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Biden Delivers Commencement Address at U.S. Coast Guard Academy; Biden: Investing in America "Best Way" to Meet Worldwide Threats; McConnell Opposes Jan 6 Commission Bill in its Current Form; Trump Calls Bipartisan January 6 Commission a "Democrat Trap"; NY AG Investigating Trump Organization Criminally. Aired 12-12:30p ET

Aired May 19, 2021 - 12:00   ET

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

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JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: That's why 500 Coast Guard preservers have deployed in support of FEMA and other nationwide vaccination efforts.

Disaster response has long been part of the coast guard's mission. Over the pace of climate change accelerating, we're seeing more frequent and more intense storms, the call for you to respond. Last year was the most active hurricane season on record 30 named storms.

And the coast guard was always there to respond, even at the height of the pandemic, which have also been a part of our response to wildfires in the west record flooding in the heart of the country. And these patterns are only going to get worse if we fail to take immediate ambitious actions on climate.

Whether it's interdicting illicit drug shipments at - before they enter the United States or your stewardship of the environment, the coast guard has always recognized the broader definition of our national security.

Alexander Hamilton may have been among the first to champion the principle that economic security is national security when he created the revenue cutter service. But if it was true in 1790 is gospel in 2021.

The best way to meet the wide array of threats we face today is by investing Americans - America's enduring advantages, and ensure that we're operating from a position of strength, our economic vitality at home, our ability to trade with the world is essential to that strength.

More than one quarter of the U.S. GDP is transported through the waters to keep us safe and keep us safe. And we're going to increasingly see our skills called upon internationally as well. For decades, the United States has underwritten international maritime

security. When our partners have kept the sea lanes open and secure, we develop clear rules of the road behavior is inbounds important, out of bounds for other nations to ensure we can share peacefully and the natural bounty of the sea.

And for decades, those rules supported global economic strength that benefited nations everywhere that helped people around the world develop their economic potential.

But as you know, increasingly, we're seeing those rules challenged, both by the rapid advances of technology and the disruptive actions of nations like China and Russia, with whom I've had direct discussions of this with President Xi, as well as President Putin.

Long standing basic maritime principles, like freedom of navigation are a bed rock of a global economic and global security. When nations try to game the system or tip the rules in their favor, it throws everything off balance.

That's why we are so adamant that these areas of the world that are the arteries of trade and shipping remain peaceful, whether that's the South China Sea, the Arabian Gulf and increasingly the Arctic, is a vital interest to America's foreign policy secure, unimpeded flow of global commerce.

And it won't happen without I've taken an active role to set the norms of conduct to shape them around democratic values, not those of autocrats. That's why we'll continue to support the United Nations convention on the law of the seas, which outlines many of the key principles to ensure that our waters of our planet are not exploited by any one nation, but it preserved for the benefit of all.

But they're being challenged now, all of it. So as we work together, with our democratic partners around the world to update the rules for this new age, to hold all of us accountable to living up to those rules, your mission, your mission will become even more global and even more important.

You have an essential role in our efforts to ensure a free and open Indo Pacific. Our new agreement for the Coast Guard to partner with Taiwan will help ensure they're positioned to better respond to shared threats in the region and to conduct coordinated humanitarian environmental emissions.

The U.S. Coast Guard, partnership with nations throughout the region, to take on issues like illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing are essential to building a muscle of cooperation.

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BIDEN: With distant water fishing fleets travel thousands of miles to strip maritime resources without regard to catch regulations or - internationally established economic zones. It hurts everyone, which is why we sent the U.S. Coast Guard cutter - off to partner with Ecuador last summer to disrupt and deter a Chinese distant water fleet operating near the Galapagos Islands.

Where fielding requests from other nations all across the Indo Pacific that are eager to partner with our Coast Guard because of your reputation of professionalism and your unrivaled skill.

The Coast Guard will be an increasingly central element in our engagement in Indo Pacific to protect lives to preserve the environment to safeguard sovereignty throughout the region. In the Arabian Gulf, we're in the process of deploying six new fast response cutters to update patrol for Southwest Asia.

The Coast Guard's expertise is helping our partners in the region to enforce maritime law and perform search and seizure operations. I'm sure you all saw the pictures of the enormous load of illicit weapons confiscated in the Arabian sea, all laid out across the rear deck of the U.S.S Monterey.

Coast Guard was critical to that seizure and to keeping those weapons out of conflict in the region. Based alongside the U.S. navy fifth fleet in Bahrain, you have to face down harassment of Iranian fast attack boats in recent weeks.

