Democratic California Rep. Adam Schiff admitted to fabricating at least a portion of his opening statement in Thursday’s hearing with acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire — and 24 hours later, most outlets hadn’t acknowledged that.
There were plenty of critics who were quick to call Schiff out for his dishonesty. (RELATED: Schiff Clarifies His Fabricated Account Of Ukraine Transcript By Calling It ‘Parody’)
In a democracy, there is nothing more controversial than impeachment. It is not a laughing matter. It is not parody. It is divisive and will cause deep strife. So why would Adam Schiff fabricate information and behave like this?
Schiff’s behavior was disgraceful. https://t.co/6uFkdCldWG
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 26, 2019
I can’t believe what I’m watching right now!
When confronted about making up a transcript, Adam Schiff countered “it was meant to be parody.”
This is a hearing before the UNITED STATES CONGRESS, and Schiff uses parody as a mechanism to completely misconstrue @realDonaldTrump?!
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) September 26, 2019
Absolutely disgraceful for Adam Schiff to dismiss his lies about @realDonaldTrump’s call with the Ukrainian President as “parody.”
Schiff willfully misled the American people and he should retract immediately!pic.twitter.com/aMpnFSvyI6
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) September 26, 2019
But freelance journalist Jeryl Bier shared the results of multiple searches revealing just how many outlets had failed to note Schiff’s dishonest representation of President Donald Trump’s July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
So, if you Google “schiff” and “parody” for the last 24 hours for NYTimes, WaPo, WSJ, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC… nothing. ????So @RepAdamSchiff is getting away with making stuff up on live TV. pic.twitter.com/XCaEbwCHRw
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) September 26, 2019
In addition to the lack of coverage on most media outlets, the Democratic National Committee jumped on Schiff’s initial statement and shared it on Twitter without noting that even Schiff himself had admitted it wasn’t a truthful representation of the call.
No harm done? @DNCWarRoom doesn’t think so!https://t.co/M3Vt7sacCj
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) September 26, 2019
Bier noted that hours later, the Washington Post did acknowledge the fabrication.
SInce this, there is a WaPo mention here:https://t.co/EJLqY6wx8w
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) September 27, 2019
He also gave credit to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer for asking Schiff directly about the opening statement.
And @wolfblitzer on @CNNSitRoom asked @RepAdamSchiff about it (I tweeted Blitzer about it, but seriously question if that’s what prompted him to ask, but who knows!).https://t.co/sHLYx11N9M
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) September 27, 2019
President Trump responded to Schiff’s statement — and his claim that it was just a parody — by calling for Schiff’s resignation.
Rep. Adam Schiff totally made up my conversation with Ukraine President and read it to Congress and Millions. He must resign and be investigated. He has been doing this for two years. He is a sick man!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2019