Latest news with #HouseCommitteeonOversightandGovernmentReform
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP Rep. James Comer's Startling 'Shut Up' Command At Maxwell Frost Speaks Volumes
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) told Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) to 'shut up' during an oversight hearing on Capitol Hill this week — and the moment spoke volumes. During Thursday's House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing, Frost asked whether Comer, the committee chair, would commit on the record to subpoenaing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding an incident that took place with Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) that same day. Padilla was roughed up and handcuffed as he was forcibly removed from Noem's press conference in Los Angeles, where she discussed the immigration raids happening in the region. Padilla was approached by two men who pushed him out of the room after he tried to speak up about the raids, according to video footage of the conference. The senator could be heard identifying himself as he was being forcibly removed. Video also shows officers forcing Padilla to the ground in a hallway. Frost repeatedly brought up the incident during Thursday's hearing as Comer attempted to let Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) speak. 'Reclaiming my time!' Greene said repeatedly, before launching into a rant about Republicans being 'in charge.' 'Shut up! Just shut up!' Comer eventually snapped at Frost. 'No, you're not going to tell me to shut up,' Frost responded. Comer then accused Frost of trying to get on network TV before Greene jumped in and called the Florida Democrat a 'former Antifa member.' Frost asked for Greene's false accusations be taken down from the hearing record. (Watch a clip of the exchange here.) MSNBC's Symone Sanders-Townsend wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that she thought Comer's behavior was unusual. 'Congressman Frost is the youngest member on this panel,' she said about the 28-year-old, who became the first Gen Z member of Congress when he was elected in 2022. 'I've never heard Congressman Comer tell another member to 'shut up' before — especially during committee hearing.' 'Comer doubles down in the video and that to me says he thinks his comments are warranted,' she continued. 'They are not. They are inappropriate.' Collin Anderson, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University at Buffalo, noted that the exchange said a lot about the 'mounting anger between members of the two parties' — and that it's not a good look for voters at home to witness. Anderson told HuffPost that the context of the situation at Thursday's hearing is important. He said the exchange between Frost and Comer in 'isolation' might've not been anything 'too remarkable.' But it's clear that 'tensions are high in the Capitol' considering that Frost was trying to discuss the incident with Padilla during the heated moment through Greene's 'unwarranted and unfounded interjections.' He added that what happened with Padilla at the Noem press conference is 'essentially uncharted territory for the government and America.' Anderson said that as committee chair, it's within Comer's power to call members to order, and that it's not uncommon for committee chairs to quiet down other members of Congress — though 'it's usually done a little more diplomatically.' 'Shouting matches have become more normalized in the past 10-15 years than they were previously,' Anderson said. And while Anderson pointed out that in a 'very technical sense' Frost was 'out of order' due to rules and procedures that are set forth for hearings, Comer has 'a lot of leeway on how to handle things' — and there are other ways he could have addressed the situation 'rather than shouting for Rep. Frost to shut up.' 'Marjorie Taylor Greene was also out of order and wasn't dressed down by Rep. Comer, which seems to suggest some unfair treatment against Rep. Frost,' he said. Overall, Anderson doesn't think Thursday's hearing put any positive light on lawmakers. 'The behavior displayed in the House Oversight Committee is not behavior that Americans should be particularly proud of or want out of any of their elected officials,' he said. GOP Rep. James Comer Snaps At Democrat Maxwell Frost: 'Shut Up! Just Shut Up!' Democrats Push Republicans For Kristi Noem Testimony On Alex Padilla Incident GOP Strategist Warns Republicans Alex Padilla Incident Sets 'Dangerous Precedent'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Walz fends off GOP attacks over ICE, ‘Gestapo' remark, immigration in fiery D.C. hearing
Walz fends off GOP attacks over ICE, 'Gestapo' remark, immigration in fiery D.C. hearing originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Alongside Democratic Governors J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Kathy Hochul of New York, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appeared in an hours-long hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, focused on states with sanctuary policies. The hearing was led by Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, who has accused the Democratic governors of running states with sanctuary policies that "shield criminal illegal aliens from immigration enforcement." In his opening remarks, Walz said, 'We have a broken immigration system in this country. I think everyone in this room agrees with that, but nothing Minnesota has done to serve its own people stands in the way of the federal government managing border security and policies.' He went on to say Minnesota cooperates