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Gowdy: Trump Family Unmasked During Inauguration Day Surveillance Reports… Wait, What? (VIDEO)

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Unsurprisingly when Trey Gowdy said “the Trump family was unmasked on inauguration day”… interviewer Sandra Smith never paused to say: “wait, unmasked in what”?

During his tenure as House Oversight Committee Chair, apparently Trey Gowdy has seen intelligence reports showing the Trump family was unmasked on inauguration day. The logical follow-up question would be: who was generating intelligence reports on the Trump family?

Alas, the dangling participle never had the opportunity to dangle… go figure.

Follow the bouncing ball. If Gowdy is correct, and he has no vested interest in just making it up, then there was FBI domestic surveillance of the Trump family on inauguration day; which generated an intelligence report. Yet, apparently, no-one seems surprised by that… I digress. (For more from the author of “Gowdy: Trump Family Unmasked During Inauguration Day Surveillance Reports… Wait, What?” please click HERE)

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Trey Gowdy Reveals FBI Withheld ‘Potential Game-Changer’ Evidence in Russia Probe

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Former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), who chaired the House Intelligence Committee before retiring from Congress last year, revealed Sunday on Fox News that unreleased transcripts between former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos and an FBI informant exist — and they have the “potential to be a game-changer.”

Now that Robert Mueller has concluded his investigation, Attorney General William Barr has indicated that he will investigate whether government officials “put their thumb on the scale” during the Russia investigation, particularly in its early stages.

Gowdy teased that perhaps there was wrongdoing because government officials withheld the transcripts, which he characterized as exculpatory evidence, when applying for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants against Trump campaign aide Carter Page. . .

“And some of us have been fortunate enough to know whether or not those transcripts exist, but they haven’t been made public,” he continued. “And I think one in particular is going — it has the potential to actually persuade people.”

“Very little on this Russia probe, I’m afraid, is going to persuade people who hate Trump or who love Trump,” Gowdy went on to say. “But there is some information in these transcripts that I think has the potential to be a game-changer if it’s ever made public.” (Read more from “Trey Gowdy Reveals FBI Withheld ‘Potential Game-Changer’ Evidence in Russia Probe” HERE)

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Trey Gowdy Is Leaving Politics

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Rep. Trey Gowdy announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the year, becoming the ninth Republican chairman of a congressional committee to decide to leave Congress at the end of this session.

“I will not be filing for re-election to Congress nor seeking any other political or elected office; instead, I will be returning to the justice system,” Gowdy said in a statement posted on Twitter.

“Whatever skills I may have are better utilized in a courtroom than in Congress, and I enjoy our justice system more than our political system. As I look back on my career, it is the jobs that both seek and reward fairness that are most rewarding,” he added.

Gowdy became the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee last June after Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, decided to resign from Congress. Gowdy had previously chaired the House Select Committee on Benghazi, which investigated the 2012 attack on the U.S. compound that resulted in the deaths of several Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

The announcement was posted after Republican lawmakers, who were traveling to their annual retreat in West Virginia, experienced a crash on their chartered Amtrak train. Their train appeared to hit a garbage truck. The White House confirmed the crash, and said in a statement that there is one known fatality. So far, lawmakers appear not to have sustained major injuries. (Read more from “Trey Gowdy Is Leaving Politics” HERE)

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Why Conservatives Put Trust in Trey Gowdy as House’s Corruption Fighter

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Conservative leaders say they’re confident the new chairman of a House of Representatives panel that targets corruption will dedicate himself to reviewing executive branch actions, including during the Obama administration.

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., assumed the chairmanship of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee after his confirmation Tuesday. He takes the reins from Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who will leave Congress on June 30.

The oversight committee, which works to expose abuse, waste, and fraud, seeks to ensure the “efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of the federal government and all its agencies,” according to the panel’s website.

“I think there are opportunities for accountability for misconduct in the Obama administration that should be taken advantage of,” Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, a conservative legal oversight organization, said of Gowdy in an interview with The Daily Signal.

Gowdy, 52, first elected to Congress in 2010, was chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, which investigated and produced a report on the 2012 terror attacks in Benghazi, Libya.

Prior to joining Congress, Gowdy worked as a federal prosecutor in South Carolina on cases that included narcotics trafficking rings, child pornography, and the murder of a federal witness. He also held the post of 7th Circuit solicitor, directing 25 attorneys and 40 other employees in an office that represents South Carolina in certain local criminal cases.

