Rep. Matt Gaetz implied that Rudy Giuliani was acting alone in Ukraine as Trump’s impeachment is getting very ugly.
Transcript via ABC’s This Week:
STEPHANOPOULOS: Congressman, OK, let’s move on now to impeachment. And you just heard Congresswoman Lofgren right there discussing Rudy Giuliani’s trip to Ukraine this week, a trip that you said was weird.
You’re not the only one. Dan Eberhart, a strong supporter of President Trump, donor to President Trump, said: The fact that Giuliani is back in Ukraine is like a murder suspect returning to the crime scene to live-stream themselves moon dancing. It’s brazen on a galactic level.
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Is it wise for Rudy Giuliani to be there? Or — and you just heard Congresswoman Lofgren say it could be more examples of an abuse of power by the president.
GAETZ: I would never compare Mayor Giuliani to a murder suspect. Let’s remember, this is the guy who took down the mob in the ’90s and who was out there leading a lot of — the city of New York during the terrible events of 9/11. So, I think he gets the benefit of the doubt that he’s not akin to a murder suspect.
But it is weird that he’s over there and I’m grateful that very soon after, I made those comments on CNN, the president put out a statement that said that Rudy Giuliani does want to come into Congress and explain his role, explain what he’s been up to. And I believe that the president urging Mayor Giuliani to provide that clarity to the Congress will be helpful in resolving what seems to be odd having him over there at this time.
Video:
Rep. Matt Gaetz calls Rudy Giuliani's trip to Ukraine amid the impeachment inquiry into Pres. Trump "weird," adding: "The president put out a statement that said that Rudy Giuliani does want to come into Congress and explain his role." https://t.co/Y1wVnHfalQ pic.twitter.com/g162PphsYK
— ABC News (@ABC) December 8, 2019
It is easy to see where Republicans are going to take this to try to save Trump. The blame Rudy strategy has been floating around Republican circles for months. Gaetz didn’t say that Giuliani should come before Congress and share the “information” that he found. Rep. Gaetz was suggesting that Giuliani come before Congress and explain why he was there as if Trump had nothing to do with his return to Ukraine
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Trump’s lawyer is being set up by the president’s defenders.
As things go from bad to worse on impeachment, look for Republicans to make Rudy Giuliani their fall guy to protect Trump.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