And in recent weeks, the U.S Coast Guard cutter Maui had to fire 30 warning shots to deter such irresponsible and unsafe maneuvers in the region. The world is changing. We need you even more.

And in the arctic the Coast Guard has a problem American presence in the region rapidly growing strategic importance as ice recedes and new sea lanes open. We the United States are an arctic nation. The United States must demonstrate our leadership and engagement are just promise and our operational skill.

We must continue to model responsible maritime behavior and uphold clear roles of international agreements, protect and steward this pristine environment and secure it for future generations. And by the way, as you know by now, to protect our homeland security as well.

We have to make sure that every country respects these international norms. So we need them. We need modern icebreakers. Yes.

But just as critically, we need to stand shoulder to shoulder with those allies and partners to share our values, including indigenous communities are the keepers of traditional knowledge about the arctic waters.

Class of 2021 is time for you to go out and be the future to make the future. You've learned your history and your science. You predicted and practiced your disciplines on land and sea.

You've shown that you're assaulting. This year the academy has graduated a class that has just over one third women and those who got it. I found the common I just appointed three women as combatant commanders around the world. And those numbers are going up year by year.

As I said, I recently nominated Vice Admiral Linda Fagan, class of 85. The Coast Guard is the first female four star admirals. We need to see more women at the highest levels of command. We have to make sure that women have the chance to succeed and thrive, thrive throughout their careers.

There's a saying to use in a different context of Chinese saying it says women hold up half the world, it's an absolute stupid position, not to make sure that represent at least half what we do.

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BIDEN: Every member of law enforcement should feel safe and respected in the ranks. That's why my administration is committed to taking on the scourge of sexual assault and harassment and military. We're joining to serve, you're joining a service that not only serves as America's front line, and increasingly looks like America.

Vicious class is also just over one third underrepresented minorities, including some of the highest number of African Americans, Asian Americans and pacific islanders. Each of you, each of you will be asked to lead people who come from different backgrounds.

Your challenge as a leader is to treat every single person with equal dignity and respect and find ways to unlock everyone's talent. You know, you've already done some important work as a class, including with a class wide equity walk and discussion groups in the wake of George Floyd's murder.

Our national successes depend on our capacity to harness the full range of ideas and experience that exists in our country and deliver on the promise of the American dream for all Americans. You know, America is unique.

America is the only country in a world that's founded on an idea. You can define every other country in the world based on ethnicity or geography. We're the only one based on idea, not a joke.

The idea was we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men, women are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. We hear it all the time. But it's who we are.

We can't be different than attempting to continue that arc. Move toward justice. Or this generation of graduates of new arsons United States Coast Guard, have volunteered to serve our country. I've never been more optimistic about our future.

You understand in your bones, that our diversity is one of the enduring advantages and inherent strengths to America. In your careers, you're going to face challenges you can't predict. You'll be asked to lead in ways and navigate new paths.

But when the storms gather or the seas of life go rough, remember the Coast Guard's marching song to sing on land and sea to surf in storm howling gale. Hi, - your purpose be class of 2021. You have it all. You really do. And we need you badly. And I'm not that's not hyperbole. The country needs you. Press always

asked me why I'm so optimistic about America's chances in the world. And I've said from the time I decided to run because of this generation. You're the most progressive, best educated, least prejudice.

Most open generation in American history. We need you badly. You're ready. It's time to get underway. God protect you all. You set out on your journey and may god protect all those who wear the uniform of the United States of America. God bless America. Thank you very much.

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JOHN KING, CNN HOST: Hello, everybody. I'm John King in Washington; New London, Connecticut is the scene on the right of the screen at the Coast Guard Academy. President Biden delivering his first commencement address as Commander in Chief at a military academy.

We thought it important to take you there live before leaving for New London. Tough words on the phone the White House says with the Israeli Prime Minister, President Biden telling Prime Minister Netanyahu he expects by the end of this day a de escalation in the Middle East.

Also here in Washington we are waiting for a very important vote that is a loyalty test for Republicans. Today's vote is in the House. It is on legislation to create an independent commission to investigate the January 6 violent insurrection at the United States Capitol.

It will pass the House we know that the question is how many Republicans will stand with Democrats and stand for the truth and how many Republicans will do what Donald Trump wants them to do? And vote no.

We also know last hour on the Senate the Republican Leader on the Senate side said I oppose this legislation, at least in its current form.

So this commission hangs in the balance hangs in parallel this hour even before the house vote, let's get straight up to Capitol Hill and our Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju tracking all this. Manu, the first vote is in the House. But Mitch McConnell's words in the Senate are actually the big headline at the moment.

