Yikes: Trump Judge Picks Implode at Senate Hearing

0:00Ben Meiselas:Total chaos erupting in the United States Senate as some of Donald Trump's top nominations were cross-examined by Democratic senators, and they all fell apart under oath on live TV. We're talking about some of Donald Trump's top picks to fill vacant judicial positions at the highest level of our circuit courts, and we're talking about Donald Trump's pick to fill the Department of Justice Antitrust Division lead prosecutorial role. Let me show you what went down in the United States Senate where you had Democratic Senator Schiff cross-examining Donald Trump's pick to lead the DOJ antitrust division.

0:40Ben Meiselas:His name is Kandube. And Adam Schiff cross-examined this guy and exposed what a MAGA bootlicker and what a pathetic individual this Kandube guy is who's seeking to lead the Department of Justice antitrust division. Here play this clip. And Mr. Kandeb, in 2016, when Donald Trump ran against Hillary Clinton, who won that election?

1:07Donald Trump was certified as winner by the United States Congress. Did he, in fact, win? He was certified as winner. Did he, in fact, win? He was certified as winner. Do you have some doubt about whether he won? Well, under a constitutional structure, it is the states that have... My question is, do you have some doubt about the outcome? I have no doubt that the U.S. Congress certified Donald Trump. No, I don't ask you that question. Do you have any doubt that Donald Trump won the election? I have no doubt that under our constitutional structure. Well, that's really not my question. In 2020, who won the election?

1:46The United States Congress certified. Why is it difficult for you to answer a simple factual question about who won presidential elections? When did it become so difficult to answer such a simple question? And how can we expect you to rely on the facts when you're evaluating a case? Mr. Cook, when you're evaluating a merger, Mr. Candep, how do we expect, how can we expect you to rely on the facts when you have such difficulty stating the obvious?

2:23Ben Meiselas:Now, one by one, the judicial nominees of Donald Trump squirmed as they were cross-examined by Democratic Senator Schiff, who tied them in knots, as Aaron Rupert puts it, by asking them, so who won the 2008 election? Was it Obama or was it McCain? Now let's talk about the 2016 election. Did Donald Trump win or did Hillary Clinton win? And the judicial nominees, and we're talking about some people who are actually current district court judges. I mean, that guy Cronin is a district court judge. Cook is a district court judge. They couldn't answer the most basic questions. Watch Democratic Senator Schiff tie these judicial nominee incompetent mega sycophants into pretzels here play this clip mr cook in 2008 barack obama ran against john mccain who won that election i believe president obama was sworn into oath sworn into office so i'm certain he won senator uh and john mccain lost that election yes senator but four years later Barack Obama ran against Mitt Romney who won that election uh president Obama was sworn into office so I'm certain he was elected as a matter of law senator and did Romney lose the election that's the natural logical uh converse of that yes in 2016 Donald Trump ran against Hillary Clinton who won that election?

4:01He was sworn into office. So as a matter of law, he was elected to that office, Senator. So Donald Trump won that election? That would be the natural assumption. Yes, Senator. Is it a brilliant assumption you have to make? Did Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton? In the Electoral College, he did. Yes, Senator. Do you have some uncertainty about whether he won that election? No, I'm trying to be precise about what I'm saying. Yes, he won in the electoral college because and joe joe biden in 20 well um in the 2020 election who won between donald trump and joe biden well joe biden was certified by joint session of congress and so as a matter of law he was the elected president as a matter of fact who won that election he was we we implement the 12th amendment and under that i don't he was elected As a matter of fact, who won that election?

4:59Just as a simple matter of fact. Somebody asked you out on the street, who won the election in 2020? What would your answer be? Who won? And who lost? I would say as a matter of law, he was elected, Senator. And as a matter of fact? You're somehow separating the law and facts. As a matter of actual fact, who won the election in 2020? It's a fact that the Electoral College vote was more for Joe Biden. You have real difficulty with that question. In 2024, Donald Trump ran against Kamala Harris, who won that election. President Trump had more Electoral College votes, and so the Joint Social Congress certified him as the winner.

5:40So Donald Trump won that election. As a matter of law, he was elected, Senator. And Kamala Harris lost that election. That was the converse.

5:48Ben Meiselas:Then you had Democratic Senator Cory Booker cross-examining, again, that guy, Kandu. Here, play this clip. So let me make this easy. Show us your courage. Show us your independence. Be a man. Be your own man right now and stand up and answer a question, yes or no. A simple yes or no question that shows right now all of America that you're your own man. I don't need legalese. I don't need trickery. Yes or no. Did Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election? Yes or no.

