Gowdy Trashes Bannon for Refusing to Answer Questions: But He 'Can Help People Write Books'

[DonViejo]

by Ken Meyer | 10:59 am, January 17th, 2018

Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) is not impressed with Steve Bannon for claiming executive privilege as his reason to not answer questions before the House Intelligence Committee yesterday.

Gowdy spoke to Bill Hemmer on America’s Newsroom on Wednesday, and the first subject that came up Bannon saying that the White House ordered him not to talk about his work with President Trump. Gowdy suggested that the most annoying part of Bannon’s reluctance to answer questions is that its harder now to ask him about his statements to Michael Wolff about the Trump campaign’s Russian lawyer meeting.

“This is the same person who accused two of the president’s family members of committing treasonous acts, so of course we’ll want to cross-examine him on what he thinks was treasonous,” Gowdy said. “If you accuse somebody of a crime for which you can be put to death, what is your evidence for that?” Bannon was subpoenaed yesterday for his refusal to cooperate, and Gowdy eventually conceded he was frustrated that the former Breitbart chief asserted “privileges that do not exist”:

“I am really frustrated when witnesses have all the time in the world to talk to the media, on and off the record, and they can help people write books, but they can’t talk to the representatives elected by their fellow citizens. He is happy to tell an author about “treasonous,’ unpatriotic’ acts, but he won’t tell members of Congress when he is pressed on it. I don’t know of any privilege that lets you pick and choose who you answer questions for.”

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https://www.mediaite.com/tv/gowdy-slams-bannon-for-refusing-to-answer-questions-really-frustrated/

video of the interview at link, above.

[shraby]

1. Since the whitehouse was directing what bannon could or could not answer, trey gowdy's

comments are like the dog barking at a snow man.
Pretty useless unless he aims his comments at the right place.

[0rganism]

2. "I dont know of any privilege that lets you pick and choose who you answer questions for."

really Trey? really? and they call you a legislator? how about "the book's author wasn't in a position to charge him with crimes if he lied"? no wait i got it, how about "you have the right to remain silent"? ring any bells? until such a time as Mr. Bannon is brought in for questioning under circumstances where he is compelled to answer, he can pick and choose to his heart's (assuming he has one) content.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Is Mr.Mueller bitting at Trey's

ass? After last weeks revelations about Gowdy,me thinks the Pointed Headed one is going to be fitted with a orange jumpsuit.

[gordianot]

4. There should be a special oath of office for Republican legislators.

The Constitution eludes them, creatures such as Gowdy should declare their true allegiance up front. From their actions in office it is never clear who they really serve.

[JDC]

5. Sounds to me like ol' Trey is upset for the wrong reasons

He isn't really upset that Bannon would not speak to the committee, he is upset and implicating that his "treason" talk was all bluster and that he didn't have the guts to say it in public.