00:00Good morning. On today's agenda, we have the nominations of Britt Shoemates to serve as Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, and John Eisenbergs to serve Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
00:22I'm pleased to support both and think that they'll be excellent in their role in the Department of Justice.
00:30This morning, I want to highlight several FBI emails that I'm making public this very day.
00:39These emails show Biden FBI agents planning and celebrating the indictment of Trump advisor Peter Navarro in 2022.
00:50Upon receiving news of Navarro's impending indictment, former anti-Trump FBI official Timothy Thiebaud replied,
01:03Wow, great, end of quote.
01:06Yet, when a criminal referral was issued for Nellie Orr, the FBI and DOJ chose not to press charges against her.
01:16As many of you know, Orr was a FUSIN GPS contractor involved in the fraudulent crossfire hurricane investigation against Trump.
01:29And Orr's husband was an FBI agent who also worked against Trump.
01:34Orr was accused of lying to Congress.
01:38In the last several months, I've also released FBI emails about genesis of Arctic Frost.
01:49Arctic Frost was the FBI case against Trump that became one of Jack Smith's cases.
01:56Through records that I've already made public, the investigation's political origins are now firmly established.
02:05Anti-Trump agent Thiebaud and his merry band of partisans started the case.
02:13Many of the FBI agents on Article Frost were also involved in the Navarro case, like Special Agent Walter Gia Gardina.
02:24My Democratic colleagues have been warning us about, quote-unquote, weaponization of the FBI and the D.C. U.S. Attorney's Office under Trump.
02:39They've told us repeatedly of the dangers of law enforcement being used against political enemies.
02:45Now, believe me, we Republicans know because Democrats are reading us pages from the Biden playbook.
02:57Biden's DOJ, including the FBI and the D.C. U.S. Attorney's Office, were weaponized, politicized, and used to target and imprison political enemies.
03:14We know this thanks to historic, heroic whistleblowers.
03:24The Biden DOJ and FBI did this, even as, according to the FBI's own statistics, violent crime rose 4.5% in 2022.
03:34The D.C.'s U.S. Attorney's Office refused to prosecute two-thirds of the criminals arrested in our nation's capital that very same year.
03:44Instead of focusing on the rampant cases of murder and rape perpetrated against everyday Americans,
03:54personnel in the FBI's Washington Field Office and D.C.'s U.S. Attorney's Office,
04:00obsessed over ways to target President Trump and his allies.
04:06And when Arctic Frost was opened, Thibault said that, quote,
04:12the case will be prioritized over all others in the branch, end of quote.
04:19When speaking about investigations, Thibault commented that, quote,
04:27it frankly took too long for us to open this, end of quote.
04:31Their conduct is disgraceful and un-American.
04:37Transparency brings accountability, which is why I'm reiterating my request for Attorney General Bondi
04:47and Director Patel to produce all records related to this political rot.
04:55We find, in some instances, people that have been around the Department of Justice for decades
05:03are the bureaucrats holding up some of this.
05:06So this is why we need to have these top officials of Bondi and Patel to step in
05:12and make sure everything that ought to be public without question is actually made public.
05:18Senator Erbrick.
05:20Mr. Chairman, do you want to address the nomination of Ed Martin in your opening remarks?
05:28I'll have a comment on that after you get done.
05:31Okay.
05:32Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
05:34I appreciate this time, my understanding,
05:37and there will be an official announcement by the chairman this morning.
05:41It's my understanding that we are not going to move forward on the Martin nomination.
05:47I had promised to vote, to ask for a vote in this committee today,
05:54but on the basis of the chairman's, I hope my clear understanding, I'm not going to make that move.
06:02But I do want to tell you a lot has happened since we last met here relating to the nomination of Ed Martin.
06:08The chairman submitted questions, I submitted questions, and we received responses in some instances by Mr. Martin.
06:19What we found is virtually unprecedented in the history of the committee that I've served on now for over 20 years.
06:27Last Friday, we received responses from Mr. Martin to these questions, and it raised even more questions.
06:33Mr. Martin made a number of false statements and contradictory statements that were easily disproven by material he himself disclosed
06:42in the Senate Judiciary Questionnaire, and it wasn't just my questions.
