'this week' transcript 3-10-19: white house national security adviser john bolton - which electric toothbrush to buy

Here is a rush transcript of "This Week with George Stephen Pouros" aired on ABC News on Sunday, March 10, 2019.
This copy may not be in final form and may be updated.
For previous program transcripts, please visit the transcript file for this week.
This week, George stephenopoulos will begin soon. (Start Video)
Martha radaz
Anchor this week: Prepare a press conference.
US President Donald Trump: I would be very disappointed if I saw the test.
North Korea is reportedly resuming its missile program.
Just days after President Trump and Kim Jong Un took office, a new image emerged --
The United Nations failed to reach an agreement at the second summit.
What does the North Korean missile base activity mean for the negotiations, and will Trump take any steps to respond?
And our exclusive headline, National Security Advisor John Bolton live. And --
Unidentified male: Do you have any comments on the adoption of this resolution? RADDATZ: --
A new woman MP's remarks about Israel sparked a democratic struggle and a debate about what is anti-Israel. Semitism.
Unidentified male: Of course I won't be quiet when there is a reactionSemitism.
Unidentified woman: This is a member of Congress who has been severely unfairly reviewed.
Unidentified Woman: It's not her problem.
This is about hatred in these forms.
RADDATZ: The House passed a resolution against hatred and racism, but is that enough to bridge the rift within the Democratic Party? And --
I feel sorry for Paul Manafort.
Trump defended his former campaign chairman and himself.
Trump: It has nothing to do with collusion.
No collusion.
I don't collude with Russia.
RADDATZ: Washington is waiting for Miller's report.
Democrats themselves launched a comprehensive investigation.
We will break it down through our panel of experts and our strong round table.
News from ABC news is this week. Here now co-
Anchor Martha radaz(END VIDEOTAPE)
RADDATZ: Good morning, welcome to this week.
This morning, from the latest investigation into President Trump to the issue surrounding the sentencing and Democratic infighting of Paul Manafort, there is still a lot to be done.
We will make everything clear.
But we start with these new and alarming developments in North Korea.
New satellite images show North Korea may be preparing to resume missile tests.
More than a week after the Hanoi summit failed to reach an agreement.
The photos were taken a few days before the summit, but were just released on Friday. Photos show North Korea assembling ICBMs, vehicles, cranes and railcars near a facility outside Pyongyang. Some experts believe North Korea is preparing to launch its first missile or rocket for more than a year.
A few days ago, another satellite image showed that cranes and supplies appeared to be used to rebuild another launch site in North Korea.
Despite these warning signs on Friday, President Trump seems confident in his relationship with Kim Jong Unun. (
Start Video Editing)
Trump: Time will prove everything, but I think our relationship with North Korea-Kim Jong-un and myself --
Chairman Kim, I think this is very good.
I think it's good.
If he does anything that does not fit our understanding, I will be surprised in a negative way. (END VIDEO CLIP)
RADDATZ: So, what is North Korea's latest move? In a face-to-face meeting with Kim Jong Un, what did we get --un?
More importantly, let's call John Bolton, the president's national security adviser, to make headlines.
Ambassador Bolton, it's always a pleasure to meet you.
So, let's be right.
Do you think North Korea will launch rockets, missiles and satellites?
John Bolton, national security advisor at the White House: Well, I don't want to discuss this in detail.
To be sure, what you just showed is a commercial satellite image.
US government--
That's what I said--
So we don't have to rely on commercial satellite images anymore.
We have seen a lot in North Korea.
We often see.
I have been doing this since the first Bush administration. W. Bush.
There has been a lot of activity in North Korea, but I would not guess what that particular commercial satellite picture shows.
What can you tell us?
Is there a rail car, a rail car, a crane? And --
Can you give us--
You have been doing this for years. -
Please let us know if it is related to you.
Bolton: You see, the president is very clear that he will not make mistakes in the previous government.
One of the repeated mistakes made by previous governments was to assume that North Korea would automatically comply when it fulfilled its obligations.
For example, North Korea has promised to abandon its nuclear weapons program at least five times, starting in 1992, the North-South Alliance
Nuclear AgreementThey --
However, they never seem to be in contact with it.
That's one of the reasons why we are particularly concerned about what North Korea has been doing.
We know what they're doing now.
We did not hesitate to see this and we did not have any illusions about their abilities.
Let me read you a famous saying.
When you put all this together from these satellite images, what it really looks like when the North Koreans are building rockets.
This is Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia non-proliferation program.
Don't you agree with him? he's an expert.
Yes, as I said (ph)
I really don't want to guess what they're doing.
There are two facilities in this particular location, one is Kim-
The United Nations told us earlier that he would dismantle it.
This is the site of engine static test.
There is also a launch site there. he promised to give up on Moon.
In a speech by the South Korean president
So it's actually two different parts of the same facility.
RADDATZ: What would be the consequence if we saw another test launch?
