OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
A key congressional ally of Donald Trump is preparing to make a new legislative move that could shield the former president from Joe Biden’s predatory Justice Department.
Trump has been charged in two separate cases by special counsel Jack Smith — improper handling of classified documents and for actions related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol Building — as well as by district attorneys in Manhattan and Fulton County, Ga. But it is the federal cases that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is most concerned about.
In a recent appearance on TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk’s show on the Real America’s Voice streaming network, the Florida Republican laid out how the GOP-led Congress could bring Trump in and compel him to provide testimony that could then “immunize” him from prosecution.
“You can actually bring President Trump in to give testimony to Congress and, in doing so, immunize him,” Gaetz said.
“Now, there’s different forms of immunity that take place at the committee level, subcommittee level, in some instances for full immunity, you have to have more of a supermajority vote,” he continued. “But if you had a supermajority vote of a committee, like Speaker McCarthy could set up a select committee tomorrow that can bring Trump in and immunize him.
“And then we could proceed with the very legitimate investigative work that we’re doing of the Bidens and the corrupt DOJ,” Gaetz continued. “Unfortunately, none of those things are happening. Instead, Congress is not in Washington, not assembled. And I think the timing is on purpose.
“No timing in DC is ever just a mere coincidence. And so right as Congress is leaving town, right as we’re walking away from our equities, you see this acceleration of activity against Trump,” Gaetz added.
Kirk responded, “Let’s be specific here, though. So immunize him from what crimes even if he’s under current indictment? Is that including even the obstruction claims? And give us some examples of how this has been used recently.”
The Florida conservative responded that the procedure has not been used “recently.”
“But obviously, we’re aware of the ability for any person to plead the Fifth,” he said. “You can dissolve someone’s ability to plead the Fifth if you immunize them. And so Congress has this ability that’s been recognized. It’s even laid out in 18 U.S.C. 6002 and 6005. If folks want to look it up.”
“But there you’ve got the ability to say, well, we’re here by compelling your testimony,” he continued. “We’re giving you immunity for anything you say to us and anything that that would lead to. And so, for example, if President Trump came in and said, I’m here to give you testimony about the witch hunt, the abuse of criminal process, that Congress has … legitimate oversight equities to resolve.”
“And if he were to say things to us, we could immunize him for that conduct that he were to discuss,” Gaetz added.
WATCH:
Another congressional ally of the former president is also planning moves to help shield him from what she sees as politicized prosecutions.
A frustrated Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene gave an ultimatum to her fellow House Republicans on Thursday amid inaction on impeaching President Joe Biden and moves to protect former President Donald Trump from ongoing prosecutions she sees as highly political.
During a town hall-style event in her Floyd County, Ga., district Thursday evening, the GOP congresswoman announced she would not vote to fund the government if House Republican leaders did not move to have articles of impeachment filed against Biden and do more to protect Trump.
“I’ve already decided I will not vote to fund the government unless we have passed an impeachment inquiry on Joe Biden,” Taylor Greene told the audience, to applause.
“I will not fund the government because I will not fund the weaponized part of the government. I’m not going to continue to fund the Biden regime’s weaponized government. So there should be no funding for Jack Smith. Special Counsel,” she said. “We had to fire David Weiss, who is protecting Hunter Biden on his special counsel. And we have to rein in the FBI. I will not vote for money to go towards those things.
