Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) mocked the House GOP’s efforts to impeach President Joe Biden on Wednesday by donning a mask of Russian President Vladimir Putin before walking into the impeachment hearing.
Moskowitz impersonated Putin outside the House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s hearing and told reporters that he was there to “thank James Comer for taking all of our intelligence and using it in the committee.”
The comment was a reference to the 1023 form Alexander Smirnov admitted he received from Russian intelligence. Smirnov had testified against Biden before he was arrested last month on charges of lying to the FBI about the Biden family’s business dealings in Ukraine.
Democrats have since accused Republicans of touting Russian disinformation related to the investigation into the president and his family, including his son Hunter Biden.
“House Oversight Republicans opened this investigation into Joe Biden with the 1023 form, which has now been proven to come right from Russian intelligence,” Moskowitz told the Hill. “James Comer did the bidding of Vladimir Putin. The mask was worn to provide that visual.”
Republicans leading the hearing have dismissed the criticisms and downplayed Smirnov’s arrest, claiming they have more evidence than just what Smirnov had provided.
Moskowitz’s antics occurred before the House hearing, which went off the rails shortly after it began. Wednesday’s hearing featured testimony from former Trump administration aide Lev Parnas and former Hunter Biden business associates Tony Bobulinski and Jason Galanis.
During his opening statement, Bobulinksi accused two Democrats on the committee of lying to the public and claimed they would do so again after the hearing, which prompted backlash from the lawmakers.
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“We keep hearing from certain corners that our democracy is at risk and democracy is on the ballot in ‘24, and yet the same people preaching this mantra [are] no better,” Bobulinksi said. “They continue to lie directly to the American people without hesitation and remorse.”
Hunter Biden was also invited to testify at the hearing but declined the committee’s invitation.
