>>> BACK WITH US NOW FOR THE
>>> BACK WITH US NOW FOR THE INTERVIEW IS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR
INTERVIEW IS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS OF CALIFORNIA.
KAMALA HARRIS OF CALIFORNIA. SHE IS A NEWLY DECLARED
SHE IS A NEWLY DECLARED CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020.
CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020. YOU ARE THE THIRD U.S. SENATOR
YOU ARE THE THIRD U.S. SENATOR TO JUMP IN TO THE PRESIDENTIAL
TO JUMP IN TO THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.
RACE. SOME OTHER SENATORS MAY FOLLOW.
SOME OTHER SENATORS MAY FOLLOW. DOES THAT MAKE THINGS WEIRD AT
DOES THAT MAKE THINGS WEIRD AT WORK?
WORK? >> YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THAT OF
>> YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THAT OF THOSE WHO HAVE ENTERED OR AT
THOSE WHO HAVE ENTERED OR AT LEAST OPENED EXPLORATORY
LEAST OPENED EXPLORATORY COMMITTEES AND THOSE WHO ARE
COMMITTEES AND THOSE WHO ARE RUMORED TO ENTER, WE ALL HAVE A
RUMORED TO ENTER, WE ALL HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR EACH
GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER AND HAVE WORKED TOGETHER
OTHER AND HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON MANY ISSUES AND ARE ALIGNED
ON MANY ISSUES AND ARE ALIGNED ON MANY ISSUES.
ON MANY ISSUES. OF COURSE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO
OF COURSE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SHOULD JOIN, AND I THINK IT WILL
SHOULD JOIN, AND I THINK IT WILL BE A ROBUST AND A HEALTHY
BE A ROBUST AND A HEALTHY CONVERSATION, AND I HAVE A GREAT
CONVERSATION, AND I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR MY
DEAL OF RESPECT FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
COLLEAGUES. TRULY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF
TRULY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT.
RESPECT. >> YOU HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE
>> YOU HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE SENATE FOR TWO YEARS.
SENATE FOR TWO YEARS. WHY SO FAST?
WHY SO FAST? WHY ARE YOU WILLING TO MOVE ON
WHY ARE YOU WILLING TO MOVE ON FROM THIS JOB SO FAST?
FROM THIS JOB SO FAST? YOU JUST GOT THERE.
YOU JUST GOT THERE. >> NOVEMBER OF 2016.
>> NOVEMBER OF 2016. IN TERMS OF MY BACKGROUND, I
IN TERMS OF MY BACKGROUND, I HAVE SERVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
HAVE SERVED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT. I HAVE SERVED IN STATE
I HAVE SERVED IN STATE GOVERNMENT, AND NOW IN FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, AND NOW IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
GOVERNMENT. I UNDERSTAND HOW THESE SYSTEMS
I UNDERSTAND HOW THESE SYSTEMS WORK, AND UP UNDERSTAND HOW IT
WORK, AND UP UNDERSTAND HOW IT IS NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW WITH
IS NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND
THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND HOW IT IS IMPACTING PEOPLE AT
HOW IT IS IMPACTING PEOPLE AT EVERY LEVEL OF OUR SOCIETY, MUCH
EVERY LEVEL OF OUR SOCIETY, MUCH LESS GOVERNMENT.
LESS GOVERNMENT. THE EXPERIENCE THAT I’VE HAD
THE EXPERIENCE THAT I’VE HAD ALONG THE YEARS HAS BEEN THE
ALONG THE YEARS HAS BEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING -- RUNNING
EXPERIENCE OF BEING -- RUNNING AN OFFICE OF 5,000 PEOPLE, BEING
AN OFFICE OF 5,000 PEOPLE, BEING A PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
A PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH. I KNOW THE POWER OF THESE
I KNOW THE POWER OF THESE OFFICES AND I KNOW THE HARM THAT
OFFICES AND I KNOW THE HARM THAT THEY CAN WREAK WHEN THEY ARE RUN
THEY CAN WREAK WHEN THEY ARE RUN IN THE WAY THAT IS CURRENTLY
IN THE WAY THAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING.
