For seven days over the past two weeks, the public heard testimony in the Democratic-led House of Representatives’ impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump.
With every testimony heard, ABC’s daily roundtable show “The View” has tackled the latest developments. On Friday, Nov. 22, remarks made by Rep. William Hurd (R-Texas), a former CIA analyst, were the source of contention amongst hosts Meghan McCain and Sunny Hostin.
During his five-minute round as a questioner, Hurd asserted that, “An impeachable offense should be compelling, overwhelmingly clear and unambiguous. And it’s not something to be rushed or taken lightly.” He went on to say, “I have not heard evidence proving the president committed bribery or extortion.” And there lies the comment that sparked a heated exchange between Hostin and McCain.
Hostin said she’s unclear what testimony Hurd had been listening to when clearly everyone had to have witnessed multiple people provide testimony confirming an ample level of wrongdoing by the president.
“He’s complicit, the Republican Party has enabled this president, continues to enable this president,” said Hostin. Throughout her time speaking, co-host McCain interrupted with quips of disagreement. “You’re slandering a CIA agent,” said McCain. Her comment was met with a lack of acknowledgment from Hostin.
When the audience clapped after hearing Hostin, it further fueled McCain’s frustration.
“It’s easy to get a cheap applause line,” said a sneering McCain with her arms crossed. “Take your cheap applause line.”
Hostin reassured her there was nothing cheap about the applause and that the audience simply agreed with what she stated. “Let me speak!” snapped McCain. “You have been speaking a lot,” responded Hostin. The grumbling continued back and forth between the two.
Those who witnessed the interaction on social media had a lot to say, and not just about the impeachment.
“So the audience is just cheap applause when they agree with someone besides Meghan McCain? Ok got it,” wrote one person on Twitter. Another chimed in with, “I’ve said this before but Ms. McCain is what happens when children are told that everything they say and do is special, when they are never told ‘No,’ or that there is a possibility that they don’t know everything.”
The interaction and what some called a slight toward the audience may have even cost “The View” some viewers.
“I just watched my last @TheViedw until Meghan is replaced. Hers is not the only view. I have been a long time watcher and am totally disgusted in her shrieking views. I will and can speak of the Constitution and she is not an expert. She just couldn’t answer the questions.”
Staying inline with the political climate, one commenter simply said, “impeach her seat!”
Current and former public servants who testified in front of the House Intelligence Committee as fact witnesses in the investigation of allegations of improper attempts to coerce the government of Ukraine to dig up dirt on Trump’s presidential campaign rival former Vice President Joe Biden and his son include: Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor; George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs; Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine; and U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland.
Each sharing personal and explosive details of Trumps’s “quid pro quo” business with Ukraine, agreements to investigate presidential opponent Joe Biden and more.
