Before Stanford Law Professor Pamela Karlan began her diatribe against President Trump at Wednesday's impeachment inquiry hearing, she lashed out at Republican ranking member Doug Collins. In his opening statement, Collins suggested that the witnesses had shown up to testify without having read all the relevant witness transcripts and other evidence.
The allegations against @realDonaldTrump consist of hearsay, feelings, conjecture, and presumption.
— Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) December 4, 2019
The objective evidence points the other way and supports the president. pic.twitter.com/VZiqR4JZq4
Karlan used part of her opening statement to respond to the charge.
WATCH: Stanford Law professor Pamela Karlan says she is "insulted" over Rep. Doug Collins' suggestion that she wouldn't care about the facts surrounding the impeachment inquiry. #ImpeachmentPBS
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) December 4, 2019
More: https://t.co/d8QlsERWMA pic.twitter.com/b7CYxzQQl5
"I would like to say to you, sir, that I read transcripts of every one of the witnesses who appeared in the live hearings," she said. "I would not speak about these things without reviewing the facts. I'm insulted by the suggestion that, as a law professor, I don't care about those facts."
She later insisted that she spent "all her time" over the Thanksgiving holiday reading the transcripts.
During the Q&A portion of Wednesday's hearing, Karlan said Trump's call with Ukraine was an abuse of power.
Of course, one would be justified thinking that Karlan showed up to today's hearing with a preconceived bias. She has donated thousands to Democrats and was on Hillary Clinton’s list for a potential Supreme Court nomination. She has been described as "stridently liberal" and an "unapologetic liberal." She also worked for the Department of Justice under Barack Obama.
Karlan was in good company. A few of her fellow witnesses were proud Trump critics too. There was no doubt in Harvard Law professor Noah Feldman's mind that the president was guilty. He said if Congress doesn't impeach him, then we're all living in a "monarchy." Professor Michael Gerhardt agreed, adding, “If what we’re talking about is not impeachable, then nothing’s impeachable.”
It all just wasn't a good look.
These self-righteous liberal law professors (two of whom are Clinton/Obama donors) are a great reminder why the American people elected @realDonaldTrump in 2016.
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) December 4, 2019
Another tactical error by House Dems: Only calling liberal law professors to testify at HJC hearing on impeachment. It's as if they want this to be partisan affair.
— Jonathan H. Adler (@jadler1969) December 4, 2019