Things got heated during a hearing this week with FBI whistleblowers. Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) clashed with Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan (R). Jordan is the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, and Wasserman Schultz was inquiring over past testimonies that had been provided for Republicans.
The testimony in question was from FBI staff operations specialist Marcus Allen. Allen had given his consent to speak to Republicans in a prior hearing, but Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from the United States Virgin Inslands Rep. Stacey E. Plaskett (D) pushed back against Jordan, requesting that Democrats on the committee be provided the transcript of the interview.
Rep. Wasserman Schultz further inquired for the transcript, questioning why Democrats hadn’t been provided with the information.
“It’s my understanding that the minority in this committee, under the rules, is entitled the same testimony, information, documents, that the majority, is entitled to,” Wasserman Schultz shared.
“I’m not aware that you’re able to withhold information from the minority that we would need to use” she added.
However, this drew a swift response from Jordan who shut down the request.
“When it comes to whistleblowers, you are not,” Jordan answered, which incited pushback from New York Rep. Dan Goldman (D), who issued that “that’s not right.”
“It’s shocking that the gentleman from New York would say that when you were part of an investigation with an anonymous whistleblower” countered Jordan, referring to Goldman being a counsel during President Donald Trump’s (R) first impeachment.
Wasserman Schultz continued to question the veracity of Jordan’s claim, citing that the individuals in question have not been deemed whistleblowers. “Are you deciding that they’re whistleblowers?” she asked, and Jordan responded with “yes, the law decides.”
Jordan and other Republicans have been heavily critical of the FBI, accusing it of being filled with "political rot."
