It’s become common for Donald Trump’s appointees to give elusive, meandering and noncommittal answers when asked who won the 2020 election ― and his latest nominees are continuing that dubious tradition.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) took the election-related questions to Gregory Carl Cook, Trump’s nominee to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama.
But instead of asking about 2020, Schiff asked Cook about even earlier elections.
When asked who won the 2008 election between Barack Obama and John McCain, Cook responded, “I believe President Obama was sworn into office, so I’m certain he won, Senator.”
“And John McCain lost that election?” Schiff asked.
“Yes, Senator,” Cook replied.
Schiff then asked about who won in 2012, when Obama ran against Mitt Romney.
“Uh, President Obama was sworn into office, so I’m certain he was elected as a matter of law. Senator,” Cook said.
“And did Romney lose the election?” Schiff asked.
“That’s the natural logical, uh, converse of that,” Cook conceded. “Yes.”
Schiff then brought up the 2016 election between Trump and Hillary Clinton, and asked, “Who won that election?”
“He was sworn into office,” Cook said. “So, as a matter of law, he was elected to that office.”
“So Donald Trump won that election,” Schiff clarified.
“That would be the natural assumption,” Cook said. “Yes, Senator.”
Schiff then focused on Cook’s use of the word “assumption” and asked, “Is it really an assumption you have to make? Did Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton in the Electoral College?”
“He did,” Cook said. Schiff doubled down, “Do you have some uncertainty about whether he won that election?”
“No. I’m trying to be precise about what I’m saying,” Cook said, possibly remembering that Clinton won the popular vote. “Yes, he won in the Electoral College.”
Schiff then asked about the 2020 election — the one that Trump keeps insisting was stolen from him, despite no proof.
Cook’s response: “Well, Joe Biden was certified by a joint session of Congress, and so, as a matter of law, he was the elected president,” Cook said.
Schiff then pressed Cook, asking, “As a matter of fact, who won that election? Just as a simple matter of fact, somebody asked you out on the street, who won the election in 2020? What would your answer be? Who won and who lost?”
“It’s a fact that the Electoral College vote was more for Joe Biden,” Cook said, prompting Schiff to respond, “You seem to have real difficulty with that question.”
After a few more exchanges, Schiff turned the heat up.
“Why is it difficult for you to answer a simple factual question about who won presidential elections?” he asked. “When did it become so difficult to answer such a simple question? And how can we expect you to rely on the facts when you’re evaluating a case?”
You can see the complete exchange below, as well as Schiff asking similar questions to D. Adam Candeub, a nominee to be an assistant attorney general.
Although House Speaker Mike Johnson has called the election question a “gotcha” question, not every Republican feels the same way.
Back in April, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) was caught on a hot mic wondering, “What would be wrong if they said Biden won?”