Here’s what stuck out to me from the hearing: no one is willing to accept responsibility. When I was growing up, we were taught that when you make a mistake, you apologize and do better. You learn. You make sure it doesn’t happen again. 

The Trump Administration is taking the opposite approach. They’re lying, obfuscating, and feigning a lack of memory even when presented with the screenshots of the chat.

Beyond the inappropriate use of emojis while American lives were at risk, and beyond the hypocrisy that these are the very same folks who shouted an awful lot about Hillary Clinton’s emails, I’m stunned by the lack of accountability. The most powerful people on the planet are teaching our children not to apologize, and instead to attack whoever snitched on them.

Congress has the power and responsibility to oversee our nation’s national security apparatus, and I’ll continue using my position to insist that we do better. The men and women on the front lines deserve nothing less than knowing that their identities, whereabouts, and mission plans remain safe and secure. 

— Jim