Morning Joe: Slap Steve Bannon ‘In Handcuffs’ and Force Him to Testify

Is that right?

It was a tough conversation from the Morning JoeCrowd today about measures to forbid Republicans from testifying before the tilted and now jilted January 6th Committee.

Elise Jordan of MSNBC Republican said that the committee should behave as “harshly”, as Republicans would, if in charge. It was possible that the sergeant at-arms could hold witnesses hostage and make them come to Washington.

Mike Barnicle—possibly still feeling the effects of his celebration of the Red Sox’s upset ALDS victory—then upped the ante. Barnicle proclaimed:

“Until we meet someone like this, there will be no action.” Steve Bannon—in handcuffs—brought to the Capitol and forced to testify Under oath “Period!”

Barnicle was not brought into the room with handcuffs because of his blatant plagiarism. Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, and Joe Scarborough quickly agreed with Barnicle’s demand for Bannon in Chains.

Mika: This isn’t the time for weakness. Let it happen if that is an option. Let that happen.“

Scarborough, “If [the subpoenas]They are legally binding enforce your damn subpoenas!“

Jordan called for Democrats not to be as “harshly’ as Republicans, but let’s remember the Lois Lerner case. The former IRS official was charged with denying tax-exempt status to conservative groups. Before a Republican-led committee, she refused to give evidence. Even though she was found in contempt of court, she wasn’t charged. . . Barnicle didn’t call for Lerner being handcuffed.

Please also take noteJordan complains about the lack of protections for Republicans. It was “unfortunate,” she said, that Democrats could not go “boom. boom. boom” to immediately make the Republicans testify. 

Some seasoned veterans of cable-news bias recall CNN’s Jack Cafferty wisecracking in 2005: “What should Karl Rove do if he is indicted?…He might want to, he might want to get measured for one of those extra large orange jump suits, Wolf, because looking at old Karl, I’m not sure that he’d, they’d be able to zip him into the regular-size one.”

MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross is the best when it comes to fantasies of liberals imagining that Republicans will be treated harshly. She fantasized last year about Trump being:

“Dragged on the White House lawn as a 1980s episode Cops“

Cross was subsequently recognized by MSNBC with her own program.

Morning Joe requesting that Steve Bannon be taken into custody and made to testify before the Jan 6th committee. This request was supported in part by Liberty Mutual and TD Ameritrade. 

You can find the transcription here.

MSNBC
Morning Joe
10/14/21
6:14 am EDT

MIKA BRZEZINSKI – The House Select Committee investigating the attack on the Capitol, January 6, 2017, is intensifying its efforts to get former Trump officials to cooperate in the probe. 

. . 

WILLIE GEIST: In a letter from his attorney to the committee, former White House senior adviser Steve Bannon announced his intention not to appear today, citing former President Trump’s claim of executive privilege . . . According to the members of the select committee, they have no hesitation in pursuing criminal charges against witnesses who don’t appear during their subpoenaed hearings.

Elise, two members of our select commission have been on this program the last two days. One said to Elise that they will not allow you to show up because these are subpoenas. The other stated, “Okay, but if your don’t turn up, these can be taken away.” We will then refer you for criminal investigation. It doesn’t matter if you have to go to jail.

ELISE JORDAN It’s going to take a long time, though. It’s that which is most unfortunate. They can’t boom, boom, boom, make it happen and force people into compliance We need to know the facts so that we can uncover the truth. This is why it’s still a mistake that the second impeachment did not allow for this testimony after the horrible events of January 6th.

However, as I look forward to the future, I wonder how they could make this more difficult. If ordered by the Sergeant at Arms, I think these men could be called into disrepute and brought to the Capitol. This is how I imagine it working. That’s something for legal scholars who are way above my pay grade. But They should make use of every tool they have and strike as hard as the Republicans.They would be in a similar situation.

MIKA BARNICLE – You’re absolutely right. They are powerful and I am tired of some of the members of this committee appearing here. I understand that they have intentions, but I don’t believe it. They just talk about nothing, but they don’t take any action. 

We won’t take any action until we find someone like this. Steve Bannon is taken to Capitol in handcuffs and made to swear his testimony. It’s all good!

MIKA BRZEZINSKI : This is what I think. It’s not the time for weakness It’s just not. You have to draw a line somewhere as to whether this country is good or bad. This is something that I will not compromise on. Let it happen if that is an option. Let that happen. Don’t be weak.

JOE SCARBOROUGH: Either the subpoenas are enforceable or they’re  not enforceable. AlsoIf they are enforceable, make sure you enforce them!