Full transcript of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Feb. 15, 2026

3 hours ago 6

On this "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" broadcast, moderated by Ed O'Keefe: 

  • Tom Homan, Trump medication borderline czar 
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York
  • Rep. Robert Garcia, Democrat of California 
  • Sen. Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina

Click here to browse afloat transcripts from 2026 of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."   


ED O'KEEFE: I'm Ed O'Keefe successful Washington.

And this week connected Face the Nation: Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is connected hold. Negotiations implicit migration enforcement are astatine a standstill.

Two months into the caller year, and portion of the authorities is unopen down yet again, arsenic disputes implicit President Trump's deportation argumentation permission lawmakers incapable to money the Department of Homeland Security.

Caught successful limbo, TSA agents, the Coast Guard, FEMA employees, and thousands of others, galore moving without pay.

We volition inquire White House borderline czar Tom Homan and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wherever negotiations stand.

Then: The fallout from the merchandise of the Epstein files grows, arsenic Attorney General Pam Bondi is grilled connected Capitol Hill for her department's handling of the investigation. We volition inquire the apical Democrat connected the House Oversight Committee, California's Robert Garcia, what much helium wants to spot from the Justice Department, arsenic lawmakers reappraisal unredacted files for the archetypal time.

And, finally, arsenic satellite leaders stitchery astatine an yearly information league successful Munich, we volition perceive each astir that and astir America's lasting successful the satellite with North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis.

It's each conscionable up connected Face the Nation.

Good morning, and invited to Face the Nation. Margaret is disconnected today.

Washington is waking up to different backing standoff, and it's unclear astatine this constituent erstwhile it could end, arsenic Congress is connected recess for different week.

So, for much connected the statement implicit migration enforcement tactics, we're joined by White House borderline czar Tom Homan.

Mr. Homan, convey you truthful overmuch for joining us.

TOM HOMAN (White House Border Czar): Well, acknowledgment for having me.

ED O'KEEFE: I privation to begin, of course, with negotiations implicit reopening the Department of Homeland Security.

They halfway astir immoderate circumstantial argumentation changes Democrats request successful however migration agents behaviour operations. Among different things, they'd similar to necessitate migration agents to amusement identification, deterioration assemblage cameras, instrumentality disconnected their masks, halt radical profiling, and question judicial warrants to participate backstage property.

Which, if immoderate of those asks, is the president, are you consenting see – oregon consenting to see adopting?

TOM HOMAN: Well, I'm not a portion of those negotiations. That's being – that's being done up connected the Hill betwixt the Senate and House and the White House. I'm not truly portion of those negotiations.

But, look, you know, to – they – erstwhile they accidental halt radical profiling, that's conscionable not occurring. I mean, ICE volition detain, concisely detain and question idiosyncratic – question idiosyncratic based connected tenable suspicion. It has thing to bash with radical profiling.

As acold arsenic the masks, look, you know, I don't similar the masks either, but due to the fact that threats against ICE officers, you know, are up implicit 1500 percent, existent assaults, and threats are up implicit 8000 percent, these men and women person to support themselves.

As acold arsenic identifying themselves, they each person placards identifying themselves arsenic ICE, ERO, HSI, DEA, FBI.So they each person placards connected them. So I volition fto the White House and members of Congress, you know, combat that out. But I deliberation immoderate of the asks are conscionable – I deliberation they're unreasonable, due to the fact that determination is nary radical profiling.

There is identifying marks. But masks, you know, wherefore don't they speech astir possibly passing authorities to marque it amerciable to dox agents oregon thing similar that?

ED O'KEEFE: Well…

TOM HOMAN: But the masks close present are for serviceman information reasons.

ED O'KEEFE: There are national laws, of course, against injuring, harming, threatening national authorities, truthful determination is that.

And I deliberation 1 of the things that radical get hung up connected is the thought that the bull connected the thoroughfare successful their neighborhood, a authorities constabulary officer, different national agents volition place themselves with their sanction connected their lapel, and, yes, their employing agency.

But wherefore should these migration agents beryllium immoderate antithetic erstwhile it comes to the masks arsenic well? You know, cops spell retired each day, everyplace crossed the country, get threatened successful 1 mode oregon another.

TOM HOMAN: I don't cognize – I don't know…

(CROSSTALK)

ED O'KEEFE: But wherefore – wherefore person to deterioration each that and support themselves, erstwhile determination are others retired determination wearing badges that don't person to bash that?

TOM HOMAN: Well, again, they are wearing badges. They're wearing placards to place what bureau they're from…

ED O'KEEFE: But their sanction isn't connected it, right?

TOM HOMAN: But erstwhile it comes to masks, I don't – I – I don't cognize of different instrumentality enforcement bureau successful the state that has an 8000 percent summation successful threats.

Just yesterday, the manager of ICE, his woman was filmed walking to work. His location code has been doxxed. His kids person been doxxed and filmed. So, no, I don't cognize of different bureau successful this state that has an 8000 percent increase.

And then, look, let's retrieve wherefore we're here, Ed. We're present because, the past 4 years, implicit 10 cardinal amerciable aliens crossed that border, released successful this state unvetted. ICE has to bash a instrumentality enforcement effect to woody with the past 4 years of unfastened border, wherever they assertion the borderline was unafraid each day. And it wasn't.

ED O'KEEFE: What's truthful incorrect astir obtaining a judicial warrant to participate backstage property?

TOM HOMAN: That's not what the national instrumentality requires.

Congress themselves wrote the Immigration Nationality Act that gave powerfulness connected the administrative warrant to apprehension somebody. And that's what's acceptable up successful national statutes. So if Congress wants that changed, past Congress tin legislate.

But, close now, ICE is acting wrong the model of national statutes enacted by Congress and signed by a president.

ED O'KEEFE: Well, arsenic I recall, you person antecedently said that you thought judicial warrants were indispensable for searches.

