Here is @JoyceWhiteVance complete opening statement: "If anyone other than a president of the United States committed this conduct he would be under incitement today for multiple acts of Obstruction of Justice." pic.twitter.com/URe2fTOOvt
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) June 10, 2019
While quoting Trump's reaction to Sessions's recusal as detailed in the Mueller report, @tedlieu drops an F-bomb pic.twitter.com/PbuTZ4HOTu
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 10, 2019
It's really gonna be something when Lindsey Graham counters this House hearing by holding a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing re-investigating Dean's role in Watergate https://t.co/cOm98ZvnJD
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 10, 2019
Louie Gohmert is using his questioning time to relitigate John Dean's role in the Watergate break in, which took place 47 years ago pic.twitter.com/hA4mTmymaz
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 10, 2019
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has embraced a role as one of President Donald Trump’s most aggrieved and petulant defenders, apparently banking his political fortunes on the tactic of portraying the commander-in-chief as a victim. But during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Monday, the limits of the stance became obvious.
Democrats called former federal prosecutors and President Richard Nixon’s former White House Counsel John Dean — who played a key role in the hearings against the disgraced president — to testify before the committee. Dean was upfront that he has no new facts to contribute to Congress’s investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report, but he said he was there to provide historical context for Trump’s actions. He identified parallels between Nixon’s obstruction during Watergate and Trump’s obstruction during the Russia investigation.
But these comparisons obviously chafed Gaetz, who was clearly irritated with Dean when he began his questions. As an adversarial questioner, the goal is to damage the witness’s testimony or credibility and to poke holes in their story, which Dean is certainly susceptible to. And Gaetz also had an opportunity to question the whole basis of the hearing, the utility of which was doubted even by some supporters of the Democrats, given its lack of a direct link to Mueller’s work. And yet when Gaetz tried to pursue this strategy, he completely botched his opportunity, clearly becoming irritable and defensive, and ended up humiliating himself much more than Dean.
Gaetz tried to argue that Dean lacked credibility because he has previously claimed that other presidents, not just Trump, showed parallels to Nixon.
“Throughout history, you accuse presidents of acting like Richard Nixon, and you make money off it, right?” said Gaetz.
“Not all presidents, no,” said Dean.
“But a few more than one!” said Gaetz.
“Those who do act like him, I point it out,” said Dean.
“Let me ask you this question: How do Democrats plan to pay for Medicare-for-All?” Gaetz said, switching his approach. “I figured if we were going to ask you about stuff you don’t know about, we’d start with the big stuff. So do you know how they’re going to pay for Medicare-for-All?”
“Who?” said Dean, throwing Gaetz off once again. “The Democrats? Or, which candidate? Could you be more specific?”
“Well, let’s get specific to Nixon, since that appears to be why you’re here,” replied Gaetz.
“Well, actually, Nixon did have a health care plan,” said Dean, not-so-subtly drawing a contrast with the Republican Party’s complete dearth of ideas on health care. The committee room broke into laughter at the remark.
Rep Jim Jordan, a Freedom Caucus member who only likes to investigate and interrogate Democrats and those FBI and intelligence members investigating the Trump administration tried to claim that Chairman Nadler and his caucus and colluded during his unhinged questioning of John Dean.
After he ranted about the investigators investigating Trump, Jordan brought up Emmett Flood's letter, complaining that "we got memorandums of understanding between the chairman."
After Rep Jordan's time expired, Chairman Nadler quickly corrected the record and pointed out that Rep. Jordan disparaged John Dean and his committee, after lying about Dean going to prison.
"I want to point out that this committee has no memorandum of understanding with any of the committee with reference to any other investigations. So I don't know...(Rep. Jordan then tried to interrupt him)
Nadler continued, "this committee has no memorandum of understanding and not aware of any others -- but this Committee has no such Memorandum of Understanding. Number two, since the gentleman from Ohio cast aspersions on the witness I will remind everyone --"
Off-camera, Jordan tried to deny what he previously said just moments ago.
'No, I didn't Mr. Chairman, I read his statement," he insisted.
Nadler banged the gavel.
Jordan continued, "I did not cast aspersions, I read --"
At that point, Jordan's microphone was cut, Nadler finished his statement, and moved on to the next questioner.
Jordan is playing for Fox News and Trump only and he looked like a fool.