Ted Lieu: Not FBI's Fault 'Trump Surrounded Himself With Criminals'
The list of Trump appointees that were found guilty of federal crimes is frightening. But they were convicted under Trump-appointed AG's.
During today's House hearing with FBI Director Wray, Rep. Ted Lieu systematically took apart and destroyed House Republicans' claims of 'malfeasance against Trump by the FBI' when he listed many of those Trump World criminals found guilty while a Trump appointee was in charge of the Justice Department.
Trump repeatedly claimed he only hires only the best people. (Laugh if you please)
REP TED LIEU: I'll ask you a series of basic questions to get the facts out to the American people about our system of justice. Roger Stone was convicted in a federal court, correct?
FBI DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY: That's my recollection.
LIEU: Trump donor Elliott Brady was convicted in a federal court, correct?
WRAY: Also, my recollection.
LIEU: The attorney general at the time for those two convictions was Bill Barr. Which president nominated Bill Barr for attorney general?
WRAY: President Trump.
LIEU: Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen was convicted on two separate occasions in federal court, correct?
WRAY: I believe that's correct.
LIEU: The AG at the time of Cohen's second conviction was Matthew Whitaker, which president appointed Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general?
WRAY: President Trump.
LIEU: Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort was convicted in a federal court, correct?
WRAY: Yes.
LIEU: Trump's former deputy campaign manager Mr. Gaetz was convicted in a federal court, correct?
WRAY: That's my recollection.
LIEU: Trump's campaign foreign policy adviser, George Papadopoulos, was convicted in a federal court, correct?
WRAY: Yes, he plead guilty.
LIEU: The Attorney General at that time in those three cases was Jeff Sessions. Which president nominated Jeff Sessions for Attorney General?
WRAY: President Trump.
LIEU: Which president nominated you for FBI Director?
WRAY: President Trump.
LIEU: What these facts show is we don't have a two-tiered system of justice. We have one Department of Justice that goes after criminals, regardless of party ideology. It is not the fault of the FBI that Donald Trump surrounded himself with criminals. Donald Trump brought that down upon himself. Thank you for exposing the cesspool of corruption of these Trump associates.
Rep. Jim Jordan and the entire caucus of House Republicans' sole purpose is to run interference for the criminality of Donald Trump and to intimidate any law enforcement agency that dares to do their job.
Ted Lieu just flattened their arguments.