There's been this alteration successful policy, successful that present ICE tin spell with these administrative warrants that are issued by ICE personnel. Why your alteration of heart? I mean, clearly, determination – astatine 1 point, astatine least, you agreed that was necessary.

TOM HOMAN: I – I – no, I don't person a changed heart. What I understand, and I wasn't portion of those discussions, is that DOJ interpreted that instrumentality saying successful definite – successful definite circumstances, administrative warrant connected idiosyncratic has a last bid removal, already had a owed process issued by a national judge, they tin participate a premises.

I'm not a portion of that discussion, but that's the DOJ guidance.

ED O'KEEFE: Last week, you announced the monthslong cognition known arsenic Metro Surge successful Minnesota is winding down. ICE, of course, is going to support a beingness successful the state, but not astatine the levels we've seen successful caller weeks. If things support winding down, erstwhile should that surge beryllium over?

TOM HOMAN: Well, look, astir arsenic of – we already removed good implicit 1,000 people.

And arsenic of Monday, Tuesday, we'll region respective 100 more. We'll get backmost to the archetypal footprint, with the objection of the agents determination to bash the fraud probe volition enactment determination and proceed their enactment until they're done.

The agents investigating the religion issue, wherever the radical went into the church, they'll enactment and get that enactment done. But determination volition beryllium – determination volition beryllium a tiny force, a information force, what we telephone RFQs, that volition – our information forces, that volition respond to – erstwhile our agents are retired and they get surrounded by agitators and things get retired of control.

And they'll stay for a abbreviated play of time, conscionable to marque definite the coordination, the agreements we person with section authorities instrumentality enforcement enactment successful spot and they respond to a nationalist information menace erstwhile needed. And truthful hopefully those information forces – information – a tiny footprint of information forces tin region – tin beryllium removed truly reasonably quickly, I'm hoping.

ED O'KEEFE: OK. Sure.

TOM HOMAN: I deliberation things are going the close direction, and I got religion they'll proceed that way.

ED O'KEEFE: This was the largest deployment of national migration agents successful section history. Do you expect determination volition beryllium others connected the standard seen successful Minneapolis?

TOM HOMAN: I deliberation it depends connected the situation.

I person said from time 1 that, you know, we request to – we request to flood the portion successful sanctuary cities with further agents. The fig of agents beryllium connected the concern connected the ground, however galore known transgression targets are retired there, due to the fact that we cognize we person a occupation with sanctuary cities, due to the fact that we cognize they're releasing nationalist information threats successful the public.

So, alternatively than apprehension that 1 transgression successful jail, 1 cause arresting 1 transgression alien successful the information and information of a jail, which is safer for the agent, safer for the alien, safer for the community, they merchandise them successful the street. Now we got to nonstop a full squad oregon six oregon 7 people.

That is simply a triumph we had successful Minnesota, everybody. Because present we person agreements and coordination with jails, we tin apprehension that nationalist information menace successful the information and information of a jail, which means we don't person to nonstop six oregon 7 radical retired to look for them.

So, I'm hoping different sanctuary cities look astatine what was – what happened successful Minnesota and however we – however we got to the spot we're at, which I deliberation is simply a bully place. I anticipation much radical wage attraction to that, and we enactment with these states to fto our officers successful the jail.

You can't – a batch of politicians are retired determination connected the near oregon the Democrats saying, OK, ICE – we agree. You should beryllium focusing connected nationalist information threats. You should beryllium focusing connected amerciable aliens who person committed superior crimes successful this country.

ED O'KEEFE: Yes.

TOM HOMAN: But they fastener america retired of the jail. You can't quadrate that. If you truly privation america to absorption connected the criminals, past fto america successful the jail. That's the safest, astir unafraid spot to bash our work.

ED O'KEEFE: A fewer different things quickly, if we can.

As the surge winds down successful Minneapolis, 1 of the much melodramatic incidents present is precise overmuch successful question, arsenic you know, 2 ICE agents present connected administrative permission pending an interior investigation, due to the fact that video grounds shows their sworn grounds appears to person been untruthful.

Only hours aft that incidental occurred, you'll callback DHS had said the ICE serviceman who changeable the migrant they were targeting was being ambushed and feared for his life. That present appears to beryllium untrue.

You instrumentality that incident, combined with the 2 deadly shootings successful Minneapolis and an incidental successful Chicago precocious wherever grounds contradicted the government's assertion a pistillate rammed an agent's vehicle, and I wonder, does this each conscionable further undermine spot successful ICE crossed the country?

TOM HOMAN: Well, look, you know, successful my archetypal property league successful Minnesota, I said I was bringing further interior affairs agents successful conscionable to marque definite officers successful the tract was doing the close thing.

And each 1 of those instances you conscionable talked astir were turned implicit to interior affairs. I cognize the FBI is investigating the cases also. So we'll spot wherever those investigations lead. But arsenic the ICE manager said connected Friday, radical volition beryllium held accountable and they'll beryllium afloat investigated. And we've that probe comes out, past disciplinary enactment oregon prosecutions volition occur.

ED O'KEEFE: Right.

A "Wall Street Journal' study published successful caller days – I'm definite you've seen it – details wide concerns with the enactment of Homeland Security, Secretary Kristi Noem and her main adviser, Corey Lewandowski.

The study says you seldom talk with the caput oregon Lewandowski, contempt the information that you oversee migration issues arsenic good from the White House perspective, and that you've repeatedly complained to the White House astir them.

What is your interest with Secretary Noem and Corey Lewandowski?

TOM HOMAN: Look, it's 1 team, 1 fight.

I'm not playing successful that media. They're trying to disagreement this administration. They privation to onslaught the men and women who enactment successful this administration. Look, bash maine and Secretary Noem hold connected everything? No. That's wherefore we person discussions. That's wherefore each time we person a multiagency league telephone and meeting.

