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| credit: E. Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune |
This week's surprise witness before the January 6th Committee was not really a surprise, but the testimony of the college intern-assistant to former chief of staff, Mark Meadows made headlines. The Committee had previously announced it would recess until July, but that turned out not to be accurate, as they scheduled today's hearing on short notice. Someone on the staff has a sensitivity for the CMM news cycle: with Congress in recess, the investigation panel was sure to have ample media attention.
Cassidy Hutchinson has previously testified four times in private, but the public revelation of what she said about inside the White House during the attempted coup is illuminating. The true character of the would-be King of 'Merica is revealed: an arrogant bully with a volcanic temper. US Person does not have to remind his readers that hearsay is permissible evidence in a proceeding like a congressional investigation--it is not a court of law. But those complicit in the coup attempt--that includes at least six Congress members--should take cold comfort in that fact, or show up and testify in person. (Mark and Mike are you reading this?)
Ms. Hutchinson told Liz Cheney that after seeing an AP news report on television that there was no credible evidence of vote fraud in the election, Herr Trumpillini threw his lunch plate at the dinning room wall. Apparently this is not the first time he has taken his rage out on the White House dinnerware according to the former intern. When the Secret Service agent driving his limousine refused to take Trump to the Capitol to be with his violent supporters, Trump attempted to take the wheel from the back seat, shouting at the driver, "I am the f---ing President". The Secret Service denies this happened. Of course the agents in the presidential SUV should appear and testify under oath that this incident did not occur.
Besides taking the wraps off his appallingly unstable personality, Ms Hutchinson also testified that the White House staff and Trumpillini knew the January 6th rally had a significant potential for violent protest since some participants were armed. Anthony Ornato, deputy to Mark Meadows, told the President that people arriving on the Ellipse were carrying weapons including guns, knives, spears and bear spray. When Mark Meadows was told that the mob was in danger of overrunning the Capitol Police, Hutchinson testified he had almost no reaction. When White House Counsel, Pat Cipollone stormed into Meadow's office to demand something be done to call off the rioters, Meadows replied, "He doesn't want to do anything, Pat". Trump even wanted the metal detectors at his Ellipse rally perimeter removed, so his extremist minions could carry their weapons to the Capitol since they "are not after me".
What Hutchinson's explosive testimony demonstrates more than anything, is testimony from the eyewitnesses interacting directly with the deranged former guy is necessary. Mark Meadows has already disobeyed a subpoena to appear and give testimony. The Committee should subpoena him again, and former VP Mike Pence, and those congress members implicated in the coup plotting*. Has the public gone so numb that they do not care about continuing democracy in America? US Person lived through Watergate--this autogolpe is much more egregious than that. Nixon only tried to use the government to take down his enemies, not take down the entire federal government. Shown to be criminal by disposition, Trump is totally unfit to hold high public office. Do you need more reason to move your department, Mr. Garland?
*Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). Only Boebert, Gosar and Cawthorn did not ask the coup instigator for a pardon.
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| BC Idonwanna sez: Submitted for your approval.... |