Snotty Prank: MSNBC's Ruhle Faux-Blows Nose to Show Trump Contempt for Subpoenas

September 4th, 2020 12:51 PM

As the November 3 election draws ever nearer, liberal Democrats and MSNBC anchors continue to ramp up their criticisms of President Trump and members of his administration. That was particularly evident on Thursday, when the host of MSNBC Live with Stephanie Ruhle blew her nose into a piece of paper and crumpled it as an example of how the President and his staff have responded to subpoenas from Congress. [Hat tip: Mediaite]

Ruhle’s behavior was described as “a bizarre metaphor” after NBC White House correspondent Geoff Bennett spoke about House Democrats deciding to subpoena Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. He asked:

GEOFF BENNETT: If they don’t comply, how will House Democrats enforce this subpoena? We all remember during impeachment the unprecedented ways in which Trump administration officials really thumbed their noses at subpoenas. The Postal Service doesn’t get tax dollars, so Democrats can’t withhold funding. In fact, right now, they’re fighting to give the Postal Service more money, and House Democrats haven’t shown a willingness to enforce something called inherent contempt, which would mean fining or even jailing administration officials who don’t cooperate.

Ruhle responded: “Geoffrey, I have the same question. This administration takes subpoenas and -- ” she then crumpled up her notes over her face like a tissue and acted like she was blowing her nose  “ -- throws them in the garbage. Let’s see what Democrats are going to actually do with them."

The MSNBC anchor’s stunt came just days after Luke Broadwater -- a Congressional correspondent for the New York Times -- reported that the House Oversight Committee would subpoena DeJoy to attend hearings on postal delays and confusion over mail-in voting.

Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a Democrat from New York and chairwoman of the committee, said Monday she wanted documents DeJoy withheld from Congress because he thought his verbal testimony should be sufficient. This is especially interesting since it's Maloney who had to wait most of the summer for her own primary election in New York City to be decided after incredibly slow counting of...mail-in ballots!