Former Department of State spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus says Rep. Adam Schiff appeared surprised that she confronted him about his promotion of British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s now-discredited dossier.
She told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Friday that it was “important” to her to ask Schiff, who is the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, “tough questions that, quite frankly, should have been asked before I had the opportunity to do so” on Tuesday’s episode of The View on ABC.
“I’m very grateful to The View for allowing me to ask these tough questions,” Ortagus said. “And what was more surprising to me is that the congressman appeared somewhat surprised that someone was asking this of him. I had hoped — and I know it is very naive of me, Sean — I had hoped that maybe he would be pensive and reflective and talk about what he had learned after reading this dossier into the congressional record, right? Defending it and promoting it. That obviously didn’t happen … and the rest is history.”
SCHIFF REVEALS ASSURANCE FROM FBI DIRECTOR UNDER TRUMP
Ortagus, a spokeswoman for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, was in the View lineup to replace former conservative host Meghan McCain.
She confronted Schiff for flooding the airwaves with talk of Steele’s research on alleged ties between former President Donald Trump‘s 2016 campaign and Russia. The interview took place after the third indictment in special counsel John Durham’s inquiry into the conduct and origins of the Russia investigation. Igor Danchenko, a U.S.-based, Russian-born analyst who was the main source for Steele’s anti-Trump dossier, was charged with making false statements to the FBI. He has pleaded not guilty.
“You defended, promoted — you even ran into the congressional record — the Steele dossier,” Ortagus said. “We know last that the main source of the dossier was indicted by the FBI for lying about most of the key claims in that dossier. Do you have any reflections on your role in promoting that to the American people?”
“Whoever lied to the FBI or lied to Christopher Steele should be prosecuted, and they are,” Schiff responded. “Unlike in the Trump administration, if they’re convicted, they should go to jail and not be pardoned. Donald Trump pardoned Roger Stone for lying, he pardoned Michael Flynn for lying — if people lie to the FBI, they should go to jail.”
Pressed by #TheView guest co-host @MorganOrtagus on the Steele dossier, @RepAdamSchiff responds: “It’s one thing to say allegations should be investigated…it’s another to say we should have foreseen in advance that some people were lying to Christopher Steele.” pic.twitter.com/8EgvKW0tgJ
— The View (@TheView) November 9, 2021
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As their viral exchange continued, Ortagus told Schiff he “helped spread disinformation for years by promoting this” and noted that people had “entrusted” him as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
She also quipped that the congressman’s “credibility” has been undercut.
