Marjorie Taylor Greene and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fight during House hearing
Sudiksha KochiWASHINGTON — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., butted heads at a House Oversight Committee markup session Thursday night, after Greene attacked Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, saying she was wearing “fake eyelashes.”
The meltdown began as lawmakers were discussing the issue of holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for refusing to release audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur. Hur released a scathing report earlier this year that described Biden as a “well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.”
At one point during the hearing, Greene asked Democrats whether any of them were employing Loren Merchan, the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan who is overseeing former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial. Loren Merchan heads a digital advertising agency that works with Democratic candidates - and has become the target of Trump allies.
“Do you know what we’re here for?” Crockett asked Greene to which she replied, “I don’t think you know what you’re here for. I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading.”
The comments immediately drew outrage from Ocasio, who fired back at Greene, “That is absolutely unacceptable. How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person.”
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Greene asked Ocasio-Cortez, “Are your feelings hurt?”
Ocasio-Cortez replied, “Oh girl, oh baby girl, don’t even play.”
The two paused their contentious exchange as Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., tried to get order. But after Ocasio-Cortez demanded that Greene apologize, the two launched into another fight with Greene refusing to apologize.
“Why don’t you debate me?” Greene asked.
“I think it’s pretty self-evident,” Ocasio-Cortez fired back.
“Yeah, you don’t have enough intelligence,” Greene replied.
The committee eventually voted to advance contempt proceedings against Garland.