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MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, no question about it, because that could ultimately determine whether or not this becomes law or not, his argument is that this is duplicative and that he argues that its way is structured is unfair, could be ultimately be unfair to Republicans.

But what is driving a lot of this, John, what I'm hearing from a number of Republicans is the concern that this investigation as it would have to happen, if it were to happen and as the findings were to come out into the end of this year into next year, could actually undercut the midterm election message. When Republicans are trying to take back both the House and Senate majority, I just actually spoke to Senator John Thune, he's the number two Republican he just spoke right after McConnell spoke and I asked him about that concern.

And he made it very clear, he said, the concern is that among some Republicans, it could be weaponized politically and drug into the next year. He said he wants midterm elections be focused on economic agenda issues and the immigration not to re litigate in his words, what happened in the 2020 elections.

Mitch McConnell, when he was on the floor didn't get into the politics of it. But he argued that this is something that could be slanted in his view into Democrats favor and it could also step on ongoing investigations.

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SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): I've made the decision to oppose the House Democrats slanted and unbalanced proposal for another commission to study the events of January the six. What is clear, is it House Democrats have handled this proposal in partisan bad faith.

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RAJU: So even though he criticized the way House Democrats handled this was actually cut by a Republican in the House, John Katko, who was enlisted by the House Republican Leader, Kevin McCarthy to cut the deal. Ultimately, he did reach a deal.

It is structured like the 911 commission 10 members, five of which will be appointed by each side, there would be an investigation into what happened on January 6, a report that would be due by year's end, they can look at the influencing factors behind what happened on January 6. But what's clear from what McCarthy said he wants the investigation to be focused on whole sorts of issues, other political issues, including extremism on the left, not just the right.

And what the Democrats believe is all an effort to muddy the waters in this and potentially kill the ultimate bill that would create the commission and it's possible that Republic - Democrats may not have the votes to make this into law. John.

KING: Manu Raju, critical reporting live on Capitol Hill. Keep us posted if things change in the rest of the hour ahead. Let's bring it into the studio now with me to share their reporting and their insights CNN's Phil Mattingly and CNN's Dana Bash.

John Thune making clear that gives them credit for being honest; you're worried they're going to weaponize the findings of an independent leader McConnell is laying. As Manu just noted, this was a deal cut a bipartisan deal negotiated between a House Democratic Chairman and a House Republican Ranking Member of the Committee.

It is a bipartisan agreement authorized by the leader who then turned his back on it. Those are the facts, weaponize the truth. So can I - am I right in saying Republicans are afraid of the truth about January 6 and about the former President Donald Trump's role in it?

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: 100 percent. And they have been from the jump? Not Mitch McConnell, at the beginning because he was very forceful in saying that the president former president was to blame and was clearly very angry about what happened in the Capitol while he and everybody else there who are debating this question were there.

Having said that in as we all know, and as we've seen in the months since those concerns have been swept under the rug largely. As the former president continues to make this a litmus test for the party that he's still leads, even though he's not the president so absolutely.

KING: He does. Here's a statement from as he likes to put it, the 45th President of the United States, we will call them the former President Donald Trump. Republicans in the House and Senate should not approve the democrat trap of the January 6 commission.

Hopefully, Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy are listening. Well, they are listening, Phil and its interesting. Again, leader McConnell likes to say how different he is from President Trump. He was just lying there in that speech.

This is not a democratic bill. It was a bipartisan negotiation. Democrats gave a lot of ground to Republicans on the rules for this panel on how it would be constituted on how it would do its business.

He is lying there as someone who went to the floor after the insurrection, blamed the former president quite strongly and sternly and said the Republicans who would be smart to make the break, he clearly because he wants to be majority leader, again has changed his mind.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Look and I think it's something you've seen over the course of the last several months. Dana makes a great point. Mitch McConnell was very forthcoming and out front, and I think a floor speech that all of us remember and making very clear what he thought about what happened on January 6.

And what he thinks about President Trump and he has not uttered President Trump's name pretty much since then. And I think this goes to the timing of this moment in Manu's reporting, which I think lines up with mine as well.

There was probably a window for a bipartisan commission that would get sweeping majorities in both the House and the Senate. That window probably closed in the second week of January right around the time that Mitch McConnell looked around and said my window of continuing to attack President Trump. It's continuing to make clear that President Trump is the wrong leader of our party has also closed.

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MATTINGLY: And I think this goes to some degree to how McConnell operates as the leader of the Republican conference. He takes the read of his members. And I think his conference over the course of the last 24 hours has made very clear for the reasons that Manu lay out that this is not something they want to get into right now.

They don't trust anything that's coming from a democratic led house or Speaker Pelosi. And they believe that whether it's intentional or not and I think Democrats would say it's not that this is being designed right now to be utilized early next year.

