The Latest On Ukraine + SC Attorney General Alan Wilson

The Latest On Ukraine + SC Attorney General Alan Wilson

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is Charleston's Morning News with Kelly and Flays.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Notice, one of the meteorologists on our TV partner, CBS
News this morning said there will be a mandatory evacuation
of the Barrier Islands around Hatteras in neighboring North Carolina
due to Aaron's approach coming up by Wednesday. So of
course you can count on us to keep you up
to date. In ninety four to three, WSA your home
for severe weather coverage throughout the season. We're going to

(00:28):
see some rough waves here in the low Country.

Speaker 3 (00:33):
European leaders will be joining the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky
at the White House later this morning for talks about
ending the war with Russia. This follows, you know, Trump's
meeting with Putin and Alaska on Friday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz,
European Commissioned President Ursula of Vonderland, and British Prime Minister
Kerr Starmer are among those planning to meet with President

(00:56):
Trump to discuss America's new approach to end the conflict.
And we'll see if they can, you know, come to
some kind of terms. It appears that Zelensky was already
kind of pushing back on you know, both abandoning the
pursuit of membership in NATO and over territorial disputes.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yeah, the Fox was reporting that Putin wants control of
the entire don Boss region and that Zelensky is demanding,
you know, an immediate ceasefire before you know, peace agreement.
So you know, this is going to be interesting. It
clearly wasn't a complete waste of time that it's only
going to benefit Russia. This is what naysayers are, you know,
blasting Trump in this Putin meeting in Alaska on Friday about.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
Well, Secretary of State Mark or Rubio said yesterday that
any agreement to end the conflict would have to include
some security measures for Ukraine. He also pushed back and said,
you know, I can't believe, and I'm going to paraphrase here,
that your hatred of Trump out weighs any kind of
concern for peace in the region, and you'd rather attack

(02:04):
Trump than push a narrative that they're trying to end
this war.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yeah, think about how pro you know, Ukraine. If you're
pro Ukraine, then you would want killing to stop, You
would want this war to stop. Meantime, how do they
reckon this hypocrisy to his point, Well.

Speaker 3 (02:25):
They can't. And you see that, Margaret Brennan, I'll tell
you I just the sheer, you know, a vision of
her with that resting, you know what face all the
time and being wrong on these issues and having to
get called out, and that she still gets up there
and pretends to be some something else than a TDS

(02:51):
suffering talking head is amazing to me.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Trupped arrangement syndrome. She can't hide it, like you said,
just even her faith alone. It's unfortunate. And you cannot
sit here and say that you want you know, your
pro Ukraine and fly your flag outside and then on
the other hand, be so deranged about this president who
is trying to bring peace and we continue to say
through strength, I mean the B two flyover. Can we

(03:17):
go back to that for a second. I'm sitting here
at a pool party cookout. I didn't realize I was
going to be out on Friday night. And that was
the number one reaction that B two fly over, I mean,
mad flex from our commander in peace from Trump that
was that was fantastic.

Speaker 3 (03:35):
Well, it was awesome to see and you know, all
of this talk about the Ukraine and President Trump with
Putin and how Putin's going to play him, and how
He's going to take Putin's side and not Zelensky's side,
and all of that. I mean, nobody's really told the
story and given this whole conflict any kind of context

(03:56):
at all. You know, the Ukraine is split into two regions, right,
one that are patriotic to Ukraine, the other is Russian speaking,
So you have, you know, about sixty percent of the
country is Ukrainian speaking, and then you have the crime Crimea,
which is Russian speaking, and you had Neo Nazis. This

(04:19):
goes back to over ten years ago, you know, where
the Neo Nazis were fighting the president of Ukraine, where
they were putting out statements saying, we love our homeland
and hate the Russians. Ukraine is for Ukrainian pure bloods.
Only ethnic Russians and Jews control the economy and politics.
They should be killed. And it got so bad that

(04:43):
even a lawmaker from that region invited, he asked Putin
to bring Russian troops into Ukraine to protect these ethnic
Russians in Crimea. So now you know, the talk is that, well,
President Trump's going to as part of this. Let Russia
keep crimea and Zelensky says there's no way. Well, you know,

(05:07):
that's the history of it right there. And have you
heard any of that in the media when they're discussing this.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
No, And to your point earlier about Margaret Brennan and
the Trump arrangement syndrome, it was on full display with
some of the people who traveled there for that meeting
on Friday. I mean to the point where I couldn't
believe that these people are calling themselves journalists. They were
so slanted in the way that they were reporting it.
It was just unbelievable.

