CNN "Erin Burnett Outfront" - Transcript: Interview with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), Vermont

Interview

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BURNETT: OUTFRONT now, one of the cosponsors of the Senate resolution rebuking Trump today, Senator Bernie Sanders. And Senator, I appreciate your time. Look, the vote overwhelming, 60 to39, bipartisan, defiance of the President and his personal repeated embrace of the Saudi Crown Prince. Are you confident you have enough votes for this Yemen resolution to ultimately be passed?

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VERMONT: Well, I am not much into speculation, but I think we're in pretty good shape. We have, as you indicated, a bipartisan support and the reason for that is that Democrats and Republicans and the American people are thoroughly mortified by what we're seeing in Yemen, which is now the worst humanitarian disaster on earth. We're talking about 85,000 children having starved to death over the last three years, according to the United Nations. Millions of people in that country are now facing imminent starvation. 10,000 cholera cases every single week

And I think what the Congress is now saying is that we do not want to continue participating with Saudi Arabia in that war as a result -- which the famine came about as a result of the Saudi intervention. We want out.

BURNETT: So, your resolution, obviously, you know, in part, right, you'd stop the armed sales, American arms sales that are going to Saudi Arabia that are being used for that war in Yemen. The Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, though, is urging a no vote on your idea, Senator Sanders. Instead he's pushing Bob Corker's bill, it's much more narrow, right? It would simply condemn the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for his role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Is there any situation under which you would support that bill?

SANDERS: I think that bill probably has a lot of good things in it and I could very well support it. But the main thing right now is that the United States has got to end its participation in the war in Yemen, instead of supporting more and more bombs falling on to that horrific situation. What we have got to do is bring the warring parties together, stop the war, and start working with the United Nations on humanitarian help for a very -- a country which is suffering terribly.

BURNETT: Now, you know, as you said, you may well, at some point, support Senator Corker's bill. He, of course, has been on your side when it comes specifically to the person who has been in charge of this war from the beginning, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. MBS, he is in charge of this. He is also, of course, according to the CIA, the one who directed the horrible dismemberment and murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

Here's Senator Corker.

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SANDERS: Do you believe holding MBS personally to account as Corker wants to do is the real deal? I mean, could that end up getting where you want to get? Because he is the guy in charge of the war.

SANDERS: Erin, Erin, we're talking about two different things. We're talking about, now, a humanitarian crisis where millions of people face imminent starvation. That has got to stop. We got to stop that war.

In addition to that, obviously, I agree with Senator Corker, that the crown prince is responsible for the murder of Khashoggi and he has got to be held accountable and this raises the question of a new relationship with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a despotic country. They do not have any respect for human rights or democracy. I think we have to rethink our relationship with that country.

BURNETT: You know, President Trump was just asked by "Reuters" of his vow, to your point, to stand with Saudi Arabia means that he is standing with the person in charge, who's in charge of this war, the crown prince, and he says, quote, it certainly does. He's the leader of Saudi Arabia. They've been a very good ally.

That's just the latest, of course, Senator, and the president's full- throated, constant defense of MBS, the crown prince, who, of course, the CIA concluded directed that foul murder.

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BURNETT: Senator, why do you think President Trump is standing personally with Mohammed bin Salman?

SANDERS: Well, it's hard to say, exactly, but I think for a start, President Trump is, in my view, not a great fan of democracy. He likes authoritarian leaders all over the world, whether it is Putin in Russia or MBS in Saudi Arabia or even, you know, the leader of North Korea.

Second of all, it is possible that there are financial dealings between the Trump enterprise and Saudi Arabia as well. But the bottom line is, this country, which has stood for democracy and human rights throughout our existence, should not be partnering with somebody who murdered a dissident in cold blood and is now leading an effort in Yemen which is causing mass starvation and the worst humanitarian disaster on earth.

BURNETT: Senator, you know, when you think about what's happening here, the horrors that are happening, it's not just the president who's supporting the man in charge there. "New York Times" is reporting that Jared Kushner is also personally involved, right? I mean, we know he has a personal relationship with the crown prince but now he's had conversations after Khashoggi's murder about, quote, how to weather the storm. That's literally the words that are being used. Totally on his team.

Does Congress need to investigate Kushner's relationship with MBS?

SANDERS: Well, I think that the new house of representatives, Democratically controlled, will be probably taking a very hard look at the Trump family's relationship with Saudi Arabia.

BURNETT: All right. Well, I appreciate your time, Senator. Thank you, as always.

SANDERS: Thank you very much.

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