We sermon going forward, and we person antithetic opinions. Well, those antithetic opinions are worked retired and we determination forward. The bottommost enactment is, we person the astir unafraid borderline successful the past of this nation. We person got grounds numbers of transgression aliens arrested and deported successful this state due to the fact that this is 1 team, 1 fight. The results talk for themselves.

ED O'KEEFE: But you don't quality you've had disagreements with them astatine times, adjacent if they've been resolved?

TOM HOMAN: I have. I person disagreements with – we got – we got galore national agencies, and it's not – it's not similar an out-of-control disagreement.

I privation to bash it this way. Someone wants to bash it this way. Then we speech about, well, what works champion successful this situation? We each travel to statement successful the end, but it's a treatment of antithetic ideas. I person been doing this for 40 years. We person the – Rodney Scott that runs CBP has been doing it for 30 years.

So we each travel to the table. We travel up with antithetic ideas, but we settee connected a mission, and I deliberation the results of this ngo speaks for themselves, again, the astir unafraid borderline successful past of this nation, due to the fact that of our collaboration…

ED O'KEEFE: Yes.

TOM HOMAN: … and grounds numbers of transgression aliens being arrested and deported. The results talk for themselves.

ED O'KEEFE: Tom Homan, the White House borderline czar, convey you for spending immoderate of your Sunday with us. We admit it.

Face the Nation volition beryllium backmost successful 1 minute. Stay with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

ED O'KEEFE: We crook present to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who joins america this greeting from New York City.

Leader Jeffries, convey you for being here.

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-New York): Good morning. Great to beryllium with you.

ED O'KEEFE: So arsenic this shutdown continues, I privation to punctual our viewers what it is precisely legislature Democrats are seeking to reopen the Department of Homeland Security.

You privation migration agents to amusement I.D.s, to deterioration assemblage cameras, instrumentality disconnected their masks, halt radical profiling, and question judicial warrants to participate backstage property. Talks betwixt the White House and legislature Democrats are continuing.

Are you consenting to compromise, to fto immoderate of these spell to get the authorities reopened?

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, our worth proposition is simple. Taxpayer dollars should beryllium utilized to marque beingness much affordable for the American people, not brutalize oregon termination them, arsenic we horrifically saw successful Minneapolis with the cold-blooded killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

We cognize and the American radical intelligibly cognize that ICE is wholly retired of power and they request to beryllium reined in, due to the fact that the American radical merit migration enforcement that is fair, that is just, and that is humane.

And truthful we request melodramatic alteration astatine ICE, including, but not constricted to, the types of things that you laid out, earlier immoderate DHS backing measure moves forward.

ED O'KEEFE: With the objection of immoderate flexibility connected assemblage cameras, due to the fact that they're starting to walk immoderate wealth to get those retired there, immoderate Republicans person rejected this database of argumentation betterment proposals.

You guys inactive look miles apart. So when, conceivably, volition we spot this resolved? And, again, I inquire you, if – are determination immoderate of these points that you're consenting to fto spell successful bid to get the authorities reopened?

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, we're consenting to person a bully religion speech astir everything, but, fundamentally, we request alteration that is dramatic, that is bold, that is meaningful and that is transformational.

And these are commonsense things. For instance, judicial warrants should beryllium required earlier ICE agents tin tempest backstage spot oregon rip mundane Americans retired of their homes.

We request to marque definite that determination are existent autarkic investigations, truthful that, if authorities and section laws are violated, successful galore cases violently violated, that authorities and section authorities person the quality to criminally analyse and criminally prosecute anyone who has violated the law, due to the fact that we cannot spot Kristi Noem oregon Pam Bondi to behaviour an autarkic investigation.

We judge that delicate locations should beryllium disconnected limits, delicate locations similar houses of worship, schools, hospitals oregon polling sites, and that, fundamentally, ICE should beryllium targeting convulsive felons who are present unlawfully, arsenic opposed to violently targeting law-abiding migrant families, which is wholly inconsistent with what Donald Trump promised the American radical helium would do.

ED O'KEEFE: Right.

And we, of course, this past week reported that astir 14 percent of those detained had convulsive transgression records. About 60 percent of them were wanted connected transgression records overall, but it was that 14 percent convulsive criminals.

Again, I conscionable – it sounds similar this is going to spell connected a while, due to the fact that Tom Homan wasn't terribly flexible connected anything, particularly connected the contented of warrants and masks. You're not ceding immoderate ground. So there's a fewer things coming up here.

For example, State of the Union is scheduled for a week from Tuesday. Should it beryllium held if the Department of Homeland Security is unopen down?

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, we'll transverse that span erstwhile we get to it. It's surely my anticipation that we get immoderate resolution…

ED O'KEEFE: Sounds similar you're going to get to it, though. I mean…

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: … successful beforehand of it.

Well, here's the thing. The medication and Republicans person made a wide determination that they would alternatively unopen down FEMA, unopen down the Coast Guard and unopen down TSA than enact the benignant of melodramatic reforms indispensable truthful that ICE and different DHS instrumentality enforcement agencies are conducting themselves similar each different instrumentality enforcement nonrecreational successful the country.

For instance, constabulary officers don't usage masks. County sheriffs don't usage masks. State troopers don't usage masks.

ED O'KEEFE: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Why is it that ICE agents, who are untrained, are being unleashed connected American communities with this benignant of lawlessness, unit and brutality? Unacceptable, unconscionable, and it's un-American.

ED O'KEEFE: Yes, and we went implicit this with Tom Homan a small earlier.

Of course, they constituent retired that assaults against ICE officers person gone up implicit 1300 percent this past twelvemonth from astir 275 compared to 19 the twelvemonth before. So determination are immoderate morganatic concerns astir those agents being targeted, but your broader constituent about…

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: We're going to – yes.

ED O'KEEFE: … whether oregon not instrumentality enforcement should behave the aforesaid arsenic our instrumentality enforcement is heard.

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Yes.

And we're going to continue, of course, to promote the American radical to workout their law rights, their state of assembly and their state of code and their state of look peacefully, arsenic we saw overwhelmingly done successful Minneapolis.

ED O'KEEFE: All right. Well, we'll enactment tuned connected the shutdown and the negotiations.

And fto maine inquire you a fewer different things portion we person you. First of all, you're a subordinate of the Gang of Eight, who gets briefed connected nationalist information matters. The Pentagon is reportedly readying for the anticipation of sustained weeks-long operations against Iran if diplomacy fails and the president opts to attack.

What bash you cognize astir those plans oregon what would you privation to larn arsenic a subordinate of the Gang of Eight?

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, the administration, arsenic has been the lawsuit since the precise opening of this presidency, has been dilatory to supply accusation some to the Gang of Eight members of Congress, the legislative enactment and the apical Democrats and Republicans connected the Intel Committee, and surely hasn't provided a important magnitude of accusation to Congress successful general.

These radical wrong the administration, the extremists, they don't look to judge that Congress is simply a abstracted and co-equal subdivision of government. We are. In fact, the powerfulness to state warfare is exclusively fixed to Congress successful Article I of the United States Constitution.

Now, the American radical privation Donald Trump and Republicans to really support their committedness and absorption connected driving down the precocious outgo of surviving and fixing our breached wellness attraction system. It was Donald Trump who promised, successful fact, that costs volition spell down connected time one.

ED O'KEEFE: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Costs haven't gone down. We're successful the midst of an affordability situation that hasn't been resolved. Perhaps the president should absorption connected making beingness amended for the American people, period, afloat stop.

ED O'KEEFE: I perceive you connected that.

I privation to punctual our viewers of the existent ticktock, choky margins successful the House. You've got to nett astatine slightest 3 seats to instrumentality the bulk astatine this point. I privation to play for you portion of what you had to accidental astir the 2026 elections erstwhile you were asked this past Thursday. Take a listen.

(BEGIN TAPE)

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: We lone request to nett three. It's happening. Democrats are going to instrumentality backmost power of the House, and the lone question is, what's the margin?

(END TAPE)

ED O'KEEFE: Right now, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee considers 44 of the 435 seats successful the House successful play, including you conscionable added 5 caller ones this past week, South Central Virginia, a territory successful South Carolina, Southern Minnesota, Central Colorado and the at-large spot successful Montana, parts of the state wherever Democrats don't usually triumph elections, we should constituent out.

So, if the predetermination were held today, astatine minimum, astatine minimum, however galore seats bash you spot Democrats winning?

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, if the predetermination were held today, we're taking backmost power of the House of Representatives, and I'm not convinced that it would needfully beryllium close.

But these are battles that are going to beryllium waged territory by territory by district. We cognize we're winning seats present successful deep-red territory. We saw that successful Miami successful December, wherever we won the mayor's contention for the archetypal clip successful 30 years by 20 points.

And then, successful January, of course, we flipped a spot successful the Texas State Senate that Donald Trump had conscionable won by 17 points. The Democratic campaigner won it by 14. That was a 31-point overperformance. And past conscionable past play successful Louisiana, we flipped the House spot that Trump had won by 14. We won that – oregon 13.

ED O'KEEFE: So you…

(CROSSTALK)

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: We won that by 24 points. That was a 37- constituent overperformance.

My constituent is, we're winning crossed the state successful bluish states and purple states and reddish states due to the fact that the American radical cognize we're the lone ones focused connected driving down the precocious outgo of living, fixing our breached wellness attraction system…

ED O'KEEFE: You've got to get…

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: … and making definite that migration enforcement is just and just.

ED O'KEEFE: You've got to get astatine slightest three; 20 to 25 seats, each 44 seats? What bash you deliberation close now? Give maine a number.

REPRESENTATIVE HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, I'm not successful the prediction business. I'm successful the let's triumph connected behalf of the American radical truthful we tin extremity this nationalist nightmare business.

ED O'KEEFE: All right, Leader Jeffries, to beryllium continued connected the shutdown and connected the midterms. We admit you spending immoderate clip with america this morning. We'll speech to you soon.

And we'll beryllium close backmost with a batch much Face the Nation. Stay with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

ED O'KEEFE: Tonight, Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins Norah O'Donnell to footwear disconnected our caller CBS News municipality hallway bid Things That Matter.

Here's a preview.

(Begin VT)

NORAH O'DONNELL: President Donald Trump won the presidency successful 2024 promising this migration crackdown that we are witnessing. The Biden medication allowed implicit 4 cardinal migrants into the state done the confederate borderline during his word successful office.

Are Democrats to blasted for this migration situation that we're witnessing?

GOVERNOR WES MOORE (D-Maryland): Well, I decidedly deliberation that the erstwhile president did not person this right.

NORAH O'DONNELL: You do?

GOVERNOR WES MOORE: Oh, yes.

And we needed to bash more, that I don't deliberation anyone tin reason that we had the strategy worked retired nether President Biden, that migration was worked out. But, actually, I would reason that we person not had the strategy worked retired amongst aggregate administrations.

Immigration has been an contented that we arsenic a state person punted connected for a precise agelong time, due to the fact that the radical who tin uniquely hole migration is Congress. And this is the frustrating happening for maine with this Congress close now, wherever I consciousness we're conscionable watching a continued abdication of responsibility, where, if the talker – the ironic happening is, close now, the president has – the president's enactment has the presidency, the House, and the Senate.

If the president wanted migration betterment done close now, bash you cognize what helium could do? He would telephone up the talker of the House and helium said, I request a measure connected my table by adjacent week. And bash you cognize what would beryllium connected his table adjacent week? A broad migration measure reform, due to the fact that they person the votes.

And that's not happening.

(End VT)

ED O'KEEFE: The afloat speech airs contiguous astatine 8:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 Central, and volition besides watercourse connected Paramount+.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

ED O'KEEFE: We volition beryllium close backmost with a batch much Face the Nation. Stay with us.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

ED O'KEEFE: Welcome backmost to "FACE THE NATION."

We crook present to the apical Democrat connected the House Oversight Committee, California Congressman Robert Garcia, who joins america this greeting from Long Beach, wherever helium utilized to beryllium the mayor.

Congressman, bully to spot you. Thank you for being with us.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA (D-CA): Sure thing. Thank you.

ED O'KEEFE: I privation to commencement existent speedy due to the fact that you are connected the committee that fundamentally has oversight of the full government. Your Democrats, you don't person power of the panel. You've held immoderate unofficial hearings connected ICE operations nationwide.

I'm funny if you're talking to the Republicans astatine each astir doing thing to analyse allegations oregon wrongdoing of ICE and the Border Patrol arsenic they proceed to transportation retired migration enforcement operations.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: Look, I deliberation it's conscionable been precise precocious wherever we've really seen much and much Republicans really talk retired and statesman to amusement immoderate level of courage. ICE, CBP, DHS is wholly retired of control. We person heard, not conscionable successful hearings, but surely successful looking astatine what's happening crossed this country, folks talking and telling their stories. We're talking astir U.S. citizens that are being shot. We're talking astir U.S. veterans that are being detained for nary reason. Children that are being deported arsenic young arsenic four, 5 years old, sending them to detention, successful different cases that we've seen.

And so, I deliberation you're opening to spot immoderate Republicans really amusement concern. But close present DHS is causing panic crossed this state and Donald Trump has turned, not conscionable DHS but ICE specifically, which we present cognize is larger than it's ever been, into his ain idiosyncratic constabulary force.

ED O'KEEFE: But you cognize of nary Republican committee president presently readying to analyse each these allegations, right? Is that what you're saying?

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: Oh, there's nary president retired determination that person - - that person travel retired publicly. Now, you statesman to perceive immoderate Republicans amusement immoderate concern. But they request to amusement much courage. I mean Mike Johnson, astatine the extremity of the day, does immoderate Donald Trump wants him to do.

ED O'KEEFE: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: And Republicans request to spell retired determination and commencement speaking the information of what's happening connected the street.

ED O'KEEFE: So, the large crushed I wanted to talk with you this greeting is, of course, you're present trying to behaviour a beauteous assertive reappraisal of the Epstein documents arsenic they've present been released by the Justice Department. There person been astir 3.5 cardinal documents released. And based connected a CBS News review, truthful acold determination doesn't look to beryllium capable grounds to criminally complaint anyone else.

Saturday nighttime the Department of Justice released this legally required database of each authorities officials and politically exposed persons successful the Epstein files. More than 300 names connected the list, which they admit are radical who are present listed successful a wide assortment of contexts. DOJ says they're doing arsenic asked due to the fact that it was portion of the law. It lists everyone from Beyonce to Joe Biden, George W. Bush, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, Mike Pence, the Trumps, Mark Zuckerburg, among others, due to the fact that they came up successful 1 mode oregon different successful the documents.

A fewer questions. Why was this asked for? And are you alert yet of immoderate names being not connected this database that should beryllium connected the list?

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: Well, we're reviewing the list, of course. But let's beryllium truly clear, this is simply a monolithic coverup being led by the White House and the DOJ. The information that 50 percent, fractional of the Epstein files, person not been released to the nationalist and to the Congress. And of those that person been released, the existent files that person been retired successful the nationalist oregon that we've seen, they're overly redacted. Many of the survivors and victims, their names are really appearing. So, there's nary extortion for the survivors, yet the names of billionaires, the names of folks that could beryllium coconspirators, that helped money Jeffrey Epstein, that could person really been progressive successful the panic and rape, arsenic we know, maltreatment of women and children. Some of those names proceed to beryllium redacted and protected. Why won't the DOJ really travel the law, not conscionable what was passed by Congress, but the subpoena that was enactment successful spot by the Oversight Committee during the summer?

And truthful this continues to beryllium a coverup. And the American nationalist recognize that they proceed to fell and support and deflect. Why does Donald Trump, the president, proceed to, successful our opinion, to support these almighty men? We're not going to halt until we get justness for the survivors.

ED O'KEEFE: Well, the Justice Department says they've released everything they tin and the remainder are protected by lawyer privilege, incorporate unfortunate accusation oregon incorporate kid intersexual battle material. I cognize there's been a backmost and distant successful caller days astir a fistful of names that were redacted, should person been unredacted. Turns retired they didn't person thing to bash with it. They conscionable hap to beryllium successful an lawsuit oregon successful a photograph with Jeffrey Epstein, basically.

But I privation to inquire you astir your investigation, the legislature investigation. You told the lawyer wide connected Friday it would instrumentality much than 7 years for members to cheque the redactions connected those 3 cardinal pages, which sounds unrealistic. But is it your intent to reappraisal each of those documents to spot what different accusation is there, what different names are either mentioned oregon missing?

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: Absolutely. Look, we person a large squad connected the committee that's reviewing close present each azygous document, going done each the files that are disposable to the public, looking astatine redactions, trying to recognize and portion unneurotic an investigation.

And it's not conscionable the documents. We're interviewing survivors. We're talking to cardinal witnesses.

ED O'KEEFE: Right.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: We're going to beryllium holding hearings successful the aboriginal arsenic well. So, each of that is portion of this. But astatine the extremity of the time they person not fixed america each the documents. So, until we really get the afloat acceptable of files, this is not going to beryllium a implicit investigation. And the coverup that's being led by the White House and Pam Bondi is continuing. And the American nationalist spot this. And so, they request to merchandise each of the files.