HAPPENING. I WAS RAISED BY A MOTHER IN
I WAS RAISED BY A MOTHER IN PARTICULAR WHO TAUGHT US THAT IF
PARTICULAR WHO TAUGHT US THAT IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM, YOU DON’T
YOU SEE A PROBLEM, YOU DON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
COMPLAIN ABOUT IT. YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. AND WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING
AND WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE WAY
ON IN OUR COUNTRY AND THE WAY THAT, FRANKLY, THERE IS AN
THAT, FRANKLY, THERE IS AN ATTACK ON NOT ONLY THE AMERICAN
ATTACK ON NOT ONLY THE AMERICAN DREAM BUT AMERICAN VALUES, AND I
DREAM BUT AMERICAN VALUES, AND I KNOW THAT MIGHT SOUND CORNY, BUT
KNOW THAT MIGHT SOUND CORNY, BUT IT’S HAPPENING.
IT’S HAPPENING. WE -- EACH OF US HAS TO FIGURE
WE -- EACH OF US HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE’RE GOING STEP UP
OUT WHERE WE’RE GOING STEP UP AND WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO.
AND WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO. YOU KNOW, IT’S ONE THING TO
YOU KNOW, IT’S ONE THING TO COMPLAIN, BUT I THINK THIS IS A
COMPLAIN, BUT I THINK THIS IS A MOMENT THAT SHOULD REQUIRE
MOMENT THAT SHOULD REQUIRE EVERYONE TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR
EVERYONE TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND ASK WHAT AM I DOING RIGHT
AND ASK WHAT AM I DOING RIGHT NOW AND WHAT CAN I DO.
NOW AND WHAT CAN I DO. HERE’S MY PERSPECTIVE.
HERE’S MY PERSPECTIVE. IF YOU WANT TO JUST TAKE TO IT A
IF YOU WANT TO JUST TAKE TO IT A MORE LONG-TERM, YEARS FROM NOW,
MORE LONG-TERM, YEARS FROM NOW, MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY, OUR
MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY, OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN,
CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, THEY’RE GOING TO LOOK AT US AND
THEY’RE GOING TO LOOK AT US AND THEY’RE GOING TO ASK US WHERE
THEY’RE GOING TO ASK US WHERE WERE YOU AT THAT INFLECTION
WERE YOU AT THAT INFLECTION MOMENT?
MOMENT? AND THEY’RE GOING TO WANT TO
AND THEY’RE GOING TO WANT TO HEAR AND I THINK WE’RE GOING
HEAR AND I THINK WE’RE GOING WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT IS
WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT IS MORE THAN JUST HOW WE FELT.
MORE THAN JUST HOW WE FELT. THIS IS A MOMENT THAT HAS TO BE
THIS IS A MOMENT THAT HAS TO BE ABOUT WHAT IS EACH OF US
ABOUT WHAT IS EACH OF US PREPARED TO DO.
PREPARED TO DO. AND, RACHEL, YOU’VE SEEN THIS.
AND, RACHEL, YOU’VE SEEN THIS. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE ANSWERING
SO MANY PEOPLE ARE ANSWERING THAT QUESTION BY DOING SO MUCH.
THAT QUESTION BY DOING SO MUCH. IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN MY TWO YEARS THERE, I HAVE SEEN
MY TWO YEARS THERE, I HAVE SEEN THOUSANDS OF DREAMERS TRAVELING
THOUSANDS OF DREAMERS TRAVELING FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY PLANE,
FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY PLANE, TRAIN, BUS, COMING TO THE UNITED
TRAIN, BUS, COMING TO THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL, PROBABLY
STATES CAPITOL, PROBABLY SLEEPING TEN DEEP ON SOMEONE’S
SLEEPING TEN DEEP ON SOMEONE’S LIVING ROOM FLOOR, AND THESE
LIVING ROOM FLOOR, AND THESE DREAMERS WALKING THE HALLS OF
DREAMERS WALKING THE HALLS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS,
THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, BELIEVING IF THEY ARE SEEN AND
BELIEVING IF THEY ARE SEEN AND THEIR STORIES ARE HEARD, IT WILL
THEIR STORIES ARE HEARD, IT WILL MATTER.
MATTER. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME THING WITH
I HAVE SEEN THE SAME THING WITH PARENTS, MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF
PARENTS, MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF CHILDREN AT VARIOUS STAGES OF
CHILDREN AT VARIOUS STAGES OF DISABILITY.
DISABILITY. FAMILIES THAT IT REQUIRES GREAT
FAMILIES THAT IT REQUIRES GREAT EFFORT TO REMOVE THE CHILD FROM
EFFORT TO REMOVE THE CHILD FROM ONE ROOM OF THE HOUSE TO
ONE ROOM OF THE HOUSE TO ANOTHER, MUCH LESS TRAVEL ACROSS
ANOTHER, MUCH LESS TRAVEL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TO TRAVEL THE HALLS
THE COUNTRY, TO TRAVEL THE HALLS OF CONGRESS TO MAKE SURE THEIR
OF CONGRESS TO MAKE SURE THEIR STORIES WERE HEARD AND THEIR
STORIES WERE HEARD AND THEIR FACES WERE SEEN.
FACES WERE SEEN. SAME WITH SURVIVORS.
SAME WITH SURVIVORS. A SEXUAL ASSAULT AFTER THE
A SEXUAL ASSAULT AFTER THE KAVANAUGH HEARING ENDURING.
KAVANAUGH HEARING ENDURING. TRAVELING AND HAVING THE COURAGE
TRAVELING AND HAVING THE COURAGE TO TELL A STORY THEY’VE NEVER
TO TELL A STORY THEY’VE NEVER TOLD ANYONE.
TOLD ANYONE. THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE THING
THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE THING HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT
HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.
NOW. WHERE THERE IS ACTION AND THERE
WHERE THERE IS ACTION AND THERE IS A COUNTERACTION.
IS A COUNTERACTION. AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO
AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE, WHICH IS SO MANY PEOPLE
SEE, WHICH IS SO MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING WE CAN DO BETTER.
UNDERSTANDING WE CAN DO BETTER. WE DESERVE BETTER.
WE DESERVE BETTER. THIS IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF WHO WE
THIS IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF WHO WE ARE.
ARE. AND I WILL SAY ALSO THAT IN THAT
AND I WILL SAY ALSO THAT IN THAT FIGHT, IT REALLY IS AN
FIGHT, IT REALLY IS AN ASPIRATIONAL FIGHT.
ASPIRATIONAL FIGHT. IT IS A FIGHT FOR SOMETHING, NOT
IT IS A FIGHT FOR SOMETHING, NOT JUST AGAINST SOMETHING.
JUST AGAINST SOMETHING. IT IS A FIGHT FUNDAMENTALLY
IT IS A FIGHT FUNDAMENTALLY GROUNDED IN WHAT I THINK MOST
GROUNDED IN WHAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE, WHICH IS WE
PEOPLE BELIEVE, WHICH IS WE BELIEVE IN THE IDEALS OF OUR
BELIEVE IN THE IDEALS OF OUR COUNTRY.
COUNTRY. YOU KNOW, REA COUNTRY THAT HAS
YOU KNOW, REA COUNTRY THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ASPIRATIONAL.
ALWAYS BEEN ASPIRATIONAL. WE HAVE THESE IDEALS.
WE HAVE THESE IDEALS. WE WERE FOUNDED ON THESE IDEALS.
WE WERE FOUNDED ON THESE IDEALS. OUR STRENGTH IS THAT WE FIGHT
OUR STRENGTH IS THAT WE FIGHT FOR THESE IDEALS AND OUR
FOR THESE IDEALS AND OUR STRENGTH IS WE ALSO SPEAK TRUTH
STRENGTH IS WE ALSO SPEAK TRUTH AND WE’VE NEVER QUITE REACHED
AND WE’VE NEVER QUITE REACHED THOSE IDEALS.
THOSE IDEALS. WE STILL HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF
WE STILL HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PROBLEMS AROUND ISSUES OF
PROBLEMS AROUND ISSUES OF EQUALITY AND FREEDOM AND
EQUALITY AND FREEDOM AND FAIRNESS, RIGHT?
FAIRNESS, RIGHT? BUT PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO
BUT PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO FIGHT, AND I AM PREPARED TO JOIN
FIGHT, AND I AM PREPARED TO JOIN THAT FIGHT, AND IF NECESSARY,
THAT FIGHT, AND IF NECESSARY, AND IF FOLKS WILL HAVE ME, I AM
AND IF FOLKS WILL HAVE ME, I AM PREPARED TO HELP LEAD THAT
PREPARED TO HELP LEAD THAT FIGHT.
