's doing. I will be an independent voice.

Thank you for what you do.

ALESCI: In addition to his professional credentials, his personal life is now under the microscope.

MOORE: And, look, you know, divorces are ugly things. Some, you know, nasty things were said.

ALESCI: His ex-wife alleged Moore was unfaithful, creating match.com accounts and openly flaunting his infidelity to her and their children. This according to a 2010 court filing that was first published by "The Guardian" newspaper. She also claimed Moore left documents around their home detailing extravagant dinners, an airplane ticket and other items he purchased for his alleged girlfriend.

Moore says the divorce was settled amicably years ago.

MOORE: My wife and I, Allison, you know, we have reconciled. All of our disputes have been settled. To us, just leave us alone.

LAURA INGRAHAM, FOX NEWS: Right.

MOORE: This doesn't have anything to do with whether I'm qualified to be on the Federal Reserve board.

ALESCI: And it may not, but it's a distraction he doesn't need ahead of what's likely to be a contentious confirmation process. The administration doubling down, saying he's the best person for the job.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think this idea that Steve is some kind of partisan that's being put there to politicize the Fed, it's just incorrect.

ALESCI: The support is mutual. Moore has been doggedly defending Trump's economic policies --

MOORE: I'm not defending the process.

ALESCI: Even mimicking the president on TV.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is no deflation.

MOORE: Yes, there is.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: I guess my question is --

MOORE: OK, let me --

COOPER: If Hillary Clinton was president --

MOORE: Maybe not. But, Anderson, he -- he --

COOPER: If --

MOORE: The king of the national debt is Barack Obama.

ALESCI: But it's unclear whether Moore is even ready for the job. He said so himself.

MOORE: By the way, I'm kind of new to this game, frankly, so I'm going to be on a steep learning curve myself about how the Fed operates, how the Federal Reserve makes its decisions.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALESCI: Now, we talk a lot about how the Federal Reserve makes decisions on monetary policy, but it also regulates big banks. And it's very unclear what his record has been on that front. It's certainly going to come up in the confirmation process, John.

BERMAN: All right, Cristina Alesci, thanks so much for that report. Appreciate it.

CAMEROTA: All right, up next, you have to hear this story. It's a nurse who took care of a tiny infant and then she took it to a whole new level.

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[08:53:24] CAMEROTA: Liz Smith grew up with two dreams, to be a pediatric nurse and a parent. She achieved her first goal, but her journey to motherhood was tougher. Until she crossed paths with a tiny little premie who was in withdrawal in the hospital as a result of her birth mother's drug use. Just as this little baby, Gisele, was about to enter foster care, Liz stepped in to adopt Gisele herself.

And joining us now is nurse Liz Smith and her daughter Gisele, who is so much bigger and so adorable now.

LIZ SMITH, ADOPTED INFANT SHE CARED FOR IN HOSPITAL: Oh, my gosh. (INAUDIBLE) the monkey.

CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh.

SMITH: Sorry, there's a monkey on with us.

CAMEROTA: And spirited.

Wow.

Liz, this is adorable to me. I mean I --

SMITH: Thank you. CAMEROTA: On so many levels, your road to motherhood was tough. You struggled with infertility. You tried all sorts of ways to become a mother. And when did it dawn on you that the little premie in the hospital that you worked in could be yours?

SMITH: Really the first time I saw her, after a few of the nurses at Franciscan Children's approached me and said, Liz, have you met Gisele? And I said, no, why? And they said, she needs a medical foster home and you two are the perfect pair. And I said, I don't know, I've never considered fostering or adoption. A week later literally Gisele crossed my path in a stroller and we locked eyes and that was it.

CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh. And so do you know what became of her parents? I mean why -- why -- I was heartbroken when I heard the account that she was in the NICU for months and she'd never had any visitors.

[08:55:05] SMITH: She was in the NICU for a few months and her parents were still involved at that point. And then she was transferred to Franciscan Children's for acute rehab and that's when I met her. And -- and the parents battling with their illness of addiction really faded over time and -- and that's when the state got involved and had minimal contact. And eventually they recognized they were not able to care for her and supported me and -- and let her go.

CAMEROTA: We can hear her giggling, OK?

SMITH: I know. I'm like, I'm sorry if that's distracting.

CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh, don't be sorry. I mean it's really beautiful and heartwarming.

SMITH: I can't keep her on my lap.

CAMEROTA: No, but, I mean, she's still in the segment because we can hear her delightful giggles.

SMITH: Oh, good.

CAMEROTA: And, you know, I totally -- I relate to you on one level. I, too, had a premie who was that size. If we can put up that picture again. Your baby was 2.6, Gisele, when she was in the hospital, 2 pounds 6 ounces, I had a 2 pound 7 ounce baby.

SMITH: Wow.

CAMEROTA: So I know the challenges --

SMITH: Yes.

CAMEROTA: And how scary it is to hold a little baby like that. Gisele seems to be doing well. Does she have any lasting medical issues after how she was born, the daughter at that time of an addict?

SMITH: Right. She was -- she was doing great and I actually didn't know her initially when she was born and in the NICU, but she was actually born at a pound and 14 ounces. And really she's thriving. She has a feeding tube where she still gets her -- the majority of her nutrition through, but other than that the specialists think she's just remarkable. They can't believe the strides that she's made and how healthy and strong she is. Her resilience is inspiring to me and every day I am amazed by her. And I couldn't love any more -- I mean --

CAMEROTA: And how -- how is -- I can understand that. And, very quickly, how has your life changed?

SMITH: It's changed dramatically, but all for the better. I mean she's taught me -- you know, we talk about the power of love, but to witness how it can transform a life and to witness how it's transformed her life and mine is unbelievable. I've never been happier or stronger and just I couldn't imagine life without her.

CAMEROTA: Well, she also seems like a very happy girl.

Liz --

SMITH: Come here. Come here.

CAMEROTA: Liz Smith, thank you very much for sharing Gisele with us and sharing your story with us.

SMITH: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Bye, Gisele.

SMITH: We appreciate it. Thank you so much for having us.

CAMEROTA: Thank you, guys.

"NEWSROOM" with Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto picks up after this quick break.

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[09:00:07] JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: A very good Thursday -- Thursday, it's not Friday, is it yet?

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: It's not Friday.

END