--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even someone as lowly as an assistant…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/trey-gowdy-11613_assistants_even-someone-as-lowly-as-an-assistant-u_1881045.jpg" --- # Even someone as lowly as an assistant U.S. attorney has to… ![“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.” quote by Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/trey-gowdy-11613_assistants_even-someone-as-lowly-as-an-assistant-u_1881045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/trey-gowdy-11613_assistants_even-someone-as-lowly-as-an-assistant-u_1881045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/trey-gowdy-11613_assistants_even-someone-as-lowly-as-an-assistant-u_1881045.jpg) > “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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Background checks protect integrity by forcing honesty under oath, preventing blackmail and extortion. **In simple terms:** Honesty under oath protects against coercion. Key Takeaway Answer truthfully, accept the process. Themes integrity law security Mood serious formal Type legal policy When to use this quote - government hiring - legal proceedings - security clearances Key Concepts perjury background checks blackmail Questions to Reflect On - How does transparency balance privacy? - Is the risk of blackmail worth the intrusion? A Different Perspective May deter qualified candidates who fear privacy invasion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attorney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attorney/) [Background checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/background-checks/) [Penalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalties/) [Perjury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perjury/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) ## Related quotes > [When anybody and everybody registers to vote, they do so under the penalty of perjury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audie-cornish/when-anybody-and-everybody-registers-to-vote-they-do-so-under-the-2/) [Audie Cornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audie-cornish/) > [The income tax has spawned an intrusive bureaucracy, creating so much complexity and red tape that millions of ordinary citizens have to go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-income-tax-has-spawned-an-intrusive-bureaucracy-creating-so-much/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [More than half of all people filing income tax forms use someone else to prepare the forms for them. Then they have to sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/more-than-half-of-all-people-filing-income-tax-forms-use-someone-else/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [There's no reason that there shouldn't be universal background checks to ensure guns don't get in the hands of people who should not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-psaki/there-s-no-reason-that-there-shouldn-t-be-universal-background-checks/) [Jen Psaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-psaki/) > [Obama, Bloomberg and nearly every politician and gun-ban zealot pushing for a universal background check system are on record supporting mandatory gun registration, outright…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-lapierre/obama-bloomberg-and-nearly-every-politician-and-gun-ban-zealot/) [Wayne LaPierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-lapierre/) > [Most Americans think there's already universal background checks. They don't understand why there wouldn't be a background check to purchase a weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/most-americans-think-there-s-already-universal-background-checks-they/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I support common-sense measures like universal background checks to prevent guns from falling into the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/i-support-common-sense-measures-like-universal-background-checks-to/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [Expanding background checks for all sales and transfers of firearms is simple, popular, and commonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/expanding-background-checks-for-all-sales-and-transfers-of-firearms/) [Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/) > [We are going to trace more effectively, how these guns are ending up on the streets, to unscrupulous gun dealers, who often times are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-are-going-to-trace-more-effectively-how-these-guns-are-ending-up/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Should we have background checks, waiting periods? 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Lott Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-lott-jr/) > [There are corporate private investigators, companies doing very forensic background checks on people. They buy data, they get their own data... They don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-brooke/there-are-corporate-private-investigators-companies-doing-very/) [Heather Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-brooke/) > [I believe law-abiding citizens ought to be able to own a gun. I believe in background checks at gun shows or anywhere to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-believe-law-abiding-citizens-ought-to-be-able-to-own-a-gun-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I want to protect our constitutional right to bear arms in a legal and thoughtful way with background checks that also don't want people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/i-want-to-protect-our-constitutional-right-to-bear-arms-in-a-legal/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) ## More by Trey Gowdy > [I can tell you this. It is not going to be evenly constituted and when she was Speaker Pelosi, she certainly showed no interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-can-tell-you-this-it-is-not-going-to-be-evenly-constituted-and-when/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Honestly, I have heard a lot in my 16 years as a prosecutor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/honestly-i-have-heard-a-lot-in-my-16-years-as-a-prosecutor/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [I suspect that with men like General Petraeus, where honor means something - losing your life is secondary to losing your honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-suspect-that-with-men-like-general-petraeus-where-honor-means/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-did-republicans-get-for-16-days-of-a-government-shutdown-with/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [No law can give Congress a backbone if it refuses to stand off as the coequal branch the Constitution made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/no-law-can-give-congress-a-backbone-if-it-refuses-to-stand-off-as-the/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Well, I