Fitton said he hopes Gowdy will investigate corruption that occurred during Barack Obama’s presidency.

“I think he should work to get the attention of the White House to expose what went on during the Obama administration, even on things that everyone thinks are over, such as Benghazi and the IRS and, you know, even Fast and Furious,” Fitton said.

Besides the terrorist attacks in Benghazi that left U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three others dead, Fitton was referring to the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of tea party groups under IRS division chief Lois Lerner before the 2012 elections. Lawmakers recently asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to re-examine the Lerner case.

Fast and Furious, a secret operation of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives authorized by the Obama Justice Department, funneled guns to illegal buyers close to the Mexican border because agency officials wanted to follow them back to Mexican drug gangs.

Weapons from the Fast and Furious program were found on Dec.14, 2010 at the scene of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry’s slaying, The Daily Signal previously reported.

Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice, a legal group, said in a statement provided to The Daily Signal that Gowdy will be an unbiased chairman.

“Congressman Gowdy brings valuable prosecutorial skills to this critical role,” Sekulow said. “He understands as well as anyone in Congress how to gather evidence, question witnesses, and separate truth from spin. He is an excellent choice for the position.”

Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal in an email that Gowdy could use his position to probe illegal payments to third-party organizations.

On June 7, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the federal government no longer will make settlement agreements with any person or organization not directly involved in a legal dispute.

Von Spakovsky said of Gowdy:

I think one of the first things he could look at, in conjunction with AG Sessions having just ended the DOJ practice of having settlement funds in litigation being paid to third-party groups, is using his oversight powers to compile a list of all of the organizations that were paid off by the Obama Justice Department, with the amounts they received.

Chaffetz, first elected to Congress in 2008, announced April 19 that he would not seek re-election in 2018. He officially resigned Tuesday as chairman of the oversight committee, and said his last day in Congress would be June 30.

As committee chairman, Chaffetz, 50, became known for his investigation into Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email account and server to conduct official business when she was secretary of state during Obama’s first term.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers, said in a statement provided to The Daily Signal that he is confident that Gowdy will be a competent watchdog.

“Having worked with him on the Oversight Committee since I arrived in Congress, I can tell you there are few men in Washington more dedicated to holding government accountable than Trey Gowdy,” Meadows said, adding:

He is an honest broker who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to truth and integrity above partisan politics. He’ll make an outstanding chairman and I look forward to working with him.

Anthony L. François, a senior attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation, told The Daily Signal in an interview that he expects Gowdy will hold the executive branch accountable.

“There is an overarching purpose to what the committee does, and especially Mr. Gowdy’s responsibility [in] the chair, in making sure that the government that American citizens get is the one that their elected representatives have enacted, not a different one that unaccountable bureaucrats would prefer to impose,” François said.

Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of GOP lawmakers in the House, told The Daily Signal in an interview that he hopes Gowdy will use his oversight position to ensure government accountability.

Walker said:

As far as specific areas that we hope that he will look into, when it comes to government accountability I think there is a lot of room. Some of the agencies that have run amok, that have operated in some of the careless behavior, I believe that is part of his goal and part of his heart to continue to peel back some of the abuse, the overspending. And I think he’s the guy to do that, and I support this decision 100 percent.

(For more from the author of “Why Conservatives Put Trust in Trey Gowdy as House’s Corruption Fighter” please click HERE)

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Gowdy Says Lies Show Sufficient Intent to Prosecute Clinton in Email Scandal

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With the FBI investigation into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server having revealed careless conduct, flouting of the rules for handling sensitive documents, and attempts to cover up the scandal, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., wanted to know on Wednesday what — exactly — the FBI’s standard would have been to have prosecuted Clinton for breaking the law.

“What would she have had to do to warrant your recommendation for prosecution?” Gowdy asked FBI Director James Comey during a House Oversight Committee hearing Wednesday.

Comey, as he has before, said that he would have to be able to prove intent. On Wednesday, he replied to Gowdy that he would have had to be able to prove Clinton knew what she did was wrong when she did it.

“But the way to prove that is whether or not someone took steps to conceal or destroy what they’ve done,” Gowdy said. “That is the best evidence you have that they knew it was wrong, that they lied about it.”

