James Comer, the chair of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee (R-Ky.), blamed last week’s boisterous hearing on a few Capitol Hill “repeat violators of decorum”.
Comer said to CNN: “It was very unfortunate. It wasn’t the only time, and I hope it will be the last time.” “The members that have repeatedly violated decorum have already been called out, and hopefully this won’t happen anymore.”
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., fought for more than an hour at Attorney General Merrick Garland’s contempt hearing after Greene accused Crockett of having fake eyelashes. Crockett called Greene a “bleach blonde butch body.”
Comer, speaking to CNN, said that it was not appropriate for the participants to discuss personalities. This happened at the last hearing of the committee. Representative Greene’s comments were removed from the record and I believe Representative Crockett said some inappropriate things.”
Mayhem broke out after Greene asked if any Democrats at the Oversight Hearing were employing Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter, who supervises the Manhattan hush-money prosecution of former President Trump. Republicans have targeted Merchan’s daughter because she works at a progressive agency.
Crockett asked, “What’s the connection?” Do you understand our goal?
Greene replied, “I’m not sure why you’re even here.” “I think that your fake eyelashes are interfering with your reading.”
Democrats condemned Greene immediately, with Ocasio Cortez screaming “that’s disgusting!” and calling her remarks “absolutely inacceptable.”
Ocasio Cortez, Greene and Crockett then debated, with occasional interruptions from other legislators.
Crockett asked whether her hypothetical comment — which seemed to be a jab at Greene — violated the decorum of Congress.
Comer said that the hearing was “very important”, but it had been “hijacked” by some unfortunate soundbites.
The Oversight Committee, by a vote of 24-20, found Garland guilty of contempt of Congress because he failed to provide audio recordings of President Biden’s communication with Special Counsel Robert Hur following the disruption.
Comer and Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., discussed the bill that he introduced Wednesday. The bill would require presidents to reveal their foreign incomes via CNN.
