Marjorie Taylor Greene Doesn’t Recall What Marjorie Taylor Greene Said

It wasn’t quite to the level of Sammy Sosa “forgetting” how to speak English while under oath, but Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA14) storytelling was quite different on the witness stand.

Washington Post:

Regrettably, the testimony did not shed much light. Greene was combative, evasive and, like many witnesses in such a position, repeatedly responded to questions by saying she didn’t recall.

But a few answers stand out, either because Greene’s responses didn’t make much sense, or because they’re likely to be revisited in the future.

One was early in the hearing, when Greene was asked whether she thought House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was a “traitor to the country.” Greene actually offered a firm denial — but one that didn’t hold up at all.

 

Question to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: “In fact, you think that Speaker Pelosi is a traitor to the country, right?”

Greene: “I’m not answering that question…I haven’t said that.”

Q: “Put up plaintiff’s exhibit 5.”

Greene: “Oh, no. Wait. Hold on now…” pic.twitter.com/hBHPAkUOaA

— CSPAN (@cspan) April 22, 2022

 

Greene initially tried to refuse to answer, saying, “I’m not answering that question. It’s speculation. It’s hypothetical.”

Lawyer Andrew Celli, who is representing those trying to kick Greene off the ballot for allegedly violating the 14th Amendment, responded, “You’ve said that, haven’t you, Ms. Greene — that she’s a traitor to this country?”

“No, I haven’t said that,” Greene responded.

And yet, she had. She said it in an old video that has circulated widely in the run-up to her testimony. When Celli called up the exhibit showing that, Greene quickly sought a mulligan.

“Oh wait, no, hold on now,” Greene said. She then tried to put a good spin on her past comment, saying, “I believe by not securing the border, that that violates her oath of office.”

Okay, but even if it did, violating one’s oath of office comes up far, far short of treason. (At one point, her lawyer suggested her treason comments were merely political hyperbole. That’s probably something Greene’s supporters should know about: whether Greene truly believes what she says.)

This wasn’t the only time that Greene declined to own up to her past statements. She repeatedly declined entreaties to restate that the election was stolen from Donald Trump — something she has said multiple times publicly — though she ultimately did say she thought President Biden actually lost.

After the exchange about her Pelosi comments, Greene began offering more “I don’t recalls” and “I don’t remembers.” One of them came when she was asked whether she spoke with anyone in the White House about large upcoming demonstrations on Jan. 6.

“I don’t remember,” Greene said.

A news release on Greene’s website details a meeting she had at the White House on Jan. 3 — three days before Jan. 6 — which she described in an accompanying video as a “a great planning session for our January 6th objection.” It’s possible the meeting was only geared toward the objections that would be raised in Congress that day, and not the demonstrations. But Trump had promoted the demonstrations repeatedly for more than two weeks, and Greene recorded a video urging people to protest in Washington, suggesting “a million or more people” might show up.

Greene also said she didn’t remember whether she had spoken to Reps. Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.) or Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) about the demonstrations. Two organizers of one of the rallies have said they were in touch with all three members (and more) on planning, though Greene’s office issued a firm denial at the time.

Next, Greene was asked about other talks with the White House — specifically, whether she ever recommended that Trump declare martial law. Her lawyer tried to object by claiming executive privilege (he has also worked for Trump) but Greene ultimately answered.

“I don’t recall,” Greene said, responding to the same question by again saying, “I don’t remember.”

It never fails that the most bombastic blowhards change their tune when there are real consequences to the words coming out of their mouths.

The legal basis for this attempt to keep her off the ballot is very much questionable, and the folks looking for a reckoning over January 6th are not going to find one here, if anywhere. What is apparent is what Marjorie Taylor Greene has told us about her through her actions and rhetoric all along: there is no there there. Her fire breathing MAGA act is all pyrotechnics, no actual ordinance to do anything other than spew sparks and the stench of sulfur for burnt up material that flashes brightly but has no substance to it.

Oh, and there is one more twist to come in this political clown show to come, bringing yet another Georgia shambles back to the forefront:

Greene’s case, however, is so far the only one that has been allowed to advance to an evidentiary hearing, though legal experts say the challengers are unlikely to prevail.

Beaudrot won’t get the final say. He must deliver his findings to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who will determine whether Greene is qualified to appear on the ballot.

It will put Raffensperger, who is facing a Trump-backed Republican challenger, in a peculiar spot. He attracted Trump’s fury after he refused the then-president’s demand to “find” enough votes to overturn Biden’s victory.

Greene has used the legal challenge to fuel new fundraising appeals that cast her as the victim of a “witch hunt.”

Brad Raffensperger, call your office. Again.

In the end, this legal challenge will probably fail, Marjorie Taylor Greene will get to claim even more victimhood and fundraising thereof, the electorate of her very red district will probably re-elect her, and one of the most unfit members of congress in recent memory will continue to be an embarrassment to the country.

We get the government we deserve, but we should all loathe the voters of Georgia’s 14th for thinking Marjorie Taylor Greene should be anything more than the on-paper front woman for her family’s businesses. Those voters deserve all the invective they get.