with federal authorities in a number of ways, but that enforcing immigration law is not the role of local and state governments. He also noted that Minnesota is not a sanctuary state and that he supports illegal immigration enforcement so long as "due process" is provided to everyone. Minnesota is not a sanctuary state by definition, which would require a state law prohibiting law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. Minneapolis, however, is a known sanctuary city, and the Department of Homeland Security has identified 20 sanctuary jurisdictions across Minnesota, including Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Wright counties. Minnesota does have several statewide policies in place, such as Driver's License For All and free college tuition for undocumented students. Several Republican representatives lashed out at Walz over comments he made during the University of Minnesota Law School's graduation ceremony in May, when he said 'Donald Trump's modern-day Gestapo is scooping folks up off the streets.' At one point during the hearing, Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer demanded an apology from Walz to all ICE agents for the remarks, calling his rhetoric 'dangerous and inflammatory" and saying it put a 'target on the backs' of immigration officials. "Given the attacks on ICE agents that took place in Los Angeles over the weekend, don't you regard your dangerous inflammatory rhetoric as a problem?" Emmer said. During a portion of his testimony, Walz was critical of ICE agents wearing masks while on duty, calling it a 'dangerous situation for everyone." "You wear the badge for a reason, you wear the name for a reason. You make sure that you're coordinated with those other law enforcement agencies that are there,' he said. Walz was also criticized by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) for a past comment he made on CNN about investing in a "30-foot ladder factory" to help unauthorized immigrants over Trump's border wall. Walz responded to the criticism by asking, "When did I say that?" The theatrics continued when Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) attempted to bury Walz for five minutes. She mocked Walz's ability to answer 'yes' or 'no' questions, mocked him when he said he never spoke with Kamala Harris about former President Joe Biden's "cognitive decline," and asked if he's "still friends with school shooters" — a clear attack on a comment that Walz made during a debate last year and later said he "misspoke." The hearing began at 9 a.m. CST and lasted the entire day. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pritzker defends Illinois' sanctuary laws, blasts Trump administration ‘abuses of power'
WASHINGTON (WGN) — Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday defended Illinois' sanctuary laws before a House committee hearing and blasted the Trump administration for 'abuses of power' amid a crackdown on undocumented immigrants that have spawned protests around the country, including in Chicago. 'Illinois follows the law, but let me be clear: we expect the federal government to follow the law too,' Pritzker told the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. 'We will not participate in abuses of power. We will not violate court orders. We will not ignore the Constitution. We will not defy the Supreme Court, and we will not take away people's rights to peacefully protest.' Pritzker's appearance before the body follows an April invitation from the committee's Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also appeared on invitation, with the trio of Democrats answering questions facing posters of undocumented immigrants charged with violent crimes. Thursday's hearing comes as scenes of unrest play out in Los Angeles amid the federal government's mass deportation efforts. President Trump has threatened to withhold federal funds from 'sanctuary' cities and states. Trump threatens to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities Chicago's history as a sanctuary city spans 40 years, 7 presidents and 5 mayors The appearance on a national stage was a big moment for Pritzker, who's been floated as a potential 2028 presidential candidate. The great-grandson of a Ukrainian immigrant, Pritzker used his opening statements to highlight Illinois' diversity and discuss the work done to support migrants who were bussed to the state from the southern border. 'I have seen firsthand how states have had to shoulder the consequences of a broken immigration system,' Pritzker testified. 'I'm proud of how we have responded by promoting public safety, treating people with dignity, supporting our economy and respecting the rule of law.' To prepare for the appearance, Pritzker retained a Washington, D.C. law firm. A WGN source says the billionaire paid for their services out of his own pocket. He also got an assist from a former White House counsel to President Joe Biden. March 2025 | Chicago mayor defends city's sanctuary status at congressional hearing Chicago's policy that prevents city officials, including police officers, from cooperating with federal immigration authorities has been in place, in some form, for 40 years. In 2017, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill which barred police from arresting anyone solely due to their immigration status. Pritzker signed further legislation in 2021 with additional protections. The Department of Justice claims Illinois' TRUST Act and Chicago's Welcoming City Ordinance are invalid due to the Supremacy Clause. This is a developing story and will be updated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Kathy