Trey Gowdy Quotes

The United States attorney in South Carolina was a Barack Obama appointee. Politically, he is to the left of Mao Zedong.

- Trey Gowdy

I don't have an issue with whether - from a legal standpoint, with whether or not government can impose the ultimate punishment on people. We do it in capital cases. Police officers shoot fleeing felons.

- Trey Gowdy

Even someone as lowly as an assistant U.S. attorney has to undergo a background check, and you're asked a series of very invasive questions, and you're expected to tell the truth and they're under penalty of perjury. And you're asked those questions so you can't be blackmailed or extorted.

- Trey Gowdy

When people in positions of trust mislead us - either recklessly, negligently or intentionally - that impacts the republic.

- Trey Gowdy

I was on the campaign trail for 18 months. I never got a question about the District of Columbia in South Carolina.

- Trey Gowdy

I cannot and will not raise money on Benghazi. I also advise my colleagues to follow suit.

- Trey Gowdy

My daughter took Latin for three years; she still can't speak it.

- Trey Gowdy

October of 2011, Occupy protestors descended upon McPherson Square, and they decided to stay. Despite the clear language of the law, these protestors camped at McPherson Square with the definition of camping being sleeping or preparing to sleep.

- Trey Gowdy

There's a reason that students don't grade their own papers. There's a reason defendants don't sentence themselves. And there's the reason the State Department doesn't get to investigate itself, determine whether or not it made errors in Benghazi. That is Congress's job.

- Trey Gowdy

If you can turn off certain categories of law, do you not also have the power to turn off all categories of law?

- Trey Gowdy

I suspect that with men like General Petraeus, where honor means something - losing your life is secondary to losing your honor.

- Trey Gowdy

Unless your name is Jack Bauer, you cannot make people talk.

- Trey Gowdy

The longer you remain silent, the longer you don't turn over documents, a presumption begins to build that you're withholding something. That's human nature. That may not be a legal presumption, but that's a common sense presumption.

- Trey Gowdy

I believe being a good senator requires two things. Number one, acumen. Number two, interest.

- Trey Gowdy

The reason I like the criminal justice system is there aren't Republican or Democrat victims or police officers or prosecutors. It's about respect for the rule of law!

- Trey Gowdy

Benghazi matters because Americans deserve to know the truth from those entrusted to lead and govern.

- Trey Gowdy

There's no way we can get to the bottom of Benghazi without David Petraeus.

- Trey Gowdy

You don't get John Gotti to testify against his driver. You get the driver to testify against John Gotti.

- Trey Gowdy

I don't like bonuses for public services employees who do great jobs, like prosecutors or judges.

- Trey Gowdy

There's several different forms of executive privilege. The one that is most absolute would be close advisers talking to the president himself.

- Trey Gowdy

I don't think the president had anything to do with Fast and Furious. I'm not sure Eric Holder did, which leads to a conversation about whether he should have known about it.

- Trey Gowdy

I listen to Gov. Romney have to apologize because he has been successful.

- Trey Gowdy

What did Republicans get for 16 days of a government shutdown with people being hurt? We have absolutely nothing to show for it, other than a damaged brand.

- Trey Gowdy

There's no use to having the majority if you are going to be hamstrung by your perception of political vicissitudes.

- Trey Gowdy

If you were summoned for jury duty and you didn't show up, what would happen? You'd be in jail!

- Trey Gowdy

For 16 years I spoke in trial metaphors, and perhaps I need to get out of that habit.

- Trey Gowdy

It is actually costlier to hire an immigrant. And yet the farm worker is almost invariably an immigrant. You can't pay an American to pick blueberries.

- Trey Gowdy

The notion that the First Amendment has no limitations whatsoever is balderdash.

- Trey Gowdy

I'm unelectable in the District of Columbia.

- Trey Gowdy

I'm not searching for ways to tell the District of Columbia what to do.

- Trey Gowdy

Honestly, I have heard a lot in my 16 years as a prosecutor.

- Trey Gowdy

I thought that was the crown jewel of the reporter's resume - to actually go to jail protecting a source.

- Trey Gowdy

Facts are neither Republican nor Democrat.

- Trey Gowdy

When you go into public service, you understand you're trading something. You want to feel good about what you do, but you're not going to make what people in private sector make.

- Trey Gowdy

I do not want to stay in Washington.

- Trey Gowdy

It always matters whether or not you can trust your government.

- Trey Gowdy

You may be less likely to pick on someone if you don't know what's in their briefcase or purse.

- Trey Gowdy