Bolton: As the president said, if Kim Jong Un-
President Obama has said many times that he sees no nuclear test and no ballistic missile launch as a positive sign.
He really made this part of his effort to convince Kim Jong Un.
The United Nations says he has to do what the president says is a major event to achieve a complete nuclear-free regime.
RADDATZ: Let's hear what the president said at a press conference in Vietnam after the negotiations broke down. (
Start Video Editing)
US President Donald Trump: No more testing, one of the important things that President Kim Jong Il promised me last night is that regardless, he will not do tests on rockets and nuclear weapons, nor will he do tests.
So, you know, I believe in him, I believe in his words, and I hope that's true. (END VIDEO CLIP)
The president said he would be surprised if Kim did anything we didn't understand.
Will you be surprised?
Bolton: You know, I have no more surprises in the non-proliferation competition.
I think Kim Jong Un
The UN is very clear about the president's position, what the president is trying to achieve, and that's why, as the president said at the Hanoi summit, the decision to leave in a friendly way is important to Kim Jong Un
Don't understand.
Although many experts and experts say there is no pressure on the president to reach any agreement.
He wants the right deal, which he described to Kim Jong Un
The United Nations at the Hanoi conference.
Have you asked the North Koreans about these photos?
Has there really been contact since the Hanoi summit?
Bolton: I don't know. maybe the South Koreans talked to North Korea.
In fact, I will be talking to my Korean counterparts tomorrow morning and I suspect this will be one of the things we are discussing.
RADDATZ: And-and I want to broadcast the other things the president said about North Korea at the Hanoi summit, which is the same as you said. (
Start Video Editing)
Trump: We know this country very well, whether you believe it or not.
We know the country well. (END VIDEO CLIP)
The image of the launch site is a commercial satellite image from February 22.
Do you know them when you go to Hanoi? Is this what you raised with the North Koreans?
Bolton: Well, that would involve me in discussing intelligence again, and I'm not willing to do that.
I just want to say that we keep an eye on the intelligence provided to us every day.
It is very important that we learn as much as possible about North Korea so that they may agree with the president's proposal and we need to be able to verify that they meet the requirements.
So it's part of getting ready.
In any case, we want to keep track of potential threats if this happens.
RADDATZ: You talked about the president and the president saying that he would be disappointed if there was a launch, which could be mild.
Will the negotiations break?
Bolton: Well, I don't want to guess either.
As you can hear, the president is full of confidence in his personal relationship with Kim Jong Un
He spent a lot of time trying to develop the relationship.
He said he was open to the third summit, none of which was scheduled and sometimes they had to go.
But he is ready to reach out to North Korea again because he does think of the prospects for North Korea and he has been trying to convince Kim Jong Un --
If they achieve a nuclear-free, the United Nations will accept it, which is really spectacular.
RADDATZ: OK, let's track it again.
At the Singapore summit, North Korea only promised to "work towards a complete nuclear-free Korean Peninsula ".
How do you define, how do they define?
Bolton: Well, they promised in writing several times to achieve a nuclear-free, and they happily violated the solemn international agreement.
We define non-nuclear as the elimination of its nuclear weapons program, its uranium enrichment capacity, and its capacity for reprocessing.
From the beginning, we are also eliminating chemical and biological weapons in weapons of mass destruction, which is important to us because we have deployed troops in South Korea.
This is important for Korea and Japan.
Of course, we also hope that their ballistic missile program will end.
But they did not sign it.
Bolton: They-they have signed this in the 1992 joint North --
We have made it clear that the president has handed Kim Jong Un over.
A piece of paper-actually two sheets of paper, one in English and one in Korean.
RADDATZ: That is to say, what you said just now and more, can you tell us exactly what we said?
Who wrote it?
Bolton: I can't tell you in Korean,. . .
RADDATZ: try English.
We will be satisfied with English.
Bolton: I think I just did it.
RADDATZ: That's it?
That's what that paper says?
Bolton: I'm not going to tell you word by word that I don't have a piece of paper in front of me to check, but that's what it says.
RADDATZ: Who wrote this proposal?
Bolton: it was written on the staff level and as clear as usual.
RADDATZ: North Korea's special envoy Steve Biegun said in a speech on January that he hopes the two sides can move forward simultaneously through the road map for specific deliverables.
It sounds like step by step, what you did, what we did.
That's what you see?
Bolton: look, as I mentioned earlier, the president is determined to avoid the mistakes made by the former president, one of which is the North Korean action for the strategy of action.
The reason this doesn't work is that what North Korea needs now is economic relief.
I think it's important to Kim Jong Un. un's mind.
He wants economic sanctions lifted.
In order to do so, he is prepared to give up part of his nuclear program, perhaps at the declaration level, or even in substance.
However, the marginal benefit of economic relief to North Korea is far greater than that of partial non-nuclear to us.
That is why, in the past three governments, it is almost inevitable that action will benefit North Korea.
As I said, it doesn't seem interesting that they have never been nuclear-free for more than 25 years?
But you also talked about strategic patience.
