William Cohen Discusses Threats to the Rule of Law in the US

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Are you concerned that the rule of law itself is under threat and are you concerned that the consistent attack on institutions in the United States is having an impact on the democratic process?

WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: I am. During the time of Harry Truman and Dean Acheson and others, it was called, you know, watching the president at the beginning. I think we are present at the end of that process. So, they were present at the beginning of setting up these key institutions in the United States and elsewhere which helped to maintain, for the most part, peace and stability for the past 70 years. I believe that President Trump is in the process of knocking down those pillars. And so, he feels that doesn’t need any of these other institutional guards and such to make — that he feels that he alone can take action without regard to any other institutions which are there to make sure the rules of law stays intact. And so, that only I can do this, and that has the sound of, you know, a dictator or a dictatorship where only I can solve this problem. I don’t need you for a consultation. I know more than the generals. I know more than the ambassadors. And I alone can take this action without regard to you, Congress. I don’t need you. I don’t have to come to you. And therefore, it becomes one-man rule. Now, if the president can do that in first term, what would we expect if he has a second term and which has no need to go before the electorate again, there’s no need to go to Congress to say, gee, I am sorry. I broke this rule. There will be no rules that would go unbroken, in my opinion, because he feels that he is above the law, that he is the face of the law, that he is the face of Justice Department and et cetera. So, I worry about the future as much as I worry about the president in terms of what is happening. I want the president to abide by the rule of law and I want Republicans to say, Mr. President, when you step over the line, you have to be held accountable. You cannot go to a foreign government and ask for assistance against — dirt on your future opponent. That crosses a line which should not be crossed. Now, whether the majority in the Senate, the super majority in the Senate, two-thirds of the Senate will vote for removal, I think at this point, is rather doubtful. But in any event, even if doubtful, it is important for the American people to listen to the facts to say, you may think it’s okay for this president but do you want to set the standards and lower the standards for every other president in the future? Because what is good for President Trump will good for them.