New impeachment transcript reveals moment Matt Gaetz barged into a high-security hearing
This publicity stunt is worth watching from both sides of the aisle.
When Fiona Hill, a former top National Security Council adviser on Russia and Europe, testified for impeachment investigators last month, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) barged into the high-security hearing even though he wasn't on any of the committees allowed in. The result was a deadpan, amusing back-and-forth between the very insistent Gaetz and very unamused House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who tried to force Gaetz out with his words.
In a transcript of Hill's testimony released Friday, Schiff starts by explaining Hill's credentials. And then he seems to notice the literal elephant in the room, calling out Gaetz as "not permitted to be in the room." Gaetz tried to insist he's "on the Judiciary Committee," which isn't relevant in this case, and Schiff tells him to "please leave." The conversation devolves into a "Really?" and "Yes, really" exchange between Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Schiff, and then Schiff repeatedly tells Gaetz to "absent yourself" and "remove yourself."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A week later, Gaetz brought a whole squad of Republicans on his misguided mission, including some of the 48 members of his party who were welcome inside that hearing. Find all of Schiff and Gaetz's banter here — it's right at the beginning of the transcript.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Is the Gaza war tearing U.S. campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
DOJ settles with Nassar victims for $138M
Speed Read The settlement includes 139 sexual abuse victims of the former USA Gymnastics doctor
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
14 recent scientific breakthroughs
In Depth From photos of the infant universe to an energy advancement that could save the planet
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published