Adam Schiff Grilled Over False Impeachment Claims
Rep. Adam Schiff (D.CA) was recently expelled from the House Intelligence Committee. He was being questioned about past instances of him allegedly politicizing intelligence information to benefit partisans.
Schiff made the remarks during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” Dana Bash as host while discussing the possibility of losing his position on the committee.
“You said that there was direct evidence of the fact that Donald Trump colluded with Russia back in 2016. Special counsel Robert Mueller said in his report — quote — ‘The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government,’” Bash stated. “Republicans argue that’s proof that you used your position the Intelligence Committee to intentionally mislead Americans, which is why you should not be on that committee.”
Schiff claimed that the report did not say that and that the report revealed that then-candidate Donald Trump’s campaign manager shared internal campaign polling data with a Russian agent. “To most Americans, that is collusion,” He claimed. “Now, whether it’s proof beyond a reasonable doubt of the crime of conspiracy — that’s what Bob Mueller was talking about — I have always distinguished between the two.”
Bash replied by pointing out another example Republicans use when they refer to the problems they have with Schiff’s membership on the Intelligence Committee.
“Ahead of the first Trump impeachment, you said the committee had not spoken to a whistle-blower,” Bash stated. “In fact, that turned out not to be true.”
“When I was asked the question, I thought they were referring to whether we had brought the whistle-blower in,” Schiff claimed. “And I should have been more clear in my answer.”
Bash observed that “The Washington Post” The fact-check team found that his claims regarding whistleblower were untrue.
BASH
You stated that there was evidence that Donald Trump conspired with Russia in 2016. Special counsel Robert Mueller said in his report — quote — “The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government.”
Republicans argue that’s proof that you used your position the Intelligence Committee to intentionally mislead Americans, which is why you should not be on that committee.
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA),: It is clear that Mueller does not conclude that Donald Trump or his campaign conspired with the Russians.
But what he does reveal in his report, what we found in our investigation is that Donald Trump’s campaign manager was sharing internal campaign polling data and a strategy for key battleground states with an agent of Russian intelligence, while that same unit of Russian intelligence was helping the Trump campaign, both with the hacking-and-dumping operation, as well as a social media operation to elect Donald Trump.
Most Americans consider this collusion. Now, whether it’s proof beyond a reasonable doubt of the crime of conspiracy — that’s what Bob Mueller was talking about — I have always distinguished between the two.
Let me clarify. McCarthy uses a variety of pretexts and rationalizations to justify his actions.
BASH: Let me tell you another. This is part of the pattern, he says. Before the Trump impeachment, he claimed that the committee hadn’t spoken to any whistle-blower. It turned out that this was false.
You are aware “The Washington Post” According to their fact-check, they did.
SCHIFF: “The Washington Post” It was discovered that the whistle-blower sought out advice from the committee before becoming a whistle-blower.
When they asked me the question, I thought that they meant whether the whistle-blower had been brought in. My answer should have been clearer.
But, again, let’s be clear what’s really going on here. McCarthy claims that Adam Schiff was responsible for prosecuting the case against Trump. Ukraine impeachment is a hoax. He’s given 15 explanations. The only real explanation is, he needs Marjorie Taylor Greene’s vote. He needs Paul Gosar’s vote. He would like to retaliate after their departure from the committee.
And, apparently, he believes I was very effective in exposing his misconduct, Donald Trump’s misconduct. And that’s what they’re trying to stop. He is a beneficiary of these smears being repeated. And that’s part of what he gains from it. However, this is only a pretext and not more.
……..
BASH: Let me ask Congressman.
You are Jewish. And you have said that you were worried about some tropes that the congressman (sic) used, and — which again, I want to be clear, you apologized for that, for that one, all about the Benjamins. Is it possible that the pattern your caller has outlined is, as some Republicans and some Democrats claim, a rise in antisemitism.
SCHIFF – Dana, I believe this is all a pretext.
Donald Trump is the Republican Party’s leader. He has been seen dining with antisemites and white nationalists. Kevin McCarthy’s committee members Marjorie Taylor Greene, and other people are speaking at white nationist rallies.
As my colleague stated, Bakersfield B.S. This is all pretextual. And I don’t accept the premise that this has anything to do with the conduct of any of the Democratic members. This is merely the weakness of Kevin McCarthy’s speakership, that he’s so reliant on these extreme members.
I mean, how can you, on the one hand, suggest that these are — some kind of legitimate basis for unseating Democrats on committees, and put someone like George Santos on any committee? This is where the hypocrisy grabs you by your throat.
So I don’t want to dignify the pretext that they’re giving for any of us. What they’re doing is really catering to the most extreme members of their conference.
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