GOP Rep. Rohrabacher defends Russian hacking on the House floor
Republican Reps. Louie Gohmert (Texas) and Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.) took to the House floor on Friday to defend Donald Trump Jr.'s meeting during the presidential election with a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer who claimed to have compromising information about Hillary Clinton. Rohrabacher argued there's absolutely "nothing wrong" with Trump Jr.'s meeting, claiming that it's "not illegal to receive information from someone." Moreover, Rohrabacher said, like in the case of the leaked Democratic emails, "what's important is only whether the truth was revealed."
Gohmert marveled at Trump Jr.'s "pretty good judgment" in leaving the meeting when he realized it was "worthless" because the lawyer did not have the comprising information she'd claimed to have. "I wish that President Obama, Loretta Lynch, Hillary Clinton had as good of judgment in their meetings," Gohmert said.
Gohmert then echoed an unproven accusation leveled by President Trump the day before, claiming that former Attorney General Loretta Lynch had "personally stepped in to ensure" the Russian lawyer who met with Trump Jr. could be in the country. "It's just incredible how much is being made of Donald Trump Jr. meeting with somebody that Attorney General Loretta Lynch pulled all kinds of strings to get her in and keep her in the country," Gohmert said.
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.
Lynch has denied having anything to do with the lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, obtaining a visa. The New York Times reported "there is no indication that Ms. Lynch was personally responsible for the decision" to grant immigration parole and noted that "approval authority lies with the Department of Homeland Security, not the Justice Department."
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
-
How safe are cruise ships in storms?
The Explainer The vessels are always prepared
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
What message is Trump sending with his Cabinet picks?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION By nominating high-profile loyalists like Matt Gaetz and RFK Jr., is Trump serious about creating a functioning Cabinet, or does he have a different plan in mind?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US 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
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published