New York Times columnist Bret Stephens had harsh words for Republicans and their handling of FBI agent Peter Strzok on Thursday during his fiery congressional hearing.
While on set at “Morning Joe” — where he is a regular — Stephens said that the nine-hour marathon session was an example of why people thought Republicans were “stupid.”
“Just watching the congressmen,” said Stephens, “There’s a reason Republicans are called the stupid party.”
Stephens went on to say that the hearing overall was a public service and allowed Strzok the opportunity to clear his name.
“It was an opportunity for Agent Strzok to rehabilitate his reputation after almost a year of — of smears,” he said. “The idea that there was a bias at the FBI towards Hillary Clinton is simply refuted by the fact that the FBI was the one agency of government which played a decisive role in getting Donald Trump elected.”
Stephens, a former Wall Street Journal columnist, has emerged as one of the most prominent “Never Trump” Republicans in the media.
While the FBI was very public about the Clinton email investigation, news that it was also investigating the Trump campaign for possible collusion with Russia remained unreported and unknown until after Trump’s 2016 victory.
Strzok’s hearing was broadly panned by Democrats and Republicans, with GOP members of the House Oversight Committee taking heat for their performance. Even Fox News host Laura Ingraham was displeased, telling guests on her Thursday night show that she was glad she wasn’t there.
“I have to say that I was looking forward to this,” said Ingraham. “But I thought at times it wasn’t working for the Republicans.”
Watch above.