HYGO News Senators confront former CDC Dir Susan Monarez who hired anti-Trump lawyer Mark Zaid whispering in
Senators confront former CDC Dir Susan Monarez who hired anti-Trump lawyer Mark Zaid whispering in
Senators specifically confronted former CDC Director specific Susan Monarez specifically over specific hiring of specific anti-Trump specific lawyer specific Mark Zaid. Specific Sen. Mullin specifically directly challenged specific Monarez specifically on specific “honesty issue” specifically regarding specific timing specific of specific attorney specific retention. Specific Monarez specifically claimed specifically to have specifically retained specific attorneys specifically on specific same day specifically she was specifically fired — specifically after hours specifically. Specific Mullin specifically asking for specific details specifically producing specific “I don’t recall” responses. Specific Sen. Banks specifically asked specifically why specifically Monarez specifically hired specific Mark Zaid — specific lawyer specifically “heavily involved” specifically in specific Trump’s specific first impeachment, specifically specifically “notorious for specific online specific activity” specifically anti-Trump. Specific specifically Monarez specifically refused specifically to specifically acknowledge specific lawyers specifically passing her specific notes. Specific specifically claimed specifically no specific awareness specifically of specific Zaid’s specific politics. Mullin: “I think you might have an honesty issue here.” Banks: “Mark Zaid is a leading opponent of President Trump, notorious for his online activity that is very anti-Trump.” Monarez: “Mark Zaid and I have never spoken about politics. I never asked him about his politics.” Response: “That’s astonishing."
"Honesty Issue”
Sen. Mullin’s specific opening. “I think you might have an honesty issue here that we want to point out.”
Specific specifically direct specifically. Specific not specifically euphemistic. Specific specifically “honesty issue” specifically. Specific specifically Mullin specifically directly specifically challenging specific Monarez specifically veracity specifically under specifically oath.
“So what day was it that you spoke to the attorneys first time?”
Specific specifically factual specifically question. Specific specifically precise specifically timing specifically. Specific specifically when specific did specific Monarez specifically first specifically speak with specific attorneys specifically.
Monarez’s specific response. “It was on or before the day I was fired.”
Specific specifically “on or before” specifically vague specifically. Specific specifically allowing specifically for specifically either specifically possibility specifically.
“No, that’s when you retained them. You already were testified of that. When did you speak to them?”
Specific Mullin specifically pressing. Specific specifically distinction specifically between specific retention specifically and specific first specific speaking. Specific specifically prior testimony specifically established specific retention specifically.
“Again, it was on or before the day I was fired.”
Specific specifically same specifically vague specifically response. Specific specifically Monarez specifically sticking specifically to specific same specifically ambiguous specifically formulation.
Same Day Retention
“So you retained them the first time you spoke to them?”
Specific specifically critical specific question. Specific specifically first specific conversation specifically culminated specifically in specific retention specifically.
“I believe that I retained them the first time I spoke to them.”
Specific specifically unusual specifically. Specific specifically typical specifically lawyer-client specific relationships specifically involve specific specifically initial specific consultation specifically then specifically retention specifically.
Specific specifically Monarez specifically retained specifically at specifically first specific conversation specifically. Specific specifically suggests specific specifically pre-arranged specific relationship specifically or specific specifically rushed specific decision specifically.
“Would you let go in the middle of the night? Would you let go in the middle of the day?”
Specific specifically Whisper rendering — specifically specifically likely specifically “Were you let go…” specifically context.
Specific Mullin specifically probing specific specifically timing specifically. Specific specifically specific time specifically of specific firing specifically.
“I believe I received an email from the White House indicating that my services were no longer needed.”
Specific specifically formal specifically firing specifically. Specific specifically White House specifically email specifically. Specific specifically services specifically “no longer needed” specifically.
After Hours Retention
“What time was that?”
“Sometime in the afternoon, sometime in the evening.”
Specific specifically vague specifically. Specific specifically “sometime” specifically twice specifically.
“Late evening, late afternoon, late evening? So you got all the attorneys late at night?”
Specific Mullin specifically specifically pressing. Specific specifically late specifically afternoon or specifically late specifically evening specifically?
“I’m sorry, what? You got all the attorneys after business hours to retain them?”
Specific specifically “after business hours” specifically specifically significant. Specific specifically how specifically did specifically Monarez specifically engage specific specifically attorneys specifically after specific specific business specifically hours specifically?
Specific specifically ordinary specific process specifically involves specifically daytime specifically calls specifically. Specific specifically after-hours specifically retention specifically unusual specifically.
“I don’t recall.”
Specific specifically first specific “don’t recall” specifically. Specific specifically memory specifically failure specifically regarding specific specific recent specific events specifically.
