Breakout GOP star Elise Stefanik criticizes Democrats and ‘liberal Hollywood’ for being ‘spun up’

GOP breakout star, Rep. Elise Stefanik, bashed critics who have poured donations to her Democratic competitor after they claimed she went too far right during impeachment hearings the last two weeks.

Stefanik, who at the time of her election was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, was known as a moderate Republican for New York’s 21st district, but many claimed she went against that status during House Intelligence Committee hearings as part of the impeachment inquiry.

‘Adam Schiff made up these partisan rules that don’t allow members to yield their time to other members,’ Stefanik said in her defense, referencing a viral moment where she and the Intelligence chairman went head-to-head.

‘This is unprecedented. It doesn’t happen in any other committee. It doesn’t even happen in the intelligence committee under normal rules,’ she continued in her interview with radio talk show host John Catsimatidis.

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik said she and Adam Schiff clashed in hearings earlier this month because the House Intelligence Committee chairman did not follow normal protocol in the impeachment hearings

Stefanik, a moderate Republican, lambasted those who claimed she went too far right during her questioning and viral clash with Schiff, where she asked why she could be yielded time from ranking member Devin Nunes

Stefanik, a moderate Republican, lambasted those who claimed she went too far right during her questioning and viral clash with Schiff, where she asked why she could be yielded time from ranking member Devin Nunes

Specifically, Stefanik and Schiff’s spat during the questioning of former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch’s testimony earlier this month was centered around the allocation of time individuals had to question the witness.

During the hearing with Yovanovitch, Stefanik tried to make a point by speaking up during time reserved for Republican Ranking Member Devin Nunes and his counsel.

‘The gentlewoman will suspend,’ Schiff said. ‘You are not recognized.’

‘What is the interruption for this time?’ she shot back. ‘This is the fifth time you have interrupted members of Congress, duly elected members of Congress.’

Trump, in remarks at the White House the day of the exchange, insisted that ‘certain very talented people weren’t even allowed to ask questions’ – referencing Stefanik. The president reposted to his Twitter page a video clip of Stefanik and Schiff.

Last week, the president also tweeted a video of Stefanik during her time question Yovanovitch, who testified after she was prematurely recalled from her three-year post as ambassador in Ukraine.

‘A new Republican Star is born,’ Trump lauded of the 35-year-old representative.

‘I was focused on the facts and the substance in my questions of witnesses as part of these impeachment hearings,’ the House Intelligence Committee member told Catsimatidis.

Usual House rules allow members to yield their allotted time to another member, but Schiff, who is leading the impeachment inquiry, has set different rules for his hearing room. This has especially infuriated Republican members who feel they are not getting treated fairly

Usual House rules allow members to yield their allotted time to another member, but Schiff, who is leading the impeachment inquiry, has set different rules for his hearing room. This has especially infuriated Republican members who feel they are not getting treated fairly

‘But obviously, the left and Hollywood liberals got spun up,’ she added. ‘They have been pouring millions to support my far-left opponent all because I spoke on behalf of my constituents, and I asked very strong questions.’

Stefanik, 35, was referring to a huge effort to raise money for her Democratic opponent Tedra Cobb, who is challenging Stefanik for New York’s 21st District seat in 2020.

Earlier this month, Cobb’s campaign reported that it had received over a $1 million in donations after the first set of impeachment hearings, and after Stefanik’s confrontation with Schiff.

During Yovanovitch’s hearing, House Intelligence Committee ranking member Devin Nunes, a Republican from California, tried to turn the microphone over to Stefanik rather than GOP counsel – otherwise known as yielding your time to another member.

The move wasn’t in accordance with the House impeachment proceedings’ hearing rules, set by Schiff, so he gaveled her down, which Stefnaik told Fox News Sunday morning was unprecedented.

‘Well, the American people could see firsthand how partisan this process has been from the start. Adam Schiff – these rules that we were conducted – were totally unprecedented,’ she told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo. ‘Members were not able to yield time to other members, which we’re allowed to do on the House floor – we’re allowed to do in every other committee except under Adam Schiff’s regime of secrecy.’

‘So, the American public, they have outpoured support for me. They want to hear from members of Congress, and I am proud to have asked some of the best questions of the impeachment proceedings,’ she continued. ‘And Adam Schiff will continue to silence Republican members who he does not want to hear from because he does not want to hear the truth.’

The incident between the New York Republican and California Democrat caused Stefanik to be lauded by fellow Republicans, but lambasted by Democrats.

Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway’s husband George Conway caused a huge fundraising boost for Stefanik’s opponent after he called the GOP congresswoman ‘lying trash.’ 

