Former GOP congressman embarrasses himself defending Trump on TV

Former Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), now a CNN pundit, was fact-checked repeatedly during a Wednesday morning interview after giving false information about the House impeachment inquiry.

During a discussion about the Trump administration withholding military aid from Ukraine, Duffy argues there could be no quid pro quo.

“The Ukrainians have said they didn’t know that the money was taken away, that resources were taken away,” Duffy claimed. “They said they didn’t know. Therefore you can’t have a quid pro quo.”

CNN host Chris Cuomo corrected Duffy.

“Congressman Duffy, let me make perfectly clear: The Ukrainians did know, according to Ambassador Taylor, that the [White House] meeting was conditioned on the statements. And as part of the testimony yesterday that Bill Taylor gave, he talks about these investigations,” Cuomo said. “Ambassador Sondland, Taylor says, said everything was dependent on such an announcement, including security assistance. He said that President Trump wanted President Zelensky ‘in a public box’ by making a public statement about ordering such investigations.”

Earlier in the interview, another former Republican congressman, Charlie Dent, lambasted Republicans like Duffy for constantly defending Trump’s actions.

“People ask me why do I push back against this administration and the president,” Dent stated. “Because my nose is not a heat-seeking missile for the president’s backside.” He went on to say that people have to stand up and tell the American people that Trump’s actions are wrong.

“You cannot use your official resources to put — official resources of the government to investigate your political opponent,” Dent added. He also said that if a member of Congress “had done anything like this, they would have been investigated. They would have been referred to the Department of Justice. End of story.”

Over the summer, the Trump administration withheld almost $400 million in military aid from Ukraine. Several Trump administration officials have told Congress that the money was withheld in part to pressure Ukraine to investigate Trump’s political opponents, including the DNC and former Vice President Joe Biden. In a July 25 phone call, Trump asked President Zelensky to investigate both the DNC and Biden. Some administration officials have said Zelensky was asked to make a public statement pledging to open an investigation into these topics.

Earlier in the interview, Duffy complained about the House impeachment inquiry process, calling it “an impeachment trial.”

“No, we’re not. As a matter of fact, that is not at all true,” Cuomo said, forced to correct Duffy. “An impeachment trial, as you know from your knowledge of the Constitution, happens in the Senate.” Further, Cuomo reminds Duffy that “Republicans had equal time in the questioning yesterday.”

Duffy resigned from Congress in September, he said, in order to spend more time with his family. Shortly after his resignation, he signed on to be a CNN commentator, and he’s now spending his mornings defending Trump and spreading misinformation.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.