6:27The United States Congress. Oh, there you go. Sir, stop. Federal courts said he did. President's own attorney general said yes. President's own cybersecurity director said yes. Republicans all over this country said yes. And right now you're not showing me. You can't even acknowledge a fact that's been established by the courts, the president's own attorney general, by his own election security officials. why should we believe that you're going to stand up to this president when billions of dollars are at stake and the fate of mergers are in your hands? This is the pivotal question. Can you please tell me a yes or no answer?

7:07Tell me no, I can't give you a yes or no answer if that's your answer. Yes or no. Did President Biden win the 2020 elections? The United States Congress certified Joe Biden. Sir, you are showing cowardice. And that's the question. Are you going to choose the truth? or Trump? Law or his lies? Are you going to choose the Constitution or cowardice?

7:30Ben Meiselas:More here from Democratic Senator Schiff, cross-examining Kandub. Play this clip. Mr. Kandub, when you met with my staff yesterday, you said you stood by your previous comments, including op-eds you wrote for white nationalist websites like VADARE. In one of those, in an article titled Immigration and Three Twitchy Jewish Nerves, you stated, quote, Muslim immigrants and their children seem prone not only to terrorism but to cultural separatism. Do you stand by that statement?

8:08Senator, I wrote that article in defense of Donald Trump's travel ban, which I thought was essential. That's not my question. My question is, you told my staff you stood by your previous statements. Do you stand by that one? I stand by those articles. They were defenses against terrorism. So you stand by that statement. So what do you mean that Muslim immigrants and their children are prone to terrorism?

8:33I wrote those articles. I'm not asking you. You already said you stand by that statement. So what do you mean by that? I'm trying to explain. I wrote those articles in defense of Donald Trump's travel ban, which is to protect us against terrorism. And I thought that terrorism is, continues to be a tremendous threat to all Americans. And you think that Muslim immigrants and their children are somehow prone to terrorism? I wrote in support of the travel ban. I'm aware of why you wrote the article. My question is, and I would like an answer, do you stand by your statement that Muslim immigrants and their children seem prone to terrorism?

9:15I stand by the article I wrote. The travel ban was being... Well, then that's all I need to know. I yield back.

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11:16Ben Meiselas:He's a district court judge. He's now been appointed to a circuit court position. He's been elevated. Just watch how pathetic this judge is. This guy's a sitting judge. here play this clip. Judge Cronin, you're already on the district court. Who won the 2020 election? Senator, under the constitutional system, and in particular, the 12th Amendment, Joseph Biden received the majority of the Electoral College vote. You really have nothing to lose. You're on the court with a lifetime appointment, and yet you're unwilling to state the simple fact that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. I do have life tenure, Senator.

11:54I'm trying to answer your question as truthfully and accurately as I can. Mr. Mannion, who won the 2020 election? Senator, I agree with the substance of my co-panelist. Mr. Kandub, who won the 2020 election? Let's see if you can do better. I agree with my panelists. You agree with your? The fellow panelists, the United States Congress certified Joseph Biden. What kind of enforcer are you going to be if you can't tell the truth to a committee of Congress?

12:30And don't tell me that you can't answer because you're general counsel of the FCC. The United States Congress certified Joseph Biden.

12:42Ben Meiselas:And then Senator Blumenthal grilled Judge Cook again. Another sitting district court judge. How terrifying is it that this guy is actually a federal judge and he's seeking an appointment to become a higher level federal judge at the circuit court level? Here, play this clip. Judge Cook, was the Capitol attacked on January 6th, 2021? Yes, there was a lot of violence and vandalism at the Capitol and attacks on law enforcement. So I hesitate to use the word attack just because it would be something that would apply to everybody. And I believe in precision. So you're unwilling to say what Justice Coney Barrett has said, what Judge Kelly has said, Judge Lamberth has said, federal district court judges and a Supreme Court justice that the Capitol was attacked.

13:36You're unwilling to say that. I actually don't think I quite finished my answer, Senator. I don't have a problem with saying some of those people attacked the Capitol and there was vandalism and there was violence and they attack law enforcement. And I I denounce all of that. So, yes, Senator, I don't I don't think we're I don't think we're disagreeing. Judge Conan, what's your answer to that question? Senator from Washington videos, law enforcement officers were assaulted from what I saw. The Capitol that was trespassed, it was vandalism. So I would stand by what I observed, which I think made clear that there were assaults on law enforcement officers.

14:16Mr. Mannion.

14:20Ben Meiselas:Senator, I agree that there was certainly violence against law enforcement officers, violence against the Capitol. And I detest all such violence.

