On the recordDecember 14, 2021
I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I have no hesitancy to take on the distinguished gentleman from Maryland on the points that he has made. I would say first of all this: I hope that he will continue to read those text messages because they don't prove what he thinks they prove; quite the contrary. I can't think of how many times the gentleman from California has spoken in derisive terms about Donald Trump, Jr., but Donald Trump Jr.'s tweets show that he was concerned about exactly the right things. You don't see tweets coming from Republicans about bailing out violent rioters, abolishing police forces, or decrying the plight of Jussie Smollett. I think the issue with the effort today before the body is how Democrats are dealing with the President's close counselor and the legal principles that arise therefrom, especially the constant and repeated threat of criminal prosecution in the face of an unresolved issue of privilege. When you treat noncompliance as willful noncompliance, you mean there is a lack of good faith basis. But the record in this case in the House Report is replete with contentions over the nature and extent of the President's executive privilege. The positions that are taken on Mr. Meadows' behalf are those that have been continually asserted by the Department of Justice; in fact, many others. Many other potential objections he has completely waived.…
