In this short clip, CNN anchor and Chief National Security Correspondent Jim Sciutto implies that ballot harvesting at homeless camps in California is not evidence of voter fraud.

SCIUTTO: “OK. Let me ask you this. As you know the president has been attacking mail-in voting as fundamentally unsafe, although he’s recently modified that to say that it’s a good thing in states run by Republicans such as Florida. Does that argument make any sense to you? Is it safe in your state, just run by a Democrat?”

CASSIDY: “I didn’t read the quote. I can say that we do prefer federal system, we can look to New York, though, and see the problems that just resulted in a Carolyn Maloney race in which there are bucket loads of pieces of mail, ballots, which were not —“ [crosstalk]

SCIUTTO: “The facts are they went through and then confirmed that those ballots were valid, rejected some and accepted others. I mean, I know that’s a —“ [crosstalk]

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CASSIDY: “Yes, but it took a court — it took a court doing it —“

SCIUTTO: “The president is saying mail-in voting is fundamentally fraudulent. What is the basis for that and do you agree with that?”

CASSIDY: “So, it took the court having to decide that and actually make an exception for not having post marked ballots. My point being that there are problems that can be associated with it, I prefer the states do it on their own. My state as you said, if you’re going to be out of town, you can mail-in, so it can certainly be done right. I would also say there needs to be precautions. For example, in California, they allow ballot harvesting. Someone with go through a homeless community and literally do this, and ask them to fill in a ballot and then they submit it —“ [crosstalk]

SCIUTTO: “There is not evidence of widespread fraud. You know that as well as me. There is not evidence —“ [crosstalk]

CASSIDY: “— that is actually fraudulent which they would not allow you to do in North Carolina. Jim, let me finish, and they would not allow someone to be —“ [crosstalk]

SCIUTTO: “There is not evidence of widespread fraud. It’s happening for — for decades, mail-in voting.”

CASSIDY: “— who is actually — they did ballot harvesting. So for whatever reason Pelosi objected to North Carolina doing it, but she applauds it in California. If you’re going to have mail-in balloting, you have to be concerned about the fraud.”

SCIUTTO: “The president though as you know he’s attacking it across the board, right, in a way that is — it’s just — it’s just a different argument. But Senator Bill Cassidy, I do appreciate you taking the time this morning. You’re always welcome on the broadcast.”
CASSIDY: “Thank you, Jim.”