Jared Kushner’s three-hour interview with the House Intelligence Committee has led to some verbal sparring between members of Congress.
California congressman Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the committee told reporters that South Carolina congressman Trey Gowdy had acted as Jared Kushner’s “second attorney” during the closed door session on Tuesday.
Florida GOP congressman Tom Rooney said the suggestion that Gowdy had run interference for the president’s son-in law was “horsesh**.”
“That’s horsesh**,” Rooney said Wednesday. “I can’t believe that.”
“I totally disagree with that.”
Rooney said he did not think the meeting was tense. He described Schiff’s comment as “completely inappropriate.”
The interview was part of the committee’s probe into Russian election interference, which includes the nature of any potential ties between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
Schiff and Texas congressman Mike Conaway appeared satisfied with Kushner’s testimony when they emerged from the meeting Tuesday, with Schiff describing the session as “productive” but leaving open the possibility for further questioning.
Democrats raised concerns in the hours that followed and said that Gowdy had been defending Kushner.
Rooney expressed frustration with the Democrats’ questioning during the interview.
“After three plus hours of asking questions, of which some started getting repeated, then you’re just sort-of getting into—okay. This guy has been here long enough,” he said.
He described the interview as “exhaustive.” Rooney left open the possibility that Kushner return for further questioning, as with any witness.
“I agree that if something new comes out, then we can bring them back,” he said. “But to just sit there because we have them in front of us like Mr. Kushner, who is a high-profile person, just to start asking the same questions again, I don’t think is fair.”