FIGHT. >> YOU HAVE PUT YOUR PAST
>> YOU HAVE PUT YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AS
EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN CALIFORNIA AND AS A PROSECUTOR,
CALIFORNIA AND AS A PROSECUTOR, AS THE D.A. IN SAN FRANCISCO,
AS THE D.A. IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE ELECTED D.A.
THE ELECTED D.A. I REMEMBER THAT ELECTION.
I REMEMBER THAT ELECTION. I REMEMBER BEING AMAZED TO SEE
I REMEMBER BEING AMAZED TO SEE YOU FROM COME OUTSIDE, COME
YOU FROM COME OUTSIDE, COME OUTSIDE FROM THE TWO
OUTSIDE FROM THE TWO ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATES AND
ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATES AND BEAT THEM BOTH.
BEAT THEM BOTH. >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> IT WAS A POLITICAL MARVEL TO
>> IT WAS A POLITICAL MARVEL TO SEE YOU WIN THAT RACE.
SEE YOU WIN THAT RACE. I REMEMBER WATCHING IT FROM UP
I REMEMBER WATCHING IT FROM UP CLOSE.
CLOSE. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE FACED -- YOU’VE BEEN BUFFETED BY
FACED -- YOU’VE BEEN BUFFETED BY TOUGH CONTROVERSIES IN BOTH OF
TOUGH CONTROVERSIES IN BOTH OF THOSE JOBS.
THOSE JOBS. >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> WHEN YOU WERE THE D.A. IN SAN
>> WHEN YOU WERE THE D.A. IN SAN FRANCISCO, THERE WAS A LAB TECH
FRANCISCO, THERE WAS A LAB TECH WHO WAS SYSTEMATICALLY MESSING
WHO WAS SYSTEMATICALLY MESSING WITH EVIDENCE.
WITH EVIDENCE. >> OH, YES.
>> OH, YES. >> AND HUNDREDS OF CONVICTIONS,
>> AND HUNDREDS OF CONVICTIONS, HUNDREDS OF CASES WERE DISMISSED
HUNDREDS OF CASES WERE DISMISSED BECAUSE OF THAT.
BECAUSE OF THAT. >> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> THAT’S RIGHT. >> WHEN THE JUDGE IN THAT LAB
>> WHEN THE JUDGE IN THAT LAB TECH CASE RULED ON WHAT
TECH CASE RULED ON WHAT HAPPENED, THE JUDGE SAID
HAPPENED, THE JUDGE SAID PROSECUTORS, THE HIGHEST LEVEL
PROSECUTORS, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF THE D.A.’S OFFICE, YOUR
OF THE D.A.’S OFFICE, YOUR OFFICE, HAD TO KNOW THERE WERE
OFFICE, HAD TO KNOW THERE WERE SERIOUS PROBLEMS AT THE CRIME
SERIOUS PROBLEMS AT THE CRIME LAB, THAT THAT LAB TECH WAS
LAB, THAT THAT LAB TECH WAS MESSING WITH EVIDENCE AND
MESSING WITH EVIDENCE AND ANYTHING SHE TOUCHED ESSENTIALLY
ANYTHING SHE TOUCHED ESSENTIALLY WAS SCREWING UP CASES.
WAS SCREWING UP CASES. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN UNDER YOUR
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP WITHOUT YOU KNOWING
LEADERSHIP WITHOUT YOU KNOWING ABOUT IT?
ABOUT IT? >> SO THE CRIME LAB WAS RUN BY
>> SO THE CRIME LAB WAS RUN BY THE SAN FRANCISCO POLICE
THE SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT, NOT BY MY OFFICE.
DEPARTMENT, NOT BY MY OFFICE. IT WAS RUN BY THE POLICE
IT WAS RUN BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS A TECHNICIAN, TO YOUR
THERE WAS A TECHNICIAN, TO YOUR POINT, WHO WORKED IN THAT CRIME
POINT, WHO WORKED IN THAT CRIME LAB, WHO WAS BASICALLY SNIFFING
LAB, WHO WAS BASICALLY SNIFFING WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MEASURING.
