I saw a blurb this morning about this and since no one else has written about it I figure someone should so here goes. “Gym” Jordan had an FBI Agent in for closed door questioning from his bogus committee. Normally I’d say ho-hum, just more performance jackassery, albeit behind closed doors. Jordan and his crew would of course selectively LEAK information that made the witness, the FBI, DOJ and the administration look bad of course, and committee Democrats would have to waste time and effort trying to stuff some of the shiite back into the Jordan Goose. We’ve seen all this plenty of times.
So what happened that’s got me writing about it? Well as this article from Raw Story indicates a couple of reporters from the WaPo found out there was a dust up at the outset. By dust-up I mean to the point of threats by Jordan’s investigator to call the Capitol Police to take at least one of the lawyers there representing the witness (FBI Agent Elvis Chan) out and I guess off the Hill! It seems Chan showed up with both his personal lawyer and as is customary one from the FBI. This immediately triggered Jordan’s guy and led to the threats to call in the Capitol Police. In effect, Jordan/Republicans have apparently decided THEY get to choose just who gets to represent witnesses they call in and not the actual witnesses.
This is NOT normal.
According to the report, “Larry Berger, the personal lawyer representing Chan, said the committee insisted Chan could be accompanied by either an FBI lawyer or his personal lawyer, but not both. Berger, a lawyer who has long represented federal agents, said the demand was unusual and not a common practice of congressional committees.”
Berger posed the quite reasonable question of why all of a sudden the committee made this arbitrary decision, and decided to interfere with the witnesses choice of legal representation.
“Chan insisted on having both lawyers with him – which Berger said was unsurprising in this instance because Chan has been named in lawsuits stemming from his FBI work on social media,” the Post is reporting, “The committee did not back down, and at one point a person on the committee suggested they would summon the Capitol Police to remove the FBI lawyer from the Rayburn Building, where the interview was to take place, Berger said.”
DOJ issued a statement noting that Chan was “denied the right to have his chosen legal counsel accompany him,” and that the FBI lawyer was ordered to “leave the premises.” It went on to note the significant change from normal practice and that this whole matter indicates an “escalation” between Jordan’s committee and FBI Officials. However, the spokesman went on to say this FBI guy is still willing to take part in an interview with appropriate legal representation.
The issue of course is who gets to decide who this or any witness’ lawyer(s) will be, the individual testifying or “Gym” Jordan and his henchmen. This kind of crap is why it’s so important for us to fight like hell, every day to ensure that next fall we sweep the GOP out of power. Keep the White House. Keep and even expand our margin in the Senate. And of course re-take control of the House.
While we’re at it we need to kick butt at the state level too. Retaking control of some legislatures that are so heavily gerrymandered might be a proverbial bridge too far. However, breaking up any existing supermajorities that (as is the case here in NC where I live) GOPers can override a Gov. who is a Democrat matters. Also, doing more than breaking up supermajorities matters. Inflicting significant enough losses to make GOPers realize MAGA and Nazism is going to keep costing them is what we need to do.
Jim Jorda..I would file his whole history as if nobody will read it. that’s a problem.
it’s seldom we look back to great statesman
let’s be honest, we have been lucky. Great leaders in our darkest hours, Abe, Delano
we forget the past, it’s past
I set my alarm for 7:30 tomorrow
same as it ever was
same as it ever was..
The psycho killers are burning down the house.
With republiQanons it is “come meet the new boss, so much worse than the old boss”.
Chan ought to tell gym bag to go take a flying f*ck. Sure hope that happens because gym bag, molester assistance inc., needs to be put firmly in his place which is that of a pervert who assists other perverts and who has no business in congress. It is a great pity the people of OH foist this P.O.S. upon the nation. Our nation deserves much, much, better OH.