House Speaker Kevn McCarthy (R-Calif.), 58, got into it with the Democrat-controlled press, questioning his judgment about keeping 60-year-old former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), off the panel. McCarthy also denied Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) a place on the Intel Committee for his known affair with a Chinese spy, something denied by Democrats. McCarthy said that neither Schiff nor Swalwell should receive intel briefings but welcome them to apply to any other committees of their choice. Schiff became House Intel Committee Chairman in 2019, after Democrats took over the House. Schiff routinely leaked daily intel to the New York Times and Washington Post, disparaging 76-year-old former President Donald Trump, accusing him of colluding with Russia. Schiff was the New York Times and Washington Post’s main leak source.
Democrats saw nothing wrong with letting Schiff weaponize his Article 1 power to build an impeachment case against Trump. Schiff was heavily involved in Trump’s first impeachment trial, claiming he talked with a whistleblower who said Trump tried to blackmail 44-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for dirt on 80-year-old President Joe Biden and his 52-year-old son, Hunter. Biden served as head of former President Barack Obama’s Ukraine’s anti-corruption task force at a time when he landed Hunter and his friend Devon Archer $83,000 a month jobs on the board of a corrupt Ukrainian natural gas company, Burisma Holdings. Trump wanted information on how Biden and Hunter exploited Ukraine for financial gain for years while serving as Vice President. Democrats impeached Trump for threatening to withhold funding, trying to dig up dirt on the Bidens.
McCarthy found out the hard way what happens when you make decision against the media’s Democrat establishment. Trump lived with the nightmare for his four years in office with one fake news story after another, all accusing him of colluding with the Russian Federation. Schiff was Democrats main point person on the Russian hoax, pretending he had more intel on Trump to charge him with violating the Espionage Act. Schiff put all his hope in the Mueller investigation looking into Trump’s alleged ties with the Russian Federation. After 22-months, $40 million, Schiff had his heart broken when Mueller released his finale report March 23, 2019, clearing Trump of any wrongdoing with Russia. Schiff continued to insist, as Intel Chairman, he had more proof that Trump worked with the Russians to win the 2016 presidential election. Schiff never produced proof of anything.
McCarthy was pounded by Democrat-friendly reporters about 34-year-old Rep. George Santos’s (R-N.Y.) lies about his background. McCarthy reminded the press that Santos was elected by his district, regardless of what he said in his background. “He got elected by his district,” McCarthy said. When pressed by the reporter about Santos, McCarthy responded forcefully. “Let me very clear and respectful to you. You asked me a question. When I answer it, it’s the answer to your question. You don’t get to determine whether I answer your question or not, okay? In all respect,” McCarthy said. McCarthy reminded the Democrat-friendly press that Schiff lied to the press calling Hunter Biden’s laptop story “Russian disinformation.” McCarthy confirmed that Schiff had intelligence briefings that said Hunter’s laptop was not Russian disinformation yet Schiff misled the public.
McCarthy raised the same objections to Swalwell serving on the Intel Committee, after the FBI said the he had an affair with Chinese spy. Keeping them off the Intel Committee was not a matter of political payback for former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) keeping 64-year-old Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Az.) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene off committees because of controversial public remarks. McCarthy said the Intel Committee required the integrity to have members who did no lie to the public for political purposes. Reporters continued to focus on Santos who fabricated parts of his background in order to get elected to Congress. No one in the Democrat-friendly press wants to hear about Swalwell’s affair with a Chinese spy or Schiff leaking constant intel to the New York Times and Washington post building Democrats case against Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
McCarthy’s right wing House detractors saw the Speaker stand up to the Democrat-friendly press, giving good reasons for his decision to keep Schiff and Swalwell of the Intel Committee. When it came to Santos, McCarthy was clear that if Santos broke campaign finance laws, he would face the same legal test as any other House member. “This has nothing to do with Santos, “ McCarthy said. “”Santos is not on the Intel Committee. But you know what? Those voters elected Schiff, even though he lied. Those voters elected Swalwell, even though he lied to the American public too . . . “ McCarthy wanted the press to know that he won’t be pushed around, all because Democrats don’t like McCarthy’s committee assignments. McCarthy said that no one will serve ton the Intel Committee when they have proven histories of lying to the public for purely political purposes.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.
