[Flint]

"Rush is defending Newt here! Read it through.

Exactly!

Rush is saying, "If this stuff had been going on I'd know about it". He is saying, "I was there and I was paying attention and I don't remember Newt bashing Regan".

Further Rush is saying this is an obvious coordinated attack on Newt coming together to do the most damage to him.

[ichabod1]

I caught on that that was what he was doing in about 5 minutes of listening in hour number 2.