Thread by @MacFarlaneNews

US House Rules Committee is about to begin meeting on report recommending Contempt of Congress finding against Steve Bannon

Background: docs.house.gov/Committee/Cale…

Rules Cmte Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA), “ I don’t know if Mr Bannon has something to hide”…. Or is trying to help Trump’s ego

Ranking Republican Tom Cole (R-OK) calls contempt of Congress process “political” and “unfortunate”

Jan 6 Committee chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) is now speaking. Asking the contempt of Congress finding happen quickly. “We cannot allow him to defy our subpoena with impunity”

Rep Liz Cheney (R-WY) is speaking now. “The people who attacked this building continue to tell us… exactly what motivated them. They believed what Donald Trump said”

Rep Cheney (more), “(Bannon) said all hell would break loose on January 6th. And he was right”

“The American people deserve to know what happened”

Cheney, “We are confident we will prevail on these privilege issues”

“Mr Bannon is using privilege as a pretext for not appearing at all”…. Putting Congressional authority and the institution at risk

Cheney says Kevin McCarthy has been “especially active” in blocking the investigation of Jan 6. She asks other Republicans to “step back from the brink”

Cheney speaking to other Republicans, “Will you be able to say you did everything possible to make sure Americans got the truth about those events? Or did you look away?”

Cheney really laid into Kevin McCarthy in her remarks.

Rep Thompson (D-MS) says many of the 30+ House Republicans who supported creation of House Select Jan 6 Committee have already paid a steep political price.

Rep Thompson refers to the nine members of the House Select Jan 6 Committee as “patriots”

“We are sworn to do our duty”

Rep Cheney, “We have to be honest it was Republicans who killed that…” (plans for an independent Jan 6 commission)

Cheney says “(Bannon’s) refusal to cooperate in any way must be met with consequences”

Top Republican on House Rules Committee Rep Tom Cole (R-OK) declined to ask any questions of Thompson or Cheney. That’s quite something …. Not typical of a committee leader to forgo his turn for speaking or questions at a hearing or meeting. Or for Rep Cole to do so

And another Republican (Rep Burgess) forgoes his allotted time at House Rules Committee hearing on Congressional contempt finding against Steve Bannon. They are not mounting defense of Bannon, Trump or McCarthy

And… a third Republican stands down. No questions for Chair or Vice Chair of Jan 6 Select Committee

Rep Thompson says Bannon is the only person who has defied subpoena from Jan 6 Select Committee

Republicans on panel have stood down at this US House Rules Committee hearing on Contempt of Congress finding against Steve Bannon. Forgoing their allotted speaking time, not using Bannon’s name. Not mounting defense

Let’s see what happens at full House floor debate this week

4th Republican declines to speak or ask questions at committee meeting on Steve Bannon

Next panel appears at hearing. The Republicans: Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)

Jordan begins by saying the Jan 6 Select Committee is an assault on democracy

Jordan says the Jan 6 committee has committed "direct attack on liberty" ..... "This is scary.. where they wanna go and what they want to do to Americans constitutional rights"

Republicans on House Rules Committee didn't want to speak at this hearing. So GOP has brought in Reps Jordan, Banks and Gaetz .. to criticize House Jan 6 Select Committee....

And... Jordan is now talking about Pres Biden's handling of oil and OPEC

Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is now speaking. He begins by talking about method and processing of Afghan refugees entering the country. He's now criticizing Obama and Biden order policies.

In a hearing of the Jan 6 Select Cmte investigation and Steve Bannon contempt finding

Rep Gaetz: "The average American when they wake up.... the first thing they think about is not Steve Bannon's podcast......"

Gaetz says Americans aren't seeking Committee's "hot takes" on Steve Bannon.. but are concerned about inflation and border. "it's shameful"

Defying tradition and custom.. at this high-profile House hearing, Republicans have handed over speaking duties to members who do NOT sit on panel.

The Rules Committee Republicans declined to speak. They called in Reps. Jordan, Gaetz and Banks to speak for party

Gaetz, "Move on from this"... and focus on other issues

Committee chair is pressing Rep Jim Jordan on whether he still thinks the election is stolen.

Jordan says chairman has "obsession"

Chairman is now pressing Jordan on whether he spoke with Trump on Jan 6

This hearing is shifting from original focus (Bannon subpoenas)

Rep. Jordan, "Of course I talk to the President. I talk to him all the time. This isn't about me.."

Jordan says Committee should be focused on security failures at Capitol on Jan 6.. "Why wasn't the national guard here that day?"

Rep Jordan says the 600+ federal defendants are being held accountable... "as well they should be"

And he's now calling it "double standard" that Democrats didn't condemn violence in 2020