What is Shifty Schiff afraid of? Why hasn’t he released the transcript from his closed door testimony with TIm Morrison? Is there something Morrison said that would blow up the Schiff/socialist Democrats talking points?
| Why is Shifty Schiff not releasing Tim Morrison transcript? |
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House Intelligence Committee chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has yet to release the transcript of the closed-door testimony of former National Security Council senior director for European and Russian affairs Tim Morrison — just two days before public hearings begin.
Morrison’s testimony is considered the most favorable to President Donald Trump, after he reportedly told the committee in late October: “I was not concerned that anything illegal was discussed.” Morrison also reportedly said that Ukraine was not aware of any hold on U.S. aid until Politico reported it on August 28, 2019.Though Republicans also say many other statements by witnesses have been exculpatory, they have said Morrison’s was particularly so. Democrats were “sucking lemons” after Morrison’s testimony, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) said.
Republicans have asked that Morrison be called to testify in public — a request that Schiff has not yet approved. Under the House resolution rules, Schiff can block Republican witnesses, but they cannot block his. The rule are a departure from past precedent, in which each side could veto each other’s witnesses, subject to committee vote.
Schiff has kept the transcripts under lock and key — even after House Democrats passed a resolution authorizing an impeachment inquiry, which provided for at least one public hearing and allowed transcripts to be released.
Transcripts have been in the exclusive possession of committee Democrats and their staff, and Republicans say that they are not allowed to review transcripts except in a secure room and in the presence of a Democratic staffer.