Republican senators Wednesday tried to undermine the testimony of former Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) Director Susan Monarez by attacking the attorneys she retained after being ousted.
GOP Sens. Jim Banks (Ind.) and Ashley Moody (Fla.) questioned why Monarez is being represented by attorneys who’ve vocally criticized President Trump.
Mark Zaid and Abbe Lowell have represented purchasers who’ve spoken out in opposition to the Trump administration up to now, and people who have been personally focused by Trump for political retribution like Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Prepare dinner.
“Of the thousands of lawyers that you could hire to help you through this process, why Mark Zaid?” Banks requested. “You don’t seem naïve at all. You have to know that Mark Zaid is a leading opponent of President Trump, notorious for his online activity that is very anti Trump … why did you hire a guy like that of all the thousands of attorneys?”
Monarez stated she needed to make sure she had readability and understanding about her state of affairs.
“I was seeking some critical counsel to be able to help me make sure that I was understanding and aware of everything that had transpired, and preparing for what might be next, including this committee hearing,” Monarez stated. “Mark Zaid and I have never spoken about politics. I never asked him about his politics. He has never asked me about my politics.”
That line of questioning was taken up once more a short while later by Moody, who repeatedly requested Monarez to place her attorneys’ names on the report.
“Is there some reason you don’t want to introduce the senators to the lawyers that are here and put their names on the record?” Moody requested. “You have this whole network of people that’s trying to embarrass the president or go after the president, and now you are joining this group.”
Monarez responded that whereas her counsel can be glad to comply with up after the listening to, “I was hoping that we would stay focused on the critical issues.”
However Moody then accused Monarez of plotting a public spectacle about her firing by immediately reaching out to committee Chair Invoice Cassidy (R-La.) about her interactions with Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earlier than she was fired.
Cassidy pushed again, saying it was applicable for Monarez to achieve out and for the committee to comply with up.
“As the chairman of the committee with jurisdiction over the CDC … it is entirely appropriate for someone with oversight concerns to contact my office, or me, or, frankly, any of us,” Cassidy stated.
He added that after he heard from Monarez, he contacted each Kennedy and the White Home “to inquire what was happening and to express concerns about what was alleged.”
Monarez testified that Kennedy advised her to not communicate to senators.
