A House Oversight Committee hearing on Thursday, May 16, became degenerate when lawmakers resorted to name calling and insults. The hearing was hosted by Republicans as they seek to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress.
The behavior lasted for more than half an hour as lawmakers argued over Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s, R-Ga., comment about another lawmaker’s fake eyelashes.
“I think your fake eyelashes are messing up your reading,” Greene said to Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas.
That caused an strong reaction from Democrats who pointed out that it is against the rules of decorum to attack another member’s personal appearance.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., got particularly heated.
“Oh girl, baby girl, don’t even play,” Ocasio-Cortez said to Greene.
The effort to hold Garland in contempt is in response to his decision not to turn over audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur.
Hur was the attorney who investigated the president’s handling of classified documents found at his home and personal office.
“That’s beneath even you Miss Greene,” ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said.
“That is absolutely unacceptable. How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said.
“Are your feelings hurt?” Greene responded.
Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., then brought the out-of-control meeting to a halt.
“We’re suspending,” Comer said as he struck the gavel.
Democrats called for Greene’s comments to be removed from the record and she eventually agreed. However, the battle soon resumed.
“I’m not apologizing,” Greene said to Ocasio-Cortez. “Why don’t you debate me?”
“I think that’s self-evident,” Ocasio-Cortez answered.
“Yeah, you don’t have enough intelligence,” Greene said.
That caused a full yelling match.
When Comer tried to move on, Crockett, the target of the insult that started the conflict, chimed in.
“I’m just curious just to better understand your ruling,” Crockett said, referring to Greene. “If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blond, bad-built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?”
“A what now?” Comer responded.
The ordeal started after Democrats tried to refer Comer to the ethics committee for sending fundraising emails about his efforts to hold Merrick Garland in contempt.
Some watching this hearing may wish they were like Chairman Comer.
“I have two hearing aids, I am very deaf, I’m not understanding,” Comer told the committee as everyone was yelling over each other.