06:46It's Chairman Grassley's questions as well.
06:49First, there is Mr. Martin's relationship with Timothy Hale Cusinelli, a January 6 rioter and a Nazi sympathizer.
06:59In response to Chairman Grassley's question to Mr. Martin, he said, quote,
07:06I am not close with Mr. Hale Cusinelli, and I otherwise do not have close, consistent interactions with him, end of quote.
07:15That answer is contradicted by Mr. Martin's own words and actions.
07:20Mr. Martin interviewed Mr. Hale Cusinelli at least five times in the year 2024 alone.
07:27In one of those interviews, Mr. Martin said, and I quote,
07:31Tim Hale is an extraordinary guy.
07:33I've gotten to know him real well.
07:36I'd say we're friends over the last few years, and especially in the last months since he's been out of jail, end of quote.
07:44Mr. Martin told Chairman Grassley, and I quote,
07:46I was not aware of Mr. Hale Cusinelli's comments and views until after Mr. Martin presented Mr. Hale Cusinelli with an award last July.
07:57Mr. Martin told me that he hadn't seen photos of Mr. Hale Cusinelli with a Hitler mustache prior to that award ceremony in response to a question I asked.
08:07As a reminder, this is the award ceremony where Ed Martin called Mr. Hale Cusinelli, and I quote,
08:13an extraordinary man, an extraordinary leader, again Mr. Martin's own words and disclosures he provided to the committee contradict what he just said.
08:25Just weeks before presenting this award ceremony, Mr. Martin excused Hale Cusinelli dressing up like Hitler as, quote,
08:35goofing around and claimed he was being smeared and slurred by allegations of anti-Semitism.
08:42Mr. Martin himself has made a number of offensive comments.
08:47In 2022, he said, quote, President Joe Biden is a Hitler, and I'm not joking when I say that.
08:55On his podcast, Mr. Martin said, and I quote,
08:59you show me a Jewish American who feels good about the Democratic administration,
09:04and I'll show you someone who's not really Jewish, end of quote, goofing around.
09:10In a letter sent to the committee earlier this week, 11 national Jewish organizations representing more than 1 million members
09:19across the United States raised concern about Mr. Martin's nomination.
09:24They wrote that his associations are, quote, not only dangerous, they reveal a pattern of behavior
09:30that is incompatible with the responsibilities of a U.S. attorney,
09:35a role meant to uphold justice and protect all communities, including Jewish Americans, from hate and extremism.
09:42I've never questioned a member of this committee, nor will I, in terms of this issue on anti-Semitism,
09:48and I know the chairman's position because the first hearing we had under your new chairmanship
09:53was on the issue of anti-Semitism.
09:56You made it clear that you wanted to focus on that hate crime, and I'm glad you did.
10:00Mr. Martin also wrote to Chairman Grassley, and I quote,
10:03I do not condone violence against police, and I respect and revere our policemen and policewomen around the nation.
10:11Again, Mr. Martin's own words contradict that assertion.
10:16In August of 2023, he excused violence by January 6th rioters, saying, quote,
10:23we have to have less judgment on somebody who hits a cop.
10:28Let me repeat that.
10:30Mr. Martin's own words in August of 2023, we have to have less judgment on somebody who hits a cop.
10:39He continued, quote, I've seen people hit a cop, and that doesn't make it the end of the world.
10:46He called January 6th rioters, including those who beat the police officers in the Capitol, quote,
10:52patriots and victims.
10:56He called prosecutors who handled the January 6th cases despicable and terrorist.
11:03I'm also alarmed by the vast number of items Mr. Martin omitted from his questionnaire.
11:08Of approximately 1,900 writings or appearances he was required to disclose,
11:16he initially omitted at least 400 items, over 20% of the total.
11:23Now, people make omissions.
11:24In fact, we've had some in the past.
11:26We've had nominees for U.S. Attorney who've made four omissions, three omissions, one omissions.
11:35And in that situation, we have a situation with Mr. Martin where 400 items were omitted.
11:42Since this committee met last week, a whole body of evidence has emerged on Mr. Martin.