MEASURING. AND IT TURNED OUT THAT HUNDREDS
AND IT TURNED OUT THAT HUNDREDS OF CASES SHE HAD HANDLED AND
OF CASES SHE HAD HANDLED AND BECAUSE OF THE -- BECAUSE OF HER
BECAUSE OF THE -- BECAUSE OF HER MISCONDUCT, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE
MISCONDUCT, BECAUSE OF WHAT WE KNEW SHE DID, WHICH WAS
KNEW SHE DID, WHICH WAS MANIPULATE EVIDENCE, YOU’RE
MANIPULATE EVIDENCE, YOU’RE RIGHT.
RIGHT. WE DISMISSED THOSE CASES.
WE DISMISSED THOSE CASES. >> HUNDREDS OF THEM.
>> HUNDREDS OF THEM. >> YES, HUNDREDS OF THEM.
>> YES, HUNDREDS OF THEM. BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING
BECAUSE IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
TO DO. WHEN SOMEBODY ABUSES THEIR
WHEN SOMEBODY ABUSES THEIR POWER, ESPECIALLY IN LAW
POWER, ESPECIALLY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THERE IS GOING TO
ENFORCEMENT, THERE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A CONSEQUENCE.
HAVE TO BE A CONSEQUENCE. >> BUT DID PROSECUTORS WORKING
>> BUT DID PROSECUTORS WORKING UNDER YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
UNDER YOU KNOW ABOUT THE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT LAB WHICH IS
CONCERNS ABOUT THAT LAB WHICH IS WHAT THE JUDGE ALLEGED?
WHAT THE JUDGE ALLEGED? >> THE PROSECUTOR IN MY OFFICE
>> THE PROSECUTOR IN MY OFFICE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT, AT LEAST
DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT, AT LEAST SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT.
SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT. BUT THE RESULT AND THE
BUT THE RESULT AND THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT CASES THAT
CONSEQUENCE IS THAT CASES THAT PROSECUTORS HAD WORKED ON WERE
PROSECUTORS HAD WORKED ON WERE DISMISSED RIGHTLY, AND IT WAS MY
DISMISSED RIGHTLY, AND IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY THOSE
RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY THOSE CASES WILL BE DISMISSED BECAUSE
CASES WILL BE DISMISSED BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN AN ABUSE IN THE
THERE HAS BEEN AN ABUSE IN THE SYSTEM.
SYSTEM. AND THAT GETS TO A WIDER POINT
AND THAT GETS TO A WIDER POINT WHERE WE SEE ABUSES IN THE
WHERE WE SEE ABUSES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND PARTICULAR BY LAW ENFORCEMENT,
PARTICULAR BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE’VE GOT MAKE SURE THERE IS A
WE’VE GOT MAKE SURE THERE IS A SYSTEM IN PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY
SYSTEM IN PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY FOR CONSEQUENCE AND
FOR CONSEQUENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
ACCOUNTABILITY. AND AT THE VERY LEAST, IT’S
AND AT THE VERY LEAST, IT’S GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABOUT
GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABOUT GETTING RID OF THOSE CASES, BUT
GETTING RID OF THOSE CASES, BUT ALSO REFORMING THE SYSTEM.
ALSO REFORMING THE SYSTEM. AND THAT’S WHAT WE DID AFTER
AND THAT’S WHAT WE DID AFTER THAT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE
THAT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THERE WERE STEPS IN PLACE AT
THERE WERE STEPS IN PLACE AT LEAST AS THE CASES CAME INTO THE
LEAST AS THE CASES CAME INTO THE D.A.’S OFFICE THAT WE WOULD MAKE
D.A.’S OFFICE THAT WE WOULD MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO TAINT OR NO
SURE THERE WAS NO TAINT OR NO MANIPULATION BEFORE IT CAME IN.
MANIPULATION BEFORE IT CAME IN. >> FROM ANOTHER DIRECTION,
>> FROM ANOTHER DIRECTION, ANOTHER CONTROVERSY FROM WHEN
ANOTHER CONTROVERSY FROM WHEN YOU WERE D.A. WAS IN 2004.
YOU WERE D.A. WAS IN 2004. A POLICE OFFICER ISAAC ESPINOSA
A POLICE OFFICER ISAAC ESPINOSA WAS KILLED.