Hochul Asks Marjorie Taylor Greene If Being a Democrat Is 'Illegal'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New York Governor Kathy Hochul asked Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia if being a Democrat was "illegal" in her country during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on Thursday. In the hearing, Hochul and Democratic governors were questioned over statewide policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Greene asked the New York governor, "You stated that you're a proud registered Democrat?" Hochul then quipped, "Yes. Is that illegal now, too, in your country?" The Georgia representative laughed, then said, "This is not a laughing matter." Greene: You stated that you're a proud registered Democrat? Hochul: Yes. Is that illegal now too in your country? Greene: *laughs* This is not a laughing matter. — Acyn (@Acyn) June 12, 2025 This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Politico
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Republicans hound Hochul in DC
THE GOV PLAYS DEFENSE: Republicans — including Gov. Kathy Hochul's fiercest political foes — used her as a punching bag during her congressional testimony on the state's immigration policies. Or at least they tried. The two GOP members of Congress eyeing Hochul's seat in 2026 — upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik and Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler — volunteered to join a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to question the Democratic governor they may challenge one year from now. Stefanik used her time to ask Hochul if she knew who Sakir Akkan, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, Raymond Rojas Basilio and Wilson Castillo Diaz were. Each name was an undocumented immigrant accused of a crime. 'We deserve a governor who stands up for law-abiding New Yorkers, doesn't put illegals first, but actually puts New Yorkers first,' Stefanik said from the dais today. With each name Stefanik listed, Hochul, furtively, pleaded ignorance. 'I don't have the details on every single person in a state of 20 million people,' Hochul said at one point during the hearing, when Ohio GOP Rep. Jim Jordan picked up where Stefanik left off and listed the name of another undocumented immigrant accused of a crime. (Spoiler alert: Hochul did not know that name, either) While the back-and-forth wasn't pretty, Hochul largely avoided the type of bite-sized moments of Congressional upbraiding that go viral on social media. 'Rather than going after the viral moment, I suggest you look at the facts,' the governor said during the hearing, to an unrelenting Stefanik. And her team celebrated it as a win: 'Elise Stefanik's attempt at going viral went about as well as her failed UN ambassador stint,' state Democratic party spokesperson Addison Dick said. 'Stefanik is all talk — she knows nothing about how to keep New Yorkers safe.' Stefanik, an ally of President Donald Trump, has been making moves that would indicate an interest in ousting Hochul from the Executive Mansion, including a recent trip to the state Capitol to decry her as the 'worst governor in America.' Lawler, who will face a tough reelection challenge in his district if he doesn't run for governor, will likely be questioning Hochul later this evening. While Hochul spent the day attempting to ward off her potential 2026 rivals — and other Republicans like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — she faced another onslaught from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Trump announced he is suing Hochul — again — for state policies that his administration says prevent federal immigration authorities from making immigration arrests at New York courthouses. The lawsuit comes after ICE officials have arrested undocumented immigrants who show up to courthouses for immigration hearings. 'Lawless sanctuary city policies are the root cause of the violence that Americans have seen in California, and New York State is similarly employing sanctuary city policies to prevent illegal aliens from apprehension,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. 'This latest lawsuit in a series of sanctuary city litigation underscores the Department of Justice's commitment to keeping Americans safe and aggressively enforcing the law.' — Jason Beeferman FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL YOU'VE GOT ('BLATANTLY ISLAMOPHOBIC') MAIL: A proposed mailer from a pro-Cuomo super PAC appeared to thicken mayoral rival Zohran Mamdani's beard — sparking online outrage from his supporters and leading the Muslim lawmaker to slam the incident as islamophobic. The mailer, which clearly enlarges Mamdani's beard, was never sent out, according to Liz Benjamin, a super PAC spokesperson. She said the PAC quickly rejected the draft mailer. 'The mailer was proposed by a vendor; upon review it was immediately rejected for production and was subsequently corrected,' she said. 'We are disturbed that this was posted online without our consent.' The proposed mailer came to light after it was posted on X from Forward reporter Jacob Kornbluh. Nevertheless an executive for DoorDash — the super PAC's top funder — issued a statement distancing the company from the rejected design and attacking Mamdani for his outrage. 