The congressman made it clear he believed intent had been demonstrated.

” … you have to prove it by circumstantial evidence such as whether or not the person intended to set up an e-mail system outside the State Department, such as whether or not the person knew or should have known that his or her job involved handling classified information, whether or not the person was truthful about the use of multiple devices, whether or not the person knew that a frequent e-mailer to her had been hacked, and whether she took any remedial steps after being put on notice that your e-mail or someone who’s been e-mailing with you prolifically had been hacked, and whether or not — and I think you would agree with this, Director — false exculpatory statements are gold in a courtroom. I would rather have a false exculpatory statement than a confession. I would rather have someone lie about something and it be provable that that is a lie, such as that I neither sent nor received classified information. Such as that I turned over all of my work related e-mails. All of that to me goes to the issue of intent,” Gowdy said.

He told Comey he was “real careful not to criticize you” but was highly unhappy with the results of the FBI’s work.

“That is not the FBI that I used to work with,” Gowdy said.

Gowdy had also expressed his frustration during Fox and Friends when he noted that rules seemed to have been bent severely in the investigation, as typified by the multiple roles played by Clinton aide Cheryl Mills, who was given immunity by the FBI.

“Cheryl Mills, one day she’s a target, one day she’s a witness, and then the next day, she’s sitting in Secretary Clinton’s interview as a lawyer. And I’ll just tell you, as somebody that did this for a living, that is unprecedented,” Gowdy said.

Gowdy was not alone in being skeptical.

“It seems clear that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton committed multiple felonies involving the passing of classified information through her private email server,” said Committee Chairman Robert W. Goodlatte, R-Va.. “The FBI, however, declined to refer the case for prosecution on some very questionable bases.”

Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, said he was certain the decision not to prosecute Clinton was made before she was interviewed. Comey denied that assertion. (For more from the author of “Gowdy Says Lies Show Sufficient Intent to Prosecute Clinton in Email Scandal” please click HERE)

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Gowdy Makes a Second Endorsement — ‘I’m Going to Support the Jury’

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House Select Committee on Benghazi Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., has boarded the Trump train.

“I endorse Donald Trump,” Gowdy told MSNBC’s Chuck Todd on Meet the Press Friday.

“I was a Rubio guy, and if Marco had won I would have expected the Cruz supporters and the Kasich supports and the Trump supporters to support my guy,” he said. “My guy lost. When the jury speaks, I’m going to support the jury.”

Gowdy had previously said he would support the eventual GOP nominee, but never mentioned Trump specifically.

When he was pressed about his change in attitude regarding Trump, Gowdy said, “I actually didn’t think I was that hesitant.”

He then reiterated his support for Trump.

“I was a Rubio guy and Marco lost, but I will enthusiastically support the Republican nominee,” he said.

Gowdy also elaborated about the current happenings on the Benghazi committee, which is investigating the 2012 attacks on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

He said that the report of his committee would be issued before this summer’s political convent?ons. Democrats have attacked the committee, saying the panel’s more than two years of investigations are politically motivated and timed to impact Clinton’s chances in the election. Gowdy has denied this accusation and blamed federal agencies for their slow responses to requests for information. (For more from the author of “Gowdy Makes a Second Endorsement — ‘I’m Going to Support the Jury'” please click HERE)

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Trey Gowdy Just Sent a Brutal Wake-Up Call to Every Single Democrat – There’s No Escaping

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Later this year, the House Select Committee is expected to issue its report pertaining to the mistakes made and what went wrong during the Benghazi attacks on September 11, 2012, which resulted in the death of four Americans.

Chairman of the committee Trey Gowdy has instructed members of the panel not to divulge any details of the report until it is complete. He did, however, release a statement via Twitter on Wednesday aimed at Democrats, who routinely brush off the scandal as trumped up politics.

Democrats have routinely downplayed the events which occurred that day, especially Hillary Clinton. Clinton famously yelled, “what difference, at this point, does it make?” during her appearance before the committee in 2015, despite being secretary of state at the time of the debacle . . .

