Virginia Kruta On Friday, South Carolina Congressman Trey Gowdy announced that he would be kicking off 2017 as a new member of the House Intelligence Committee.
“Protecting the safety and security of our fellow citizens is the preeminent function of government,” Gowdy said in a statement. “When it comes to our national security, we cannot afford to take risks.”
“The House Intelligence Committee plays a vital role in protecting Americans both at home and abroad through conducting thorough oversight of our nation’s intelligence agencies,” he continued. “I look forward to joining the House Intelligence Committee and working with Chairman Nunes and my colleagues to ensure national security remains the top priority in the 115th Congress.”
The committee, which has been in existence for 40 years, deals with classified information as it passes through and is handled by 17 different federal agencies.
And conservatives are cheering Gowdy’s addition to the committee:
YES! Trey Gowdy has been named to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence! pic.twitter.com/aW6wJU9A6Y
— Ava- I love my USA! (@WEdwarda) January 15, 2017
Damn good choice
— JustKate (@JustKate038) January 16, 2017
GOTTA LOVE THIS GUY! Rep. Trey Gowdy joins intelligence committee https://t.co/rY0wJHAkn9 via @greenvillenews
— Luana H. (@LuanaMacLac) January 16, 2017
https://twitter.com/TruthinGov2016/status/820440778325585921
I wish I could be a fly on the wall, just for the chance to see you verbally smack other members around for bullshitting you.
— Rev. "Daddy" Wormwood (@TDA_Wormwood) January 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/Nurse_Nett/status/819987231670759426
Dems probably thinking…Oh, lord, who let "Trey-Dawg" out???
— Johnny Dollar (@jbenlow86) January 13, 2017
Gowdy earned his “take-no-bull” reputation as a federal prosecutor, and his time chairing the House Select Committee on Benghazi only served to bolster that.
He put Hillary Clinton in a corner:
Trey Gowdy Interrogates a FURIOUS LYING Hillary Clinton!!
Remember this. https://t.co/EgcEO1lgD6— DeplorableKSterling (@kfitzsterling) January 2, 2017
He shredded FBI Director James Comey:
Trey Gowdy Shreds Hillary Clinton’s Lies During Hearing With FBI’s James… https://t.co/8DDNHwP23C via @YouTube
— ❌bugsysbak❌ (@bugsysbak) January 3, 2017
And he has proven time and time again that he has no tolerance for dumb questions:
https://twitter.com/DanMartin_cards/status/816021845300432896
Even the “ice bucket challenge” failed to shake Gowdy:
But not everyone is a fan:
Anyone but you.
— Optimist long memory (@Rockmedia) January 13, 2017
And some were wary that Gowdy might not pursue “Russian election interference” with the same zeal that he showed in investigating Benghazi:
Hope you put the attention into getting to the bottom of Russian interference in our election as you did to Benghazi.
— hotter than socrates uglier than plato (@mikestill) January 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/brentitude/status/808850988517953536
where are jason chaffetz & trey gowdy??? they sure had a lot to say on benghazi, but now they are remarkably silent! #russianhacking
— Mikie (@pitzel) December 11, 2016
#NotMyPresident #Benghazi #RussianHacking #ClintonEmails #TreyGowdy #Chaffetz #PuppetTrump #GOPCongress #TrumpLies pic.twitter.com/9QAYYI1Hik
— Cheryl M S (@avantgurl) December 15, 2016
Gowdy has said in interviews that he believes foreign interference in American elections is concerning and should be investigated — and now he is in a position to ensure that it will be.