Dem wants probe into allegations of Congress members drinking during contempt hearing
House Oversight Republicans held a contempt of Congress hearing for Attorney General Merrick Garland while lawmakers allegedly were drinking alcohol and acting "pretty ugly" during Thursday night's proceedings. Now, they are the ones accused of behavior "embarrassing to our institution" by Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who wants an investigation.
"Members of the panel ultimately advanced a contempt of Congress resolution against Attorney General Merrick Garland on a party-line vote, but the far more striking takeaway was the personal attacks and theatrics lobbed between lawmakers in both parties — as Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) struggled unsuccessfully to gain control for more than an hour," Politico reported Friday, adding: "both Republicans and Democrats acknowledged some members had been drinking that evening."
Who was drinking remains a secret.
"A House Republican described the hearing as 'embarrassing' and 'a four -alarm dumpster fire,'" Axios reported. "The session quickly devolved into chaos, with Democrats blasting the GOP for postponing the hearing so several members could visit former President Trump's trial and Republicans heckling them in response."
One Democrat during the hearing spoke up.
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Ranking Member Raskin "said it was 'embarrassing to our institution' and that he 'constantly' instructs his members to maintain a 'high level of dignity and respect and decorum.'"
"We have some members in the room who are drinking inside the hearing room ... who are not on this committee," alleged Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM).
The Hill adds that Congressman Raskin said, "I didn’t see the drinking," and that "the gentlelady from New Mexico, Melanie Stansbury raised it, she said there are members drinking in the room, and that’s something that is worth investigating if there was in fact drinking taking place.”
One unnamed House Republican told Axios, "This place is so stupid."
The evening's events quickly took a bad turn when U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), violating decorum, interrupted Ranking Member Raskin barely 30 seconds into his remarks.
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