Two members of the House Intelligence Committee spoke to CBS News about the White House communications director, Hope Hicks’, testimony. In that secret, closed-door meeting, Hicks admitted that working for Donald Trump sometimes involved telling “white lie
That happened when Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) asked her about former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. The representative said she answered that Flynn never requested her to lie for him “in the campaign:”
Then, Swalwell asked her:
‘What about during the transition?’
The representative said she answered that Flynn had told her to present something as true, and she later learned it was false. That was interesting, because those were the only questions where she appeared to respond fully.
Swalwell thought that she was throwing Flynn under the bus while protecting others.
Then, he asked Hicks if she had a “typical” employee-boss relationship:”
‘If your response to the question, “Have you ever been asked by your boss to lie for him?” is to take two time outs, we already know the answer to the question. She said, “Nothing is typical about it.”‘
When Swalwell asked if she was “loyal” to Donald Trump, Hicks asked him to define “loyal,” and he did:
‘I think loyalty is being committed to somebody.’
Swalwell then asked her if she was committed to 45, and she responded, he said:
‘She said, “Yes, fully.”‘
Representative Tom Rooney (R-FL), who will not be running again, attacked the Democrats’ questioning:
‘The whole line of questioning was a trap. They sent her down a rabbit hole that she could not get out of. And it was completely unfair.’
Rooney felt that the high-profile reports about the nature of the exchange proved that the committee needed to end “its year-long investigation.” Rooney said:
‘(Leaks have) poisoned this whole investigation. Why would anyone come and interview with us anymore, ever again?’
An attorney for Hicks declined to comment.
Featured Image via Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla.