The president said the era was over, but just a few days ago, he said a year.
Ask me a year later.
Do you really give him a year?
As you said yourself, time is on the side of this proliferation. BOLTON: Time --
The lesson of history is that time is inevitable in the long run.
Now, I think the president's judgment is correct, because of the sanctions, our economic leverage has put pressure on North Korea.
This is one reason why all experts and all experts predict that reaching an agreement in Hanoi is wrong, because now the leverage on our side is not the leverage on the North Korean side.
I want to talk about Syria and ISIS now.
President Trump said 100% of the ISIS caliphate in Syria has been defeated, but let me play what the CENTCOM commander General Votel said Thursday when he testified before the House Military Committee. (
Start Video Editing)GEN.
CENTCOM Commander Joseph Vettel: the fight against ISIS and violent extremism is far from over.
What we are seeing now is not the surrender of ISIS as an organization, but a well-planned decision to protect the safety of their families and to maintain their ability to wait for the right time to rise again. (END VIDEO CLIP)
Do you agree with this assessment?
I know that Khalifa is very different from the ideology of ISIS.
Bolton: Yes, I don't know what the rest of general Wartel's statement says, so I don't want to criticize the partial editing.
Before that, I happened to put a piece of four words or even a whole sentence on TV that didn't convey the full meaning of what I wanted to say.
I think when the president talks about the failure of the isis territory caliphate, he has made it as clear as possible.
He never said that the removal of the territorial caliphate meant a complete end to ISIS.
We know this is not the case.
We now know that there are still ISIS fighters across Syria and Iraq, and ISIS itself is growing in other parts of the world.
The threat of ISIS will remain.
But one reason the president has promised to keep the American presence in the Iraqi and Syrian observer forces is the possibility of opposing the real revival of ISIS, and if that happens, we will be able to deal with that.
So, I think people have to be clear.
The importance of the territorial caliphate goes to the central point of thought of the ISIS theory itself, that is, they are calibers, because in their view what the calibers are, you have to control the territory.
RADDATZ: Actually, I'm not trying to argue about this, I just wanted to ask if you believe this will happen again.
How serious this is.
I know we have asked for help from our allies there.
Do you have a firm commitment to any help from your allies?
Bolton: Yes, of course, during the conversation with my British and French counterparts over the past week, I am very optimistic that they will participate.
It hasn't officially happened yet, but they are looking at it.
I think it is very important that we try to do this well.
It may or may not succeed.
But General Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has done a lot of work in this area and he has achieved considerable success.
We are continuing.
The ISIS threat, the al Qaeda threat, the terrorist threat is an ideological threat worldwide, and I think we have to be vigilant about the foreseeable future.
This is the reality . . . . . . RADDATZ: It's been one thing for years too.
We just don't know how to deal with ideological threats.
Have you made progress in this regard?
Do you believe you are where you want to go?
Bolton: Well, I think it will continue to pose a threat as long as ideology exists.
There are different situations in different parts of the world, but for those who have said it, the terrorist threat from Iran-those said in the 40 years since the 1979 Islamic revolution, ideology will disappear, they will become normal again like everyone else, and this is not the case with Iran.
They are still in radical theology and ISIS and Al-
The ideology of al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations has shown no signs of weakening.
I want to move to Venezuela now.
We have seen massive demonstrations that have tried to stop food aid to the country, and it seems that Nicolas Maduro has not gone anywhere.
A few weeks ago, Tom lamas of ABC spoke to Venezuelan President Maduro, who said he was worried about President Trump because of the people around him, including you. Let’s listen. (VIDEO BEGINS)
Tom llamos, World News anchor tonight: Are you afraid of President Trump?
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro:
Speak a foreign language)(VIDEO ENDS)
RADDATZ: I think you have the idea of pointing your finger at you and others.
Do you want Maduro to be afraid of your advice to the president?
Bolton: Let me say that I am honored to be named by Nicolas Maduro.
I put him on the list of other people who have criticized me for years.
I don't want any malice from him.
I wrote on Twitter a few weeks ago that I hope his future includes living on a beach away from Venezuela.
Not just Maduro, though.
This is the whole regime.
This is a group of thieves who plundered Venezuela's oil wealth and made the people poor.
With the collapse of the national grid, you can see this now . . . . . . RADDATZ: But do you think Maduro will go anywhere?
It's been six weeks since America. S.
Support Juan guaydo
Bolton: I think-look, I think there's a strong momentum on the geedo side.
Media reports that the military has not completely changed this point.
RADDATZ: What's the point?
Bolton: The point is that they have not tried to arrest guaydo, the National Assembly and the opposition.
I think one of the reasons is that Maduro is worried that he will not comply if he orders.
The fact is that the media do not know that, because people do not talk about this, there are numerous conversations between members of the National Assembly and members of the Venezuelan military;
Talk about what might happen and how they support the opposition.
They won't let that go. . . RADDATZ: Are you sure Maduro will leave?
