Jeffries calls Comer 'malignant clown' over Biden autopen probe request

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday reused an insult to criticize a congressional Republican who filed a report on former President Biden's use of an autopen.

“The so-called chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, continues to behave like a malignant clown," Jeffries told reporters at a press conference. "You can’t point to a single thing that he’s actually done to make life better for the American people.” 

Jeffries urged Comer to investigate President Trump's campaign trail claims that "costs would go down" on the first day of his second administration.

"Housing costs are up, grocery costs are up, child care costs are up, electricity bills are through the roof," Jeffries said. "And now, because of the Republicans' refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatic increases in their health care costs that will force medical bankruptcy on many of them."

Jeffries previously used the term "malignant clown" to describe Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) after a confrontation between the two inside the Capitol about a week into the government shutdown.

“And I’m like, ‘This guy?’ So, you know, I think some on my team would have probably preferred that I just ignore him,” Jeffries said on an episode of “The Siren Podcast." “But I’m like, ‘You know what? I’m not the one. Don’t come for me unless I send for you.’ And I did not send for this malignant clown.”

Comer's report does not point to a specific incident in which investigators could demonstrate the autopen was used without Biden’s authorization. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee deemed any executive action signed with an autopen, despite the tool having been used by past presidents, as void.

“This investigation into baseless claims has confirmed what has been clear from the start: President Biden made the decisions of his presidency,” a spokesperson for Biden previously told The Hill.“ There was no conspiracy, no cover-up and no wrongdoing.”

“Congressional Republicans should stop focusing on political retribution and instead work to end the government shutdown,” they added.