Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) departed from a House committee hearing on Tuesday following an accusation from a Democratic lawmaker. The accusation claimed that Greene had engaged in high-fiving and hugging with individuals involved in the events of January 6, whom she referred to as “political prisoners.”
In the House Oversight Committee hearing on Tuesday, tensions rose as Greene took the floor for approximately five minutes to discuss crime in Washington, D.C. With fervor, she implored her fellow House colleagues to show their support for the police and described the crime rate in D.C. as a source of great shame for our nation.
“I’d also like to remind everyone that one of our own colleagues was carjacked months ago here in Washington, D.C.,” the congresswoman added. “We also just had a former Trump admin official [Mike Gill, formerly of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission] die because he was shot here in our nation’s capital, and many Hill staffers themselves have been attacked just walking the city streets. This is an ongoing crime epidemic here in our nation’s capital, and it’s appalling.”
Conservative lawmakers have been pointing fingers at President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party, accusing them of being soft on crime, especially after high-profile figures like Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and President Biden’s granddaughter fell victim to the surge in crime in the capital last year. The recent death of Gill, who was fatally shot during a carjacking, has further fueled the outrage among conservatives, who argue that American cities are descending into lawlessness under the Biden administration. Additionally, she criticized Democrats for their excessive criticism of former President Donald Trump.
“I also heard President Trump come under attack once again because Democrats have nothing else to say to defend their own policies but attack President Trump,” she said.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the committee’s ranking member, inquired if she would be willing to respond to a few inquiries as her tenure drew to a close.
No, I will not yield to one of your stupid questions that are always attacking me and attacking President Trump,” she fired back.
Following that, Representative Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) addressed the audience and criticized Greene for her endorsement of law enforcement, despite also showing support for the individuals involved in the January 6th riots.
“I want to remind the gentlelady that it was her that actually organized a trip to the D.C. jail to hug and high-five and sit with the insurrectionists that actually attacked our Capitol,” he said. “So, if we’re talking about the safety of D.C., and the Capitol, it is quite, I think, ironic.”
Halfway through his remarks, Greene walked out.
Her spokesman responded by saying: “Did you see what she said before? Or do you only pay attention to left wing twitter?”
Last week, Greene lodged a formal complaint with Georgia GOP Governor Brian Kemp and the state Republican attorney general, Chris Carr. In the complaint, Greene requested an investigation into allegations of political bias by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. These allegations stem from her romantic relationship with Nathan Hale, a special prosecutor hired by Willis to assist with the case against Trump. Greene contends that Willis’ relationship is inappropriate and suggests that she may have unlawfully directed nearly $700,000 in taxpayer funds to Hale, which they used for personal trips.
Furthermore, Greene asserts that if these allegations are proven true, it would expose “Fani Willis’ flagrant disregard for the law, potentially including a violation of her public oath,” as well as other Georgia statutes.
The initial claims were made by Trump’s co-defendant, Michael Roman, in a motion filed last month. Roman is seeking the removal of Willis and Wade from the case.
“Admittedly, this is a bold allegation considering it is directed to one of the most powerful people in the State of Georgia, the Fulton County District Attorney. Nevertheless, the district attorney’s fame and power do not change the fact that she decided to appoint as the special prosecutor a person with whom she had a personal relationship and who is now leading the day-to-day prosecution of this case,” Roman’s attorney wrote in the motion.