Bolton: Well, I'm not sure about anything.
But I do think the momentum is on the side of guaydo.
I think the overwhelming support of the people, the overwhelming support of the Army and junior officers, the high ranks of officers, only a few people broke.
You know, Venezuela has 2,000 admirals and generals, more than all NATO countries combined.
This tells you who benefits from the predatory economy.
But many of them are also talking.
Let's see what happens.
OK, thank you very much, Ambassador Bolton.
We ended up with that note.
It's always great to have you here.
Bolton: Thank you.
RADDATZ: The round table will be debated next (ph)
Remarks by newly born female MP Ilhan Omar on Israel
Is it reasonable for the Democratic Party to rebound?
Will it harm the party's agenda?
Discussion after we come back(
Business break)
RADDATZ: last fall, irhan Omar became one of the first two Muslim women to be elected to Congress and one of the new faces of the Democratic House majority.
But with Omar's comments on Israel in recent weeks considered-
The Jewish people have sparked a debate about what the anti-democratic party is.
What is legitimate political speech. (
Start Video Editing)
Unidentified male: female MP, Speaker Pelosi said it is entirely up to you if you would like to explain your comments.
RADDATZ: It started with a tweet in February in response to a story about the House Republican leader threatening to take action against Omar criticizing Israel.
She claims it's all about Ben jamens, baby.
She quickly apologized for her age.
Jews use money to buy old stereotypes of influence.
But after Omar questioned the loyalty of pro-Jewish American Jews, more controversy
Israel lobby groupREP. ILHAN OMAR (D)
Minnesota: I want to talk about the political impact of this country and say that it is OK for people to promote loyalty to foreign countries.
RADDATZ: her Democratic colleagues have reacted harshly, including Elaine Loria, a freshman woman who is a Jew and a Navy veteran. REP. ELAINE LURIA (D)
Virginia: When I entered the US Naval Academy, I first vowed to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies at home and abroad.
Isn't that enough to prove my loyalty to our country?
Democratic Minnesota senator Ron Raz told NPR he talked to Omar about how she should discuss Israel even before Omar was elected. SEN. RON LATZ (D)
Unfortunately, she kept repeating her mistakes.
So I am troubled by this model, which at least reflects the attitude towards Israel, if not to the Jews.
But Omar's defense lawyer says she faces unfair scrutiny. REP.
Pramilla Jayapal (D)
Washington: I just want to make sure that we also protect the rights of the first Muslim woman in Congress and question the legitimate foreign policy towards Israel.
Omar himself has always been the target of intolerance.
Just last week, on a republican day in the West Virginia Capital, the poster linked Omar to the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Unidentified male: The motion to reconsider is on the table.
RADDATZ: The Debate on Omar's words triggered a resolution in the House this week, but expanded to condemn more than just counter-
Jewish, Islamophobia, and white supremacism. (END VIDEOTAPE)
RADDATZ: The resolution was unanimously passed among Democrats, and Republicans voted only 23, saying Omar should be named directly in the resolution.
Let us now convene a round table to discuss all this.
ABC News writer, Republican strategist and Democratic strategist Alex Castellanos, United
The founder of the Collective PAC, Julie Pace, president of the Associated Press's Washington branch, and cokey Roberts of ABC News.
Good Morning, everyone.
Stefanie, I want to start with you.
You heard the comments from member Omar and you are part of the group that helped to elect her.
What would you say to her about these comments?
James Stefanie Brown
Founder of Collective PAC: I would say this is your megaphone and I'm not sure if she's ready to take it.
Frankly, this has caused a stir through a tweet.
But it is important to understand that the final solution is good.
We should condemn hate and prejudice, but at the same time, my advice to her now is to focus on your agenda and you tell your constituents what you want to do for them, it's going to be a bit pending now, frankly, because now her comments are getting so much attention.
Alex, you're shaking your head.
You shook your head when you said it and it was good in the end.
Republican strategist alex castellanos: I don't think it came out well.
I don't think that's great for Democrats. It's --it’s --you know --she --
Congressman Omar was stained with mud on her white dress for the state of the Union address. Anti-Semitic mud.
Instead of apologizing and washing it off, what--
She hid in the crowd, not in the cage.
OK, let's put the others on the stage with me and put mud on them.
Republicans are reluctant to help. -
I think helping Democrats hide their opposition
Jewish in a crowd like this. And rightly so. How toothless --
RADDATZ: 23 Republicans who voted against it?
Yes.
How toothless is this?
Well, the congressman himself not only voted for it, but also celebrated it saying, oh, that's great because it's--
This is the first time Congress has voted against Islamophobia. So --
By the way, it also tells us something else.
Nancy Pelosi now has little power over Democrats in Congress.
The show was hosted by young Turks.
Nikki Roberts, ABC News: Well, she--she has to --
She must balance it.
I mean, she brought these young people in with great energy. -and followings.
This is a different place.
This is something we have never seen before.
