Confronted Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) in a controversial interview last Tuesday FBI raid on former President Donald Trump’s homeCNN host Pamela Brown repeatedly questioned the Republican legislator about his apparent double standards for investigations into Democrats.
In addition to pointing out Turner’s seemingly hypocritical stance toward former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Brown also pressed the Ohio congressman about his suggestion that the raid was politically motivated. Turner accused Brown of “trying to put words in my mouth”.
Republican Party and right-wing media had one full-blown crisis about the unprecedented raid on the former president’s Mar-a-Lago Florida estate, calling for The FBI is defeated while declaring the execution of the search warrant as “Third world bullshit” and worse than Pearl Harbor.
The search is believed to be part of an investigation into how Trump illegally obtained classified documents from the White House after he left office. The National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of information earlier this year, and The Wall Street Journal report Federal agents seized 10 more boxes on Monday.
Turner, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, began his CNN interview Tuesday afternoon using much of the same rhetoric as his GOP colleagues. Brown, however, seems prepared for many of his comments.
“We have two standards where we have Hillary Clinton, with her own computer system and classified information on it, given the subpoena and the ability to go through that server to see whether it is a personal document or an official document,” emphasized Turner. “And this president, the president, not the secretary of state, is being raided. Obviously two different standards, and we wanted to know why. “
The CNN host pointed out that the congressman had previously been “outraged” about Clinton’s handling of classified information and emails, and added that at the time he said she was “responsible” for the his “extremely careless” actions.
“So why don’t you share that concern with Donald Trump, who is now a private citizen, bringing 15 boxes of documents from the White House, including classified documents, to his home?” Brown asked. “Why do you care about Hillary Clinton and not now with Donald Trump?”
Turner insists these are “two different things” because Clinton “classified the communications going through her computer server in her house” while we “don’t really know” whether Trump is in possession of confidential or sensitive material.
“That’s why the director of the FBI needs to tell the American public what he’s up to,” he continued. “There has to be something higher at the national security level for him to do this. Remember, President Trump has more classified documents in his head than he will have on his desk. But they raided his house to see what he had on his desk. I think the American public wants answers.”
Recalling that the FBI “executes a search warrant signed by a judge who clearly found probable cause,” Brown later observed that there were at least 25 examples of Trump trying to weaponized the DOJ to pursue its political opponents.
“So why do you feel the need for more scrutiny now of the DOJ and also not… share that same concern at the time when Trump was trying to go after his political opponents? me?” Brown asked.
“I shared it,” Turner insisted before adding: “This goes back to the Obama-Biden administration… where they started politicizing the FBI and the Justice Department.”
Finally, after once again marking Trump’s record for politicizing the DOJ that Republicans seem to have no problem with, Brown wondered if Turner’s problem was “how the system works.” criminal justice system”. The Ohio congressman said the problem is that Trump is likely to run for re-election in 2024, meaning he is the “absolute political opponent” of President Joe Biden.
“I want to be clear here,” Brown interjected. “What are you trying to say here is that you believe the Justice Department under President Biden is trying to go after Donald Trump’s political rival for 2024? Is that what you are trying to say here? “
Turner growled, “No, Pamela. I don’t say that. Thanks for trying to put words in my mouth! “
For her part, the CNN host said she wasn’t trying to get him wrong but was merely “trying to clarify.”
Turner defended his position by citing former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who tweeted on Tuesday that the raid “wasn’t a search for petty archives otherwise it would be seen as a political tactic.” Cuomo, who brother was fired from CNN between disappointed in his sexual harassment scandal, resigned as governor in disgrace last year.