I think one other thing to keep in mind here McConnell had some cover on this one. Because two Senators that aren't running for reelection that are very well respected within the conference, Rob Portman and Roy Blunt have their own investigations going on have made very clear they don't want this to impede on those investigations and therefore they are opposed to it.

And when they are opposed to it tell me how you find tem Republicans to support this. And McConnell wouldn't have come out against it if he thought ten Republicans supported it. And that's why you say --.

KING: Then can I interject with both of those Senators step forward and say we promise that we will call the House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy as a witness and ask him about his conversation that afternoon with President Trump. We promise we will ask the White House for documents. What was the president doing?

BASH: And that's not what they're doing.

KING: Right. That's not what they're doing. If they had a credible investigation that was asked Democrats questions, you have questions for Democrats. And if you want to launch an investigation into Black Lives Matters and in TIFA make your case get the votes - your investigation.

This was an attack on the United States government by a pro Trump mob on a very important day, when they were certifying the Electoral College itself. It is different. I'm not excusing attacks on courthouses or violence or protests. But it is different. It's fundamentally different.

BASH: It is fundamentally different. And the issue if someone like Roy Blunt, what he is helping lead is a discussion about how to get money to fortify the United States Capitol, which is something that is important, but doesn't get to the heart of what happened.

And that was the beauty of the 911 commission report, which became a bestselling book, because people wanted to know what happened. That is still the case. And I think where you started this conversation is so critical. They are trying to weaponize the truth.

That's what Republicans think of Democrats that is unbelievable that there is bipartisan desire to get at what happened, never mind what the former president believes.

KING: Right and to that point, I just want to note the Chairman, the Republican and Democratic Co-Chairs of the 911 commission put out a statement today about how they think this is necessary. Two patriots who did some hard work after 911 believe we should do it after January 6.

We will see what happens up on the Hill. Up next for us though, more trouble for Trump what a new criminal investigation could mean the former president just weighed in. That's next.

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KING: A serious escalation to tell you about today when it comes to the legal troubles facing former President Donald Trump. CNN has learned the New York Attorney General's office is now investigating the Trump Organization from a criminal perspective.

That's an expansion of a probe the New York Attorney General Letitia James started back in 2019. And it now includes working directly with the Manhattan district attorney's office, the office that has Trump's tax returns. CNN's Kara Scannell, part of this groundbreaking report. She joins us now live. Kara, the former president has just weighed in himself, right?

KARA SCANNELL, CNN REPORTER: Yes, John, he did. He just issued a very lengthy statement, repeating his refrain that this is a political witch hunt. You know, specifically in a statement, he is saying that there is nothing more corrupt than an investigation that is in desperate search of a crime.

But make no mistake that is exactly what is happening here. He also said that the New York Attorney General should be focusing on real crime in New York. And he said that she had sworn that she would definitely sue me when she was running for office.

And this is an argument that they have made before in that whole battle over his tax returns. But the former president now really is leaning into that.

And that's because of the new development that we've been talking about all day, which is that the New York Attorney General's Office, which had been conducting the civil investigation since 2019 is now teaming up with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, which has had a very similar criminal investigation that they have had underway for also several years.

And in a statement that the New York Attorney General's office gave us last night, they told us that they had informed the Trump organization that our investigation is no longer purely civil in nature.

We are now actively investigating the Trump organization in a criminal capacity along with the Manhattan DA. And sources tell me that what this means in practice is that a number of the Attorneys that are working at the New York Attorneys General's Office are very deeply knowledgeable about the Trump organization.

And they are teaming up and crossing over and working with - Manhattan District Attorney's Office on the criminal side. That means that they can share information they can share their observations and their conclusions.

So this is beefing up of this criminal investigation by leveraging the types of knowledge and materials that both of these offices have been working on for some time.

Now, these investigations are very much looking at a broad scope of potential financial crimes here, whether the Trump organization had misled lenders, whether they inflated the value of their assets, potentially committed insurance fraud, whether they've committed tax fraud, you know, these are still this investigation is still very much underway.

No conclusions have been made at this point. But it is the latest development in this. You know, the next thing here is going to be you know what the prosecutors decide to do. Letitia James office is also still conducting a civil investigation.

So there is still going to be two parallel tracks here. It's just a matter of now that they're going to be working more closely together. John.

KING: Kara Scannell grateful for the reporting of you and your colleagues will continue to stay on top of this as it plays out. Up next for us President Biden changes his tone delivers a stern message to the Israeli Prime Minister, get on the road to a ceasefire and do it today.

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