Claire McCaskill: Sen. Schumer should call the expulsion vote on Menendez next week

TO STEP DOWN. >> NBC'S ALI VITALI AND FORMER ATTORNEY JOYCE VANCE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WILLIE. >> LET'S BRING IN THE AFOREMENTIONED DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN AND DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR SENATE ANDY KIM. HE'S LOOKING TO OUST THE SENATOR THIS NOVEMBER WHILE THE INCUMBENT RUNS. CONGRESSMAN, GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. YOUR REACTION TO THE BRIBERY, EXTORTION, ACTING AS A FEDERAL AGENT, CONSPIRACY AND CERTAINLY COUNTS DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SENATOR MENENDEZ NEEDS TO STEP ASIDE? >> YEAH, I LOOK AT THIS TWO WAYS. ONE OF IS I WORK A JOB, THE SENATOR WORKS A JOB, WE WORK JOBS IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. THAT SHOULD CALL UPON US TO BE HELD TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY ADD STANDARD. THE SECOND PART IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY. 84% OF PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY SURVEYED BELIEVE THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE CORRUPT. HOW CAN A DEMOCRACY FUNCTION? HOW CAN THE STATE BE ABLE TO MANAGE ALL OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE WITH THAT MUCH DISTRUST. WE HAVE A CRISIS OF TRUST IN GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW IN NEW JERSEY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND THAT COMPELS THE SENATOR TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR US. AND ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, TURN THE CORNER AND TRY TO RESTORE A SENSE OF INTEGRITY. >> SENATOR MENENDEZ'S COLLEAGUE FROM NEW JERSEY SAID HE WILL HELP LEAD THE EFFORT TO COMPEL BOB MENENDEZ FROM THE UNITED STATES SENATE. CHUCK SCHUMER CAME OUT YESTERDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME SAYING, OKAY, NOW WE HAVE CONVICTIONS IT'S TIME HE HAS GOT TO GO AWAY. SHOULD SENATOR MENENDEZ BE EXPELLED FROM THE SENATE? >> IF IT COMES THAT WAY, I EXPECT THE SENATE TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION FOR THE SAKE OF THE NEW JERSEY AND THE COUNTRY THE BEST OPTION IS FOR THE SENATOR TO OWN UP TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED. HE HAD HIS DAY IN COURT WHICH IS WHAT HE ASKED FOR. HE HAD A FAIR SHOT AT THIS AND THE PEOPLE AND JURY DELIBERATED AND DECIDED HE SHOULD ACCEPT THAT AND ON HIS ON VOLITION STEP DOWN. IF THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, I BELIEVE THAT THE SENATE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT VOTE. >> AND IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT YOUR FORMER COLLEAGUE WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS. HE SAYS HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT'S A FAIR AND ACCURATE VERDICT AND HE'S GOING TO APPEAL. HE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE'S GOING ANYWHERE. >> YEAH, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START WITH THIS GUY. I MEAN, WHO DOES THIS? WHO IS PUT ON TRIAL FOR CRIMINAL ACTS AS A UNITED STATES SENATOR. AND IT'S A HUNG JURY, HE'S NOT ACQUITTED. THEN HE COMES BACK TAKES CARS, GOLD BARS AND CASH STUFFED IN JACKETS THEN STANDS UP IN THE COURTHOUSE AND ACTS LIKE HE'S A VICTIM? THE MOST SELFISH ACT POSSIBLE IS FOR BOB MENENDEZ NOT TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND REALIZE FOR THE GOOD OF HIS COUNTRY --FUL HE CARES ABOUT HIS COUNTRY HE NEEDS TO GET OUT OF TOWN. BY THE WAY, WHAT JERK BLAMES HIS NEW WIFE AT THE TRIAL. WHO DOES THAT. >> CANCER-STRICKEN WIFE WE SHOULD ADD. >> I WOULD USE A WORD RIGHT NOW THEY WOULD NOT LIKE ME TO USE IN THE CONTROL ROOM. HE IS JUST A WORD THAT STARTS WITH AN AN "A" AND ENDS WITH A AN "E." I THINK THEY SHOULD CALL THE VOTE NEXT WEEK. AND LET THE REPUBLICANS STEW IN THE FACT THAT THEY PROSECUTED A DEMOCRATIC POLITICIAN AND THEY MAYBE WANT TO PROTECT HIM? WHAT KIND OF HYPOCRISY WOULD THAT BE, LET'S CALL THE VOTE AND KICK HIS AMOUNT SS OUT. >> JUST WITH THE TWO VOWELS I KNOW WHAT THE WORD IS. MIKE. >> BUT, CLAIRE, BACK TO THE -- >> SORRY, I'M JUST OUT OF MY TREE ABOUT THIS GUY. >> TALKING ABOUT THE INSTITUTION ITSELF. CONGRESSMAN KIM WAS TALKING ABOUT THE OBLIGATION OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS. AND THE INSTITUTION ITSELF ONCE REVERED NOT FOR LONGER REVERED. >> THAT'S THE OTHER THING, I FEEL FOR CONGRESSMAN KIM. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NEW JERSEY HAS HAD MORE THAN ITS FAIR SCARE OF SCANDAL AROUND POLITICIANS. IT REALLY IS TIME. I THINK THE CON MAN REPRESENTS A NEW DAY IN NEW JERSEY POLITICS. SOME OF THE OLD PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN AWAY. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER CONVICTIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED. I THINK IT IS TIME FOR NEW JERSEY TO MOVE TO A NEW, BRIGHTER FUTURE WITHOUT CORRUPTION. AND, LISTEN, IS EXPULSION EXTREME? YEAH, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN EXPELLED FROM THE UNITED STATES SENATE MOST OF THEM FOUGHT FOR THE CONFEDERACY, AND PART OF THE CONFEDERACY, SO THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS EXTREME. BUT I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THAT BARNICLE. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO BE STRONG AGAINST PEOPLE WHO TAKE GOLD BARS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRY IT'S. OR CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE. >> ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. >> ALL OF THAT. >> A THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY. >> ALL OF THAT. ALL OF THAT. >> CONGRESSMAN YOU'RE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. LET'S GET YOU ON ANOTHER TOPIC YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING, PRESIDENT BIDEN WANTS TO STAY ON TOP OF THE TICKET. THERE'S NO PUSH FOR A VIRTUAL ROLL CALL TO OFFICIALLY NOMINATE IN A WEEK OR SO. WELL AHEAD OF THE CHICAGO CONVENTION. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? MANY LAWMAKERS, MANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE SPOKEN OUT SHARPLY AGAINST IT SAYING WHY ARE WE RUSHING IT, WE'RE STILL HAVING A DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT HE'S THE BEST TO LEAD THE PARTY? >> YES, THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS NECESSARY, GIVEN THE TIME LINES OUT THERE. AS FAR AS OHIO GOES, WE'VE SEEN THE RESOLUTION TO THAT ISSUE, IN TERMS OF WHAT OHIO HAS DONE. SO, THE POINT HERE IS, WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD AS A PARTY, WE HAVE TO DO SO WITH UNITY. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE CERTAINLY HAVING OUR DISCUSSIONS AND OUR DEBATES. AND TO TRY TO FORCE SOMETHING RIGHT NOW, PUSH SOMETHING THAT'S PREMATURE, THAT'S NOT NEEDED GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE RESOLUTION, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO GO FORWARD. YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S ROOM FOR TO US HAVE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OTHER. WE SHOULD DO IT NOW, AS 91 WHO HAS LIVED THROUGH THAT BUILD BACK BETTER TIME. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE MESSAGING TO ONE ANOTHER THROUGH TWITTER. I THINK WE SHOULD FIND OURSELVES IN A ROOM, LOCK THE DOOR, UNTIL WE COME UP WITH A STRATEGY AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT IS GOING FOR. >> DO YOU BELIEVE, CONGRESSMAN, THE PRESIDENT SHOULD STAY IN THE RACE? >> WELL, THAT'S HIS DECISION. >> HE'S MADE HIS DECISION HE'S STAYING IN. >> AND LOOK, I THINK RIGHT NOW, IF HE WANTS TO PROCEED IN THAT DIRECTION. >> HE DOES. >> HE NEEDS TO SHOW WE HAVE UNITY AMONGST THE REST OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE RIGHT NOW. SO, I DO THINK IT'S ON HIM TO BE ABLE TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. LAY OUT THE STRATEGY, THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE SO FAR HAVE NOT GONE TO THE LEVEL OF DEPTH THAT'S CLEARLY NEEDED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO THINK THIS THROUGH. I RESPECT IT. I'VE WORKED FOR HIM AT THE WHITE HOUSE. I UNDERSTAND HE THINKS HE IS SOMEBODY THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE PUSHED INTO A DECISION. HE'S SOMEBODY THAT I THINK WOULD BE BETTER FOR US TO SURRENDER OURSELVES, HAVE THAT KIND OF UP FRONT CONVERSATION IN PERSON. RATHER THAN EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN LAID OUT IN SOCIAL MEDIA. I DON'T THINK THIS PROCESS THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS BENEFICIAL FOR OUR PARTY. >> HE'S BEEN CLEAR AGAIN AND AGAIN, INCLUDING YESTERDAY, I'M ALL IN, I'M STAYING IN THE RACE. IT SEEMS LIKE DEMOCRATS CAN'T TAKE YES FOR AN ANSWER. SO WHAT IS THE CONVERSATION THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AMONG YOUR COLLEAGUES? >> WELL, I THINK THE CONVERSATION THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW IS WHAT IS THE FULL STRATEGY GOING FORWARD? WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE COMING OUT FROM THE DEBATE, GOING FORWARD, IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S GOING TO BE MESSAGED. WHAT HIS POSTURE WILL BE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. WE