WAS KILLED. >> YEAH.
>> YEAH. >> I KNOW YOU AT THE TIME WERE
>> I KNOW YOU AT THE TIME WERE PERSONALLY OPPOSED TO THE DEATH
PERSONALLY OPPOSED TO THE DEATH PENALTY.
PENALTY. ARE YOU STILL --
ARE YOU STILL -- >> I’VE BEEN MY EIRE LIFE AND
>> I’VE BEEN MY EIRE LIFE AND STILL AM, FOR VERY GOOD REASONS
STILL AM, FOR VERY GOOD REASONS I CAN EXPOUND ON.
I CAN EXPOUND ON. >> FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM
>> FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM INCLINED THE SAME WAY MYSELF.
INCLINED THE SAME WAY MYSELF. BUT AS D.A.
BUT AS D.A. >> YEP.
>> YEP. >> YOU ELECTED TO NOT SEEK THE
>> YOU ELECTED TO NOT SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE PERSON
DEATH PENALTY FOR THE PERSON THAT KILLED OFFICER ESPINOSA.
THAT KILLED OFFICER ESPINOSA. >> RIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> A AND THE PERSON WHO KILLED
>> A AND THE PERSON WHO KILLED THE OFFICER, AND THE OFFICER, WE
THE OFFICER, AND THE OFFICER, WE DON’T NEED TO PUBLICIZE THAT
DON’T NEED TO PUBLICIZE THAT PERSON BECAUSE THE OFFICER
PERSON BECAUSE THE OFFICER SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AND NOT
SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AND NOT HIM.
HIM. >> THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT. >> DID GET A LIFE SENTENCE.
>> DID GET A LIFE SENTENCE. WAS CONVICTED.
WAS CONVICTED. >> THAT’S RIGHT.
>> THAT’S RIGHT. >> WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING FOR
>> WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT NOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU
PRESIDENT NOW, OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW YOU’VE FACED QUESTIONS
KNOW YOU’VE FACED QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT EVERY TIME YOU’VE RUN
ABOUT THAT EVERY TIME YOU’VE RUN FOR OFFICE.
FOR OFFICE. >> YES, I HAVE.
>> YES, I HAVE. >> THAT WILL PUT THE DEATH
>> THAT WILL PUT THE DEATH PENALTY ON THE TABLE AS A
PENALTY ON THE TABLE AS A DEBATE.
DEBATE. THE PRESIDENT IS A ENTHUSIASTIC
THE PRESIDENT IS A ENTHUSIASTIC -- WOULD MAKE THAT A CENTRAL
-- WOULD MAKE THAT A CENTRAL DEBATE FOR THE COUNTRY.
DEBATE FOR THE COUNTRY. WOULD THAT BE CONSTRUCTIVE OR
WOULD THAT BE CONSTRUCTIVE OR NOT?
NOT? >> I THINK IT IS A DETAINEEBATE
>> I THINK IT IS A DETAINEEBATE WE SHOULD HAVE.
WE SHOULD HAVE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEATH PENALTY
I BELIEVE THAT THE DEATH PENALTY IS EXTREMELY FLAWED AS A SYSTEM.
IS EXTREMELY FLAWED AS A SYSTEM. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OPPOSED TO
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OPPOSED TO THE DEATH PENALTY.
THE DEATH PENALTY. BACK TO THE POINT OF THAT CASE,
BACK TO THE POINT OF THAT CASE, I’M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT THERE
I’M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT THERE WERE DEMOCRATS THAT SAID THE
WERE DEMOCRATS THAT SAID THE CASE SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM
CASE SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME, HIGH-LEVEL ELECTED DEMOCRATS
ME, HIGH-LEVEL ELECTED DEMOCRATS WHO SAID THE CASE SHOULD BE
WHO SAID THE CASE SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE I
TAKEN AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE I WOULD NOT SEEK THE DEATH
WOULD NOT SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY.
PENALTY. BUT I DID WHAT I BELIEVED WAS
BUT I DID WHAT I BELIEVED WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND THE
THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND THE KILLER OF THAT OFFICER WILL BE
KILLER OF THAT OFFICER WILL BE IN JAIL FOR THE -- PRISON FOR
IN JAIL FOR THE -- PRISON FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
THE REST OF HIS LIFE. ON THE ISSUE OF A NATIONAL
ON THE ISSUE OF A NATIONAL DEBATE, ABSOLUTELY.
