Dianne Feinstein: “I sincerely believe that the only way to afford victims of violent crime standing under the Constitution to be able to…”

“I sincerely believe that the only way to afford victims of violent crime standing under the Constitution to be able to assert a right that is provided is by amendment to the Constitution. I don't use my judgment. This is the judgment of the most distinguished legal scholars. I know there are strong forces at work in this in front of the scenes and behind the scenes. I know there are some people who believe what we are trying to do is weaken defendants' rights. That is simply not correct. Defendants' rights, as I see them, are basically rights that do not come into collision with the rights we would afford the victims. They are totally different rights. If there is a collision, our view is that the judge then provides the balancing mechanism. This gives the victim a standing in law to assert the right that, in a sense, can't be trusted. This issue goes down--let me be very candid--on one phrase. That one phrase is the addition of language that would say nothing in this Constitution would abridge the right of a defendant as provided by this Constitution. That is a paraphrase of what it is. The Department of Justice insists on that language. We will not get administration support, I believe, without that language.”