George Conway, attorney and husband to White House Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway, called Stefanik 'lying trash' and prompted followers to donate to her Democratic opponent's campaign

George Conway, attorney and husband to White House Counselor to the President, Kellyanne Conway, called Stefanik ‘lying trash’ and prompted followers to donate to her Democratic opponent’s campaign

Tedra Cobb (pictured) is a Democrat seeking to take Stefanik's House seat in New York's 21st district

Tedra Cobb (pictured) is a Democrat seeking to take Stefanik’s House seat in New York’s 21st district

Cobb's campaign announced Sunday night that it had raised $1 million in the two days since George Conway urged people to donate to her campaign

Cobb’s campaign announced Sunday night that it had raised $1 million in the two days since George Conway urged people to donate to her campaign

‘I am happy to announce we raised $1 million dollars!’ Democratic candidate Cobb’s campaign tweeted Sunday night. ‘It is impossible to express the feeling of gratitude I have tonight. Thank you #TeamTedra Together we started something big but it’s not over yet. If you haven’t had a chance you can donate here.’ 

The donations flowed in during the two days after Conway tweeted that Stefanik is ‘trash’ and prompted people to donate to her Democratic opponent.

‘@EliseStefanik is lying trash. Please give to her opponent, @TedraCobb,’ Conway tweeted.

Stefanik, 35, was elected as U.S. representative to New York’s 21st district in 2015, and Cobb is running for Stefanik’s seat in the 2020 House elections.

Conway’s tweet insulting Stefanik was posted with a chart exhibiting the total speaking time of GOP members of the Intelligence Committee, and was captioned with: ‘In a transparent stunt, Trump and Republicans claimed today that Rep. Stefanik ‘wasn’t allowed to talk’—the numbers say different.’

Stefanik came in with nearly 10 minutes – second only to Nunes.

Conway and his wife – a top aide to the president – are both Republicans. But the two have publicly sparred due to his wife’s position in the administration and Conway’s status as a ‘never Trumper’ Republican.

George has blasted the president on Twitter and given speeches and written op-eds arguing the president is unfit for office.

During the first public hearings on Wednesday, which featured former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor and Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs George Kent, Conway appeared on MSNBC for impeachment analysis.

The left-leaning network is often targeted by the president as being one of the media outlets that he claims peddles ‘fake news.’

Kellyanne, on the other hand, speaks as a Trump surrogate on TV, especially right-leaning network Fox News, and has discredited the impeachment inquiry into her boss.

During an appearance on CNN Thursday – a day after the public hearings commenced – host Wolf Blitzer payed played a clip of the White House counselor’s husband accusing Trump of a flagrant abuse of power.

Before the clip was played, Blitzer warned Kellyanne, claiming, ‘I don’t want to talk about your marriage. I know there are issues there.’

George Conway in a 'never Trumper' Republican and on Wednesday, for the first public hearings of the impeachment inquiry, appeared on the left-leaning network MSNBC for impeachment analysis

George Conway in a ‘never Trumper’ Republican and on Wednesday, for the first public hearings of the impeachment inquiry, appeared on the left-leaning network MSNBC for impeachment analysis

George and Kellyanne are at odds over her boss. The White House counselor was asked to weigh in on her hsuband's appearance on MSNBC and his comments. 'What you just quoted is said every day by other voices but you wanted to put it in my husband's voice because you think somehow that that will help your ratings or that you're really sticking it to Kellyanne Conway,' Kellyanne said of her husband's comments

George and Kellyanne are at odds over her boss. The White House counselor was asked to weigh in on her hsuband’s appearance on MSNBC and his comments. ‘What you just quoted is said every day by other voices but you wanted to put it in my husband’s voice because you think somehow that that will help your ratings or that you’re really sticking it to Kellyanne Conway,’ Kellyanne said of her husband’s comments

 ‘Did you just say there are issues there?’ Conway, who often avoids questions about her marriage, asked him. ‘Why, and why are you doing that?’ she asked him – deeming the question inappropriate.

‘And the relevance is? … Drum roll. And he’s married to me?’ she continued. 

In the MSNBC clip, George said, ‘The problem with Donald Trump is, he always sees himself first. Trump is all about Trump. And that’s why it was inevitable he’d get himself into this soup once again.’

Kellyanne called it ‘his opinion’ and insisted networks tried to use her husband’s view of the president to rattle her or improve their ratings.

‘Honestly, where is the shame, where is the introspection?’ she asked. ‘It’s the same stuff all the time. What you just quoted is said every day by other voices but you wanted to put it in my husband’s voice because you think somehow that that will help your ratings or that you’re really sticking it to Kellyanne Conway.’

The past few days, George Conway has reposted Cobb’s fundraising milestones to his Twitter account, prompting more people to visit the page where they can donate to her campaign to unseat Stefanik.

Kellyanne, 52, and George, 56, have been married since 2001 and have four children together.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk