Rep. Ted Lieu (D-California) pushed back against Republican claims that the Justice Department is targeting Donald Trump by recalling why the former president and those close to him have been in legal hot water.
The moment came during a Judiciary Committee hearing in which GOP lawmakers repeatedly attacked FBI Director Christopher Wray as being biased against conservatives.
Wray called it “crazy” given his background as a Republican who was appointed to his post by Trump and had previously served in the administration of President George W. Bush.
Lieu backed him up with a series of pointed questions naming figures close to Trump who have faced charges – including longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, donor Elliott Broidy, personal attorney Michael Cohen and the campaign manager Paul Manafort, and were all convicted under Trump-appointed attorneys general.
“It’s not the FBI’s fault that Donald Trump surrounded himself with criminals,” Lieu concluded. “Donald Trump has taken it out on himself. Thanks to the FBI for exposing the cesspool of corruption of these Trump associates.
See the full exchange below: