House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) officially launched his disinfo campaign/Trump retribution crusade guised as an impeachment inquiry today. TPM isn’t really covering it, at least for now, because it’s not a serious matter. It’s a concession Comer and other hardliners squeezed out of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in exchange for some sort of shutdown averting cooperation — a deal far-right members did not keep to a cartoonish degree.
There does, however, appear to be a striking consensus among news outlets that did cover the six-plus hour hearing today: Not only was no new information revealed about President Biden, but none of the information presented to the committee amounted to a crime committed by the President of the United States, the most baseline requirement for impeachment. That’s primarily because several of the Republicans’ supposed star witnesses who testified today acknowledged that fact outright. From the New York Times‘ coverage:
“I am not here today to even suggest that there was corruption, fraud or any wrongdoing,” said Bruce G. Dubinsky, a forensic accountant. “In my opinion, more information needs to be gathered and assessed before I would make such an assessment.”
And:
Likewise, Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University’s law school, told the panel that while he considered an inquiry warranted, “I do not believe that the current evidence would support articles of impeachment. That is something that an inquiry has to establish.”
Fox News had a similar reaction:
Even if the takeaway consensus of those covering the clown car proceedings wasn’t as unanimous as it is, a new poll out this week shows that American voters are united in not losing sleep over what is going on here. The poll found that respondents were far more concerned about actual crises, like the looming government shutdown. Per NBC News:
In a new national NBC News poll, 56% of registered voters say Congress should not hold hearings to start the process of removing Biden from office, while 39% say it should.
The Best Of TPM Today
Here’s what you should read this evening:
New SCOOP from Emine Yücel and Kate Riga: Jayapal: Progressive Caucus Wants Power-Sharing Agreement For Jeffries If McCarthy Comes Knocking For Their Votes
Fetterman Calls For Menendez Ouster Feet Away From Indicted Senator Appealing To Colleagues
Minnesota SoS Won’t Get In The Way Of Disqualification Clause Case Against Trump
We Are All Paying The Price For Kevin McCarthy’s Pathetic Weakness
ICYMI: He’s Not Even Addressing A Union Shop
Yesterday’s Most Read Story
Republicans Yell, Interrupt, Make Uncomfortable Sex Jokes At Second Debate — TPM Staff
What We Are Reading
DeSantis Says He Would Sign a 15-Week Abortion Ban as President — New York Times
Trump will not seek to move Fulton case to federal court — Atlanta Journal Constitution
Youngkin: Virginia districts ‘really don’t have a choice’ in school transgender policy — The Hill
Programming Note
Where Things Stand will take a brief pause while I take a few days off work next week. We’ll be be back Thursday evening. Keep an eye out!