The committee has held four hearings so far in order to determine specifically what failure occurred enabling the death of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and CIA operatives Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. Hopefully the public will get answers before the end of the year. (Read more from “Trey Gowdy Just Sent a Brutal Wake-Up Call to Every Single Democrat – There’s No Escaping” HERE)

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Trey Gowdy Just Exposed What the Dems Are Doing to Block Benghazi Investigation With Damaging Letter

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House Select Committee on Benghazi Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., has responded to the refusal by some Democrats to maintain the integrity of his committee’s work by refusing to give them documents the Democrats have threatened to leak.

Gowdy sought an assurance from Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., that Democrats would agree not to leak important information from the hearings. He did not get it.

“As recently as this afternoon, I offered Mr. Cummings total, unfettered access to, and control of, transcripts if he simply agreed he would not selectively leak them. He would not give me that assurance,” Gowdy said in a statement.

Gowdy said Democrats had threatened to release transcripts from witnesses that included White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and former CIA director David Petraeus.

“Once they stated their intention to misuse transcripts, I could not in good faith allow them to do so. Mr. Cummings likes to frequently lecture people how ‘we’re better than this,’ but his actions and the actions of his staff with regards to this investigation unfortunately prove otherwise,” Gowdy said.

Gowdy added that he has “no choice but to protect past witnesses, future witnesses, confidential material and the integrity of the investigation by allowing the Democrats equitable access but not control.” (Read more from “Trey Gowdy Just Exposed What the Dems Are Doing to Block Benghazi Investigation With Damaging Letter” HERE)

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Ted Cruz’s Campaign Had a Snappy Response to Donald Trump’s Lawsuit Threat

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By Pamela Engel. The presidential campaign of US Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) fired back on Tuesday after Donald Trump called him “unstable” and threatened to sue him.

Cruz’s communications director, Rick Tyler, used a pun to dismiss Trump’s attacks.

“There is reason ‘Trumped up’ means phony,” Tyler told Business Insider in an email. “He should look hard in the mirror.”

The day before, Trump released a statement raging about Cruz’s supposedly “fraudulent” campaign actions.

He has accused Cruz of running robocalls saying that Trump was not going to run in the upcoming South Carolina primary. (Read more from “Ted Cruz’s Campaign Had a Snappy Response to Donald Trump’s Lawsuit Threat” HERE)

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Gowdy Calls for Cruz to Denounce ‘Underhanded Tactics’

By Al Weaver. Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina congressman who supports Marco Rubio, called for Ted Cruz to repudiate the most recent bit of “underhanded tactics” ahead of the South Carolina primary.

“In the last week, we have seen a systematic effort by Sen. Cruz and his allies to spread false information and outright lies in the hopes of winning votes by appealing to our lowest common denominator,” Gowdy said. “Now, Its been reported that a fake Facebook page has been used to fool South Carolinians into thinking that I no longer support Marco Rubio and that I’m instead supporting Ted Cruz.

“Nothing could be further from the truth and I’m demanding that Sen. Cruz and his campaign repudiate these dishonest and underhanded tactics,” Gowdy continued. “We can have a debate about the future of our party and our country. But we need not leave our integrity behind.”

In the Facebook post at hand by a page titled “Trey Gowdy Prayers,” it says that the most recent debate “revealed [Rubio’s] total lack of integrity, intillect and foresight,” before switching the faux endorsement to Cruz.

It is official, I have changed my mind. My previous endorsement of Marco Rubio was a grave mistake. The recent South Carolina debate revealed his total lack of integrity, intillect and foresight,” the post reads. “To all my Christian and Conservative friends in South Carolina, I hereby formally endorse Ted Cruz for President of the United States.” (Read more from “Gowdy Calls for Cruz to Denounce ‘Underhanded Tactics'” HERE)

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Trey Gowdy Trying to Recover From His Unpopular Rubio Endorsement, Says This About Trump

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Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) on Monday pledged that he will support the GOP’s presidential nominee in 2016, including if it’s Donald Trump.

“I’m going to vote for the Republican nominee, period,” the chairman of the House Select Committee on Benghazi said on “The Mike Gallagher Show.”

“I’m going to vote for the Republican nominee because anyone on our side is better than anyone on their side.”

“I am so tired of having [Democrats] control the executive branch that I am going to vote for whoever is the Republican nominee.”

Gowdy’s remarks follow his endorsement last week of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for the White House. He said Republicans need to focus on the larger goal in 2016, even if they disagree over who their nominee should be. (Read more from “Trey Gowdy Just Revealed Who He Is Voting for in 2016” HERE)

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