14:33Mr. Kandu. I agree with my fellow panelists. It was a terrible day for America. There was violence against law enforcement, which I deplore. There's vandalism. It was a terrible day. The violence against those brave Capitol police officers was because there was an attack on the Capitol and an attempt to stop the lawful transfer of power. For you to refuse to say there was an attack on the Capitol simply because Donald Trump characterizes it as a, quote, innocent journey is disrespectful to those police officers. It is also fundamentally disqualifying for a federal district judge or anyone else seeking a position of trust.

15:35It is chilling that people who've been nominated for this extraordinary position of responsibility would be unwilling to acknowledge the truth.

15:49Ben Meiselas:Oh, man. Then you had that squirming Kandube again, who's seeking to lead the Department of Justice antitrust division. Watch this. It's absolutely brutal. Here play this clip. Mr. Kandube, who won the 2020 election? Let's see if you can do better. I agree with my panelists. You agree with your? The fellow panelists. The United States Congress certified Joseph Biden. What kind of enforcer are you going to be if you can't tell the truth to a committee of Congress?

16:22And don't tell me that you can't answer because you're general counsel of the FCC.

16:29The United States Congress certified Joseph Biden. That's President. Judge Cook.

16:35Ben Meiselas:More over here from Senator Blumenthal cross-examining Judge Cook. Watch for yourself. Let's play it. Who won the 2020 election? 2020, Joseph Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 election by a joint session of Congress. He was declared the winner? Yes. The people of America declared him the winner.

17:00Correct? There was an election, and it proceeded through the normal procedures outlined in the Constitution, including state votes. And he won the popular vote, correct? As a judicial nominee, it would be inappropriate to come in on a disputed political and legal issue. I'm asking you as a matter of fact. Everybody in America knows the answer to this question. Why are you refusing to give it before this panel under oath? he won the popular vote in the 2020 election, correct? Senator, this is a disputed political matter, and there is ongoing litigation, and as a judicial nominee, I'm not permitted.

17:41Who won the electoral college in the 2020 election? A joint session of Congress determined that Joseph Biden won the electoral college. Did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election? A joint session of Congress determined that President Trump did not win the Electoral College. Was the Capitol attacked on January 6th? Senator, there was violence and vandalism on that day, including with regard to law enforcement officers. I think all of that was inappropriate and wrong. And illegal. Certainly, there were court findings of. There were convictions. That's correct. And people were convicted of attacking the Capitol, correct?

18:25I don't know if any court used the phrase attacking the Capitol. I think the Supreme Court... Well, wouldn't you use it to describe what happened on that day? Everybody in America has seen the videos. Everybody in America knows that Capitol Police were injured. Some died. Wasn't it an attack on the Capitol? Senator, it was an attack on a number of individuals, and that was wrong and inappropriate. Why are you unwilling to say honestly and candidly to this committee that the Capitol was attacked? Well, Senator, as a judicial nominee, I'm here to talk about questions of law, not fact. I know the United States Supreme Court has said this Capitol.

19:14We're here to talk about what we ask you to talk about. And questions of fact are absolutely to the point when we are asking whether you are willing to state facts honestly and candidly because it goes to your integrity and independence.

19:34Ben Meiselas:And then here you had Senator Dick Durbin cross-examining Can Doob as well. Let's play this clip. Three years ago, in a 2023 interview with a right-wing Hungarian news magazine, in which you failed initially to disclose to the committee, you said, and I quote, the ideological bias of universities, the extensive harassment laws that regulate the workplace, and the gradual spread of self-censorship are leading to a society in the United States that is intellectually more comfortable, duller, more deceitful, and more timid, timid was your word, than in previous decades. So let's clarify your position.

20:22Ben Meiselas:Do you oppose laws that protect against harassment in the workplace? Absolutely not, Senator. Why did you say that anti-workplace harassment laws are leading to a society that is, quote, more comfortable, duller, more deceitful, and more timid?

20:44I have spent much of my career as an academic. And for me, the most important part about being an academic is the ability to exchange ideas freely. Sometimes I think we've seen in campuses situations in which over-enthusiastic bureaucrats and enforcers can chill free speech. And I think that was my epitome. I want to protect free speech on campus. Do you stand by your words? which word senator do you want me to read it a third time

21:20Ben Meiselas:the harassment laws that regulate the workplace make the united states more comfortable duller more deceitful and more timid than the previous decades i stand by my words because i believe in free speech thank you miss madam chair man that can do guys a dangerous weird dude huh Huh? A dangerous weirdo, in my opinion. In any event, hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. We appreciate you for watching. Let me know what you think in the comments. I want to read your comments on this one. I read your comments on everyone, but send me your comments on this one also. Before you go, our book, WTF America, is available for pre-order now.

22:04Ben Meiselas:It's the story of how we got here and how we fight our way back. To pre-order, scan the QR code, or click the link in the description. Let's do this.