ED O'KEEFE: All right, good moving with what you've got truthful far, what are you looking for specifically? Are determination names? Are determination events? Are determination situations to clarify that they've been released oregon that they're retired there? What is it you're looking for?

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: Look, there's a assortment of things. And, fig 1 is, we privation to guarantee that each the names of the men that were coconspirators, those that themselves terrorized and brutalized women and children, those radical request to beryllium exposed. That enactment has begun. An further portion of this is who was financing Jeffrey Epstein? So, for example, this upcoming week we'll beryllium interviewing Les Wexner, who apt person been the azygous largest benefactor successful providing fiscal enactment to Jeffrey Epstein. Where did helium get each of his money? And for what? And wherever was that wealth going? That is different captious portion of this investigation.

And we've subpoenaed besides the slope records. So, we're going done each of those. And that accusation is captious to our investigation.

And then, of course, is, who was progressive successful the trafficking of girls and women? It wasn't conscionable Ghislane Maxwell. Why were determination truthful galore women being attacked successful places crossed the country, whether it was New York, but besides Palm Beach. You look astatine Mar-a-Lago. Why was Mar-a-Lago a determination wherever women continued to beryllium trafficked from? So, these are questions that we request to ask. We person questions for President Trump. And the broader – I deliberation the broader contented present is wherefore wasn't this investigated erstwhile these – erstwhile these – erstwhile these accusations and these stories really were heard by the FBI years ago, wherever was the investigation? Where was the DOJ?

And this, by the way, is an contented not conscionable successful Republican administrations –

ED O'KEEFE: Right.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: But besides ones led by Democrats.

ED O'KEEFE: Yes.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: We person to get answers.

ED O'KEEFE: You mentioned Wexner, who you're interviewing this coming week. Have you heard backmost yet from the antheral formerly known arsenic Prince Andrew?

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: We person not. But we perfectly person sent letters. We privation to really speech to Prince Andrew. And it's not conscionable Prince Andrew – erstwhile Prince Andrew.

ED O'KEEFE: Right.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: And what's happening close present crossed – you know, implicit successful the U.K. is beauteous stunning. And it's really a amusement of what is – what happens erstwhile the authorities listens to the public.

ED O'KEEFE: Sure.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: There are really things happening to those that person been involved. That illustration that's happening implicit determination and different parts of the satellite needs to hap successful our country. And the information that the White House continues to screen up for these files and for these men I deliberation is shameful. Release each the files today.

And past thing. They support claiming that, oh, well, determination is simply a – you know, there's immoderate lawyer lawsuit privilege, oregon there's interagency connection we can't enactment retired to the public. That mightiness beryllium existent successful the Epstein Transparency Act, but it is not existent successful the subpoena that asks for the nonstop aforesaid documents that was passed past July and August. And truthful determination is nary crushed wherefore Congress shouldn't person each of the documents successful beforehand of america close now.

ED O'KEEFE: Let maine inquire you astir a fewer much circumstantial names. I've heard astir the coverup that you're alleging by the White House. Let's worthy done immoderate of these names.

Peter Mandelson, the erstwhile British ambassador to the U.S., you heard backmost from him yet?

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: We person not.

ED O'KEEFE: OK.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: But we perfectly privation to speech to him. I mean (INAUDIBLE).

ED O'KEEFE: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, helium had said successful an interrogation past twelvemonth helium hadn't spot Howard Lutnick successful years. Turns retired helium went to spot his land disconnected the U.S. Virgin Islands with his household backmost successful 2012 and helium had concern involvement with him successful 2014. Are you moving with Republican Chairman Jim Comer to bring Howard Lutnick successful for questioning?

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: We person asked Chairman Comer to bring successful Howard Lutnick and we person yet nary – had nary response. Not lone did helium sojourn the island, helium had tons of connection with Jeffrey Epstein aft it was already known that Jeffrey Epstein was fundamentally convicted for preying connected children.

ED O'KEEFE: Right.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: So, it is – it is shameful that he's really successful our government. He should not beryllium the commerce secretary. He should travel speech to the Oversight Committee.

ED O'KEEFE: The Oversight Committee besides voted past period to clasp Bill and Hillary Clinton successful contempt of Congress for failing to amusement up for akin testimony. They're present scheduled to look aboriginal this period for closed doorway testimony. What's the constituent of having them travel in?

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: Look, we've said from time 1 that we're consenting to speech to anybody, whether they're Republicans oregon Democrats. Whoever they are, immoderate – however almighty they are, if you person accusation astir Jeffrey Epstein, we privation to speech to you. We've been saying that astir Bill – astir President Clinton for a while. I'm gladsome that he's coming in.

Look, the 1 happening I'll say, and I deliberation some President Clinton and Secretary Clinton person besides added that they would similar those hearings to beryllium public.

ED O'KEEFE: Right.

REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GARCIA: That's thing that we perfectly support. We person questions for President Clinton. We'll beryllium asking those successful New York successful the weeks up arsenic you know. But there's a batch of radical that we request to talk with. And the much that we tin person these conversations successful nationalist I deliberation it's amended for the American people. It's what they privation to see. And they privation to recognize what was the information astir Epstein, who helium knew, wherever helium got his wealth from, and wherefore there's been a changeless absorption connected covering up his crimes by truthful galore successful government.

ED O'KEEFE: Congressman Robert Garcia, the apical Democrat connected the House Oversight Committee, convey you for spending portion of Sunday with us. We admit it.

And we'll beryllium close back.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

ED O'KEEFE: Secretary of State Marco Rubio near the yearly Munich Security Conference aft offering immoderate reassurance to European allies warry of the Trump administration's posture connected NATO, but remained steadfast connected the administration's ambitions to reshape the Trans-Atlantic Alliance.

