The House Oversight and Accountability Committee’s markup hearing on Thursday descended into chaos, with lawmakers shouting over each other for nearly an hour.
The hearing, which was delayed due to several Republicans attending former President Trump’s trial in New York, quickly turned sour when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) of wearing “fake eyelashes.”
The exchange escalated into a heated argument between Greene and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), with both lawmakers trading insults and personal attacks.
In the aftermath of the hearing, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the committee, suggested that an investigation into whether lawmakers were drinking during the hearing may be warranted.
Raskin Suggests Investigating Claims of Drinking in House Hearing Room
This comes after Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) claimed that some noncommittee members were drinking in the hearing room. While Raskin did not witness any drinking himself, he believes it’s worth looking into.
The hearing was intended to focus on holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, but it quickly devolved into a spectacle.
The exchange between Greene and Crockett drew criticism from both sides of the aisle, with many agreeing that it was not a good look for Congress.
The incident has raised questions about the professionalism and decorum of lawmakers, and whether some members may have been under the influence during the hearing. As the investigation into potential drinking during the hearing continues, it remains to be seen what consequences, if any, will come from this chaotic and unproductive markup hearing.
