Hatch Shreds His Way Through U.S.A. Scandal

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Look out! It’s Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) on a talking point rampage!

Here’s a compilation from Hatch’s Meet The Press appearance this Sunday, during which the senator, apparently not a TPM reader, repeated more times than I can count that there’s “not a shred of evidence” of impropriety in the U.S. attorney firings. And in an impressive reframing, he called Monica Goodling’s choice to plead the Fifth Amendment “gutsy.”

Readers are encouraged to compile “shreds of evidence” for Sen. Hatch’s future reference in the comments.

During the same appearance, Russert asked Hatch whether he would serve as the next attorney general. Hatch seemed shocked at the idea, stuttering and bubbling over with modesty. Somehow, he managed to add that if duty called, “I would serve this country any way I could.”

When asked about Hatch’s possible candidacy as AG, Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT) responded, “The rumor on the Hill this week was that he was actively running for it.” And Leahy noticeably declined to say if Hatch would have an easy time being confirmed by his committee. Here’s that video:

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