The Jan. 6 Committee is left in a bind. Even liberal media reporters have asked what kind of evidence they had to back up her claims about an incident she didn’t see that is being disputed by the agents. Reps. Adam Schiff, Jamie Raskin (D–MD), and Liz Cheney were unable to answer the question. The Secret Service also made them look bad by saying that the Committee had not even checked with them about this story. It was clear that the Committee did not care about the truth.
They are so involved in pushing this narrative, that one Committee member, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R. IL), is now attacking Tony Ornato. Ornato is one of the agents who allegedly discredited Hutchinson. Hutchinson claimed she heard the story of President Donald Trump lunging at an agent, trying to grab control of “The Beast”, the limousine in which he rides. According to reports, Ornato denies ever telling Hutchinson such a thing, and also denies it ever happened. Kinzinger claims that Tony Ornato has been a liar and is spreading a tweet.
There seems to be a major thread here… Tony Ornato likes to lie. https://t.co/0c2itYqf5J
— Adam Kinzinger🇺🇦🇺🇸✌️ (@AdamKinzinger) June 30, 2022
That tweet comes from Hutchinson’s friend, CNN political commentator, who hooked her up to Cheney. Kinzinger doesn’t mention this. This contact was also not explained by the Committee.
Bobby Engel, another Secret Service agent, reportedly said it didn’t happen and Hutchinson had other parts of her testimony disputed.
Meanwhile, General Keith Kellogg came to Ornato’s defense.
Regarding 6 January and for the record. I was privileged to know USSS Special Agent in Charge Tony Ornato. Like all USSS Agents, he was highly professional, circumspect in everyday action and trusted. I would take his sworn testimony to the bank.
— Keith Kellogg (@generalkellogg) June 30, 2022
It’s shameful, however, that Kinzinger is so obsessed with the narrative that he now attacks an agent who has dedicated his life to law enforcement and served both sides in the Secret Service. Kinzinger seems to not care about law enforcement, even if officers discredit the narrative he is pushing. This is not the way an impartial Committee should work. The Committee doesn’t take sides, especially when Ornato is supposedly the one who knows. Hutchinson heard it just from Ornato.
But Kinzinger isn’t very bright. He seems to not understand what he is saying. Kinzinger claims Ornato is a liar. Why would he accept that the story he told Hutchinson to start with is the truth? Kinzinger would like to accept this part as truth, and then claim that he is lying when he says that the incident never took place.
Hutchinson may lie, but she won’t be subject to any sanctions from the Democratic-chosen Committee or the Biden DOJ. Engel and Ornato, on the contrary, are putting their careers at risk by contradicting Hutchinson and the Democratic narrative.
This is the problem with the “Committee”, it’s not balanced, it’s biased, it doesn’t look for truth and real crimes, but just wants to bash Trump. Kinzinger’s comments were just one example. However, the structure itself has been unfair since the beginning.
Brit Hume, a veteran journalist, blasted the Committee’s bias. He and Byron York, Washington Examiner’s reporter, pointed out that this is not the norm.
I’ve covered Washington for more than 50 years, including 11 years covering Congress specifically. I’ve never seen a committee all of whose members were chosen by one party, and where there is no cross-examination or any attempt to present both sides. https://t.co/7bjCm3O9Ez
— Brit Hume (@brithume) July 1, 2022
Being “serious about their representation” is a lovely euphemism for being allowed to appoint only members acceptable to Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats. https://t.co/87ywOMETGe
— Brit Hume (@brithume) July 1, 2022
The problem with the Committee process, however, is that each side can appoint members. However, Nancy Pelosi (D–CA), the House Speaker refused to accept the GOP-selected representatives. Knowing they wouldn’t be able to appoint their preferred people, the GOP refused the absurdity. Pelosi appointed the two GOP members to the Committee, and they hate Trump. The Committee is therefore only appointed by Democrats.
Hume’s fire of truth caused Kinzinger to melt down. He seems to be hoping that he can ride this to a higher office and not just to the ashbin history, as he will do in January.
Hey Brit. It’s been all republicans testifying. Definitely one sided, just not in how you think it is.
And as you well know, Kevin McCarthy took his ball and went home.
You all sound nervous. https://t.co/LbQhDZlofy
— Adam Kinzinger🇺🇦🇺🇸✌️ (@AdamKinzinger) July 1, 2022
Adam, you did not agree with Nancy Pelosi’s rigged Committee because Never Trump was so important to you that you didn’t care whether you lost every single one. You can’t save yourself from this mess now.