In two minutes of questioning, Amy Klobuchar demolishes Republican spin on FBI Russia probe report

[turbinetree]

Joan McCarter
Daily Kos Staff
Wednesday December 11, 2019 · 3:14 PM EST

Sen. Amy Klobuchar showed her former-prosecutor chops in Wednesday's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, in which Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz testified about his examination of the probe conducted by the FBI into Russian efforts at interference in the Trump campaign and the 2016 election. In a rapid-fire question-and-answer portion of her questioning, Klobuchar and Horowitz deflated the Republican "witch hunt" talking points.

First off, Russian interference: "Does anything in your report call into question the finding in the special counsel's report that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in a sweeping and systematic fashion?" she asked. "No, it doesn't," Horowitz answered, adding that his report cites the Mueller report and others that have all outlined that interference. The follow-up from Klobuchar: "Does anything in your report call into question Chairman Burr's statement that, quote, Russia is waging an information warfare campaign against the U.S. that didn’t start and didn’t end with the 2016 election?" His answer, "No, it doesn't."

What about the Mueller report finding that "quote, the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome?" Horowitz said, "We don't take issue with any part of the special counsel's report, no."

Then, in rapid-fire back-and-forth, she asked if he had "any evidence that political bias or other improper consideration affected the FBI's decision to open the investigation into" a series of players:

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/12/11/1904989/-In-two-minutes-of-question-Amy-Klobuchar-demolishes-Republican-spin-on-FBI-Russia-probe-report

[Drum]

1. AK scored big points for truth + democracy there--esp at that point in proceedings n/t

[MFGsunny]

2. She's a gem. Qualified. Fearless. Judicious.

Whatever electoral outcomes are in store for us, this Senator,if unsuccessful to be our nominee, deserves at least a cabinet position WHEN we win the Presidency in 2020.

[oasis]

3. Amy aims to get to the truth.

"Truth is fundamental to democracy" I heard it said on MSNBC.

[gratuitous]

4. The difference between a trained attorney and the trained seals on the GOP side

Ask questions you know the answers to (because you read the report), elicit information and any additional thoughts the witness might have, get it in the record prominently, and move on.

Meanwhile, the trained seals bark and honk their horns.

[maxsolomon]

5. Note: this in itself is a GOP win.

She spent her time refuting their bullshit, which is the goal of a Gish Gallop.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Democrats have a lot of former prosecutors in office

Republicans are mostly business people. Crooked business people.

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Any sovereign nation must be vigilant to foreign interference

A country has the absolute right to vet candidates for office for criminal activity and foreign influence. Wouldn't be much of a country if it didn't, and would be negligent if it didn't. This whole GOP line of bias is manufactured drama to counterbalance the obvious degree of collusion they engaged in. IMO.

[UTUSN]

8. K&R

[question everything]

9. No fireworks, but steady discovery.

K&R