Thursday, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) appeared on MSNBC, and told host Ali Velsh that the allegations from the infamous “dossier” regarding Trump engaging in lewd sexual acts were “true” (emphasis added):
VELSH: “You seem to be playing one note on this. You think Donald Trump should be impeached over Russia, and anything else–any other discussion distracts us from that investigation. You still hold true to that?”
WATERS: “Yes, I’ve always said that I believe if we get the investigations that need to be done, if we drill down, we’re going to see the connections. We’re going to understand the role that this administration has played [doing/during] the campaign with Russia; and when we see that, he certainly will be eligible for impeachment. I do believe that.”
VELSH: “Are you satisfied that the necessary investigations are going to get underway–these hearings that we’re gonna have on March 20th–both the Senate and the House?”
WATERS: “Not yet. I’m not satisfied yet. I’m worried about the Republicans who are still standing up for Trump, even in the phase of growing information. And so, I still think the call for an independent commission is credible, and that we should do that. Let’s see what happens. They’re going to do the investigations, and I want the Democrats to be poised with all kinds of research, and information to do the drilling down that I think is necessary to understand what Trump has done in connection with the Russians to undermine our democracy.”
VELSH: “Your colleague, Representative Adam Schiff, a Democrat on the house panel investigating Donald Trump’s ties to Russia, says he’s seeking testimony of a former British spy who wrote an unsubstantiated dossier of alleged collusion between Donald Trump and Russia. Do you believe anything about that dossier?”
WATERS: “Oh I think it should be taken a look at. I think they should really read, it understand it, analyze it, and determine what’s fact, what may not be fact. We already know that the part about the coverage that they have on him [with] sex actions is supposed to be true–they have said that’s absolutely true. Some other things they kind of allude to. Yes, I think he should go into that dossier and see what’s there.”
VELSH: “You say you know–you think them to be true. How are we all gonna find out what’s true and what isn’t true? Does it help that you think so? Because unless you have information we don’t have, that’s an allegation.”
WATERS: “You understand that I am saying the investigations must be done; the drilling down must be done. We must get to the facts of what it has been about. I don’t think you can do the impeachment just because I think, or others think. But I think if we do the investigations, that we will find the connections, and I do think that impeachment will be necessary.”
Following the segment on MSNBC, an aide to Rep. Waters released a statement saying: “She wasn’t talking about anything that’s not already in the public domain.”
UPDATE: Statement from an aide to Rep. Maxine Waters regarding her statement on @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/VcF8UlvMqi
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 9, 2017
Rep. Maxine Waters isn’t the most articulate woman–that much has been shown time and time again (Russia invades Korea). However, one could be forgiven for thinking the way in which she phrased her answer to Velsh’s question points not to a verbal slip up, but to a calculated move.
Waters either knows something that the American people do not, or she deliberately phrased her reply to make it appear as though there is evidence to substantiate the claim regarding Trump engaging in lewd sexual acts in Russia.
As of this publication, there is a absolutely no evidence to corroborate the claim made in the dossier. So let’s play with the idea that this was purposeful. Waters has to know that many more people will see her segment on MSNBC than will see her quiet retraction. As such, her statement regarding the claim in the dossier being “absolutely true” will be seen by a substantial number of people–both through traditional viewing and social media replays–who will not see the retraction.
These people will now be influenced. A member of the House of Representatives said it’s true. Why would they lie? Thus, that many more people will be inclined to stand against President Donald Trump.
Moreover, the way she speaks about the allegations makes it appear that she knows Trump is guilty. “I think is necessary to understand what Trump has done in connection with the Russians to undermine our democracy.” Not what Trump may have done–what Trump has done. It’s a subtle, but clear, tactic. Whether Rep. Waters knows it or not, she’s influencing.
It could very well be that Waters simply had yet another series of verbal mishaps, but it pays to think through all the options. Politics is war, and as they say–all’s fair in war.