As far as AOC is concerned, we have never seen a new member of Congress with millions of followers, and thousands of people are independent as far as parliamentary woman Omar is concerned.
It has nothing to do with the party, nothing to do--
Even with their own voters, it is a power abyss of complete independence. RADDATZ: So --
So how do you deal with this, should they really try to deal with this?
Roberts: of course, they need to deal with this because they need to have a party that they can show to voters in 2020 and say, who are we, voices that voters can endorse and vote ---(CROSSTALK)
Julie Pace, president of the Associated Press's Washington branch: It's one of the challenges Pelosi faces, and yes, she has some new members with a lot of followers who are quite active on social media, they have a big platform, but in reality they are not the ones who have the Democrats regain their House majority.
Roberts: That's right.
Pace: those are new students from the swing area who can beat--
Roberts: Not even the swing zone, but the Republican constituency.
Pace: in some cases, very Republican constituencies can--
Ousted Republican lawmakers.
Some of the new students came from a secure Democratic seat.
The real challenge for Pelosi is that she knows the party's power is there and she knows she will have to compete with these MPs, but she really needs to save and help
Different members were elected.
This is a real challenge for her over the next two years.
They don't understand that. They think --
They believe that because in some cases they beat other Democrats in the Democratic constituency, the party is there.
That's where the energy is, but it's not where the voters are.
RADDATZ: I want to go back to these--
Those remarks made by Omar again-and --
What does this mean. She --
She said she was unfairly labeled.
The comments are Jewish, but you heard the voice of Congressman Loria there, and Elliot Engel has spoken about it, Debbie Wasserman Schulz, Ted do.
So, do you think her comments triggered a health conversation about how you talk about Israel or close it down?
I think it's a healthy conversation.
I mean, you can criticize Israel, just like you can criticize any country that is not equal to anti-Israel. Semitic.
She did come back to apologize and say she recognized why people felt that way, but I think it was a debate and frankly we were a little behind closed doors.
We need this. -
This conversation is really important because it is a problem for many people.
CASTELLANOS: Well, the key to solving the problem is not to let it focus on-
Jewish, it's the initial offense, it's to dilute it, hide it, oh let's go to a safe place and let's talk about hate speech ---
Dilution is a difficult word.
ROBERTS: But there's nothing wrong with talking about hate speech. CASTELLANOS: --
It's okay, but it's not an attack.
So, no, you can't do it.
Now Jewish within the Democratic Party.
RADDATZ: We did mention that poster ---
Omar is in front of the tower.
I mean, Alex, you have to keep that in mind, it's loyalty to foreign forces.
You know, Catholics have been using it against them for generations because they are loyal to the Vatican.
So there is a view that if you are part of a religion that involves a number of other countries, you are not exactly American, and that is the true meaning of everything.
RADDATZ: We mentioned that NPR interviewed state senators, who said he spent hours talking to her about how to talk about the issue and stereotypes before the election.
Can't she understand?
Or is she pushing?
Pace: Yes, our colleagues in Minnesota have similar reports, and they say that there were some concerns between Jewish leaders before she ran for office, before she took office, in particular some of her constituents, she just didn't talk about them in the right way.
In fact, you know, one of Stephanie's points is that there may be an occasion for legal debate, and it's a legitimate debate about the United States. S.
Policy towards Israel
But if that's what she wants to advocate, she's actually hurting the cause. . . (CROSSTALK)
CASTELLANOS: The problem for Democrats is that they won in 2018 and won a lot of seats.
Candidates with AR
They have 15 s and American flags in their ads.
Now that they are elected, we see where the passion and vitality of the Democratic Party is.
If the face of the Democratic party is--is anti-semitic, proto-
It will be a very good election for Republicans.
RADDATZ: Let's talk about one of the Republicans who defended the president's comments after Charlottsville voted against it.
Is this a double standard?
CASTELLANOS: Well, it's wrong for him to do this, to defend that, but now, if the two mistakes make the right argument, that doesn't work.
I think they do the same for Democrats here.
This is a counter.
Comments from the shemites.
I mean, she apologized and then doubled her apologies on the matter, and the Democrats couldn't clean their own house either.
What happened when Steve King did something like this?
His committee was fired.
James: 13 years later.
He was kicked out of his committee. -well, that's. . .
Pace: The Republicans, who live with Steve King, have received his support in Iowa. CASTELLANOS: . . . anti-Semite. . .
Roberts: He has said a lot in the past few decades. it's really amazing. . .
You want to keep a counter.
As a spokesman for the Democratic party for 13 years, good luck.
But she is not the Democratic advocate.
RADDATZ: I want to play President Trump, President Trump's reaction to that. Let's listen. (
Start Video Editing)
Trump: Democrats have become villains. Israel party.
They have become-
I think this vote is a shame. (END VIDEO CLIP)
RADDATZ: It's a highly questionable statement that we see this kind of aboutimintegration, socialism, putting these extreme labels all done by Democrats, with a clear strategy of 2020.
Pace: this is one more
The presidential election strategy.
