Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) caused a stir during his Rumble show, Firebrand, on Tuesday as he revealed his plan to introduce legislation to defund Jack Smith’s investigation into President Trump.
Gaetz’s motivation for this decision stemmed from his concerns about what he viewed as targeted attacks on Trump’s candidacy and election interference. In his statement, Gaetz shared the reasoning behind his proposed bill, highlighting the need to address these issues immediately.
Gaetz raised doubts about whether the indictments against President Trump would exist if he were not a presidential candidate. He asked, “Is there a single American who believes that Donald Trump would be getting indicted over these things if he were not running for president again and if he were not the leading contender for president again?”
Gaetz urged the House of Representatives to take immediate action to defund the investigation, adding that they should not wait for the appropriations process or other bureaucratic procedures. “They are attacking our democracy and engaging in election interference right now. And if the United States Congress does not have the capability to stop that election interference, then what is all the flowery oratory about preserving the republic?”
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Gaetz detailed his plan to introduce a standalone bill in the House of Representatives aimed at defunding the Jack Smith investigation. He expressed frustration with the lack of transparency surrounding the investigation and criticized the Department of Justice for not responding to his requests for information.
Gaetz explained the importance of transparency and the need to understand the composition of Smith’s team, stating, “You remember how the understanding of the composition of the Mueller team informed on how we saw a lot of that evidence and a lot of that legal analysis? They had a team of vicious Democrats.”
Furthermore, Gaetz expressed concerns regarding political biases within Smith’s team and their affiliations with individuals who have vested interests in maintaining power in Washington, D.C., stating, “You ought to be able to evaluate where they’ve made political donations, where they’ve been political appointees, what their connections are to people who have skin in the game to preserve their power in Washington, D.C.”
Although Gaetz acknowledged the challenges involved in passing the legislation, he remained optimistic that his fellow members of Congress would rally behind his bill. He joked that securing Joe Biden’s signature or Senator Chuck Schumer’s endorsement might be unlikely, but he encouraged fellow lawmakers to take a stand on the issue. Gaetz vowed to explore every possible avenue, even considering incorporating the bill into must-pass legislation, in his efforts to defund the investigation.
Should the bill successfully pass the committee stage, it will advance to the full House for debate and voting. If it gains approval in the House, it will then proceed to the Senate for a similar process. Any disparities between the House and Senate versions may necessitate resolution through a conference committee.
In the end, the bill would be sent to Joe Biden, who has the authority to either sign it into law or veto it. If Biden chooses to veto the bill, Congress has the option to attempt to override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate.
