Jim Jordan's Weaponization Hearing Descends Into Shouting Match - Rolling Stone
Category: News & Politics
Via: jbb • last year • 21 commentsBy: Nikki McCann Ramirez (Rolling Stone)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A House hearing descended into chaos Thursday, with Jordan shouting down members who questioned violations of committee rules
By Nikki McCann Ramirez
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) claims he has testimony from "dozens" of whistleblowers who've provided him with proof that the FBI is unfairly persecuting conservatives. This doesn't actually seem to be the case.
The first three of these witnesses whose testimony Jordan received were not really "whistleblowers," but disaffected former FBI employees receiving financial backing from former President Trump's ally and advisor Kash Patel. None of them have been given whistleblower protection status by the Department of Justice.
Jordan held a hearing of the Judiciary Committee's Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Thursday that featured two of these witnesses. During the hearing, Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) confronted suspended FBI agent Garret O'Boyle and former agent Steve Friend as to whether they had received payments from Patel. Both admitted they had.
Goldman elicits from two of the Republican witnesses that they have been paid by Kash Patel pic.twitter.com/kG6N8OW2qA
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 18, 2023
When reporters asked Jordan about the financial ties of his sources, the congressman deflected. "They've got a family! How are they supposed to feed their family?" Jordan told reporters before the hearing.
REPORTER: Today's hearing is about how the FBI is politicized, but do you think it's appropriate for some of these whistleblowers to be paid by one of Trump's former advisers?
JIM JORDAN: They got a family! How are they supposed to feed their family? pic.twitter.com/L8lAx4z3qO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 18, 2023
Friend was suspended by the FBI after refusing to participate in cases related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He was also one of three agents who had their security clearances revoked by the FBI, in his case for having "espoused an alternative narrative about the events at the U.S. Capitol" and downloading documents to "an unauthorized removable flash drive."
During questioning, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D- Va.) displayed tweets from the witnesses espousing conspiracy theories about the Capitol riot, including that undercover federal agents had been responsible for the attack.
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1659222608397598722?s=20
Despite their best efforts, Democrats were largely flying blind when it comes to their questioning of witnesses, as Jordan refused to grant them access to testimony in what Democrats contend is a violation of House rules.
As previously reported by Rolling Stone , the denial of access to Democrats may be a result of witnesses' own inability to answer questions about the alleged wrongdoings they witnessed, and defend their own statements on social media. In transcript of an interview conducted by the committee in February with former FBI supervisory intelligence analyst George Hill, Hill admitted he had no firsthand knowledge of "deep state" scandals and conspiracies involving the FBI.
"Clearly there is room to grow and improve before [more] public hearings," on Republican source told Rolling Stone at the time, adding that broadcasting the committees work so far "on live television would make us look like morons."
Thursdays hearing showed little development. Jordan verbally sparred with multiple Democratic members of the committee who pushed back on Jordan's claims that he would not be sharing evidence with the minority because his witnesses asked him not to. "I find it incredible that evidence that one side has garnered is not going to be shared with the other side. That's not how committees work," said Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), calling the hearing a charade to "normalize the events on Jan. 6."
Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.) also questioned his withholding of testimony. "It is my understanding that the minority in this committee, under the rules, is entitled to the same testimony, information, documents, that the majority is entitled," she said. "I'm not aware that you're able to withhold information from the minority.
Jordan claimed that the witnesses' status as "whistleblowers" precluded Democrats from viewing their transcripts.
"These individuals have been determined not to be whistleblowers," Wasserman-Schultz responded. "They've been determined by the agency not to be whistleblowers. Are you deciding that they're whistleblowers?"
Dems try to point out to Jim Jordan that he's violating the committee rules by not sharing testimony with them. Jordan just keeps plowing ahead. pic.twitter.com/ORzHbZ72uQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 18, 2023
When Goldman asked Jordan to point to an exception in the rules that would allow him to withhold evidence, Jordan deflected. "The whistleblower doesn't make committee rules sir," Goldman responded.
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lol
The lack of respect shown by the democrats on this committee towards these Vets/whistleblowers was completely unacceptable.
They deserve no respect in return
None
Except that it turns out they aren’t really whistleblowers. They are a couple former agents who were fired for cause and have been paid by Trump aligned groups.
Yep, that’s the propaganda the hive wants you pushing.
Regardless, the level of disrespect shown by Dems on this committee towards these folks was completely uncalled for.
Completely.
The hypocrisy of the house democrats is entertaining, Thea worthless pieces of sit want Jim Jordan to share evidence? How about right after the lying fuck Schiff shares his? Democrats in the house have no integrity and are unamerican traitors.
You sound upset ... blame the idiot who put Jordan in charge.
Not at all upset, just laughing at the ignorant liberals. [deleted]
Do YOU ever have anything of value to contribute?
yes, very upset
This comment is a lie.
[deleted]
If you weren't so upset, you wouldn't comment
You mean they want Jordan to follow the rules of the House in regards to this evidence and to stop making up new rules as they go?
Because Jordan is a fucking joke just like his “investigation”. There is no “there” there, hence why he won’t find anything and these hearings will just be nothing but a goddamn circus.
But of course it’s not like the country has any REAL problems, good to know that we are doing so awesome that we can dedicate resources to… whatever in the fuck this is supposed to be.
Our biggest problems are a radical far left government and a corrupt FBI
Dan Goldman Grills FBI Whistleblower, Then Jim Jordan Jumps In | Weaponization Committee Hearing - YouTube
And here I thought that America's biggest problem was far right wing fascism.
Much like Germany had under Hitler.
probably not even in the top 20.
It's the only thing Jordan is good at; yelling and screaming and waving his arms around. He's just another radicalized far right loser.
(Ok, ok, ok....he's good at protecting pedophiles too)
I have two points.
1. For reasons yet to be honestly determined, much less honestly investigated, there has been and continues to be a full frontal attack by the right wing to protect Trump at all costs.
2. All of this and more would be avoided if The SCOTUS were an elective body with eight year terms. They are politicians, make them campaign for the office like everyone else.