Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) provided some brief entertainment in what was otherwise a snorefest of a hearing on Wednesday as the Democrats held their first public testimony into their impeachment inquiry against President Trump. Stefanik's first question was actually for the chairman. She wondered whether or not he planned to restrict the witnesses answers, just as he'd done in the closed door depositions.
Schiff maintained that he would only restrict the Q&A if he felt that the panelists were trying to expose the identity of the whistleblower who filed the complaint that jumpstarted this whole inquiry.
Stefanik knows what's really going on with Schiff. He was adamant about the whistleblower testifying at first, she recalls, but when it became clear that he/she had coordinated with the intelligence committee prior to filing the complaint, suddenly Schiff wanted the whistleblower to stay mum.
Within 20 minutes of her parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday, Schiff interrupted the Republicans' Q&A. She shared her observations with Fox News's Martha MacCallum Thursday night.
Don’t miss part 2 ?? Thanks for having me @marthamaccallum & @FoxNews! pic.twitter.com/bqWQzoXjbe
— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) November 15, 2019
It was "nothing" about protecting the whistleblower's identity, Stefanik charged. It was simply a question that Schiff "didn't like."
The chairman, she charged, "doesn't want this to be a fair process."
Stefanik predicted he'll conduct Friday's proceedings in much the same manner. Nevertheless, she urged viewers to consider the "two most important points: 1) Ukraine received the aid, and 2) There was no investigation into the Bidens under the Trump administration."
Stefanik was the target of ABC's Matthew Dowd on Twitter after making such a splash at Wednesday's hearing.
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"Elise Stefanik is a perfect example of why just electing someone because they are a woman or a millennial doesn't necessarily get you the leaders we need," Dowd tweeted after her news-making performance.
MacCallum asked her to respond.
"It's outrageous," Stefanik said. "It's sexist. And it's inexcusable. And ABC news needs to condemn that statement. This is why more young women don't run for office."
Still, she accepted Dowd's apology.
Meanwhile President Trump shared a similar opinion of Chairman Schiff.
TRUMP ON SCHIFF: “He should be prosecuted. The only problem is, he has immunity because he is a Congressman, and he made the statement in the halls of Congress.”
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 15, 2019
Yesterday he claimed he didn’t know who the Whistleblower was.
We NEED him Under Oath.pic.twitter.com/aIdNmXdPbs
Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch will testify on Capitol Hill today at 9 a.m. Follow along with us on the Townhall LIVE blog.
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