JUST HAVEN'T HAD THAT CONVERSATION. I THINK A LOT OF OUR COLLEAGUES, MYSELF INCLUDED DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOTTEN THE FULL SENSE OF THAT. AND I THINK THERE'S STILL ROOM, THAT'S NOT BEST TO BE DONE THROUGH, AGAIN, THROUGH TWITTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA. I REALLY THINK AT THIS POINT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW UNITY. LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW WITH THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION. >> RIGHT. >> WE'RE SEEING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EFFORT ON THEIR END TO TRY TO PROJECT UNITY. AND UNITY AROUND VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS PROPOSALS THAT WILL CHANGE THIS COUNTRY FOREVER. I'M A FATHER WITH A 7-YEAR-OLD AND 8-YEAR-OLD. I DON'T WANT THEM GROWING UP IN AMERICA WITH DONALD TRUMP BACK IN OFFICE. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS FOR A LOT OF US. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN THE POSITION -- TRUMP RAN TWICE. I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ABLE TO WIN TOUGH IDEAS. I HAVE IDEAS TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE. AND OUR PARTY SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNITE AROUND THAT APPROACH FOR WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR COUNTRY AT THIS POINT. >> JOE. >> WELL, CONGRESSMAN, DOES THAT MEAN THEN THAT THE POLITICIAN AND PRESIDENT GOT 14 MILLION VOTES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY THAT HAS ABOUT 90% OF DELEGATES THAT HE NEEDS TO BE SURROUNDED WITH SUPPORT? I MEAN, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, HE HAS TOLD EVERYBODY HE'S GOING TO STAY IN THE RACE. HE TOLD REVEREND AL OVER THE PAST WEEKEND. HE'S IN THE RACE FOR GOOD. HE'S TOLD EVERYBODY ELSE, HE'S IN THE RACE FOR GOOD. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE. AND IT'S JUST POLLS -- YOU KNOW, I WAS ONCE A POLITICIAN. AND, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS LOOK AT TREND LINES AND POLLS. I DIDN'T LOOK AT THE EXACT NUMBERS BUT I DID FOLLOW, I'VE GOT TO SAY, EVERY POLL I'VE SEEN OUT THE LAST WEEK, EVEN POLLS AFTER THE TRAGIC ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ACTUALLY SHOW A TIGHTENING RACE. 43/42. MORNING CONSULT, 46/45. WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE HERE? -- IPSOS 43/41, GEORGIA RACE, NOW WITHIN THREE POINTS. I DON'T OBSESS OVER A LOT OF THINGS BUT DEMOCRATS ARE -- JUST OUT FROM 538, THEIR PROJECTION, JOE BIDEN, 277 ELECTORAL VOTES BASED ON ALL OF THEIR POLLING DATA. DONALD TRUMP, 261 ELECTORAL VOTES. AND THEY SAY THAT IS THE HIGHEST JOE BIDEN SINCE MAY THE 20th. SO THERE'S REALLY NOT A GOOD ARGUMENT TO BE MADE, IS THERE, THAT WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, NO MATTER HOW BAD IT'S BEEN STYLISTICALLY HAS HURT HIM IN THE POLLS? BECAUSE THEY'VE ACTUALLY TIGHTENED UP, HAVEN'T THEY CONGRESSMAN? >> YEAH. LOOK, I CERTAINLY THINK THERE'S A REAL PATH TO VICTORY. I BELIEVE WE CAN WIN WITH THE APPROACH WE'RE TAKING BUT IT'S ABOUT HOW DO YOU CLOSE THAT LAST GAP. HOW DO YOU GET THE LAST FEW POINTS THAT CAN BRING YOU OVER THE TOP. GET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL UNDECIDED. AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A STRATEGY ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW. I THINK THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP TO BE ABLE TO GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD AND THAT'S NOT WHERE EVERYONE IS AT RIGHT NOW. >> CONGRESSMAN -- CONGRESSMAN, 14 MILLION DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO STILL OBVIOUSLY SUPPORT IT -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS, 14 MILLION DEMOCRATS. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU WON YOUR DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY BY 85%. AND THEN WHEN YOU GET INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN YOU HAD, LIKE, NAYSAYERS AND PARTY BIGWIGS SAYING, CONGRESSMAN DOESN'T ALIGN. HE NEEDS TO GET OUT OF THE RACE. WOULD YOU GET OUT OF THE RACE? >> LOOK, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING. THIS IS A DECISION FOR THE PRESIDENT. >> HE'S MADE THAT. >> FOR THE NOMINEE. >> CONGRESSMAN, CONGRESSMAN, HE'S MADE THE DECISION. HE'S RUNNING. HE'S IN IT TO WIN IT. >> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE STRATEGY, THE MESSAGE, HOW DO WE CLOSE THOSE FINAL POINTS. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM. AND WHAT I THINK WE CAN THEN SAY HOW CAN WE HELP? WHAT IS OUR ROLE? CERTAINLY, WHAT'S MY R