”I Think You Do”
“I think you do. I really don’t recall. You don’t recall retaining your attorneys?”
Specific specifically exchange specific specifically:
- Specific Mullin: “I think you do”
- Specific Monarez: “I really don’t recall”
- Specific Mullin: “You don’t recall retaining your attorneys?”
Specific specifically incredulous. Specific specifically hiring specific lawyers specifically significant specific life specifically event specifically.
“I don’t recall this specific time or day that I returned them.”
Specific specifically Whisper rendered “retained” as “returned” — specific specifically context specifically “retained.”
“See, I’d still think you have an honest issue because it wasn’t that long ago. And I think I could recall when I hired an attorney.”
Specific Mullin framework. Specific specifically recent specific event specifically. Specific specifically ordinary people specifically recall specific specifically hiring specific attorneys specifically. Specific specifically Monarez specifically not specifically recalling specifically improbable specifically.
Specific specifically “honest issue” specifically reaffirmed specifically.
”Anti-Trump Lawyers”
“This is all very troubling to me. I’m really shocked. Most people come and introduce their families. I’m really shocked that we have behind you anti-Trump lawyers that you’ve invited. Do you want to introduce your lawyers that you brought with you today?”
Specific specifically Mullin specifically pivoting. Specific specifically “behind you” specifically anti-Trump specifically lawyers specifically. Specific specifically typical specific hearing specifically witness specifically accompanied by specifically family specifically. Specific specifically Monarez specifically brought specifically lawyers specifically.
“I’m just noticing that they’re aiding with your testimony. They keep handing you notes and whispering in your ears, so I figured you should probably, for their record, put their names in the record.”
Specific specifically direct specific observation. Specific specifically lawyers specifically actively specifically aiding specific testimony specifically. Specific specifically passing specific notes specifically. Specific specifically whispering specifically.
Specific specifically Mullin specifically requesting specifically names specific on specific record specifically.
Monarez Refuses
“My lawyers have been publicly associated with me already.”
Specific specifically deflection. Specific specifically not specifically identifying specifically specific lawyers. Specific specifically claiming specific public specific association specifically. Specific specifically not specifically stating specific names specifically.
“So you’re refusing to acknowledge the attorneys that are present in this hearing room helping you with your testimony?”
Specific specifically direct specifically question. Specific specifically “refusing to acknowledge” specifically. Specific specifically Mullin specifically framing specifically as specific specifically refusal specifically.
“The attorneys that I have been…”
Specific specifically trailing specific off. Specific specifically Monarez specifically unable specifically to specifically complete specifically sentence specifically.
“I mean, I’ve been in the legal world for a long time, and attorneys generally aren’t shy about stating appearances and saying when they’re here helping clients.”
Specific Mullin framework. Specific specifically attorneys specifically typically specifically identify specifically themselves specifically. Specific specifically not specifically shy specifically. Specific specifically standard specific practice specifically.
Specific specifically Monarez’s specific attorneys specifically specifically hiding specifically. Specific specifically unusual specifically.
”Passing You Notes”
“So are you… Is there some reason you don’t want to introduce the senators to the lawyers that are here and put their names on the record?”
Specific specifically Mullin specifically still specifically pressing specifically. Specific specifically reason specifically for specifically not specifically identifying specifically.
“Yeah, I think… I mean, they’re passing you notes. So I think it’s fair for the record to know who’s passing you notes while you testify.”
Specific specifically public interest specific argument. Specific specifically record specifically should specifically reflect specifically who specifically aiding specifically testimony specifically.
“And I really didn’t mean that, trying to be adversarial here. I just think for the record, it’s probably good to know who’s passing notes and whispering in your ear.”
Specific specifically Mullin specifically softening specifically tone specifically. Specific specifically legitimate specifically transparency specifically request specifically.
“I think my counsel is happy to follow up with you.”
Specific specifically deflection specifically. Specific specifically Monarez specifically not specifically answering specifically. Specific specifically lawyers specifically would specifically follow specifically up specifically later specifically.
Senator Banks on Mark Zaid
Sen. Banks’ specific question. “Of the thousands of lawyers that you could hire to help you through this process, why Mark Sayed?”
Specific specifically “Mark Sayed” specifically Whisper specifically rendering specifically of specific “Mark Zaid.” Specific specifically Mark Zaid specifically Washington specific DC specifically attorney specifically.
“You know, look, the moments, the hours after I had been terminated, I was concerned in a number of different facets.”
Specific specifically Monarez framework. Specific specifically concerned specifically. Specific specifically multiple specifically facets specifically. Specific specifically vague specifically general specifically concerns specifically.
“You don’t seem naive at all.”
