POOL
Washington - 12 April 2018
1. Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo walks into hearing room, pan to "Code Pink" protester
2. Sen. Bob corker gavels hearing into session
3. Wide of witness table
4. "Code Pink" protester stands up and is removed by police officer
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Former Sen. Bob Dole, (R) Kansas:
"Mike Pompeo. I don't know, he just a brilliant guy. Top of his class at West Point and businessman, Congressman, father, husband and all those things added up, with the experience he has, he's ready to go and we thank you for holding this hearing."
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Corker, (R) Tennessee:
"However, many strong voices have been terminated or resigned. That's why I think it's fair for our members to ask whether your relationship is rooted in a candid, healthy, give and take dynamic or whether it's based on deferential willingness to go along to get along."
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez, (D) New Jersey:
"This is about Russia and so at the end of the day understanding how you responded. What you will do as we're looking at mandatory sanctions that the administration has yet to impose. Looking at how we're going to deal with a Russia that not only sought to affect our last elections, but is doing so even as we speak both here at home and across the world. Those are substantive questions."
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:
"So you talked about the important, policy issues. I'm happy to talk about this administration's work on Russia. I'm happy to talk about our work on sanctions if that's what you'd (Menendez) let me ask you this. Did President Trump ever discuss the FBI or special counsel, Russia's investigation with you? (Pompeo) Senator again I'm not going to talk about private conversations I've had with the president. (Menendez) So--so whenever you come, if you were to be confirmed in the future would want to try to talk about foreign policy and we ask you where is the president at or this or that you're not going to. (Pompeo). Senator. Senator. I'm happy to answer questions about our administration's policies, the work that we're doing. You're asking about conversations. You should know senator as well, I have provided, I spoke with special counsel Mueller, who interviewed me, requested an interview. I cooperated. Your colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee have asked for information from me and from the Central Intelligence Agency as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. I think the leaders of those two organizations in a bipartisan way that would say I've been cooperative and in matters of late (Menendez) You have spoken to Special Counsel Muller. (Pompeo) Yes that's right. (Menendez) And what was the subject of that conversation? (Pompeo) Senator I'm not going to speak to that. (Menendez) Did the special counsel tell you not to speak about these things? (Pompeo) Senator, I have cooperated with multiple investigations while the investigation continues. I think that's the appropriate way to approach it."
9. Sen. James Risch, (R) Idaho asking question
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State Nominee:
"At State Department, there are too many holes, too many vacancies, too many unfilled positions. When that happens every one stretch then and the subject matter expertise that is needed to deliver America's diplomacy around the world, to conduct its mission, its humanitarian missions, its development missions. Each of the missions to which are entrusted to the State Department require talented people on station doing their part. Working alongside it."
11. Wide of hearing
