Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., was formally censured by a House committee on Wednesday after she hurled charges at the homeland security director during his congressional hearing.
The only point of agreement between the two parties came when Greene called Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas “a liar.” Democrats on the GOP-led Homeland Security Committee twice attempted to have Greene’s comments from the hearing struck, including one in which she claimed a Democratic member was having an extramarital affair.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Silenced By GOP
When it was Greene’s turn to interrogate Mayorkas, he made the first statement that set up a reaction. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who had exhibited a billboard depicting a campaign to defund the FBI with Greene’s image on it, led the way.
Marjorie Taylor Greene characterized Swalwell’s critique as “rich from someone who had a sexual relationship with a Chinese spy, and everyone knows it.” Democrats quickly tried to have her statements removed, claiming she had broken House rules against personal insults. Greene refused to retract her words.
Swalwell has frequently denied having an inappropriate connection with a Chinese woman who worked on his campaign’s fundraising, and the FBI has stated that it found no evidence that Swalwell exchanged any secret material with the woman.
The panel’s top Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, appealed the decision, stating that he was outraged that the claims were made public during a committee hearing. The appeal was rejected.
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., then pointed out that Thompson’s move was to “take down,” not “strike,” Greene’s comments since doing so would virtually preclude Greene from questioning Mayorkas further. Minutes later, Greene accused Mayorkas of failing to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States. The committee actually did that.
Marjorie Taylor Greene was not expelled from the hearing, but she was not allowed to continue.
