Desperate times call for desperate measures. Lately no one seems as desperate as the aptly named MAGA minions in Congress.
A cadre of Republican ride or die supporters of President Donald Trump, the MAGA minions tried to pass a measure attacking House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff for following rules enacted by a GOP majority Congress in 2015, made references to Captain Kangaroo regarding the secrecy of hearings that 48 members of the GOP have access to and stormed a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) with cellphones to disrupt depositions for five hours—depositions 13 of the MAGA minions have access to.
While Trump supporters readily repeat their talking points as facts, even Fox News is correcting the misinformation campaign. But the group persists.
The latest group effort involves making public claims about due process and trial procedures. Louisiana Republican Representative Steve Scalise took to Twitter to post:
"In a court of law, this would be declared a mistrial. This impeachment charade has been a tainted process from the start."
"Schiff has spent weeks blocking due process & leaking misleading info to the liberal media to fit his phony narrative."
"Their resolution codifies this sham."
In a court of law, this would be declared a mistrial. This impeachment charade has been a tainted process from the… https://t.co/L4V5y1sAxP— Steve Scalise (@Steve Scalise) 1572447224.0
However University of Alabama Law professor and former federal prosecutor with 25 years of experience, Joyce Vance, had a correction for Scalise's post. By contrast, Scalise—a career politician—holds a B.S. in computer science with a minor in political science.
Vance tweeted:
"Mistrials can only happen...during a trial. And the [government] gets to retry its case."
"Pre-trial investigation is usually conducted only by the prosecution. Here, GOP & after Thursday’s resolution the White House, will have a remarkable window into that process as well."
@JoyceWhiteVance This can't be said often enough: Both the deposition process being used now by House Intel and th… https://t.co/jg45nHEOQn— Chris Lu (@Chris Lu) 1572467684.0
Others also had rebuttals for Scalise.
@SteveScalise 1) not a court of law 2) not a trial 3) you're a dip-shit— Pé Resists (@Pé Resists) 1572453874.0
@4everNeverTrump @horwitzpolitics @SteveScalise Republican party argument: https://t.co/gNS2EDqiWA— Michael Peroff (@Michael Peroff) 1572455001.0
@GlenMcKee1 @michaelperoff @4everNeverTrump @horwitzpolitics @SteveScalise Yeah, that’s literally the perfect gif for all of this nonsense.— Non-PAB Prez 2020 🇺🇸🇬🇧🏴🏳️🌈🌊🍑 (@Non-PAB Prez 2020 🇺🇸🇬🇧🏴🏳️🌈🌊🍑) 1572460244.0
@SteveScalise We’re in the grand jury phase, dumdum.— The Hoarse Whisperer (@The Hoarse Whisperer) 1572464120.0
@HoarseWisperer @SteveScalise In his defense, he is not a lawyer, has never been a lawyer, does not have a law degr… https://t.co/GQSJiiQgPp— Ben. No More, No Less. (@Ben. No More, No Less.) 1572464483.0
@BJS_quire/Twitter
Many tried to put the impeachment inquiry into terms those with no understanding or the law or the United States Constitution might grasp.
@SteveScalise @seanmdav This isn’t a court of law. And even in an analogy to court proceedings, this wouldn’t take… https://t.co/FQNiqto7eo— Pox On Both Houses (@Pox On Both Houses) 1572452131.0
@PoxOnBothHouses @SteveScalise @seanmdav The depositions are more like witness interviews at police station. The wi… https://t.co/fwdPv1mHkZ— fish (@fish) 1572456175.0
@fish_SSchi @PoxOnBothHouses @SteveScalise @seanmdav Also, THERE IS REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATION IN THE DEPOSITIONS.— Jayson Merryfield (@Jayson Merryfield) 1572456544.0
@SteveScalise THERE HASN'T BEEN A TRIAL!! OR THE START OF A TRIAL! This is like saying "my steak is under cooked"… https://t.co/TO9GAVuU4d— Elie Mystal (@Elie Mystal) 1572454638.0
@ElieNYC @SteveScalise Steve intentionally spreads propaganda and disinformation. It’s disingenuous and unconscionable.— Catherine Eggnog Is Awesome Margaronis 🆘 (@Catherine Eggnog Is Awesome Margaronis 🆘) 1572454755.0
Others asked about the MAGA minions concerted effort to misinform voters.
@SteveScalise Stupid? Liar? Both?— Michael Marshall Smith (@Michael Marshall Smith) 1572460044.0
@SteveScalise Why are the Republicans lying so much?— John Stoehr's Editorial Board (@John Stoehr's Editorial Board) 1572454374.0
@johnastoehr @SteveScalise Because the truth is indefensible.— Jennifer Van Goethem (@Jennifer Van Goethem) 1572461058.0
@SteveScalise Still going with the legal mad libs defense I see.— Great&UnmatchedCavsKermit (@Great&UnmatchedCavsKermit) 1572454045.0
@JbkJbk1234 @SteveScalise Republicans are going with the "President of Beers Debate" defense. https://t.co/z2qjUVjyCr— Clay Ranck (@Clay Ranck) 1572455847.0
@SteveScalise This is Congress, not a court of law. If the evidence was good for Trump, these 50 GOP members would… https://t.co/DpBeaxblpk— SSton (@SSton) 1572459466.0
Others just were weary of the MAGA minions' games.
@SteveScalise GOP members, getting ready to talk to reporters https://t.co/eWzEa16LIi— Katie (@Katie) 1572454073.0
While @thereapper69 shared a meme that summed up Scalise and the rest of the MAGA minions' remarks.
@SteveScalise Oh steve https://t.co/vMhZ6OoGoz— Random.Internet.BOT (@Random.Internet.BOT) 1572453922.0
@thereapper69/Twitter
On Thursday, the House was called to vote on a resolution to support the impeachment inquiry in response to false Republican claims that the inquiry was illegitimate without a resolution vote. After the vote announcement however, GOP members of Congress changed their stance again to try to convince voters that a valid impeachment inquiry in accordance with the rules of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Constitution was not valid.
The book Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide is available here.