Rep. Adam Schiff of the Democratic Party tried to downplay his part in hyping Steele dossier debunked, but on The ViewTuesday. While the enamored liberal hosts threw softball after softball to the key promoter of the Russian collusion hoax, it took guest host, and former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus, to call out the House Committee Intelligence chairman for spreading misinformation on television for years about the Trump campaign.
Evidently Schiff thought that he was protected from the scrutiny of his fans in this room. There were lots of applauding, cheering and anti-Republican questions as the hosts plugged his new, 500+page book on Donald Trump’s impeachment and January 6. After facing softballs from Joy Behar about violent Republicans, and selling President Biden’s infrastructure package from Sara Haines, Ortagus was the only one to ask the Democrat a tough question that he wholeheartedly deserved.
Schiff lied for years about having evidence showing the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians in the 2016 election. This claim was proven to be false in 2020. Ortagus confronted the Clinton campaign’s primary source of the Steele Dossier. He was accused of lying to the FBI.
You have a question that I would like to ask about something in the media right now. Your work as the Intel chairperson has been very prolific. You supported and promoted the Steele dossier and you even read it into the Congress record. The FBI has indicted the principal source of this dossier for lying to the FBI about many key claims. Are there any thoughts on how you influenced the American people’s perception of this issue?
It was her alone. This latest development was not covered by media. Schiff tried to distance himself from the debunked dossier too and claimed it didn’t matter:
First of all, anyone who lied about Christopher Steele or the FBI should be tried. And unlike the Trump Administration, once they have been convicted they must be sent to prison and not pardoned. Donald Trump gave Roger Stone his pardon. For lying, he pardoned Michael Flynn. People should not lie to the FBI. I told them that they would be sent to jail if they do. But, when the Russian investigation began, I suggested that we investigate any allegations. For example, we couldn’t know that Christopher Steele was being lied to. It was right to investigate and we should not forget the lessons learned during that investigation. We discovered that Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign chairman, was providing polling data and campaign data to Russian intelligence. This was while Russian intelligence was supporting the Trump campaign.
As Ortagus pointed out Manafort was fired halfway through the campaign, Schiff doubled down on his unproven claim that Trump was trying to get Russia’s help. But Ortagus wouldn’t let him dodge responsibility. Again, she pressed:
“This information was available for many years and you promoted it. This is why Republicans and the people who trusted you to lead Intel Committee are so puzzled about your guilt in this entire mess.,” she stated.
Schiff again denies any responsibility in spreading lies and misinformation. “I completely disagree with the premise,” he said, claiming the only one guilty was the lying informant.
“Let’s not use that as a smoke screen to somehow shield Donald Trump’s culpability for inviting Russia to help him in the election, which they did…None of that serious misconduct is in any way diminished by the fact that people lied to Christopher Steele,” the Democrat argued.
“You are not. No. [diminished],” Ortagus shot back.
Schiff had the final word. “I think the credibility of your question is in doubt,” he snarked.
Sunny Hostin, a Republican in Congress who was surrounded by Schiff supporters, asked if there were any charges against them for the Jan 6th riot.
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You can read the transcript here:
The View
11.9.21
MORGAN ORTAGUS: Yeah. Let me ask you a question about something in the media right now. As the Intel committee’s head, you have had a lot of success. You supported and encouraged the Steele dossier, and you even read it into Congress. The FBI has indicted the primary source of Steele dossier for lying about many key claims. Are you able to reflect on the role that your actions played in spreading this message to American citizens?
ADAM SCHIFF Donald Trump gave Roger Stone his pardon. For lying, he pardoned Michael Flynn. If someone lies to the FBI they need to go to jail. But, when the Russian investigation began, I suggested that every allegation should be investigated. For example, we couldn’t know that Christopher Steele was being lied to. It was right to investigate and we should not forget the lessons learned during that investigation. We discovered that Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign chairman, was providing polling data and campaign data to Russian intelligence. This was while Russian intelligence was supporting the Trump campaign.
ORTAGUS, To make it clear: He was terminated halfway through the campaign.
SCHIFF
ORTAGUS – You promoted this for many years. This is why Republicans and the Intel Committee chairs are confused that you were culpable in this whole mess.
SCHIFF: I completely disagree with the premise, and it’s one thing to say they should be investigated and they were, and it’s another thing we should have foreseen an advance that people were lying to Christopher Steele which is impossible of course to do. This is not a cover-up to hide Donald Trump’s guilt for inviting Russia into his election. They did so to try to get Ukraine to support him. He did. All of this is not undercut. Christopher Steele was lied to by many people, but that does not diminish the seriousness of their misconduct.
ORTAGUS: No. ORTAGUS: No.
SCHIFF [applause]
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