Dem uses GOP's hearing to expose 'authoritarian' protection of 'dear leader Donald Trump'

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) blasted Republicans on Tuesday after they used a committee hearing to attack the FBI.

At a House hearing on threats from China, Goldman accused Republicans of wanting to defund the FBI.

"So, why are my colleagues trying to undermine the FBI?" he asked. "Why are they asking to defund the FBI? It is not because the FBI is not doing its job. It's because the FBI is doing its job."

Goldman suggested his Republican colleagues were targeting the FBI because of ongoing investigations into former President Donald Trump for mishandling classified documents and contributing to the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.

"And the problem they have is that the FBI is doing its job in investigating their dear leader Donald Trump," he continued. "And if you can undermine the investigator, if you can undermine independent journalists doing investigative reporting, then you can undermine our entire system of democracy. That is the authoritarian playbook 101."

The lawmaker asserted the FBI was losing credibility because of attacks from Republicans.

"And that has to stop," he said.

Watch the video below.