Look, he knows he has a base that can be with him, but he also knows well that if the Democrats nominate a more moderate candidate, part of the Republican Party may look for another option.
What he wants to do is draw the entire Democratic party to the far left. (CROSSTALK)
Roberts: It's a smart technology.
RADDATZ: his base might like it, but what about the moderate Republicans he needs?
CASTELLANOS: it will play well because 2018 is a referendum on him, right.
Does Donald Trump need a brake pedal? Yes.
Let's send some Democrats.
I mean, this guy tweeted at night.
He's a reckless, wild, disruptive president.
2020 is not a referendum on Trump, but an option.
If the choice is between Donald Trump and the return of a Democratic Washington institution that can't condemn corruption
When it appears in its own party and is running, you know, the energy is with a socialist agenda ---
Green New Deal.
I mean, if the Democrats decide to hold their conference in Venezuela, it won't go well for them.
You're all involved, Alex.
I know. I know.
We will have more information when we come back.
But then, is the verdict of Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman, in line with the criminal facts, and how urgent is the Robert Miller report?
When we came back, Terry Moran of ABC was with Pierre Thomas. (
Business break)
Pierre and Terry are here to analyze Paul Manafort's sentence and Mueller's latest investigation. Throughout the week, you can get the latest political news alerts on the ABC news app.
We will be back soon. (
Business break)(
Start Video Editing)
I feel sorry for Paul Manafort.
Host Stephen Colbert's evening show with Stephen Colbert: Are you shocked that he has only 47 months? SEN. CORY BOOKER (D), N. J.
No, I'm the criminal judge. you can't surprise me any more. SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D)
California: people commit white-collar crimes and they should be prepared to bring their toothbrushes and spend more time in jail like everyone else. SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR (D)
MN: You can't treat people differently based solely on race or on the type of crime they commit, which is wrong. (END VIDEO CLIP)
RADDATZ: President Trump and some in the 2020 Democratic field reacted to former Trump campaign president Paul Manafort, who was sentenced to less than four years in federal prison this week.
The office of the special adviser recommends that the sentence be extended to 25 years.
While Manafort will return to court on Wednesday to attend another sentencing hearing that may put him in prison for years or more, is his sentence consistent with the facts of the crime?
Let's bring in chief justice ABC News reporter Pierre Thomas and our own Terry Moran, who has been covering the investigation of the special adviser from the very beginning, interviewing the president and senior national journalists of the Supreme Court. Good morning.
Pierre, there are many factors that determine this.
The judge looked at a lot of different things.
So what you stand out most in this situation, especially when there are so many people complaining that this sentence is too light.
Pierre Thomas, Chief Justice correspondent for ABC News: Martha, as you can see, this has turned into a very heated debate about the fairness of the criminal justice system.
The prosecutor basically argued that Manafort was a straight forward offender who had 30 overseas bank accounts, of which $55 million, and that he did not pay taxes on $6 million of them.
They wanted him to be sentenced to a significant sentence for that, and the defense and Manafort himself proved it, and look, he's an older man, in bad health, they think this sentence should be less.
The judge said that the sentencing guidelines required a sentence of 19 to 24 years in prison, and the judge said too much.
RADDATZ: Terry, as Pierre stated there, and then we let the judge say that-that stands out and Manafort lives a life that is otherwise flawless.
This is clearly inconsistent with what Pierre said just now.
Terry Moran, senior national correspondent for ABC News: With that, his career has put pressure and shame on Washington to some extent.
This is the man who represents the Ukrainian dictator in the age of the Kyiv massacre of the people.
This is the person who took money from Jonas Savimbi and other gangsters around the world.
Millions of dollars, then hidden in Cyprus, then tax evasion on an industrial scale and face sentencing for these other crimes.
This is not a life that is beyond reproach.
Look, it's good that the judge has the discretion to look at the people in front of them outside the guidelines and try to do justice, but this discretion tells us something about our system and individual judges.
Yes, Pierre, I want to talk about this.
Because several Democrats say the verdict reflects a criminal justice system that severely punishes people of color.
A former federal prosecutor wrote, "the system has not been broken because of the four-year period that manafor had, rather than the 19-year period.
Annual advice from sentencing guidelines.
The system is broken because others get long sentences because of poverty, and dark people often don't get the same opportunities. "THOMAS.
: Martha, let's take our emotions out of it and let's talk about the facts.
There was a recent Justice Department-sorry, the sentencing Board report found that African-American men were sentenced to 19% more jail time than white men for the same offence.
So this is a real problem.
Another thing I want to say about Manafort is:the context.
He was imprisoned during the trial because he was accused by another judge of tampering with witnesses and was found.
Jailed for tampering with witnesses
In addition, an agreement was reached with the prosecutor and then the background of the person who was found to be lying.
So many people would argue that this notion of life, which was otherwise beyond reproach, contradicts recent facts.
RADDATZ: So in this case, the lighter person is expected to be sentenced, but he is sentenced more this week.
