Democrats on the House Special Committee on Arming the Federal Government were at odds with Republicans over the credibility of FBI whistleblowers as chaos erupted in the hearing room.
Suspended FBI agents Garret O’Boyle, Steve Friend and Marcus Allen testify before the committee Thursday to detail alleged “abuses of power” by the federal agency’s leadership — from discriminating against conservatives to inflating domestic terrorism statistics.
“Get ready – because [the Democrats] “We’ll be after you,” Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, warned witnesses early in the hearing.
His warning came true after the committee’s senior member, Democratic Rep. Stacey Plaskett, in a heated opening statement, began expressing doubts that the Witnesses could even be considered “whistleblowers.”
Suspended FBI agents Garret O’Boyle, Steve Friend and Marcus Allen will testify before the committee Thursday
Steve Friend had his security clearance revoked last September after raising his concerns to his superiors
Whistleblower Marcus Allen testified before the House Special Committee on Arming the Federal Government
She also accused Jordan of holding a “Make America Trump Again” hearing and “acting against the FBI on Trump’s behalf.”
Jordan responded, calling her opening statement “ridiculous” and adding that he was impressed the whistleblowers had had the courage to appear before the committee after being mistreated by Democrats.
Another Republican, Rep. Darrell Issa, responded, saying that “whistleblowers have been recognized by our government and Congress since 1778.”
“Every one of these whistleblowers [today] has made clear proprietary disclosures.’
Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., disagreed, saying: “I’m not exactly sure why we had this hearing.”
He said the Witnesses could not be considered “whistleblowers” unless there was a “broad pattern of discrimination or violations of the law.”
In a heated exchange between Jordan’s top Republican party and Democratic Rep. Linda Sanchez of California, the congresswoman accused the committee of specifically withholding Marcus Allen’s testimony.
She asked for a copy of the statement from his transcribed interview a few months ago, to which Jordan said, “The whistleblower didn’t want that to happen.”
She responded that Jordan could certainly turn the testimony over to his fellow Democrats as he was comfortable sharing his story in an open forum at the hearing.
Jordan responded sharply, saying Sanchez had not raised a “point of order” and must continue with her allotted five minutes of questioning.
“That’s not how committees work,” Sanchez explained, adding, “I think it’s important that we recognize this hearing for what it actually is — make no mistake, this hearing is a means of legitimizing the events of March 6.” . January.”
Sanchez continued to question Allen about a tweet under the username @MarcusA97050645, which read, “Nancy Pelosi staged January 6th.”
Allen replied that the account the congresswoman was referring to was not his domain and must belong to someone else “Marcus Allen.”
“I don’t know, ma’am. “It’s not my account,” Allen said.
Although he didn’t author the tweet, Sanchez pressed him for a response on whether or not he agreed with the tweet, to which he replied, “No.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., commented on the exchange, calling out a tweet from another account by Linda Sanchez that read, “Donald Trump is the greatest President of my life!”
In response, Gaetz cheekily tweeted, “Congresswoman Linda Sanchez MUST respond for her tweet!”
“If you’re a parent and you attend a school board meeting, you’re pro-life, or you’re praying at a clinic, or you’re just going to mass as a Catholic, you’re a government target, a target of the FBI,” Jim Jordan told a news conference
Rep. Stacey Plaskett began to express doubts that the Witnesses could even be considered “whistleblowers”.
Rep. Dan Goldman, DN.Y., also questioned Jordan’s authority over the committee’s rules, leading to heated back-and-forth between members.
Jordan had said Republicans had Allen’s testimony, but he didn’t want to share it with Democrats.
“He doesn’t make reject rules!” Goldman exclaimed in response, indicating that Jordan was in charge.
That hearing has resolved into a “back and forth” of allegations, said aggravated Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., at the beginning of his questioning.
