---
[ WORLD WATCH ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch)
# When the Clowns Stormed the Circus, Brought Their (Illegal) Phones and Ordered Pizza to Save the Republic
October 24 2019
Written by Abby Zimet.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
**CITYWATCH TODAY**--We guess the bonkers news of the day was Trump lapdog Matt 'Big Hair/ Wee Brain' Gaetz and a coupla dozen other GOP yahoos [storming ](https://www.thedailybeast.com/house-republicans-literally-storm-the-impeachment-hearings)a secure House hearing room to protest Adam Schiff's "Soviet style" - aka Constitutionally mandated and protected - impeachment inquiry.
As many pointed out, the most egregious part of the [stunt](https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2019/10/house-intel-chair-consults-with-sergeant-at-arms-after-republicans-storm-secure-impeachment-deposition-room/) was their wholly illegal whipping out of cell phones in violation of House deposition rules, thus committing what experts [deemed ](https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1187032800572125191.html?fbclid=IwAR3q8mVRqcLNAmbk4i1PKSR8nlFyVmhOKwax4pgZ6ZIIYaVpNgzf5kpX94M)a "major security breach" - a breach laughably exacerbated when they tweeted from the classified room, suddenly realized they were advertising, "Look Ma, we're committing a crime!" and then awkwardly, gutlessly backtracked by claiming their staff had done the tweeting.
Some stayed just long enough to yell gibberish at Democrats doing their job before leaving again; others settled down with Cheez-Its and pizza they ordered in, happy they were following the instructions of their Dear Leader to "fight harder" to obstruct not just legal but vital proceedings, and never mind their once-upon-a-time-in-Benghazi [claims ](https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/Rep-Darrell-Issa-Escorted-Out-of-Benghazi-Panel-307739641.html)"we always follow the rules."
Not, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) subsequently argued as he formally [requested](https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1187103342322950145) the House sergeant-at-arms "take action" against the [wannabee](https://www.commondreams.org/further/2019/10/23/%20https:/twitter.com/AuCaDoMom/status/1187119813392556038) freedom fighters for their "unprecedented (and) blatant breach of security." Calling the issue "an urgent security matter," he[ noted](https://homeland.house.gov/imo/media/doc) the action “violates the Oath all Members of Congress sign to gain access to classified information.”
Thompson didn't clarify what "action" he'd like to see; options include censure, fines, and stripping the offenders of security clearances or committee positions. But given the hundreds of righteous citizens in the last year often roughly arrested for likewise barging into Congress for far more honorable reasons - women [shut out ](https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/brett-kavanaugh-confirmation-hearing/at-least-70-people-disrupting-kavanaugh-hearings-on-capitol-hill-were-arrested/)for [protesting](https://dcist.com/story/18/09/04/kavanaugh-hearing-arrests/) the nomination of a lying rapist on our highest court, people with [disabilities](https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a12466578/disabled-protesters-healthcare-hearing/) and other rights advocates [dragged from ](https://www.businessinsider.com/wheelchair-bound-protesters-dragged-out-of-congressional-hearing-2018-2)their wheelchairs for insisting on their access to health care - many wondered why the Capitol Police and their bountiful zip-ties were missing in action only when pudgy white guys in suits were doing the disrupting.
Their favorite proposed "action" was soon trending in a hashtag: [\#ArrestGaetz.](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArrestGaetz?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1187134987813949441&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F100212615755)
"If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell." - Carl Sandburg
- [RotterdamParagliding (@RParagliding) ](https://t.co/RJq27TIX0m)
*(CityWatch guest columnist, Abby Zimet, writes for the excellent Common Dreams … where this perspective first appeared.)*
*-cw*
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/116 "USA Radio Museum - Wide")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Phone
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know")
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33710-bass-is-out-raman-is-in-is-los-angeles-trading-failure-for-a-bigger-crisis)
### [Bass Is Out. Raman Is In. Is Los Angeles Trading Failure for a Bigger Crisis?](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33710-bass-is-out-raman-is-in-is-los-angeles-trading-failure-for-a-bigger-crisis)
THE BOTTOM LINE - Karen Bass lost the confidence of Los Angeles voters. Nithya Raman won their support. But can a new m…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33687-first-test-of-next-governor-s-leadership-demand-a-full-forensic-audit-of-bullet-train)
### [First Test of Next Governor`s Leadership: Demand a Full Forensic Audit of Bullet Train](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33687-first-test-of-next-governor-s-leadership-demand-a-full-forensic-audit-of-bullet-train)
NICK’S VIEW - For a case study in lost public trust and squandered taxpayer money, look no further than California’s hi…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33698-a-great-night-for-america-and-a-warning-to-both-parties)
### [A Great Night for America—and a Warning to Both Parties](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33698-a-great-night-for-america-and-a-warning-to-both-parties)
FRED TALK - The opinions in this column are solely mine and I stand by them. I did not write yesterday because I wanted…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33704-nithyas-budget-buzz-saw)
### [Nithya’s Budget Buzz Saw](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33704-nithyas-budget-buzz-saw)
LA WATCHDOG - Nithya Raman, our new mayor, will inherit a budget that is a river of red ink. According to the First Fi…
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33709-progress-not-presto-chango)
### [Progress, Not Presto-Chango](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33709-progress-not-presto-chango)
IN MY VIEW - If We Want People Off the Streets, We Have to Give Them Somewhere to Go. I was about five years old, wa…
---
## [ WORLD WATCH ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/33600-israels-fateful-election-a-nation-on-the-brink)### [Israel’s Fateful Election: A Nation On The Brink](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/33600-israels-fateful-election-a-nation-on-the-brink)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/33501-the-slow-motion-erasure-of-the-west-bank)### [The Slow-Motion Erasure Of The West Bank](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/33501-the-slow-motion-erasure-of-the-west-bank)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/32951-venezuela-needs-the-world-more-than-ever-english-spanish)### [Venezuela Needs the World More Than Ever \[English & Spanish\]](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/32951-venezuela-needs-the-world-more-than-ever-english-spanish)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/32873-netanyahus-betrayal-of-israels-promise)### [Netanyahu’s Betrayal Of Israel’s Promise](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/32873-netanyahus-betrayal-of-israels-promise)
[  ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/32727-turkeys-egregious-human-rights-violations-are-beyond-the-pale)### [Turkey’s Egregious Human Rights Violations Are Beyond The Pale](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/world-watch/32727-turkeys-egregious-human-rights-violations-are-beyond-the-pale)