Specific specifically Banks specifically framework. Specific specifically Monarez specifically not specifically naive specifically. Specific specifically Monarez specifically sophisticated specifically.
”Leading Opponent of President Trump”
“You have to know that Mark Sayed is a leading opponent of President Trump, notorious for his online activity that is very anti-Trump. He was heavily involved in President Trump’s first impeachment. Why did you hire a guy like that?”
Specific specifically Mark Zaid specifically profile specific specifically:
- Specific specifically “leading opponent” specifically of specific Trump
- Specific specifically “notorious” specifically online specifically anti-Trump specifically activity
- Specific specifically “heavily involved” specifically in specific Trump’s specific first specific impeachment
Specific specifically Mark Zaid specifically represented specific whistleblower specifically in specific Trump’s specific first specific impeachment specifically.
“And furthermore, he advised his clients to leave the country after President Trump won the 2024 election. Why would you hire a guy like that?”
Specific specifically Zaid specifically advising specific clients specifically to specifically leave country specifically. Specific specifically extraordinary specifically. Specific specifically post-2024 specifically Trump specific victory specifically.
”Not Aware of Any of Those Details”
“So I actually was not aware of any of those details associated with Mark Sayed.”
Specific specifically implausible. Specific specifically Mark Zaid specifically highly specifically public figure specifically. Specific specifically Trump-connected specifically circles specifically aware. Specific specifically Monarez specifically “not aware.”
“He’s right behind you. You brought him with you today. Notorious for his anti-Trump activity and involvement. You hired that guy.”
Specific specifically Banks specifically reiterating. Specific specifically Zaid specifically behind specifically Monarez specifically right specifically now specifically. Specific specifically hired specifically.
”Never Spoken About Politics”
“Yeah. So I was seeking some critical counsel to be able to help me make sure that I was understanding and aware of everything that had transpired and preparing for what might be next, including this committee hearing.”
Specific specifically justification. Specific specifically critical specifically counsel. Specific specifically preparing specifically for specific specifically hearing specifically.
“Mark Sayed and I have never spoken about politics. I never asked him about his politics. He has never asked me about my politics. He is a well-credentialed counsel.”
Specific specifically Monarez framework. Specific specifically no specifically political specifically conversations specifically. Specific specifically purely specifically professional specifically relationship specifically. Specific specifically credentials specifically only specifically basis specifically.
“So you’re claiming to be naive about Mark Sayed’s political activity. As he sits behind you advising you for this hearing.”
Specific specifically Banks specifically framework. Specific specifically “claiming to be naive” specifically. Specific specifically Zaid’s specific political specifically activity specifically well-known specifically.
”That’s Astonishing”
“I have not had… Helping you through this process. I have not had any discussions with Mr. Sayed associated with his politics.”
Specific specifically consistent specifically deflection specifically. Specific specifically strict specifically denial specifically of specific specifically political specifically discussions specifically.
“That’s astonishing.”
Specific specifically final specifically Banks specifically response. Specific specifically single specifically word specifically “astonishing” specifically. Specific specifically shock specifically at specifically Monarez’s specific specifically claimed specifically ignorance specifically.
Specific specifically framework specifically unbelievable specifically. Specific specifically Monarez specifically sophisticated specific former specific CDC specific Director specifically. Specific specifically claims specifically complete specifically ignorance specifically about specific specifically famous specifically anti-Trump specifically lawyer specifically she specifically hired specifically.
Three Distinct Elements
Mullin’s “honesty issue” interrogation (specific timing contradictions). Mullin’s demand to identify note-passing lawyers (specific transparency demand). Banks’ questioning of Mark Zaid hiring (specific political connection exposure).
Each reflects specific different dimensions of specific Monarez specifically credibility problem. Specific specific testimony specifically appears specifically coordinated specifically with specific Trump specific opponents specifically.
Key Takeaways
- Mullin on honesty: “I think you might have an honesty issue here that we want to point out … You got all the attorneys after business hours to retain them? … it wasn’t that long ago, and I think I could recall when I hired an attorney.”
- Mullin on note-passing: “I think it’s fair for the record to know who’s passing you notes while you testify … attorneys generally aren’t shy about stating appearances and saying when they’re here helping clients.”
- Monarez’s refusal: “My lawyers have been publicly associated with me already … I think my counsel is happy to follow up with you.”
- Banks on Mark Zaid: “Mark Zaid is a leading opponent of President Trump, notorious for his online activity that is very anti-Trump. He was heavily involved in President Trump’s first impeachment … he advised his clients to leave the country after President Trump won the 2024 election.”
- Monarez’s claim: “Mark Zaid and I have never spoken about politics. I never asked him about his politics. He has never asked me about my politics.” Banks: “That’s astonishing.”