Harris sidesteps impeachment question, says priority is getting country ‘back on its feet’

Vice President Harris in her first national sit-down interview since assuming her role dodged a question on her thoughts about the Trump impeachment trial underway in the Senate.

“I’m focused on the American Rescue plan and getting that to work,” Harris said. “The Senate is going to do its job, but the bottom line for our administration, for the president and for me, we are going to do our piece right now, which is work on getting America back on its feet.”

The impeachment trial of former President Trump began Tuesday as senators discussed whether he should be convicted for his actions surrounding the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.

The interview, conducted by The 19th’s Errin Haines, focused the Biden administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Harris said when she first entered the White House, “there was no stockpile of vaccines.” She said there was also no “national plan for vaccine distribution.”

During the interview, Harris touted Wednesday’s announcement that vaccines will be given to community health centers.

“We are really excited about that. In fact, I convened a meeting of mayors yesterday and I talked with them about what we need to do to give the relieve in vaccines where they are most needed,” Harris said. 

Harris said she is “optimistic” about bipartisan negotiations on relief for Americans as she and President Biden recently had a two-hour meeting with 10 Republican senators to talk about what needs to be done to help Americans during this time. 

Harris said she wants to focus on getting children back in school and getting the coronavirus vaccines to Americans who want them. 

“People are out of work, and they are hungry, and they can’t pay their bills. People are dying, people are sick, children are going without an education. I don’t see a choice — we have to support America’s working families, we have to support working people,” Harris said.