Drinking was allegedly taking place in a committee room where a hearing devolved into insults of “fake eyelashes” and “bleach blonde bad-built butch body” being hurled across the chamber by Republican and Democrat lawmakers on Thursday. Both Republicans and Democrats told Politico that some members had been drinking that evening, but no names were made public.
The hearing, intended to decide if US Attorney General Merrick Garland could be held in contempt of Congress, took a contentious turn when Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene launched the first salvo. She targeted Democrat Jasmine Crockett’s “fake eyelashes,” which quickly shifted the focus away from the agenda. “I’d like to know if any Democrats on the committee are employing Judge [Juan] Merchan’s daughter?” Greene said, referring to the judge overseeing Donald Trump’s hush money trial. Republicans, including Trump, have accused Judge Merchan of being too partisan, emphasizing that his daughter has worked for Democrats.
“What does that have to do with Merrick Garland?” asked freshman Oversight Committee member Jasmine Crockett.
“I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading,” Greene retorted.
The hearing then descended into chaos, with Chairman James Comer struggling to maintain order for nearly an hour. Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rebuked Greene’s “disgusting” and “unacceptable” remarks about Crockett. “How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person?” Ocasio-Cortez demanded. Greene taunted her, questioning whether her feelings were hurt. Ocasio-Cortez fired back, saying, “Oh girl, oh baby girl, don’t even play,” which Greene mockingly echoed with, “Oh really, baby girl?”
Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the committee, also criticized Greene, stating, “That’s beneath even you, Ms. Greene.” Despite this, Greene agreed to strike her words from the record but refused to apologize to Crockett, causing further outrage among Democrats.
When asked, Ocasio-Cortez refused to engage in further debate with Greene, prompting Greene’s final insult: “Yeah, you don’t have enough intelligence.”
Chairman Comer ruled that Greene’s insult did not violate House rules, leaving Crockett bewildered. “If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blonde, bad-built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?” she queried Comer, who responded in confusion, “Uh, what now?”
This prompted Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna to request that Crockett’s words be stricken from the record, which led to a vocal response from Democrats. “I’m trying to get clarification,” Crockett explained. “Don’t tell me to calm down, because y’all talk noise and then you can’t take it. If I come and talk s*** about her, y’all gonna have a problem.”
Later, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania criticized the hearing, comparing it to The Jerry Springer Show. This drew criticism from Ocasio-Cortez, who posted on X (formerly Twitter): “I understand you likely would not have stood up for your colleague and seem to be confused about racism and misogyny being a ‘both sides’ issue. But I stand up to bullies, instead of becoming one. And to the women of Pennsylvania: I’d stand up for you too. Enjoy your Friday.”
Representative Veronica Escobar of Texas also admonished Fetterman. “Women of color in Congress are frequently targeted by misogynistic, xenophobic, ignorant people. I’ve lived it,” she said. “One of the shameless extremists we work with insulted @JasmineForUS, and @AOC used parliamentary procedure to demand a standard of decorum. There is no ‘both sides.’”
The hearing was the latest chapter in House Republicans’ ongoing efforts to impeach President Biden since they voted to begin an impeachment inquiry in December. Following the tumultuous session, House Speaker Mike Johnson admonished members, emphasizing the need for decorum. “When we disagree — even vehemently — we have got to treat one another with dignity and respect,” he said. “I think it’s an important principle.”
Last week, Greene led a failed effort to remove Johnson from his position, with an overwhelming number of Democrats joining almost all Republicans to save him. This underscores the deep divisions and ongoing struggles within Congress, highlighting the challenges of maintaining civility amidst political tensions. The episode serves as a stark reminder of the volatility and unpredictability that can arise in the halls of power, reflecting broader societal conflicts and the urgent need for respectful discourse.