Watergate figure John Dean earns laughter for responses to GOP lawmakers

Exchanges between Watergate figure John Dean and House Judiciary Committee Republicans drew laughs several times during his testimony Monday.

In one such instance, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked Dean to explain earlier remarks claiming President Trump was “incapable of accomplishing anything.”

{mosads}“Mr. Jordan, I think that under the parliamentary rules of the house I’m refrained from addressing a full answer your question,” Dean responded. Told that he was “not refrained” in his tweets, Dean responded that his tweets were “not subject to the parliamentarian.”

Rep. @Jim_Jordan: “What were you thinking about when you said he’s incapable of accomplishing anything?”

John Dean: “Mr. Jordan, I think that under the parliamentary rules of the house I’m refrained from addressing a full answer your question.” pic.twitter.com/UjO2lfkMTv

— CSPAN (@cspan) June 10, 2019

In another exchange, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), another staunch supporter of Trump in the House, noted that Dean, who has frequently compared Trump to former President Nixon, had written a 2005 essay comparing his former boss to then-President George W. Bush.

“Mr. Dean, how many American presidents have you accused of being Richard Nixon?” Gaetz quipped, accusing Dean of creating a “cottage industry out of” drawing the comparison.

Gaetz went on to accuse Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) of bringing in Dean as a “prop,” saying that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had rebuffed Nadler on opening an impeachment inquiry and that instead “we’re here reopening the impeachment inquiry potentially into Richard Nixon, sort of playing out our own version of ‘That ’70s Show.'”

“That was a speech,” Dean said in response to Gaetz’s remarks, which included a broader condemnation of the investigation into Trump. “I don’t believe I can respond to it. It’s not sufficient time.”

Complete exchange between @Repmattgaetz and @JohnWDean: “Instead of opening the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump…we’re here re-opening the impeachment inquiry potentially into Richard Nixon. Sort of playing out our own version of That ’70s Show…you’re here as a prop.” pic.twitter.com/nt14ALnaow

— CSPAN (@cspan) June 10, 2019

Trump blasted Dean as a “loser for many years” on Monday, denying any parallels between himself and Nixon and saying that “you can’t impeach somebody when there’s never been a thing done wrong.”