Speaker 3 (05:32):
John. We're just about at the end of our break here.
You're a little late, so we'll get to you real quick.
You were in oh Good, Alaska on Friday with the President,
and you're going to be in the White House this morning.
So give us the latest done where we stand in
these negotiations.

Speaker 4 (05:48):
Well, the latest is that this is an important meeting
that will take place today eating that will involve President Zelensky,
other European leaders, the heads of UK brands, Germany, NATO,
as well as the European Union, and I think they
all want to be on the same page in terms
of what next steps are as it relates to trying
to end this war. This is after the President's meeting

(06:10):
with President Putin in Alaska that took place on Friday.
I was at that particular meeting and the press conference
that followed it. Not a lot of progress made during
the course of the President's one meeting that took place
on Friday. It was a three on three the President
with Secretary Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Wikoff on the
US side. This meeting that will happen today is one

(06:34):
that I think has a lot of anticipation after what
happened in February when there was that blow up in
the Oval Office involving President Trump and President Lensky.

Speaker 2 (06:44):
And you're going to be in the room for that today,
it sounds like, hmmm.

Speaker 4 (06:48):
I will be. I'm in the pool, so I have
an opportunity potentially to ask the President to ask President
Lensky some questions as it relates to what are the
next steps in terms of getting to the point where
this war comes to a conclusion after three years. It
began in February of twenty twenty two and really shows
no end in sight.

Speaker 3 (07:08):
John, I've seen some media reports saying that President Zelensky
is already pushing back on some of the things that
President Trump has said. Can you put can you put
frame that up for us?

Speaker 4 (07:20):
Well, look, you know, I think that you say certain
things in public and you say other things behind closed doors.
You know, if you're a leader, you're never going to
negotiate away something before you've actually had the meeting with
your counterpart. And so you know, I don't think it
means anything necessarily if you say certain things in public
about no negotiations and no concessions, you say that publicly,

(07:43):
you don't want to, you know, give give the store
away before you meet with President Trump. So to me,
that's not a bad sign. And you know what we
want going forward is if your President Zelenski is the
idea that the US still has your bat back in
terms of trying to bring about an end to this war.

(08:04):
That nothing has changed in terms of the dymat damic
from last week when it seemed as if the President
President Trump, as well as those European leaders including President
Zelensky were all unified speaking with one voice.

Speaker 3 (08:18):
Yeah and Presidents Zolensky also thanked President Trump and the
citizens of the United States for their help in his battle.
So I only add that to his public pushback. And
you're right. I mean, you have to walk into negotiations
with a strong hand. You can't show your hand before
that you even you know, walk in the door. So
we'll check in with you tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (08:38):
Hold on, John, before on your way out. I'm curious, John,
since you were boots on the ground for the B
two fly over, what was that reaction like Because we saw,
we saw Vladimir's reaction, but how was it for the
rest of the people out there.

Speaker 4 (08:49):
Well, I mean, look, you know, it was rolling out
the red carpet, so to speak to President Putin, and
all of it was new to us. We were not
given any in the in terms of what to expect
when Putin arrived, what to expect when President Trump greeted
President Putin, or what to expect for that matter, when
their press conference took place. As you know, no questions

(09:13):
taken by either President Trump or President Putin during their
approximately fifteen minute long press conference.

Speaker 3 (09:19):
Yeah. Well, there's great anticipation about this meeting this morning
at the White House with Ukrainian President Zelensky and other
European leaders and you will be there and we will
follow up with you tomorrow. Ninety four to three WSC
White House correspondent John Decker, thanks for the story.

Speaker 2 (09:34):
RFK Junior for President Robert F.

Speaker 3 (09:37):
Kennedy Junior is shutting down talk of a twenty twenty
eight presidential run and a post on ex On Friday,
the Health and Human Services secretary called the speculation a
flat out lie and a distraction from his work under
the Trump administration. He reaffirmed his focus on delivering the
Make America Healthy Again.

Speaker 2 (09:55):
Agendam, Well, how ridiculous is this? I mean, what tickets
he running on? Is he going to run against J?
D Vance? I don't think so.

Speaker 3 (10:03):
Well, you'd have to assume he would run on a
Democrat ticket.

Speaker 2 (10:07):
Or Elon's new party. So he's going to switch back
over to become a Democrat again.

Speaker 3 (10:12):
There's no new Elon party.

Speaker 2 (10:14):
Well, either way, this whole thing sounds silly.

