Marjorie Taylor Greene silenced in committee after accusing Mayorkas of lying

Democrats twice sought to strike remarks from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) throughout a Tuesday listening to, with the House Homeland Security Committee failing to reprimand her for accusing a colleague of an extramarital affair whereas agreeing to withdraw her feedback accusing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of being a liar.
It was a uncommon occasion of Republicans agreeing to dam Greene from talking, an motion Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) appeared to do unknowingly, showing to not instantly notice a transfer to “take down” her feedback versus placing them from the report terminates rights to talk in the listening to.
The two feedback, relayed simply moments aside, got here after Greene adopted Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) in questioning, with the California Democrat seeming to reference Greene and others in discussing efforts to defund the FBI.
Greene criticized Swalwell, calling his criticism wealthy “from someone that had a sexual relationship with a Chinese spy and everyone knows it.”
Democrats instantly moved to strike her phrases, arguing it violated House guidelines on making assaults primarily based on character, and Greene declined to withdraw them voluntarily.
Greene’s feedback about Swalwell come following stories in 2020 that he was warned by the FBI {that a} suspected Chinese spy was aiding with fundraising efforts for his 2014 reelection marketing campaign. Swalwell has denied any improper interplay with the girl, Christine Fang, together with an extramarital affair, and the bureau stated there was no indication he shared any labeled intelligence together with her.
After the chairman denied the movement, Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) appealed the ruling.
“I’ve been on this committee from Day 1. We’ve never had an accusation made of any member like that. And I’m appalled at it. We all ought to be embarrassed at it. We are a better committee than what the gentlelady is trying to make of this committee. So I appeal the ruling of the chair,” he stated.
The movement on Greene failed in a party-line 11 to 9 vote, however simply minutes later, Democrats succeeded in blocking the Georgia lawmaker from talking additional after she accused Mayorkas of failing to work to stem the movement of fentanyl into the U.S.
“You’re a liar. You are letting this go on and the numbers prove it,” she stated.
Thompson moved to take down the remarks, with Greene once more declining to withdraw them.
“We’ve gotten to the point of the language that we’re using is not the kind of language that historically we as members of this committee [have] used. And, again, I just think in the interest of civility of this committee, I would implore all of the members that I understand that strength and concern, but you know, there’s a way that we ought to conduct ourselves. What I’m hearing is not how a majority of this committee conducts business,” he stated.
In this case, the GOP chairman decided the Georgia Republican’s feedback violated House guidelines.
“It’s pretty clear that the rules state you can’t impugn someone’s character. Identifying or calling someone a liar is unacceptable in this committee and I make the ruling that we strike those words,” Green stated.
Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) then stated Thompson’s movement was to take down the phrases of Greene, noting that may block her from persevering with her line of questioning.
Green, the chairman, paused for a second whereas consulting a staffer after which famous that Georgia lawmaker was not acknowledged.
The ruling from Green, a Tennessee lawmaker, follows an identical line of questioning throughout his personal time, the place he accused Mayorkas of lying to Congress about whether or not he has maintained operational management of the border.
“Not only have you lied under oath. You just admitted your own incompetence,” Green stated in an earlier spherical of questioning with Mayorkas the place he referenced the administration’s response to tackling cartels.
But Democrats additionally argued that the chairman’s ruling on Greene’s second remark contradicted his tackle her feedback on Swalwell.
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) stated Greene’s feedback about Swalwell have been clearly additionally an assault on his character.
“Slander is clearly covered by the rules,” he stated. “I can’t imagine an allegation worse than the one that she just made.”
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