What are you expecting there?
Moran: Well, I hope the judges in the Colombian region can give an answer to some extent.
Look, this is-it's a matter of cracking down on the confidence of our judicial system, and the next judge who saw "otherwise impeccable" Paul Manafort sentenced will not be lost.
RADDATZ: But-but that judge-that judge would look and say "Hey, does he not have enough time ? "?
"I mean, it must be separate.
Moran: both now and in the future.
But the judge will be fair in his life, including this sentence, in his assessment of these crimes in Manafort.
I can't see the judges across the country, the invigilation rate, the invigilation rate crisis in this country, partly because of the racist crisis, and I can take her head from these issues.
RADDATZ: Pierre, I want to turn to the Miller detector soon.
We all heard that the investigation may be over.
I think we heard about it before.
What can you tell us?
Thomas: According to our sourcing, Mueller's work is coming to an end.
We expect that in the next few days he will submit his confidential report to Justice Minister Bill Bal, and then Bal will make one of the most important decisions any justice minister has made within 30 years --
For some years, that is, how much of the report is made public and submitted to Congress?
RADDATZ: Do you feel that way?
Thomas: You know, Barr said at the confirmation hearing that he would-he wanted to be transparent, but he would follow the standards of the Department of Justice.
It usually says that you don't talk about people if they aren't charged with a crime.
But in this survey, there are too many contacts between people associated with Trump and Russia, and people will wonder how Miller chose to deal with these issues.
Of course, there's a big topic, Terry. collusion.
The president said there was no collusion.
There are signs that Mueller may have been keeping an eye on this.
If they don't find out how much collusion the President has? MORAN: Huge. He’s cleared.
If Miller comes back, Mueller will become a folk hero in the United States.
Even if he found all sorts of things? MORAN: Sure.
No, but the core and most serious issue of this investigation, Robert Mueller started the investigation because of whether the current president of the United States assisted the Kremlin in attacking our democracy?
If Mueller comes back two years later and says, "I have no evidence to support this allegation," it is liquidation.
This is a liquidation of progressive and democratic people who want Mueller to fundamentally erase the 2016 election, which is the liquidation of the media, which is the liquidation of the country, if in fact, after such a long time, there was no collusion. Pierre ? ?
Thomas: in fact, if you look at all the allegations so far, no one has been charged so far with colluding directly with the Russians. That’s a fact.
But Miller's report was kept secret.
All we don't know is a lot, and Miller hinted at some facts throughout the case.
Just as Paul Manafort allegedly provided voting data to a suspected Russian intelligence official.
Roger Stone, the president's close friend, communicated with one of the Russian hackers.
So stay tuned.
We need to see what's on the report.
RADDATZ: Terry, even if there is nothing there, Hill will start several investigations into all sorts of things.
Moran: That's right.
Of course, there are other inquiries about the Trump business, about the Trump Tower in Moscow-which may be of interest to prosecutors and congressional investigators, and of course, these issues need to be exposed.
But RADDATZ: What about the attention of the American public?
This is a problem, if Miller.
Moran: this is a problem.
In fact, Democrats have to worry that they don't look like they're throwing anything at the wall, hoping it will stick to it and go back to old politics.
If they want to beat Donald Trump, beat him.
Defeat him on issues, defeat him politically, and not defeat him with investigation.
RADDATZ: It's great to see your opinion this morning.
Thank you guys for coming.
Next, who leads the Democratic field in the new Des Moines registration vote?
When we return, the round table will be held on 2020. (
Business break)(
Start Video Editing)
Howard Schulz, former CEO of Starbucks: Beto, Biden, hikenroper, let's see what's going to happen, but in my opinion, the way the Democrats have decided to beat Donald Trump is a far-left socialist agenda, and I think it's a bad strategy, not only to beat Trump, but even worse, putting the American people in a terrible and terrible position, I think the American people will reject it. (END VIDEO CLIP)
RADDATZ: We're back at the round table now.
We're going to talk about this in a second, but I 'd like to go to the latest poll at Joe Biden's Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom, Iowa, 27%, and Bernie Sanders is 25% behind him, then everyone fell off the cliff.
Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, 1%.
Kirsten Gillibrand didn't even get 1%.
I know it's really early now, but what does that tell you, Coki?
Roberts: Just tell me the name recognition.
People have heard of Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, and they haven't heard of anyone else, and that's what we're talking about.
I think that's right.
Joe Biden was the best day before the campaign really started.
Look, the worst thing about politics is that when you're fully known, you don't have room to grow, and that's still not enough to put it down.
I think Joe Biden is a parking lot where people just sit and wait for a new, fresh, democratic face to appear.
Here are two primaries, the old money primary, to raise a bunch of money from big donors, and then the online money Primary, candidates like Beto, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders who can go there, raise a pile of cash on the Internet like this, be careful of them, they zoom in.
What do you think of our democratic strategist here?
I mean, obviously it's still early.
Obviously everything has changed, but what does that mean for people like Biden and Sanders?
