Has been just for i was beginning around the world to welcome 2020 thats the view from all. We start with our breaking news out of iraq where thousands have been protesting outside the u. S. Embassy inside the secured green zone in baghdad most of members of the iranian backed popular model as ice and forces they condemning u. S. Air strikes on sunday on bases belonging to an iranian backed shia militia in iraq the u. S. Says the attacks against the hezbollah brigades were a response to the killing of a u. S. Civilian contractor the funerals of at least 27. 00 shia fighters killed in those strikes a taking place in baghdad where the u. S. Embassy is the largest american diplomatic posting in the wall it was also the most expensive to build it sits within the heavily fortified International Zone or green zone which houses Iraqi Government buildings and foreign embassies in the center of the city some on a 14 joins us now on the phone from baguettes monied been following these protests w
The hearing will come back to order. And for the outstanding work you have done, thank you this has to be one of the hardest jobs in government to be the impartial watchdog and with those Government Agencies as important as department of justice and fbi i want you to know how much we appreciate your work and your teams work likewise it is important even though we are critical of the leadership of the fbi during the last administration the way they mishandled this counterintelligence investigation and the colleagues need to know that we are there for them and support them in the faithful discharge of their responsibilities. I served that there is no more ardent supporter. And i believe that general hayden when he wrote his book had it right it is called playing to the edge not over the line but up to the edge so that also makes it important for us to root out the illegality and the exercise of those that are given to the Intelligence Community. So let me ask you about that. Because i ca
The hears will come back to order, and i hope you had a little break. Are you all right, mr. Horowitz . If we do this right, we will be done by 4 30 and in time for multiple votes. Mr. Horowitz, thank you yand your professional staff for the work that you have done. This is one of the hardest jobs in government is to be a watchdog and to hold agencies as is important as the justice D T Department and the fbi accountable. I wanted you to know how much we appreciate your work and your teams work. And even though we are critical of the leadership of the fbi in the last administration, and the way they mishandled this Counter Intelligence investigation, i think that the rank and file agents in the fbi and the colleagues in the Intelligence Agency know that we are there and support this in the faith of the discharge of your duties. I happen to serve on both the Judiciary Committee and the Intelligence Committee and there is no ardent more supporter of the fbi and the intelligence agencies t
Okay thank you all for coming. Number one i would like to thank mr. Horwitz and his team at the Inspector Generals Office for doing a very thorough and professional job. I think the country owes him a debt of gratitude and i look forward to hearing his testimony wednesday in detail about his findings. The first thing i would like to address is that you have a statement by mr. Durham, the u. S. Attorney in connecticut that is looking at potential criminal liability in this matter. The attorney general bar and mr. We have three different views, i guess two of the views that there was there was no lawful predicate to begin the information. But thats not my concern right now. Three lawyers can reasonably disagree, and i trust mr. Horwitz to give an honest view. Lets assume for a moment that there was a lawful predicate. The bar is really low to open and enter counter investigation. The. I want to make is lets assume for a moment that it started out okay. It sure as hell did not end okay. W
The hearing will come back to order. I hope you had a little bit of a break. Weerie, if we do this right, will be done in time for multiple loads. Let me join my colleagues in thanking you and your professional staff for the outstanding work that you have done. This has to be one of the hardest government jobs in government to be impartial and i just want you to understand how much we appreciate your work and your teams work. I think the rank and file agent in the fbi and their colleagues in the Intelligence Community need to know that we are there for them and we support them in their responsibilities. I had the privilege to serve on the committee and i would like to think that there is no more Ardent Supporter of our Law Enforcement agency than i and. That general hayden, when he wrote his book about his experience had it right. Plaintiff the edge, we are authorities in the interest of our National Security. It makes it important for us to mendacity,legality, deception and the exerci