I am 100% sure they were kidding, but - they were "kidding" about serious allegations that they were uniquely in a position to investigate - they were "kidding" about an existential threat to American democracy - they were "kidding" about a potential scandal that, even then, clearly had far-reaching implications - they ceased "kidding" about it - with shocking earnestness - as soon as they realized what their conversation would look like were it to come out - they flatly denied it happened when the Washington Post said they'd heard about the conversation - they stated the transcript was a fabrication when they were told it existed - they said they were "kidding" as soon as the Post said they'd heard a recording They know they should have done more. They were busted red-handed KNOWING they weren't doing what they were supposed to. And they deserve to burn.