certainly hope the Democrats participate. I continue to think that some things transcend politics like the murder of four of our fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/well-i-certainly-hope-the-democrats-participate-i-continue-to-think/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [The same Constitution that allows her the right, if she wants to, to sit there and say nothing, allows these groups the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/the-same-constitution-that-allows-her-the-right-if-she-wants-to-to/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Unless your name is Jack Bauer, you cannot make people talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/unless-your-name-is-jack-bauer-you-cannot-make-people-talk/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [What do we do with a president who can basically change what Congress passed by attaching a letter saying I don't agree with this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/what-do-we-do-with-a-president-who-can-basically-change-what-congress/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/when-you-go-into-public-service-you-understand-you-re-trading/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [I am not surprised that the president of the United States called this a phony scandal. I'm not surprised Secretary Clinton asked, "What difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-am-not-surprised-that-the-president-of-the-united-states-called/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [The United States attorney in South Carolina was a Barack Obama appointee. Politically, he is to the left of Mao Zedong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/the-united-states-attorney-in-south-carolina-was-a-barack-obama/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-don-t-have-an-issue-with-whether-from-a-legal-standpoint-with/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [There's no way we can get to the bottom of Benghazi without David Petraeus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/there-s-no-way-we-can-get-to-the-bottom-of-benghazi-without-david/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [You may be less likely to pick on someone if you don't know what's in their briefcase or purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/you-may-be-less-likely-to-pick-on-someone-if-you-don-t-know-what-s-in/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) [Explore all 59 Trey Gowdy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) ## More Assistants quotes > [I'm a good assistant. That's why I don't have an assistant, because I'm so on it that no one can be as on it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/i-m-a-good-assistant-that-s-why-i-don-t-have-an-assistant-because-i-m/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [Since, however, it is immaterial whether the work is done by assistants or a machine, I decided to build a machine equivalent to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-however-it-is-immaterial-whether-the-work-is-done-by-assistants/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [To this day, I've never had an assistant. I really insist on doing everything myself because I value the role of the artist's hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-robleto/to-this-day-i-ve-never-had-an-assistant-i-really-insist-on-doing/) [Dario Robleto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-robleto/) > [ Well, that would be a title \[the busiest guy in Hollywood\] still reserved for Ryan Seacrest. I have one assistant; he has about nine.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/well-that-would-be-a-title-the-busiest-guy-in-hollywood-still/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [Everyone believed the Senate could not really be led. It used to take so long to rise up through seniority. In two years Lyndon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/everyone-believed-the-senate-could-not-really-be-led-it-used-to-take/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [I know that you observe Christmas Day as you learned it at home. I do not observe it. However, as assistant director of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/odilo-globocnik/i-know-that-you-observe-christmas-day-as-you-learned-it-at-home-i-do/) Odilo Globocnik > [Hollywood is a whole other level of crazy. I've never met so many assistants who have assistants. It's a stratified society on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/hollywood-is-a-whole-other-level-of-crazy-i-ve-never-met-so-many/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [Photoshop is useful in many ways but must NEVER be used for the altering of photographs. My assistants and my agency do whatever Photoshop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/photoshop-is-useful-in-many-ways-but-must-never-be-used-for-the/) [Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/) > [Remember, this is back in the '40s, and the idea of a museum being a place where interested people could come in direct contact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mackenzie/remember-this-is-back-in-the-40s-and-the-idea-of-a-museum-being-a/) [Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mackenzie/) > [The mind reels at the multiplication of books intended to justify the author's promotion from assistant to associate professor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-northcote-parkinson/the-mind-reels-at-the-multiplication-of-books-intended-to-justify-the/) [C. Northcote Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-northcote-parkinson/) > [I was in Japan, and my assistant director had worked with Kurosawa. I used quite of number of Kurosawa's crew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boorman/i-was-in-japan-and-my-assistant-director-had-worked-with-kurosawa-i/) [John Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boorman/) > [It's one of the most beautiful memories of my life. Not everyone has a chance to meet Greta Garbo! I was so in awe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giovanna-cau/it-s-one-of-the-most-beautiful-memories-of-my-life-not-everyone-has-a/) [Giovanna Cau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giovanna-cau/) > [Think like a head coach, but act like an assistant coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-amaker/think-like-a-head-coach-but-act-like-an-assistant-coach/) Tommy Amaker > [I must have assistants who will solve their own problems and tell me later what they've done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/i-must-have-assistants-who-will-solve-their-own-problems-and-tell-me/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) Browse all 322 Assistants quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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