The joint James Comer/Jim Jordan IRS whistleblower hearing was quickly overshadowed by Jamie Raskin, who presented evidence that undermined the entire GOP Biden conspiracy.
Video from Raskin:
Jamie Raskin crushes Jordan and Comer with Lev Parna’s letter: “There has never been any evidence that Hunter or Joe Biden committed crimes related to Ukrainian politics. Never during my communications. With Ukrainian officials or connections to Burisma.” pic.twitter.com/dbmzjqaqtb
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticianSarah) July 19, 2023
Raskin said during his opening statement:
We can conclude that this Inspector Clouseau-esque search for something that doesn’t exist has turned our committee into a theater of the absurd and practice and meaninglessness and embarrassment. And now we can finally say definitively why the committee’s efforts have failed again and again.
Just yesterday, Mr. Chairman, you and I received a letter from Lev Parnas, the Ukrainian-born American businessman who spent a year between November 2018 and October 2019 on Rudy Giuliani’s side as his right-hand man, when Giuliani and then President Trump tried to smear Joe Biden before the 2020 election with the very same allegations that still run through the political spin cycle on this committee every week.
I request unanimous permission to include the Parnas letter in the file. With no objection to ordering now, partners in this extraordinary 10-page letter painstakingly describe the campaign orchestrated by Giuliani and Trump to quote, dig up dirt on the Bidens and spread misinformation about them through various networks, including government officials, journalists and Fox News staff, after explaining this campaign to fabricate corruption allegations against Biden partners, his letter concludes by saying. Throughout all those months of work, the extensive campaigning and networking of Trump allies and Giuliani Associates, including the immensely thorough interviews and assignments I’ve conducted, there has never been any evidence that Hunter or Joe Biden committed crimes related to Ukrainian politics. Never during my communication with Ukrainian officials or connections with Burisma.
Have any of them confirmed or provided concrete facts linking the Bidens to illegal activity? As Mr. Parnas concludes, there has never been any actual evidence, only conspiracy theories spread by people who knew exactly what they were doing. And then he calls on this committee to end its wild goose chase and offers to come and testify. Remember this is Mr. Giuliani’s husband. This is his interpreter and right-hand man who has spent a year trying to boil the books against Joe Biden, and he offers to come and testify. Let’s get him as a witness, and let’s hear about that crusade. That they wanted to smear President Biden by promoting the same baseless conspiracy theories that this committee brags like moldy leftovers every day.
Republicans resort to baseless conspiracies
Speaker McCarthy relented on Tuesday that the real purpose of Jim Jordan’s Weaponization of Government subcommittee is to help Donald Trump. McCarthy made this admission when asked on Fox News what House Republicans can do to stop Jack Smith.
The point of the IRS fake whistleblower hearing is to smear President Biden and his family. In his opening remarks, chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Komer made a lot of accusations, but he offered no evidence that the president has done anything wrong, which is the problem House Republicans are still facing.
The GOP throws conspiracy theories against the wall, but nothing holds up because they have no actual evidence of wrongdoing. Raskin, a member of the oversight committee, upset the GOP conspiracy applecart by offering actual witness evidence that contradicted the premise on which the hearing is based.
Democrats have experience with oversight and hearings in the House, and members like Rep. Raskin continue to run circles around the hapless Comer and Jordan.
