UPDATE: DAYTON THE COWARD #11
Please read the transcript of an interview Rep. Peter King had with CNN about Sen. Mark Dayton's decision to close his office under a terror warning.
King called Dayton "paranoid" and he thinks "he [Dayton] just wants his people back home working the election."
King called Dayton "paranoid" and he thinks "he [Dayton] just wants his people back home working the election."
TRANSCRIPT OF REP. PETER KING'S INTERVIEW ON CNN AMERICAN MORNING
October 13, 2004
HEMMER: Meanwhile, in Washington, Heidi, the Capitol Hill office of Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton is closed today over worries of a possible terrorist attack in Washington. Senator Dayton cited a recent report as the reason for closing his office until the November election.(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MARK DAYTON (D), MINNESOTA: Recently, the Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist presented us with a top secret intelligence report on our national security. Obviously, the document's top secret classification prevents me from discussing its contents. However, based upon that information, I've decided to close my office in the Russell Senate Office Building until after the upcoming election.(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Now, Capitol Police say they have not received word of any specific threat. So, the question now: Is Senator Dayton's decision appropriate?
Congressman Peter King is a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security in the House. Good morning to you.
REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: Morning,
Bill.HEMMER: You think Senator Dayton is paranoid -- why?
KING: Yeah, I have no idea what he's talking about. Listen, I got the same briefing he did, so did 534 other senators and congressmen. Obviously there's high threats to the country. New York and Washington are always in the crosshairs. It's no different now than it was a month ago or two months ago. And why he's decided to do this -- either he is, you know, overreacting, whether he's showboating or what, I really don't know -- but it's sending a terrible signal to the country. It's really an abdication of responsibility and leadership.
HEMMER: Now, you say you get the same intelligence information. He on the Senate side -- would he be privy in his position to get anything else that you would not be privy to?
KING: No, not at all. We got the same briefings. The FBI, the CIA, Homeland Security -- they gave the briefings the same day. And he had -- no other senator is doing this, no other member of Congress is doing this. And again, if we follow this here in New York, we wouldn't have the World Series, we wouldn't have the Republican Convention, we wouldn't take the subways. I mean, there is no doubt that New York and Washington are going to be targets. That's the world we live in.
HEMMER: Hasn't the security level in the nation's capital been raised though going back to August, right?
KING: Sure it has, just like it's increased here in New York. I mean, there is no doubt about that. But you know, we have -- this is what we have to live with. And to be, you know, bailing out, to be running away, totally sends the wrong signal.
HEMMER: Well, one of the reasons why we brought you in here today is because of this quote you gave. And you said, "To me, either he is paranoid" -- which I just asked you about -- "or he just wants his people back home working the election." That's a heavy charge.
KING: Well, I was just trying to make some kind of sense out of what he's doing. You know, Minnesota has become a close state. I'm trying to think of some rationale as to why he'd be doing this. And again, he may have serious reasons. He may have overreacted. I'm just trying to make sense out of what he is doing. I can't make any. I mean, listen, sure, there's reason to be concerned. There's reason for you and I to be concerned right now being here right in the middle of Manhattan, but we're not going to run and hide.
HEMMER: Peter King, thanks for coming in and talking about it...
KING: Thank you.
HEMMER: ... clarifying your own comments this morning.
KING: Thank you.
SEN. MARK DAYTON (D), MINNESOTA: Recently, the Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist presented us with a top secret intelligence report on our national security. Obviously, the document's top secret classification prevents me from discussing its contents. However, based upon that information, I've decided to close my office in the Russell Senate Office Building until after the upcoming election.(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Now, Capitol Police say they have not received word of any specific threat. So, the question now: Is Senator Dayton's decision appropriate?
Congressman Peter King is a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security in the House. Good morning to you.
REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: Morning,
Bill.HEMMER: You think Senator Dayton is paranoid -- why?
KING: Yeah, I have no idea what he's talking about. Listen, I got the same briefing he did, so did 534 other senators and congressmen. Obviously there's high threats to the country. New York and Washington are always in the crosshairs. It's no different now than it was a month ago or two months ago. And why he's decided to do this -- either he is, you know, overreacting, whether he's showboating or what, I really don't know -- but it's sending a terrible signal to the country. It's really an abdication of responsibility and leadership.
HEMMER: Now, you say you get the same intelligence information. He on the Senate side -- would he be privy in his position to get anything else that you would not be privy to?
KING: No, not at all. We got the same briefings. The FBI, the CIA, Homeland Security -- they gave the briefings the same day. And he had -- no other senator is doing this, no other member of Congress is doing this. And again, if we follow this here in New York, we wouldn't have the World Series, we wouldn't have the Republican Convention, we wouldn't take the subways. I mean, there is no doubt that New York and Washington are going to be targets. That's the world we live in.
HEMMER: Hasn't the security level in the nation's capital been raised though going back to August, right?
KING: Sure it has, just like it's increased here in New York. I mean, there is no doubt about that. But you know, we have -- this is what we have to live with. And to be, you know, bailing out, to be running away, totally sends the wrong signal.
HEMMER: Well, one of the reasons why we brought you in here today is because of this quote you gave. And you said, "To me, either he is paranoid" -- which I just asked you about -- "or he just wants his people back home working the election." That's a heavy charge.
KING: Well, I was just trying to make some kind of sense out of what he's doing. You know, Minnesota has become a close state. I'm trying to think of some rationale as to why he'd be doing this. And again, he may have serious reasons. He may have overreacted. I'm just trying to make sense out of what he is doing. I can't make any. I mean, listen, sure, there's reason to be concerned. There's reason for you and I to be concerned right now being here right in the middle of Manhattan, but we're not going to run and hide.
HEMMER: Peter King, thanks for coming in and talking about it...
KING: Thank you.
HEMMER: ... clarifying your own comments this morning.
KING: Thank you.
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