Video: Florida Democrat wears Putin mask to impeachment hearing

Nick Robertson
·2 min read
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(The Hill) — Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) donned a rubber mask of Russian President Vladimir Putin on his way to the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s hearing investigating Hunter Biden’s business dealings Wednesday, mocking the GOP effort.

Moskowitz told media outside the hearing that he was there to thank Chair Jim Comer (R-Ky.) “for taking all of our intelligence and using it in the committee,” he said, acting as Putin.

“Maybe he can come see the technology in our grocery stores,” Moskowitz continued, a jab at conservative media host Tucker Carlson, who garnered criticism for his glowing video about Moscow’s grocery stores.

In a subsequent statement, the lawmaker said: “House Oversight Republicans opened this investigation into Joe Biden with the 1023 form, which has now been proven to come right from Russian intelligence. James Comer did the bidding of Vladimir Putin. The mask was worn to provide that visual.”

The Oversight investigation into the president’s son has been sidetracked by the arrest of a key witness, Alexander Smirnov, who told prosecutors that he received the information he testified about against Biden from Russian intelligence. The 1023 form mentioned by the Florida Democrat was related to Smirnov’s statements.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., holds up a whiteboard he wrote on during a House Oversight Committee impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, comparing the impeachments and indictments of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., holds up a whiteboard he wrote on during a House Oversight Committee impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, comparing the impeachments and indictments of former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Comer and other GOP members of the committee have downplayed the arrest, claiming their investigation is not based on Smirnov’s testimony.

Wednesday’s hearing featured testimony from Lev Parnas, a former Trump administration aide called by Democrats on the committee, and former Hunter Biden business partners Tony Bobulinski and Jason Galanis.

Hunter Biden has previously demanded a criminal investigation into Bobulinski. Galanis is currently incarcerated for securities fraud.

Biden declined to appear for Wednesday’s hearing, which is tied to the GOP effort to impeach his father, President Biden.

This story was updated at 11:05 a.m.

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