11:49The Washington Post uncovered nearly 150 appearances by Mr. Martin on RT and Sputnik,
11:58networks funded and directed by the Russian government,
12:02all undisclosed by Mr. Martin in response to this questionnaire.
12:06Many occurred as recently as last year,
12:09which calls into question Mr. Martin's claim that, quote,
12:13I've done my best to identify all responsive material.
12:17Just this week, my staff uncovered an event Mr. Martin should have disclosed.
12:23Here's what he said at the event.
12:25You're not a racist if you don't like Mexicans.
12:30I'm appalled that anyone would make a statement like that
12:33and aspire to be the top U.S. Attorney in the United States of America for this administration.
12:39Mr. Chairman, thank you for taking my concerns with this nomination seriously.
12:44This man, Mr. Martin, has not taken our process and questionnaire seriously.
12:50His record makes it clear that he does have the temperament or judgment for this job.
12:54I look forward to debating it the next time we meet.
13:01We need everybody here.
13:06One of our members is going to be absent,
13:08so I'll call on people that want to say anything,
13:14because I know some people wanted to speak after we voted,
13:19and if you want to take the opportunity to do that now,
13:22it would be very helpful for efficient use of time.
13:32Let's stand at ease, then.
13:34We're waiting for two members on our side.
13:54One more.
14:17One more?
14:18No, we need two more.
14:22Our members are on their way.
14:28Our members are on their way.
14:52Quite a bit.
14:59One more.
14:59One more.
15:01One more.
15:03One more.
15:07The number of members.
15:12One more.
15:14Which we need this one.
15:16The number of members.
16:18Members, just for information so I don't adjourn this meeting when people want to speak.
16:28Are there people that want to speak after we have the votes?
16:33Okay, then when we're done voting, we'll adjourn the meeting.
16:38You asked what I just said?
16:51Yes, sir.
16:52Yeah, I was told that some people on this committee may want to speak after we vote, and I want
17:01to make sure I don't adjourn the meeting, and I didn't get anybody to say that they wanted
17:05to speak.
17:06So when we have the vote, I'll adjourn the meeting.
17:10Is that okay, or did you want to speak?
17:12Well, you should be saying, praise the Lord.
18:50Senator Kennedy, you don't have a story for us?
19:08About the time when...
19:13No?
19:14Be careful, you're out.
19:15Ha, ha, ha.
19:16Ha, ha.
19:17Ha, ha, ha.
19:23Ha, ha.
19:24Ha, ha.
19:25Ha, ha.
19:26Ha, ha.
19:27Ha, ha.
19:28Ha.
19:29Ha, ha.
19:30Ha, ha.
19:31Ha.
19:32Ha.
19:33Ha.
19:34Ha.
19:35Ha, ha.
19:37Ha.
19:38Ha.
19:39All the roll on John Isenberg.
19:44Mr. Graham.
19:45Aye.
19:46Mr. Hornet.
19:47Aye.
19:48Mr. Lee.
19:49Aye.
19:50Mr. Cruz.
19:51Aye.
19:52Mr. Hawley.
19:53Aye.
19:54Mr. Tillich.
19:55Aye.
19:56Mr. Kennedy.
19:57Aye.
19:58Mrs. Blackburn.
19:59Aye.
20:00Mr. Schmidt.
20:01Aye.
20:02Mrs. Brick.
20:03Aye by proxy.
20:05Mrs. Moody.
20:06Aye.
20:07Mr. Dervick.
20:08Mr. Whitehouse.
20:09No by proxy.
20:10Ms. Klobuchar.
20:11No by proxy.
20:13Mr. Coobs.
20:14No by proxy.
20:15Mr. Blumenthal.
20:16No.
20:17Ms. Hirono.
20:18No by proxy.
20:19Mr. Booker.
20:21No by proxy.
20:22Mr. Padilla.
20:23No.
20:24Mr. Poe.
20:25No.
20:26Mr. Schiff.
20:27No.
20:28Chairman Grassley.
20:29Aye.
20:30On this vote, the aye is your 12th.
20:32The dates are 10.
20:33Okay.
20:34The nominee will be favorably reported.
20:38Now, please call the Grant Schumi.
20:42Mr. Chairman, before you call it, I'd like to have statements about each of the nominees
20:47placed in the record.
