House Judiciary Committee hearing with whistleblowers is beginning. Press are in the balcony.
As Rep. Jim Jordan begins his statement, a sign it out out that says “I’m still the president’s wingman.” (I cant read the fine print; I’m too far away in the balcony)
Agh. *a sign is put out
Momentary but heated argument Chairman Nadler and Republican committee members about allowing a subpoenaed witness to speak. Some yelling, lots of gaveling, but now it has passed and Nadler has continued introducing the witness.
If you want to watch the hearing, it's here:
The witness goes over his time and @replouiegohmert begins knocking on his desk while the witness gives his opening statement.
Some lawmakers calling for Rep Gohmert to be expelled from the chamber.
Okay, Elias is beginning his statement. You can read it here: judiciary.house.gov/uploadedfiles/…
"A personal dislike of an industry is not a valid basis upon which to ground an antitrust investigation," Elias says. #cannabisnews
The conversation has turned to the Mueller Report.
JFYI, Rep. Jayapal told me before this hearing that she plans to ask questions about Elias' testimony re: #cannabis. There hasn't been a lot of conversation about it yet, but if you're tuning in, it is likely coming.
We have finally reached #cannabis: Doug Collins is asking Elias about his whistleblower report re: antitrust investigations in to the cannabis industry.
Doug Collins: is cannabis a schedule I drug?
Elias: I don't know which schedule it's on, but it's on one of them, yes.
Collins replies that Elias' credibility is going down because he doesn't know how #cannabis is scheduled.
Rep Steve @RepCohen also asks about #cannabis. He asks Elias if the antitrust investigations were "harrasment by Bill Barr for an industry he doesn't like" and Elias responds "I think that's a fair way to characterize it, yes."
Congresswoman @RepJayapal asks Elias how many employees were pulled into the investigations into #cannabis companies.
"There were dozens of staff, attorneys, paralegals and economists who worked on this cases," Elias responds.
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