Klobuchar demands drone crackdown, FBI integrity, pardon reforms

Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, took on critical national issues during her appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan on December 15, 2024. From the regulation of drones to FBI leadership and presidential pardons, Klobuchar voiced strong opinions and called for action.

On the rising concern over large drones along the East Coast, Klobuchar pushed for urgent regulatory reforms. “Right now, you have to register a drone if it’s over half a pound, but we’re not enforcing it properly,” she said, calling for greater collaboration between local and state authorities. “Do we really want all these drones flying over family picnics, homes, and beaches? This just can’t be the future.” Klobuchar emphasized the need for transparency, calling for Senate briefings on drone activity. “No one knows why this huge drone is right over their house,” she added.

The conversation shifted to the contentious nomination of Kash Patel as FBI director under the Trump administration. Patel has faced scrutiny for remarks suggesting he’s on a “revenge mission.” Klobuchar criticized his rhetoric and questioned his qualifications. “The FBI’s mission is fidelity, bravery, and integrity. Now we have someone who wants to dismantle its headquarters and turn it into a museum. This is not the direction we need to go,” she argued.

Klobuchar highlighted Senator Lisa Murkowski’s remarks on Republican lawmakers being pressured to toe the party line, calling Murkowski “a thoughtful, independent voice.” She also reminded viewers of her own voting history. “I’ve voted for many of Trump’s past nominees after evaluating their qualifications and integrity. That’s what the Constitution requires of us: advice and consent,” she said.

On President Biden’s record-breaking commutations of 1,500 individuals, Klobuchar expressed frustration over some controversial decisions. Among those pardoned was a judge involved in the notorious “Cash for Kids” scheme and a tax fraudster accused of costing the country $1.6 billion. “I did not like that one. Nope,” Klobuchar said bluntly. She also criticized the commutation of a major drug trafficker in Duluth, saying, “This guy was running a drug house and hiding money under his bathroom tiles. That doesn’t make sense to me.”

Klobuchar called for an overhaul of the presidential pardon process, advocating for an independent review board. “Governors have boards to make recommendations, but at the federal level, we’re doing this in the middle of the night with no transparency. It undermines the justice system and the work of prosecutors and FBI agents who’ve followed the law,” she said. While acknowledging that some pardons were likely justified, she stressed that “this process cries out for reform.”

Throughout the interview, Klobuchar balanced criticism with a call for bipartisan accountability. “Whether it’s drones, FBI leadership, or presidential pardons, we owe it to the American people to ensure fairness, integrity, and transparency,” she concluded.