Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) criticized the “arbitrary standards” and “non-answers” during an exchange with the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons over attempts to interview Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon.
“…when John Gotti is allowed…and Peter Navarro is not, it's hard to determine how Gotti would be less notorious.”
(Video: House Judiciary Commission)
On Capitol Hill on Tuesday, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Government Crime and Surveillance heard testimony from BOP Director Colette Peters about management, operations and staffing challenges. It also sought to address concerns about alleged disparate treatment of politically motivated inmates.
“Director Peters, remember telling me that Peter Navarro was too notorious when I wanted to interview him during his incarceration?” Gaetz asked earning an affirmation from the headmaster after a correction about who they were talking about.
“I want to get into how you determine an inmate is too notorious for an interview or not too notorious for an interview. What's the standard you apply?” the congressman tried to goad Peters out of the way: “I think it's very important that the committee understand that the request was about appearing on a podcast. It wasn't about facilitating a meeting with the two of you, that my office he followed up and said we would make it clear.”
“There's only one way, as we talked about in our policy, to be able to appear on a podcast, and that's our media policy. And you, with your personal podcast, that's not official,” he continued.
“No, it's my official podcast,” Gaetz said before finishing speaking. “Members of Congress do podcasts to function as video news bulletins to tell the American people what's going on. So I wanted to interview Navarro. You said he was too famous. You acknowledged that was the basis. So that I now want to know what test you apply to determine whether or not someone is too notorious.”
“… here's what it looks like,” the Florida lawmaker insisted after being reminded of that Michael Avenatti he had given an interview from federal prison. “You have acknowledged that the reason you didn't let me interview Navarro was because you said he was too notorious. And then I spent over a minute trying to get you to tell us what the proof of that notoriety is. And you can't explain any of them. You keep coming back to, “Well, we couldn't make it easier for you.” We're trying to be helpful.' That wasn't helpful.”
Peters' claim that it was “as helpful as possible” was summarily dismissed by the congressman who continued: “And when you have standards that are subject to any interpretation you want, then you carry with the whole office the belief that you, guys. They're just being arbitrary. Because when John Gotti is allowed to do an interview for federal prison, it's hard to determine how Gotti would be less notorious.”
Intending to interview Bannon while he was serving a four-month sentence for contempt of Congress after Navarro completed his, Gaetz pressed the director to specifically answer whether that would be allowed.
“This is a legislative matter. You are testifying before your oversight subcommittee. Why don't you tell us you'll approve our trip to Danbury? he asked as she insisted that the “lengthy process” had to be followed. “You run the department. There is no one else. You are the head of the Department. Why can't we say we can go?”
Before concluding his five-minute line expressing concern that the Mexican Mafia is currently operating in American prisons, Gaetz denounced his “total non-response. I mean, that's what we get, Mr. President. That's what we get. Arbitrary standards, not answers, and frankly, if we keep funding it and tolerating it, that's all we're going to get.”
“I would encourage strong oversight here. I would not want to be in a position where you would deny this request,” he added in agreement on social media.
Can you disburse them and cut his salary?
— Tara (@Tara15482537174) July 23, 2024
Get your $$$$$$ off
— King Arthur ⚔️☠️ (@KingArt51769658) July 23, 2024
When schools don't comply, withhold the money. It should be no different here.
— Royrogers55 (@Royrogers551) July 23, 2024
Stop funding. Who runs the country?
— Anita You to open your mind to new information! (@AnitaMorga6224) July 23, 2024
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