'The Mamdani campaign knows full well DoorDash doesn't make creative decisions for Fix the City, definitely doesn't design mailers, and obviously doesn't condone Islamophobia. We are glad to hear that this design was rejected. This is a cynical attempt to create a controversy where one doesn't exist,' said John Horton, head of North America public policy for DoorDash. Cuomo's campaign said through spokesperson Rich Azzopardi that 'it's absurd and disrespectful for anyone to attempt to distort anyone else's image in campaign material — period.' The Mamdani campaign said the Cuomo super PAC was 'trying to buy this election through fear-mongering and ignorance.' 'Thickening and darkening my beard — playing into racist tropes — was meant to make me look threatening, because Andrew Cuomo and the donors propping up his flailing campaign are scared,' the candidate said in a statement. 'This same breed of attacks was lodged against President Barack Obama when he too built a movement based on hope rather than fear. And like President Obama, we will rise above it.' During Cuomo's 2018 campaign for governor, Cuomo said the state Democratic party — which he controlled — made a 'mistake' when it sent out a mailer linking his Democratic rival Cynthia Nixon to antisemitism and inaccurately stating her position on Israel. 'The mailer was a mistake,' he said at the time. 'I said that as soon as it came to light and as soon as I saw it. The tone was not appropriate.' In this case, the mailer was sent by a committee that is legally barred from coordinating with the campaign it's boosting. — Jason Beeferman TISCH TOCK: Members of the wealthy Tisch family this week contributed $50,000 each to a super PAC supporting Andrew Cuomo's mayoral bid. Andrew Tisch, Jonathan Tisch, Ann Rubenstein Tisch and Elizabeth Tisch made the donations, according to state Board of Elections filings. The PAC has raised more than $13.2 million since it was formed in March, making it the best-funded super PAC in city history. Donors include well-heeled executives from finance and real estate as well as Trump-supporting figures like Bill Ackman. The Tisch donations are notable given that their relative, Jessica Tisch, serves as Mayor Eric Adams' police commissioner. Cuomo has praised Tisch's handling of the job, but has not publicly committed to keeping her if he becomes mayor. — Nick Reisman LANDER'S LAVISH SPENDING: City Comptroller Brad Lander, still polling in a distant third place in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, touted his endorsement today by a panel convened by The New York Times as vindication for his campaign's high spend rate. As POLITICO recently reported, Lander has spent nearly $1 million more than his leading rivals. The city's financial manager said his campaign's burn rate was money well spent. Citing his strong showing with the panel, Lander said, 'that says to me that we're running a campaign that's gotten our information out well, and that this set of people have concluded, based on what they've seen, that I would be the best candidate for mayor.' In a break from tradition, The New York Times opted not to endorse in the local race to pick the Democratic nominee seeking to oust Adams and instead convened a group of New Yorkers to offer their assessments of the candidates. Lander got by far the most support — seven people picked him as their top choice, compared to two for Cuomo, who is leading the race. With $2.8 million left in the bank as of the latest filing period, Lander said his campaign plans to integrate the newspaper's recommendation into his soon-to-air advertisements. 'It makes sense to me that we would have spent most of our money on the [you know] nearly a year I've been running, and that we've got plenty left to get our message out over the next few days,' he added at today's press conference, held to tout the new support. With 10 days left in what he termed a 'three man race' — between himself and frontrunners Cuomo and Mamdani — Lander said he will use tonight's debate to zero in on the sexual harassment allegations leveled against the former governor. Cuomo denies the allegations, which were included in a report from the state attorney general that precipitated his resignation in 2021. — Amira McKee From City Hall EXTRA PICKLES: A grand jury is still meeting in the bribery and conspiracy case against Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Manhattan prosecutors said today. The revelation means that more evidence or even new charges could come to light that would further imperil Adams' former top confidante. 'This grand jury investigation is still ongoing,' Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Moore Jr. said during a virtual status hearing. Moore was referring to a ruling that restricted access to sensitive discovery material. He planned to request an extension of that protective order until Sept. 1, suggesting the grand jury might conclude its work by then. In December, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Lewis-Martin, her son and two real estate executives with bribery and conspiracy in a case that involved accusations of official government favors proffered in exchange for cash gifts and assistance setting up a Chick-fil-A franchise. All have pleaded not guilty. Lewis-Martin abruptly resigned days before the charges were unveiled. — Joe Anuta IN OTHER NEWS — MAMDANI IN YIDDISH: The mayoral candidate gave an interview to a Yiddish-language newspaper where he said he will work to protect the Jewish community from antisemitism. (The Forward) — 'FUCKING STOP IT, LAWLER!': Democratic Syracuse Rep. John Mannion appeared to scream at Lawler in the House chamber, causing a hush among the other lawmakers as he told the Republican lawmaker to 'get some fucking balls.' (WATCH) — SUOZZI FOR CUOMO: Long Island Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi endorsed Cuomo for mayor. (New York Post) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