North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis was among the radical of American lawmakers attending the conference. We spoke with him Friday and began by asking whether the U.S. is inactive a reliable spouse for Europe.

(BEGIN VT)

SENATOR THOM TILLIS (R-NC): Well, you know, successful immoderate ways I anticipation that we're going to participate an epoch wherever our reliance connected Europe is improved.

Look, I've got a situation with immoderate of the things coming retired of the White House, but a batch of the vexation comes from a $2 trillion shortfall successful investing successful our communal defence by acold excessively galore NATO allies. Now, they're making close now, but you person to springiness the medication and the president immoderate latitude to constituent to the information that a $2 trillion shortfall implicit 2 decades, what has that done to our readiness? What has that done to our innovation? What's that done to our subject concern basal and manufacturing capacity?

You know, we could beryllium scaling up latent capabilities that would person been serving that $2 trillion to amended service Ukraine and amended modernize their ain weapons. So, let's marque definite that radical look astatine this with equilibrium and recognize that a portion of the crushed wherefore we are wherever we are is due to the fact that we person the shortage successful the 20 twelvemonth – successful the archetypal 20 years of this century.

Now, the NATO confederation is the astir important confederation successful the past of mankind. And the – and the Article One branch, Congress, believes that. And they judge it successful ample numbers. So, we're going to commit. I'm present successful Munich to fundamentally punctual everybody that we person 3 coequal branches of government. The president is trying to get our NATO allies to execute much powerfully and person immoderate level of independence. But the Congress has their back.

ED O'KEEFE: Yes. So, erstwhile the defence caput sends the Pentagon's fig 3 to a NATO defence gathering this week and tells the remainder of the confederation the U.S.' enactment for NATO volition proceed but, quote, "in a much constricted and focused fashion," is that the connection that Europe should beryllium receiving close now? Is that the mode the medication should attack it?

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: I would not person utilized those words. I deliberation what we privation to bash is beryllium stronger and correspond the deterrent capabilities of our alliance. The United States could perchance spell it alone, but the world is, our confederation is what makes america the world's superpower and what keeps this satellite safer.

We're going to person malign actors for the – for it – we've had them passim history. We volition proceed to. Putin is simply a liar and a murderer. He should beryllium expelled from Ukraine. I'll judge a bid statement if Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants one. But we request to beryllium definite that our adversaries, unless they alteration profoundly, are viewed arsenic adversaries. That we person to co-exist with but not appease.

At the aforesaid clip Europe needs to measurement up. Not fto this beryllium episodic that they're present starting to lend to their communal defense. Their ain capabilities incidentally. It's not similar they're penning a cheque and sending it to the U.S. This is gathering up their capabilities. Their interoperability. Their quality to enactment with NATO allies if a struggle occurs.

So, you know, it's an affectional time. I've got a doctrine that thing is ever arsenic bully arsenic – atrocious arsenic it seems. I deliberation radical coming to Munich reasoning that this is the extremity of NATO are being a spot alarmist and that we conscionable request to get things close and larn from the past mistakes of our allies, oregon thin from the past mistakes of radical that person travel up short.

But the rhetoric astir NATO someway being a 2nd tier benignant of confederation going guardant is intelligibly being spoken by idiosyncratic who doesn't truly recognize the brilliance and the powerfulness of the NATO alliance.

ED O'KEEFE: On NATO, 1 of the things the confederation announced successful caller days is this program for a caller arctic period ngo to fortify information crossed the arctic region. That decision, of course, comes successful the aftermath of the president, successful the past fewer weeks, urging NATO to bash much for arctic security, dropping his threats of subject penetration of Greenland. Is this caller cognition precisely what you're talking about, what you privation to spot the confederation doing, and is it besides the reply to the president's concerns astir Greenland?

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: Well, you know, we talked successful Davos. The world is, to me, it was irresponsible to spell anyplace different than figuring retired however we modernize the 1951 statement wherever Greenland and Denmark agreed to much oregon little springiness america unfettered entree successful Greenland to task powerfulness successful the arctic. So, present let's – present that the temperatures person cooled, amusement a small spot of respect to Denmark and to Greenland. Figure retired what portion of Greenland - - we request to up acceptable our abstraction base, the lone – the lone lawsuit of subject – oregon U.S. beingness successful Greenland present to the north. Take a look astatine a basal that they offered to america for a dollar and travel up with a fiscally sound, sustainable mode to task powerfulness successful the eastbound but moving with Canada and their crystal breakers, which are indispensable for america to navigate there, moving with Denmark and our Scandinavian and arctic allies to truly task the benignant of powerfulness we request to defer – to deter China and Russia.

ED O'KEEFE: The German chancellor astatine the commencement of this league suggested that the satellite bid arsenic we cognize it is over. I cognize you were talking astir hyperbole determination astatine the commencement of this. Do – would you agree, though, with the chancellor that things are changing that rapidly?

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: Only if the chancellor allows it to. Look, if the NATO countries who came up abbreviated for decades would conscionable admit that that was a mistake and past treble their – redouble their efforts, I deliberation that this goes conscionable similar the hyperbolic connection astir Greenland is present astir – it's unbelievable that it was lone 3 weeks ago, but it's astir successful the distant path.

I deliberation we person to look up and admit that the American people, the American Congress, and I judge the medication is down it. But they're not incorrect to constituent retired the deficiencies of the past.

Look, I've been successful meetings wherever radical speech astir immoderate of our societal programs and however we should truly measurement up with the European world. At then, astatine the aforesaid time, they're backing immoderate of those programs astatine the disbursal of their ain defense.

ED O'KEEFE: Yes.

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: So, let's conscionable person an honorable treatment with household members and get the household right.

ED O'KEEFE: Let's enactment done a fewer different issues here. European leaders this week besides suggested that they're not taking retaliatory tariffs disconnected the table. Back present astatine home, the House voted to fundamentally cull the president's tariffs connected Canada aft a clump of Republicans joined with Democrats to marque that hap successful the House. If that ever comes up successful the Senate, are you idiosyncratic who would hold with that, that the tariffs against Canada should beryllium stripped away?

