Sen. Kamala Harris: President Trump holding America 'hostage'

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris said that President Trump is holding the American people "hostage" with the government shutdown.

"The President can not hold the American people hostage over his vanity project, which is what that wall is," she told Elex Michaelson on FOX 11's primetime political show "The Issue Is:"

Harris pointed to 40,000 Californians who are federal workers that are either out of work or working without pay.

"It's just wrong!" said the senator.

Harris was pressed on whether she'd be willing to support a border wall in some form. She didn't directly answer that, only suggesting she won't negotiate until after the government is back open.

"We all want border security but don't hold the American people hostage over this wall," she said.

This week, Harris announced that she will not be voting for William Barr to be Attorney General.

"The real concern I have is that the real people in the department of justice, who are the ethics people, advised him to recuse himself from the Mueller investigation, he refused to say he would comply with that recommendation," Harris said.

She is also concerned that his views regarding criminal justice may be outdated.

Harris is working with a bipartisan group of legislators, including Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, on a bill that would help protect the integrity of future elections.

So far, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not brought it to the floor of the Senate.

"We need paper ballots. People say why do you need paper ballots, Kamala. I say, its pretty simple. Russia can't hack a piece of paper," she said.

On the weekend before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Sen. Harris reflected on Dr. King's legacy.

"He represents for me, the commonality among all people. We are a diverse country. It doesn't mean we don't have anything in common. At this time, when there are so many voices that are trying to sow hate and division among us…honoring and remembering Dr. King's legacy and his work and his words…is critically important," said Harris.

Since Harris was inside the Senate building at the time of this interview, ethics rules prevent her from talking about whether she'll run for President.

But Elex Michaelson attempted a creative loophole around that. He asked her to blink if she was running for President.

Watch that moment here: https://twitter.com/Elex_Michaelson/status/1086417209474203648

Watch the complete interview on "The Issue Is:" with Elex Michaelson on FOX 11 Los Angeles at 10:30 p.m. Friday or catch it on his YouTube Channel by clicking here.