The following is the total transcript of an interview with Sen. Mark Kelly, Democrat of Arizona, on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Jan. 12, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We flip now to Arizona Democratic senator Mark Kelly, who joins us from Tucson, Arizona. Good morning to you, Senator.
SEN. MARK KELLY: Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It- it is going to be a really busy week within the Senate. Before I get to these affirmation hearings, I need to observe up on what the FBI director instructed our Scott Pelley there in describing a few of the Chinese hacking and what incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz referred to as “cyber time bombs” all through U.S. infrastructure. What must occur? What do the results have to be for China, having accomplished this and remaining in our infrastructure?
SEN. KELLY: Well, we have to be sturdy in standing as much as them and- and ex- explaining to them, and in some circumstances, I believe penalties have to be critical. There are issues that we will do, we now have the instruments. But I might say, even past that, we have to determine a method to get them off of the infrastructure. With regards to the telecom system, a number of corporations, you already know, Chinese cyber software program are presently on these programs, and we’re working to attempt to repair this. Some of that is going to require that the- the telecom corporations improve their infrastructure. That may very well be pricey. We’re presently working with them to do this.
MARGARET BRENNAN: It’s fairly unimaginable that this espionage occurred within the first place, and expelling them is so exhausting to do. I need to additionally ask you about one other Chinese query, and that has to do with Tiktok, as a result of the legal professional for the corporate stated they are going to go darkish subsequent Sunday, except the Supreme Court intervenes and stops this nationwide safety legislation from taking impact, or delays it, as Mr. Trump has requested the court docket to do. What do you suppose goes to occur right here?
SEN. KELLY: Well, based mostly on the oral argument within the case two days in the past, it seems to be just like the Supreme Court- I imply, I do not actually need to speculate, however it- it does seem like they’ll uphold the legislation that we handed. So- I believe on the nineteenth, so at some point before- earlier than the inauguration, you already know, Tiktok on our programs, on our servers, turns into one thing that is now been banned by Congress. So I think about there’s going to be a disruption within the service right here, you already know, beginning on the nineteenth. I do know that is controversial. I do know there are of us on the market that earn a residing, you already know, on Tiktok, nevertheless it has a nationwide safety threat to it. You know, one is the info, one of many dangers. The factor that I’m extra involved about is their capability to control the- the inhabitants of the United States, particularly in time of a battle. So it was the suitable resolution. I voted for it. And it seems to be just like the Supreme Court goes to uphold the laws that we handed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll monitor that story. I need to observe up on one thing Senator Barrasso introduced up, which was the Laken Riley Act. You say you help this. It’s a invoice that will require federal authorities to detain undocumented immigrants charged with theft associated crimes, fairly than releasing them on parole. This invoice was launched final congress, did not go wherever. Was it incorrect for Democrats to not take it up? Was it election 12 months politics that made Democrats involved about bringing it ahead?
SEN. KELLY: Well, within the final 12 months, we have been working with Republicans on bipartisan border safety laws with the hope of getting that handed after which transferring on to complete immigration reform. I believe we might do this. I believe there’s plenty of, you already know, there’s- you already know, there’s an effort, I believe, that is going to proceed. You know, proper now, that is actually bipartisan. I voted for cloture on the, you already know, movement to begin speaking about it. And finally I’ll vote—
(BEGIN CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN
But do you remorse not doing that, taking that place earlier?
SEN. KELLY: —to- to go it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: If Democrats have been extra muscular on this challenge—
SEN: KELLY: Well—
MARGARET BRENNAN: —which was such a dwell challenge through the marketing campaign?
(END CROSSTALK)
SEN. KELLY: Well, I imply, the Laken Riley Act could be very particular. I imply, it does one particular factor. We have been engaged on one thing that was rather more complete, cash for Border Patrol brokers, and hiring, and infrastructure, coverage modifications. And coverage modifications, you already know, you actually should do in a bipartisan approach. We cannot do this via the reconciliation course of you have been speaking about. So there is- you already know, I believe there’s- there’s going to be an effort ongoing. This is bipartisan. You’re proper, we did not do that a 12 months in the past, you already know, possibly we must always have. But we have been engaged on bipartisan border safety laws. We weren’t in a position to get that throughout the end line. I hope we will do this on this Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to get to 2 of the- two of the picks right here. You sit on the Armed Services Committee. Typically, solely the rating and chairs of the committees get to see the FBI background test on a nominee. But as you already know, many senators are asking for extra info on Pete Hegseth, right here. Do you’ve got any info from the rating member of the committee, from Senator Reed, that you’re going to get entry or get any info from that FBI background test?
