he did not condemn them. he made no effort to stop them. he went forward with his fake allegations anyway. one more point. i would urge all of those watching today to focus on the evidence the committee will present. don't be distracted by politics. this is serious. we cannot let america become a nation of conspiracy theories and thug violence. finally, i want to thank our witnesses today for all of your service to our country. today all of america will hear about the selfless actions of these men and women who acted honorably to uphold the law, protect our freedom, and preserve our constitution. today, mr. chairman, we will all see an example of what truly makes america great. thank you, mr. chairman. i yield back. >> without objection, the chair recognizes the gentleman from california, mr. schiff, for an opening statement.