Speaker 5 (10:18):
Well.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
This comes after conservative influencer Laura Lumer accused Kennedy and
aide Stephanie Spear of quietly planning a White House bid.
Kennedy defended Spear and said the attacks their proof his
team is making an impact.

Speaker 2 (10:34):
Well, what do you think that would do to the
vote if he were to go jump back over to
become a Democrat again. I mean, you think Republicans are
going to follow him and vote for him?

Speaker 3 (10:47):
I mean, come on, well no, and it's not really
jumping back over. I mean, he didn't declare himself a Republican.
He simply is a Democrat in a Republican administration.

Speaker 2 (10:58):
He pretty much walked well, he didn't walk away from
the Democrat Party. The Democrat Party left him. I mean
they pretty much, you know, just cast him aside.

Speaker 3 (11:07):
But he's still a Democrat.

Speaker 2 (11:09):
Well is he? Yes, registered Democrat.

Speaker 3 (11:12):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (11:13):
I thought that he kind of walked away from that
and became an independent. And he was pretty open about
the fact that the Democrat Party wasn't something he wanted
to be associated with. It was the part and not
the party of you know, his uncle, you know from
wayback Winners. You know his family's history and legacy. It's

(11:34):
totally different.

Speaker 3 (11:35):
Well, his family went after him. The other Democrats went
after him simply for working with you know, Trump and
being a part of the administration, which shows you what
their mindset is. You know, why have any influence at
all when you can just fight throughout history, there's been
people in administrations of you know, the opposite party, and

(11:59):
you would think, hey, all right, so the election didn't
go the way I wanted, my party didn't win, but
I can still have some influence here. Why wouldn't you
do that?

Speaker 2 (12:08):
I think much like Elon helping Trump with Doge in
the way that Democrats just you know, literally went after
him his business. I mean it continues frankly so volatilely
as well that in my opinion, you'd be the same
as RFK Junior. They're not going to He's not going

(12:29):
to be some big threat on the Democrat ticket. I
don't see them, you know, being okay with the fact
that he's which is ridiculous. But working with Trump to
make America healthy again, well, I.

Speaker 3 (12:39):
Mean, that's his main focus right now. And he says
that's his main focus and that he is not going
to try to run for president.

Speaker 2 (12:48):
Now.

Speaker 3 (12:48):
He might change his mind. Everybody says that, especially this
far out, but you know why not.

Speaker 2 (12:57):
Well, and if Elon you dismissed the fact that Elon
won't make his own new party, but if he did,
an rf Gage Junior ran on a ticket and maybe
would way Elon can't run. Kenny is not American born.

Speaker 3 (13:10):
No, But I'm just saying, where has Elon's party? You know,
he did all that bluster, and do you see a
new party all of a sudden formed.

Speaker 2 (13:21):
Well, I mean we have time, we'll see.

Speaker 3 (13:23):
I doubt that that's going to go anywhere, and especially
you know, quickly enough to win the next presidency. So
I would have to say that Kennedy was He's still
a registered Democrat, He's still a part of the Democratic Party,
and if he chose to run, he'd probably run as
a Democrat. Now you've seen them where you know that

(13:45):
doesn't quite work out. So then they declare they're an
independent and run as an independent, and then they can
be a spoiler and then you know, what, are you
going to split the Republican vote, spoil that vote? You're
going to spoil the Democrat vote. I mean, at this
point he might spoil the Republican vote.

Speaker 2 (14:04):
I guess we'll see. I mean, it's Laura Lumer. I
don't you know she seems a little looney at times.

Speaker 3 (14:11):
So well, and she puts herself in, you know, claims
to have this huge influence in this administration, which I'm
not so sure is true.

Speaker 2 (14:19):
Did I hear that right? The first Democrat to enter
the race for South Carolina governor says he wants to
kick your teeth in, Attorney General Alan Wilson. What is
your reaction to that? Good morning.

Speaker 5 (14:32):
I've heard worse said about me. That's fine. It just
means I'm relevant. Honestly, Kelly, I'm not thinking about the
Democratic side of the isle right now. I'm thinking about
the Republican side because we have about nine and a
half almost ten months of a primary to run, and
that's where my attentions are.

Speaker 2 (14:48):
Well, that was a wild rent that went viral, and
it does sadly, it's made you know, national, if not
international press. I saw where the Democrat Party's asking him
to bow out, but I don't think that's going to
be happening.

