Comer criticizes ‘repeat offenders for breach of decorum’ during congressional hearings

House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) on Thursday laid the blame for last week’s raucous contempt hearing on a few “repeat offenders for breach of decorum” at the Capitol.

“It’s very unfortunate, it wasn’t the first time, I hope it’s the last,” joked Comer in an interview with CNN. “Members who have consistently repeated offensive breaches of decorum have all been called out and we hope this does not happen again.”

Nearly an hour of disorder unfolded during the contempt calling of Attorney General Merrick Garland, when Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Y.) clashed after the Republican Georgia accused Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D.-Texas) of using “false eyelashes.” Crockett then responded to Greene, apparently referring to her as “bleached blonde, muscular body, poorly built.”

“You’re not supposed to get caught up in personalities,” Comer said during his CNN appearance explaining the incident. “And unfortunately, that is what happened at the last committee hearing. Rep. Greene’s words hit home [from the record]I think Representative Crockett also said some very inappropriate things.”

The chaos of the Oversight hearing began after Greene asked whether any Democrats on the panel were employing the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing former President Trump’s trial in Manhattan. Republicans have repeatedly targeted Merchan’s daughter for working at a progressive digital agency.

“Please tell me what this has to do with Merrick Garland,” Crockett asked. “Do you know why we are here?”

“I don’t think you know why you’re here,” Greene responded. “I think your false eyelashes are getting in the way of what you’re reading.”

Democrats immediately criticized Greene for the comment, with Ocasio-Cortez shouting “that’s disgusting” and calling her comments “absolutely unacceptable.”

Ocasio-Cortez, Greene and Crockett then clashed, with other lawmakers occasionally stepping in to take jabs at the other side.

At one point, Crockett asked whether his hypothetical comment — which appeared to be a jab at Greene — would break congressional protocol.

Comer noted Thursday that the committee hearing was “very important” and was “hijacked by some unfortunate soundbites.”

After the interruption, the Oversight Committee ultimately voted 24 to 20 to move forward with a measure to hold Garland accountable for contempt of Congress in an effort to censure him for failing to turn over audio recordings of President Biden speaking to Special Counsel Robert Hur.

Comer appeared on CNN to discuss a bill he introduced Wednesday with Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) that would require presidents to make a series of disclosures about their relatives’ foreign earnings.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story