During a House Oversight Committee hearing that took place on Tuesday, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, made a noticeable exit following critical comments from Representative Robert Garcia, a Democrat from California.
The remarks were centered around Greene’s previous actions of expressing support for individuals charged in connection with the January 6th Capitol riot. Amid the hearing, Garcia pointed out what he saw as a stark contradiction in Greene’s stance on crime issues in Washington, D.C., especially given her previous interactions with January 6 defendants.
He highlighted the incongruity of Greene’s complaints about the district’s crime rates while she had previously visited the D.C. jail. During this visit, Greene was reported to have engaged warmly with the inmates facing charges for their involvement in the Capitol attack, offering them hugs and high-fives, and spending time with them in a show of solidarity.
Garcia expressed his dismay at the situation, stating it was ironic that those who attempted to disrupt the democratic process by storming the Capitol were receiving such sympathetic treatment from a member of Congress. He criticized Greene for her apparent support of the rioters, whom she had referred to as political prisoners or hostages, suggesting that this terminology and her actions were inappropriate given the seriousness of the charges against them.
This exchange underscores the deep divisions within Congress regarding the events of January 6 and the appropriate response to those who participated in the riot. The incident with Greene walking out of the hearing after Garcia’s comments serves as a vivid illustration of the ongoing tensions and differing perspectives among lawmakers on this pivotal moment in American history.
At that point, Greene appeared to heckle Garcia before walking out of the hearing room.
“Mr. Chairman, she’s not recognized,” someone noted.
Garcia continued after Greene exited.
“So I think it’s quite interesting that my colleague was trying to talk about the safety of D.C. when she supported an insurrection, an attack on the Capitol, visited the prisoners,” he said.
Watch the video below from House Oversight.