Speaker 5 (15:01):
Well, like I said, you know, when you're being attacked,
that just means you're relevant. And I'm being attacked every
day on social media by someone somewhere, usually by people
on our side of the aisle. But you know what,
politics is a contact sport. This is a tough job,
and you know the people of South Carolina deserve to
have a governor who's up for the job and willing
to take the hits, and I believe that's me well.

Speaker 3 (15:20):
I wanted to ask you, Attorney General the Pam Bondi.
Attorney General Pam Bondi of the US was in Greenville
with you last week and you had hosted a meeting
to strengthen partnerships between state and federal agencies. Did that
have anything to do with the announcement that we're sending
National Guard troops to Washington, d C.

Speaker 5 (15:41):
That meeting, No, not at all. This event was actually
coordinated with Attorney General Bondi probably three or four months ago.
Pam is a very dear friend of mine. She and
I served together for eight years as Attorney General when
she was in Florida and I here in South Carolina,
and she and I've been talking about a lot of
the cases that we've got going on down here. South
Carolina is a major corridor for drug trafficking, simply because

(16:04):
of its position near Atlanta and Charlotte. Obviously, the ieight
five Corridor, the I twenty and ninety five corridor are
major arteries for drug trafficking, especially especially in the upstate.
And then of course with the tourism we have on
the coast, which is an amazing coast and an amazing industry,
but sadly with all of the great things, there comes
a dark side. And so we've been fighting a lot

(16:25):
of the drug and human trafficking going on on the
coastal areas of South Carolina, and so I brought in
sheriffs from all over the state as well as members
of the DEDA and the FBI to talk about how
we could continue to strengthen our partnerships in our coordination
and collaboration to better protect the citizens here in South Carolina.
And that's kind of what it was about. It was
an intimate gathering about fifty people total, as well as

(16:46):
four members of the congressional delegation attended just to hear
what they could do to help from the federal side.

Speaker 2 (16:52):
Attorney jaer Ryllen Wilson live here on ninty four to
three WSC course running for governor on the Republican side.
I'm curious, that's what you would say about our state democrat,
top democrat pushing back on Governor McMaster sending those South
Carolina guardsmen to d C in storm season. I'm sure
you've seen that pushback.

Speaker 5 (17:14):
Look, I love it when the Democrats get on the
twenty percent side of an eighty twenty issue. Obviously, Washington,
DC is the US capital, it's the federal enclave of
the federal government. The president has the statutory authority. Crime
is running amok. I mean, even Democrats believing in Washington,
d C. They know that. And even though they cite
certain statistics show crime going down, it's still higher there

(17:35):
than just about anywhere else. People are getting mugged, people
are getting carjacked, and people are getting murdered. And if
you can't have a safe US capital, you know, a
capital for our country, then how can you expect to
be able to protect any other city in this country.
So the president has a statutory authority under federal law
for at least thirty days, with the approval of Congress
to go beyond, and I believe he'll have it.

Speaker 3 (17:56):
Yeah. In Attorney General, I mean, you've talked about the
need to be tough on crime, and you know, and
there's certain accusations that you know, you didn't do enough
in some of these murder cases, and a lot of
people just don't understand the process of how that works.
Can you explain that very quickly?

Speaker 5 (18:15):
Well? Absolutely, First off, I'm the chief prosecutor of the state.
We handle some cases. Your solicitors in your local sheriff's
department handle the bulk of these violent crimes, and they're
doing a fantastic job. They're doing the best they can
with the resources they have. That as the chief prosecutor
of the state. When someone goes out there and says
Alan Wilson's not putting people in jail for long enough,
what they're doing is is they're lying to you because

(18:36):
the Attorney General or any prosecutor, including your solicitor, we
don't put people in prison for periods of time. We
put them in front of a judge who puts them
in prison. And of course a lot of the sentences
are hand cherry picked by certain opponents of mine to
try to portray a story that isn't accurate at all.
And so the reality is is the men and women
that work in my office, as well as the men

(18:57):
and women that work in law enforcement around the state
a bus their butts to try to keep people safe.
And so when I'm being attacked, what my opponents aren't
telling you is is they're actually attacking the men and
women in law enforcement and the men and women who
are prosecutors, who are actually in the courtrooms working these cases.
So yes, we don't do sentences. Those are the judges.

Speaker 3 (19:17):
Well, thank you for that explanation. Yeah, exactly, and I'm
sure we'll be talking to you again as you're out
on the campaign trail running for South Carolina governor. South
Carolina Attorney General Allen Wilson, Thanks for your time this morning.

Speaker 1 (19:32):
Thanks for listening to the Charleston Morning News podcast. Catch
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