As Republican allies of President Trump cry foul over former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe’s explosive interview on Thursday, one prominent Democrat added his voice to the din calling for public testimony.
“Full fact-finding demands McCabe be called to the Judiciary Committee in public, under oath — along with others. Explosive claims cry out for clear-eyed exposure,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in a tweet.
Full fact-finding demands McCabe be called to the Judiciary Committee in public, under oath—along with others. Explosive claims cry out for clear-eyed exposure.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) February 14, 2019
In his first TV interview since getting fired last year, McCabe echoed prior reporting that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein talked about secretly using a “wire” to record conversations with Trump. He also claimed Rosenstein told Justice Department officials he could convince Cabinet members to help invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from the White House after firing FBI Director James Comey in May 2017.
Upon hearing the news, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., demanded McCabe appear before his panel, which has oversight of the Justice Department and FBI.
“After Mr. McCabe’s 60 Minutes interview, it is imperative that he, and others, come before @senjudiciary to fully explain how and why a FISA warrant was issued against Carter Page and answer questions about what appears to be, now more than ever, bias against President Trump,” Graham tweeted.
On the House side, ranking member Doug Collins, D-Ga., urged the chairman of his committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler, to hold a hearing with Rosenstein and McCabe. “In light of these new claims by McCabe, I again urge you to schedule a hearing immediately and demand the testimony of McCabe and the Deputy Attorney General. If they refuse, we hope you take the necessary steps to compel their testimony,” he said in a letter.
The Justice Department responded to McCabe’s “60 Minutes” interview, claiming his version of events were “inaccurate and factually incorrect.” McCabe became the first former official to go on record to say there was talk at the DOJ about undermining Trump. Rosenstein previously denied past reporting that said those discussions took place, while sources told NBC News that he was only joking about secretly recording the president.
Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a fixture on the cable news circuit, said any hearing needs to take place in a public setting.
“Stunning as McCabe’s account is, the Judiciary Committee should hear open testimony about why & when he discussed with top DOJ officials wearing a wire & invoking the 25th amendment. The American people & Congress need to hear from him directly,” Blumenthal said. “Uncommon, unparalleled, unprecedented. Discussion among top DOJ officials of 25th amendment is a terrifying testament to their well-founded fears about our democracy.”
Uncommon, unparalleled, unprecedented. Discussion among top DOJ officials of 25th amendment is a terrifying testament to their well-founded fears about our democracy.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) February 14, 2019
Outcry from others in conservative and Republican circles have been more extreme.
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., called on Rosenstein to step down if the reports proved true. “Rod Rosenstein has no business working at the Department of Justice, and if these latest reports are true, he should not only resign immediately but come before Congress and answer questions,” Meadows tweeted.
Meanwhile, Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, told Fox News that DOJ officials discussed an effort to remove Trump from office using the 25th Amendment is “essentially a coup. … It’s essentially treason.”
President Trump also tore into McCabe, who is embarking on a media tour for his new memoir called “The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump.” The book will be released next week.
“Disgraced FBI Acting Director Andrew McCabe pretends to be a ‘poor little Angel’ when in fact he was a big part of the Crooked Hillary Scandal & the Russia Hoax – a puppet for Leakin’ James Comey. I.G. report on McCabe was devastating. Part of ‘insurance policy’ in case I won,” Trump said. “Many of the top FBI brass were fired, forced to leave, or left. McCabe’s wife received BIG DOLLARS from Clinton people for her campaign – he gave Hillary a pass. McCabe is a disgrace to the FBI and a disgrace to our Country. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
McCabe was fired last March, just before he was set to retire and collect a full pension. His ouster came after the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General concluded he deceived investigators about his participation in sharing information with the Wall Street Journal in 2016 about an investigation examining the Clinton Foundation.