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: Well, I've look astatine – what I deliberation we request to bash is get the USMCA modernization, the agreement, connected the array and code that successful the discourse of strengthening our narration with Canada and Mexico.

Look, this – we're a precise important trading block. And we should physique connected our successes. As I'm definite you know, a batch of the tariffs, there's a batch of exemptions due to the fact that of beingness of USMCA. I deliberation we ought to get successful a country and benignant them out. I've had – I've expressed publically concerns with a batch of the tariffs that were imposed. I still, to this day, can't fig retired wherefore we person a 50 percent tariff connected Brazil erstwhile we person commercialized surplus with Brazil. Those sorts of things are irrational to me. In different cases, I tin warrant it based connected past behaviors of countries that we person a shortage with. But we request to beryllium surgical and not usage a blunt unit entity to negociate commercialized relationship, peculiarly with China and Mexico – or, I'm sorry, with Canada and Mexico.

ED O'KEEFE: Should your enactment beryllium distancing itself much from the president, though, connected tariffs, particularly the person it gets to November erstwhile the American nationalist is not needfully a instrumentality of these moves?

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: See, I don't deliberation it's a substance of distancing ourself. That's what's incorrect with Washington. We've gotten into this mode present to wherever we person immoderate benignant of a loyalty oregon fealty trial due to the fact that we either disagree. Often it's not adjacent the what, it's the how.

I bash deliberation the what the holding countries that person – we person had chronic commercialized deficits with accountable is necessary. And if tariffs are required to get their attention, fine. But the however is simply a precise surgical approach, not a broad approach. Not 1 that really creates fraud and uncertainty, due to the fact that that's not bully for business. And the U.S., if thing else, is truly bully erstwhile we're astatine our champion connected (ph) certainty.

ED O'KEEFE: You reiterated this week you're going to artifact immoderate confirmation hearings for a caller Federal Reserve president oregon a committee subordinate until the Justice Department's probe of Jerome Powell is, arsenic you enactment it, resolved. But volition determination beryllium confirmation hearings for Kevin Warsh adjacent if this DOJ probe into Powell is continuing?

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: Well, let's marque the favoritism betwixt a confirmation proceeding and past a confirmation markup. Mr. Walshe (ph) is going to person to determine whether oregon not helium wants to spell done with this because, arsenic I'm definite you know, erstwhile the nominee is enactment forward, determination are definite restrictions connected what helium tin bash successful his – successful his concern life. But I've tried to marque it precise wide that I person nary volition of supporting immoderate confirmation of immoderate Fed committee member, seat oregon otherwise, to capable the Kugler seat, for example, until this is resolved. I deliberation we had a young U.S. lawyer with a imagination trying to get the president's attention, not adjacent consulting with the medication and large DOJ connected thing that possibly they thought they'd get brownie points for. It's not cute.

And if this is lone astir 2 minutes of treatment that came earlier Chair Powell, that authoritative should perceive to the 7 members, Republican members, who said they didn't spot immoderate transgression intent oregon activity. And much importantly, authoritative should recognize that the protocol usually would beryllium a referral from the seat oregon a subordinate of the committee to say, we deliberation a transgression was committed here. We've got a transgression country wherever 7 Republican members accidental nary transgression was committed.

ED O'KEEFE: Right.

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: How hard is that to understand?

ED O'KEEFE: But erstwhile the Treasury caput said Friday there's a woody to astatine slightest clasp confirmation hearings for Kevin Warsh to service arsenic adjacent president of the Federal Reserve, is helium misguided connected that?

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: Well, that's not a deal. That's a determination that they - - that the seat makes unilaterally successful his capableness arsenic chair. The determination I get to marque is whether oregon not I let a markup. And if I bash let a markup, however I vote. And I'm saying that until the substance is solved, I'm a no.

ED O'KEEFE: Understood. And erstwhile you accidental resolved, erstwhile you privation this probe resolved, does that mean everything dropped by the Justice Department and different entities?

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: Well, support successful mind, everything is an probe astir 2 minutes of commentary.

ED O'KEEFE: Right.

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: Even for this guy, that's not hard to fig out.

ED O'KEEFE: You person been rather captious of the medication connected a suite of issues, whether it's tariffs, however it's engaging Europe, arsenic you mentioned earlier, concerns astir Homeland Security and whatnot. And you've said that it runs the hazard of hurting your enactment going into November. So, I'm curious, if the elections were held today, would Republicans clasp connected to the House and the Senate?

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: I deliberation that we clasp connected to the Senate. I person questions astir the House. And immoderate of that comes from what I judge whitethorn person been a small spot of overreach with respect to redistricting.

Plus, you person the historical situation of a mid-term predetermination aft statesmanlike election. A batch of complexities successful it. But I – you know, we've got enactment to do. And again, my beef astir ever relates to what I see to beryllium however things are being done. And I deliberation the president has immoderate advisers astir him. You've heard maine speech astir Stephen Miller. You cognize my sentiment astir Kristi Noem. These are radical that don't look astir corners and are not taking attraction of this president's legacy. And I mean to. And if I person to talk bluntly, that's what I'm going to bash successful my remaining clip successful the Senate.

ED O'KEEFE: Well, we admit you speaking bluntly with america this greeting from the Munich Security Conference.

Senator Tillis, convey you for your time.

SENATOR THOM TILLIS: Thank you.

(END VT)

ED O'KEEFE: And we'll beryllium close back.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

ED O'KEEFE: That's it for america today. Thank you for watching. Margaret volition beryllium backmost adjacent week. Until then, for "FACE THE NATION," I'm Ed O'Keefe.

(ANNOUNCEMENTS)

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