David Cicilline

I want to thank the CEOs for quickly working with the subcommittee to appear today.

Our Founders would not bow before a king, nor should we bow before the emperors of the online economy.

Their ability to dictate terms, call the shots, upend entire sectors, and inspire fear represent the powers of a private government.

American democracy has always been at war against monopoly power.

Because concentrated economic power also leads to concentrated political power, this investigation also goes to the heart of whether we, as a people, govern ourselves or whether we let ourselves be governed by private monopolies.

Is it ever appropriate, sir, for the President to solicit or accept foreign assistance in an election?

Isn't protecting the First Amendment, the freedom of Americans, at least as important as protecting a building from vandalism?

So, as the top law enforcement official in our country, do you think Americans who show up to peacefully protest should expect to be beaten and pepper sprayed and have their bones broken by federal officers?

Do you think what happened to Mr. David was appropriate, Mr. Barr?

Do you think it is ever appropriate to use tear gas on peaceful protestors, yes or no?

Protestors are good. Demonstrations are good. They're part of the First Amendment.

The Justice Department is responsible for protecting the constitutional rights of Americans, not to serve as the President's personal bully or political director.

We fought for a democracy for the right to speak freely and you are attempting to take that away.

Protestors aren't chaos. They are deeply American examples of values, a desire for this country to be at its best self.

The vast majority of the protestors are peaceful, and despite that, unidentified federal agents have attempted to prevent these mothers, veterans, and peaceful Americans from exercising their First amendment rights.

Americans across this country have been exercising their First amendment rights to peacefully protest police brutality against Black people.

Is it ever appropriate for the President or presidential candidate to accept or solicit foreign assistance of any kind in his or her election?

In April of this year, the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee unanimously found that Russia interfered with our elections and attempted to undermine American democracy, correct?

In your opening statement you continue with your sustained effort to undermine the finding of Russian interference in our election.

Sir, your failure to respect the role of peaceful protest in this country is a disgrace.

And I think the challenge and the question that I had, Mr. Secretary, is sort of the elephant in the room...

What we really need to be doing is leveraging the full spectrum of power that we have to deal with Russia.

The President failed to act or even condemn this action by the Russians is so outrageous.

If you are an American, the idea that there is intelligence that the Russians may have, in fact, been paying a bounty on the heads of our American soldiers is outrageous and demands a whole-of-government response.

I think we have to recognize that the President's policy toward China has undermined American leadership.