SECONDNEXUS
percolately
georgetakei
comicsands
George's Reads
The most fervent Trump supporters among the GOP in Congress—referred to as the MAGA minions after trying to strong-arm their way into a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) with cell phones raised in violation of federal law—continue to try to garner public support for allowing President Donald Trump and his legal team to see documentation from all impeachment inquiry depositions.
Despite over 40 Republican House members—including Vice President Mike Pence's older brother—already having full access to the hearings, the MAGA minions want more.
One of the group that stormed the SCIF—Republican Representative Alex Mooney of West Virginia—decided to spar with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez online regarding Trump's access to the hearings.
AOC posted, regarding the stunt many report the President knew about in advance and may have even orchestrated, on Twitter:
"What’s worse: since many of the flash mob already sat on the committees, they *knew* how serious a breach it was to bring devices into SCIF & did it anyways."
"Our country is a game to them. Remember that the next time they use “natl security” as an excuse for their bad ideas."
What’s worse: since many of the flash mob already sat on the committees, they *knew* how serious a breach it was to… https://t.co/b8F5ucz4OK— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1571885695.0
Mooney retweeted AOC's post with the comment:
"Hey [Rep. Ocasio-Cortez] I thought you supported Open and Transparent government. Truth is for AOC the ends justify the means and she gladly reverts to Soviet style secret hearings in the Capitol basement. Socialism and one-sided Kangaroo Courts have no place in the #USA #ExposeSchiffSCIF."
Hey @AOC I thought you supported Open and Transparent government. Truth is for @AOC the ends justify the means and… https://t.co/vlgyDEsg3k— Rep. Alex Mooney (@Rep. Alex Mooney) 1571932513.0
But AOC fired back.
"Rep. Mooney, you & I both know that when a massive crime is committed, the 1st step is to separate witnesses & get their stories to see what adds up."
"You know that making these depositions public will help potential criminals line up their testimony."
"Why do you want to do that?"
Rep. Mooney, you & I both know that when a massive crime is committed, the 1st step is to separate witnesses & get… https://t.co/ML7N8G2YDH— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1571939108.0
Other people had a few bits of wisdom for Mooney and his fellow MAGA minions.
@RulesLawStudent @lsimonis @AOC And how many were in congress in that ancient time of 2015 when the GOP changed the… https://t.co/ikRmQ0ERjE— jdkahler (@jdkahler) 1571944335.0
@jdkahler @lsimonis @AOC 27, out of 41. That's how many voted to make their own actions a felony.— Quid Pro Quo Vadimus (@Quid Pro Quo Vadimus) 1571946086.0
@AOC It is important to remember that 27 of the 41 members of Gaetz's mob yesterday specifically voted to make what they did a felony.— Quid Pro Quo Vadimus (@Quid Pro Quo Vadimus) 1571939329.0
@RulesLawStudent @AOC And 13 of them (along with many other Republicans) had access to the "secret" hearing. https://t.co/3mdAUwq8u6— Lukas Simonis (@Lukas Simonis) 1571939547.0
@lsimonis @AOC https://t.co/99e0fOhnN2— Quid Pro Quo Vadimus (@Quid Pro Quo Vadimus) 1571939660.0
The Republican controlled House and Senate created the rules the impeachment inquiry is following.
@RepAlexMooney @AOC Andrew Napolitano: "As frustrating as it may be to have these hearings going on behind closed d… https://t.co/FlLErliTTh— Ted Hogbin (@Ted Hogbin) 1571933419.0
@DianeFick3 @ezzd_1212 @DavMicRot @nicole_bertrand https://t.co/zmLMsIMgaW— Mark L (@Mark L) 1571953087.0
And 13 of the GOP MAGA minions have full access to the hearings along with over 30 more of their Republican colleagues.
The exact number of Republicans sitting on the three committees—Oversight, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence—has been reported as 42, 47 and 48 as some GOP members sit on more than one participating committee.
@RepAlexMooney @AOC Rep. Mooney is lying. Forty-two Republicans sit on the relevant committees. That's almost 25% o… https://t.co/8HDhht7HfA— Ted Hogbin (@Ted Hogbin) 1571932845.0
Things did not add up for many on Twitter.
What are Mooney and his fellow minions complaining about?
People noted this was a familiar ploy from the GOP playbook during the Obama administration.
Republicans insulting all Americans with this bullshit: Hearings include dozens of Republicans (not secret). Inform… https://t.co/0jcP7zdAMi— David Rothschild (@David Rothschild) 1571939709.0
Reminds me of bad faith story Republicans created around ObamaCare (year of public hearings) versus Repeal of Obama… https://t.co/N80TYS1aps— David Rothschild (@David Rothschild) 1571939909.0
@DavMicRot @nicole_bertrand I agree. Republikans no longer have answers to issues that concern anyone but the weal… https://t.co/BdYlKgZzTx— Frank (@Frank) 1571943035.0
People called Mooney out on his obfuscations...
@RepAlexMooney @AOC Alex, you are not being truthful and bringing dishonor to your office.— Matthew Dowd (@Matthew Dowd) 1571942661.0
@matthewjdowd @RepAlexMooney @AOC The Republican Party is going to be utterly decimated by the time Trump is out of… https://t.co/qxLeo8SXmq— AlphaChick♿️ (@AlphaChick♿️) 1571943656.0
...and took the opportunity to introduce people to Cathy Kunkel, the woman hoping to unseat Mooney in 2020.
@tedomega @RepAlexMooney @AOC Hopefully he will be voted out in 2020, and @Kunkel4Congress will replace him. https://t.co/YShavwkNSK— Mary Connolly (@Mary Connolly) 1571939526.0
The impeachment inquiry is ongoing. What will happen to the Republicans who decided to violate the law to disrupt a process their party created remains to be seen.
The book Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide is available here.