James: How much did Biden do?
No announcement yet.
James: He didn't announce it, but many people like him.
They believe him. They trust him. And this is. . .
He's a cute guy.
James: it's over demographics, over geography.
So I want to pay--
This shows me that the field of democracy is strong.
I really believe it.
I think it shows that we have broad and in-depth ideas and candidates who can actually represent all Americans.
CASTELLANOS: just like the Republican field where we have 17 candidates.
RADDATZ: Would you like to go in?
Julie, several Democrats have withdrawn this week.
Sherrod Brown, Jeff Merkley, Eric Holder, Mike Bloomberg are all available now. . .
Hillary Clinton.
Yes, Hillary Clinton.
Why do so many people bow?
For a few different reasons.
I think for someone like Mike Bloomberg, he's a very data person.
Speaking to his team this week, they looked at their vote and they were sure there was room for moderate to win the Democratic nomination in this area, but not if there were multiple moderate wins.
Signs that Joe Biden's camp or Biden will enter suggest that they believe that the moderate will not quit if both Joe Biden and Bloomberg win.
Bloomberg has a lot of money to do more in this game.
Look, for people like Sherrod Brown, I think there are some--
In the end, I don't think his heart is in it, and running for president is really painful for you personally, for your family.
It's really not worth doing if you're not all people and you think you can't give you everything.
But I think for Joe Biden, look at the numbers, and his team knows they're not true at this point.
They know very well that the second time he played, some of Joe Biden's realities, good or bad, will become clear and they worry about money.
He will have to solve the problem in an old-fashioned way for big donors.
It's hard sometimes. (CROSSTALK)
He did not like it either.
He did not like it either.
Yes.
What kind of person hasn't Joe Biden become yet? ROBERTS: Well --
Can he grow?
Can he be a new and progressive person?
It will be difficult.
ROBERTS: Well, no, but he can be the voice of the central part of the country and of the working people, and that's the voice that he provided in his political career.
Yes.
Roberts: It could be a very important voice for the Democratic Party.
CASTELLANOS: in the general election--
Roberts: that's true. -CASTELLANOS: --
Not in the primary.
ROBERTS: Well, he does have a lot of Africans --
American support for the United States-
About Barack Obama's theory of turning to him when he was looking for a deputy general and his--
CASTELLANOS: But when he was looking for a successor, he didn't. ROBERTS: --
Obama is back.
This is the case.
Radaz: Corky, I also want to find you about what Howard Schulz and Howard Schulz have just said.
We have discussed a lot this morning, progressive and moderate.
Roberts: It's a real problem because you look at the last Wall Street Journal survey, and 74% of nonpartisan and moderate people say socialism makes them very uncomfortable. And --
RADDATZ: That's why you hear Donald Trump talk about it over and over again.
Roberts: not just Donald Trump, but every Republican says socialism and socialism.
CASTELLANOS: Isn't it unfortunate when it's true?
ROBERTS: And it's--
This will be a problem for Democrats. RADDATZ: So --
So what did the Democrats do?
Brown James: This is the case.
In my community, I don't know many people who have been investigated.
I know it sounds immature.
But I do believe that at the end of the day, it is the basis on which the Democrats stand up to the candidates they think will speak for them.
I don't think people are going to be socialist and--
Gently, do they think this person can represent my interests? Can they beat Donald Trump?
I think--(CROSSTALK)
Roberts: these two differences-
These are two different things.
Brown James: Yes, they are, but I think these two things resonate with the people who are going to come out and vote to push the Democrats forward, and I think that's--
This is black, Latino and young.
But representing my interests may mean they can't beat Donald Trump. PACE: Right. In talking to --
For voters in these early states, the desire to defeat Donald Trump trumps whether you support the Green New Deal, universal health insurance ---
People want to hear what you think of these positions.
In the end, many of the voters I interviewed said they just wanted to see someone and think about how they would work with Trump at the debate stage? (CROSSTALK)
RADDATZ: Wait a minute--
I have seen the exact same thing that the problem is starting to step back.
Alex, I want to finish with you.
Let's talk about the president's own reform.
He believes that the prospects for elections depend largely on the economy.
We saw some disturbing figures this week.
The trade deficit reached a record $891 billion and employment growth was slow.
Will it hurt him?
CASTELLANOS: Well, there are dark clouds on every line, but overall, the situation is still good.
More and more Americans are working than ever, wages are finally rising, Republicans are very happy, and even independents are happy with the US Supreme Court, if not, the United States is receiving
By the way,--
The economic downturn may not hurt Trump.
This may make him more indispensable.
You won't change the captain in the storm, Donald Trump is still the only option?
What's worse, a Democratic Party's administration of Washington is because of its-Trump.
Roberts: '92, we changed the captain on the rough sea.
Okay, we have to finish it there.
There's more in the next few months.
Thank you all.
This is all we have today.
Thank you for sharing with us part of your Sunday.
Check out the world news tonight and have a great day.