Headlines On This Week’s Disastrous Hearings
New York Times: “Republicans Push Lab Leak Theory on Covid’s Origins, but Lack ‘Smoking Gun’”
Science: “Science takes back seat to politics in first House hearing on origin of COVID-19 pandemic”
Washington Post: “Jordan’s weaponization-panel game plan draws critique from some on the right”
- Republican Lawmakers Have Privately Raised Concerns About Jim Jordan’s Weaponization Committee, Which Critics Say Has Been Slow To Staff Up, Insufficiently Aggressive, And Lacking In Substance. “But two months into the Republican majority in the House, Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is facing growing frustrations over how he’s conducted that panel’s business thus far. Some leaders in hard-right intellectual circles have critiqued the initial work of the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government as lackluster and unfocused, and some Republican lawmakers have privately raised concerns. Critics say the committee has been too slow to staff up, insufficiently aggressive in issuing subpoenas for interviews and testimony, and lacking in substance.” [Washington Post, 3/10/23]
The Bulwark: “Jim Jordan’s Weaponization Subcommittee Keeps Firing Blanks”
Washington Post: “The Holes In Jim Jordan’s Convoluted ‘Weaponization’ Theory.”
Esquire: “House “Weaponization” Subcommittee Shows What Happens When One Bad-Faith Exercise Pokes Another”
Axios: “Jim Jordan scrambles amid claims “weaponization” probe is a dud”
Business Insider: “House weaponization panel seeks to eclipse January 6 committee’s $18M+ budget despite rocky start”
Washington Examiner: “Oversight Overstep: House GOP Split On Comer’s New Approach”
MSNBC: “The House GOP’s ‘weaponization’ subcommittee is already imploding”
The Hill: “House Republicans refuse to join Democrats in denouncing white supremacy”
The Epoch Times: “GOP Investigations Stall, Putting Congressional Oversight Mission in Peril”
Raw Story: “Republicans frustrated with Oversight chair Comer for sticking his nose in their business: report”
Raw Story: “Steve Bannon gushes over Matt Taibbi’s testimony: ‘That literally could be Alex Jones testifying’”
Raw Story: “Jim Jordan facing heat from conservatives over handling of ‘weaponization’ hearings”
Raw Story: “Jim Jordan shredded as his ‘weaponization’ probe chases a ‘mirage’”
Raw Story: “Matt Taibbi scorched in hearing for skipping Trump push to censor Chrissy Teigen in Twitter expose”
Raw Story : “Watch: Lauren Boebert objects when Cori Bush says ‘white supremacist’ at hearing”
MaddowBlog: “Jim Jordan pretends his ‘weaponization’ committee still has merit”
MaddowBlog: “Jim Jordan overlooks the key problem with his ‘weaponization’ probe”
Tensions On The Rise As Comer’s Overreach Committee Spreads Itself Thin
GOP MEMBERS AND AIDES HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT JAMES COMER IS OVERREACHING WITH HIS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
HEADLINE: “Punchbowl News AM: Tensions Rise Over Comer’s Oversight” [Punchbowl News, 3/10/23]
Several GOP Members And Aides Have Expressed Concerns That Kentucky Republican, James Comer, May Be Spreading Himself Too Thin And Inserting His Committee Into Other Panel’s Business. “In a little more than two months as chair, Comer has launched a barrage of probes into everything from the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan to Ukraine aid to the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio […] But some GOP members and aides have expressed concerns that the Kentucky Republican may be spreading himself too thin and inserting his committee into other panels’ business.” [Punchbowl News, 3/10/23]
Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, Rep. McCaul, Was “Surprised” By The Oversight Committee’s Decision To Fire Off Letters To Biden Administration Officials Requesting Documents And Information On The US Withdrawal of Afghanistan. “For instance, the Oversight Committee fired off letters to Biden administration officials last month requesting documents and information on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. That chaotic military operation – already the subject of numerous hearings and reports – is seen as squarely within the portfolio of the Foreign Affairs and Armed Services’ committees. ‘I was a little surprised by the letter,’ Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) told us, referring to Comer’s Afghanistan inquiries. ‘But we’ve talked since then. We’re working it out.’”” [Punchbowl News, 3/10/23]
- McCaul Claimed Oversight Can Center Its Efforts On Inspector General Reports, But Said They Would Need To Continue “Working In Concert.” “McCaul noted that Oversight will center many of its efforts on inspector general reports and will likely have a narrower focus than other committees of jurisdiction. The Texas Republican says it will be okay ‘as long as we’re working in concert, which we are. The Oversight Committee has jurisdiction over the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, panel aides noted to us. ’” [Punchbowl News, 3/10/23]
Ranking Member On Armed Services, Rep. Adam Smith, Said Republicans Are Looking To Politicize The Afghanistan Withdrawal In The “Most Crass, Partisan Way” And Accused Them Of Playing Politics “From Every Angle.” “But Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the ranking member on Armed Services, said Republicans are trying to politicize the withdrawal in order to damage President Joe Biden and Democrats politically in 2024. ‘Given what happened with Benghazi, it seems almost guaranteed the Republicans are going to [go at this in the] most crass, partisan way,’ Smith said. ‘We have set up a bipartisan, bicameral commission that is looking into this. It seems like they are going to play politics with it from every angle they can think of.’” [Punchbowl News, 3/10/23]
A HOUSE GOP AIDE CLAIMED COMER HASN’T LEARNED TO WORK IN A COORDINATED WAY, “IT’S BEEN QUITE THE OPPOSITE”
Comer’s Letter To Pete Buttigieg Also Raised Eyebrows From GOP Circles, Republicans Thought The Probe Was Overreaching – A House GOP Aide Said Of Comer, “Everyone Thought He’d Learn From Prior Chairmen And Work In A More Coordinated Way. It’s Been Quite The Opposite.” “But Comer’s letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg last month requesting information on the Ohio train derailment raised eyebrows in GOP circles as well. Some Republicans thought the probe is overreaching on an issue better served by either the Energy and Commerce or Transportation and Infrastructure panels. ‘There’s a big difference between oversight where you have expertise and oversight to churn out press releases,’ a House GOP aide said of Comer. ‘Everyone thought he’d learn from prior chairmen and work in a more coordinated way. It’s been quite the opposite.’” [Punchbowl News, 3/10/23]