20:48Without objection, those statements will be placed in the record.
20:52Mr. Graham.
20:53Aye.
20:54Mr. Hornet.
20:55Aye.
20:56Mr. Lee.
20:57Aye.
20:58Mr. Cruz.
20:59Aye.
21:00Mr. Paulie.
21:01Aye.
21:02Mr. Tillis.
21:03Aye.
21:04Mr. Teddy.
21:05Aye.
21:06Mr. Blackburn.
21:07Aye.
21:08Mr. Smith.
21:09Aye.
21:10Mrs. Britt.
21:11Aye by proxy.
21:13Mrs. Moody.
21:14Aye.
21:15Mr. Dervin.
21:16No.
21:17Mr. Whitehouse.
21:18No by proxy.
21:19Ms. Klobuchar.
21:20No by proxy.
21:21Ms. Klobuchar.
21:22No by proxy.
21:23Sorry.
21:24Ms. Klobuchar.
21:25No by proxy.
21:26Mr. Coobs.
21:27No by proxy.
21:28Mr. Plymouth.
21:29No.
21:30Mr. Plymouth.
21:31No.
21:32Mr. Rono.
21:33No by proxy.
21:34Mr. Booker.
21:35No by proxy.
21:36Mr. Padilla.
21:37No.
21:38Mr. Welch.
21:39No.
21:40Mr. Schuetz.
21:41No.
21:42Mr. Schuetz.
21:43No.
21:44Sherman Grassley.
21:45Aye.
21:46On this vote, the ayes are solved, the names are ten.
21:50Mr. Shumi will be reported to the floor.
21:55Senator Kennedy.
21:58Senator Kennedy.
21:59Mr. Chairman, I think this is the first time we have met as a committee since Senator Durbin
22:09announced that he wasn't going to run for reelection.
22:12And I wanted to acknowledge that and thank him for his years of service.
22:18I know it was a difficult decision.
22:21Thanks, Senator.
22:22I haven't said anything about it, but I did tweet on the subjects.
22:26I refer you to that.
22:28Well, tweeting is better.
22:30He's so with it.
22:32He is.
22:33He's what cool looks like.
22:35Senator Durbin.
22:36Lee.
22:37I also just wanted to chime in.
22:39I really enjoyed working with Senator Durbin and we'll miss him.
22:43He was one of the first people who had befriended me when I joined the committee 14 years ago.
22:48We've worked on a lot of legislation together and passed some good things and appreciate your service.
22:53Senator Cruz.
22:56Mr. Chairman, to join this parade, while Senator Kennedy chose to speak about Senator Durbin and Chairman Grassley chose to tweet about Senator Durbin, I did a podcast about Senator Durbin.
23:09And I apologized to him yesterday on the floor because I actually sang his praises in the podcast, which I'm sure will be used as ammunition for political attacks for his remaining tenure in the Senate.
23:22But he is a remarkably talented lawyer.
23:27And he and I have disagreed on many issues, but he is a formidable adversary.
23:34And as I said on the podcast, he sounds quite reasonable at times, even when he is not.
23:39And so that's a compliment of sorts.
23:43And, Dick, we will miss you.
23:46Senator Cruz, you're never in danger of that happening to you.
23:50Are you going to say something about the marketing?
23:55Well, I said it all on Twitter.
23:57No, no, no.
23:58We're talking about the marketing.
24:00You could read us your tweet.
24:03Oh, yeah.
24:05Well, I guess this is something I neglected to say after.
24:11This isn't about his retirement.
24:13This is about a subject he brought up when he opened his comments.
24:17I'm going to wait until we get the D.C. U.S. Attorney put on the agenda.
24:24In the meantime, we've had people on our staff that had more questions than I think wanted to meet personally.
24:34And then also, I see from your statement, you've gone through all 500 questions that you've read through.
24:42I haven't done that yet.
24:44So we'll wait until we put it on the agenda.
24:47And another reason I didn't say anything is I thought our staff said work this out ahead of time.
24:53But I'm willing to state publicly what I think was worked out at that particular time.
24:58And I thank you for not bringing up the vote for the hearing yet.
Be the first to comment