DEBATE, ABSOLUTELY. LISTEN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A
LISTEN, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEM THAT CREATES A FINAL
SYSTEM THAT CREATES A FINAL PUNISHMENT WITHOUT ANY
PUNISHMENT WITHOUT ANY REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE DNA TO
REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE DNA TO PROVE IT.
PROVE IT. IF THERE IS DNA, IT MAY PROVE IT
IF THERE IS DNA, IT MAY PROVE IT BUT YOU DON’T NEED DNA.
BUT YOU DON’T NEED DNA. IT IS A SYSTEM WHERE IT HAS BEEN
IT IS A SYSTEM WHERE IT HAS BEEN FUNDAMENTALLY PROVEN TO BE
FUNDAMENTALLY PROVEN TO BE APPLIED TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND
APPLIED TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND LATINO MEN AND POOR MEN
LATINO MEN AND POOR MEN DISPROPORTIONATELY FOR THE SAME
DISPROPORTIONATELY FOR THE SAME KIND OF CRIME.
KIND OF CRIME. IT IS A PROCESS WHERE IF YOU
IT IS A PROCESS WHERE IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT DETERRENCE,
WANT TO TALK ABOUT DETERRENCE, LISTEN, I HAVE PERSONALLY
LISTEN, I HAVE PERSONALLY PROSECUTED HOMICIDE CASES.
PROSECUTED HOMICIDE CASES. I SPECIALIZED FOR A LONG TIME IN
I SPECIALIZED FOR A LONG TIME IN CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES.
CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. I HAVE DEALT WITH ALL KINDS OF
I HAVE DEALT WITH ALL KINDS OF CASES THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE NOT
CASES THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE NOT FOR A PG SHOW -- I DON’T KNOW IF
FOR A PG SHOW -- I DON’T KNOW IF YOUR SHOW IS PG, BY THE WAY.
YOUR SHOW IS PG, BY THE WAY. BUT LET ME SAY THIS, NOBODY EVER
BUT LET ME SAY THIS, NOBODY EVER STOOD THERE AND WAS ABOUT TO
STOOD THERE AND WAS ABOUT TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND THEN
PULL THE TRIGGER AND THEN DECIDED IS THIS GOING TO BE LIFE
DECIDED IS THIS GOING TO BE LIFE WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE OR
WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE OR THE DEATH PENALTY BEFORE THEY
THE DEATH PENALTY BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO PULL THE TRIGGER?
DECIDE TO PULL THE TRIGGER? SO THE IDEA THAT IT IS A
SO THE IDEA THAT IT IS A DETERRENT IS ALSO NOT A STRONG
DETERRENT IS ALSO NOT A STRONG ARGUMENT.
ARGUMENT. FOR HAVING IN PLACE A SYSTEM
FOR HAVING IN PLACE A SYSTEM THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED.
THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED. SO, YES, I AM PERSONALLY OPPOSED
SO, YES, I AM PERSONALLY OPPOSED TO THE DEATH PENALTY.
TO THE DEATH PENALTY. I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THERE
I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE SEVERE AND SERIOUS
SHOULD BE SEVERE AND SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE FOR VIOLENT CRIME,
CONSEQUENCE FOR VIOLENT CRIME, WHICH IS WHY I’VE PROSECUTED
WHICH IS WHY I’VE PROSECUTED THOSE CASES AND WILL ALWAYS SEEK
THOSE CASES AND WILL ALWAYS SEEK THE HIGHEST SENTENCE, CONSISTENT
THE HIGHEST SENTENCE, CONSISTENT WITH THE FACTS OF THE CASE, BUT
WITH THE FACTS OF THE CASE, BUT THE DEATH PENALTY IS FLAWED AND
THE DEATH PENALTY IS FLAWED AND I WELCOME THAT DEBATE IF IT’S
I WELCOME THAT DEBATE IF IT’S NECESSARY.
NECESSARY. >> SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS OF
>> SENATOR KAMALA HARRIS OF CALIFORNIA IS OUR GUEST.
