GOP Senator Mike Lee puts on a clown show during Trump’s impeachment trial
As the House Managers continued opening arguments today, they made mention of a January 6th statement attributed to Senator Mike Lee. Lee immediately objected, showing the most outrage any Republican has demonstrated to the insurrection guided by Trump on January 6. Make no mistake, Lee is being the typical clown he always is.
The quote attributed to him was not scurrilous, but happened to be critical of Trump. Rather than continue the distraction, Representative Jamie Raskin shut down the debate for a later date. The offensive article was apparently from the Deseret News: “Hey, Tommy, I hate to interrupt but the president wants to speak with you,” Lee said.
Tuberville and Trump talked for about five to 10 minutes, Lee said, adding that he stood nearby because he didn’t want to lose his cellphone in the commotion. The two were still talking when panicked police ordered the Capitol to be evacuated because people had breached security.
As police were getting anxious for senators to leave, Lee walked over to retrieve his phone.“I don’t want to interrupt your call with the president, but we’re being evacuated and I need my phone,” Lee said. Tuberville said, “OK, Mr. President. I gotta go.”
Lee said when he later asked Tuberville about the conversation, he got the impression that Trump didn’t know about the chaos going on in the Senate chamber. Hard to tell what angle Lee is playing here, but the above is nothing to get all upset about. One thinks Lee is posturing in primetime for future run for president, though he has no chance of pulling that off.
Daniel is a lawyer writing and teaching about SCOTUS, and is the author of the book “The Chief Justices” about the SCOTUS as seen through the center seat.