SEN. KELLY: Margaret, let me simply begin by saying, there may be not a job that is extra critical and extra important to our nationwide safety than Secretary of Defense, and we want a professional particular person in that job, and he simply doesn’t appear to have the {qualifications}. And then on prime of that, you have a look at his private conduct, particularly when he was managing Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans of America. You know, these two organizations have been financially- financially mismanaged. There was reviews of being into- intoxicated on the job, and creating an atmosphere, you already know, the place there was, you already know, some points with, you already know, sexual harassment. So I believe it is within the nominee, Mr. Hegseth’s, finest curiosity if he needs to be confirmed for this job, for us to have all the knowledge. You know, the knowledge from these organizations, but in addition the FBI background test. Right now, as you say, the chairman and the rating member are going to get it. That’s an settlement with the White House, however there was exceptions made previously for sure nominees. This, clearly, as a result of it’s bipartisan, like a bi- you already know, throughout the aisle, of us need to see the FBI background test. I believe we must always get a chance to try it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, the New York Times is reporting that your- that the rating member had been briefed as of Friday. Are- you are saying no info has been shared?
SEN. KELLY: Yes.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, do you suppose it will likely be earlier than Tuesday—
SEN. KELLY: Not but.
MARGARET BRENNAN: —when the listening to—
SEN. KELLY: I do not know. I believe—
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.
SEN. KELLY: —you already know, we can have a chance, you know- I’ll speak to the rating member, and I additionally talked to the chairman about this, about his nomination typically. Moreso, the dialogue I had with Roger Wicker was about simply assembly with Mr. Hegseth. We’ve reached out to him a number of occasions. Have not been in a position to schedule a gathering in my workplace. And he isn’t assembly with some other Democrats on the committee aside from the rating member. More info is healthier. If- if he needs to be confirmed to this job, I believe it is in our greatest curiosity to have every thing put out on the desk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re on the Intelligence Committee. Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, she is controversial as effectively. Republican Senator Capito was on FOX at the moment and stated when she privately met with Tulsi Gabbard, she pressed her on that 2017 journey to Syria that got here within the wake of a chemical weapons assault carried out by dictator Bashar Al-Assad towards civilians. Gabbard instructed her, she stated, that she did not even know she was going to Syria, that she meant to go to Lebanon on the scheduled go to and ended up in Syria. Is {that a} credible reply?
SEN. KELLY: I talked to Congresswoman Gabbard this week, met together with her in my workplace. We talked concerning the journey to Syria. She did not inform me that half. I imply, I believe it is type of uncommon that you simply wind up in a single place, it wasn’t a part of the plan. But what issues me extra, particularly about that journey, is, it was widespread information that Assad was gassing the civilian inhabitants, utilizing chemical weapons towards the inhabitants, a number of occasions. And she did not argue about these, however she took the time and the trouble to make a case that there have been two circumstances, and she or he used, you already know, consultants that weren’t critical- credible to attempt to- attempt to show that he was not utilizing chemical weapons in these two situations. And I’ve a tough time understanding why you’ll need to do this, to make use of your political capital to attempt to show one thing when there are a number of circumstances. And you already know, on prime of that, whenever you look at- you already know, what’s- what- in- in Russia with misinformation, she does appear to have a predilection for- for misinformation—.
(BEGIN CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll—
SEN. KELLY: —and for not having—
MARGARET BRENNAN: —we’ll see—
SEN. KELLY: —presenting a case that is not sturdy, and never listening to the intelligence neighborhood.
MARGARET BRENNAN: My producer’s yelling in my ear, I gotta go, Senator, I’m so sorry to chop you off—
SEN. KELLY: Okay.
MARGARET BRENNAN: —however we are going to see when the listening to will get scheduled.
SEN. KELLY: Bye.
(END CROSSTALK)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We’ll be again in a second.
