Republican Darrell Issa of California on Thursday called for a hearing at the House Judiciary Committee on white supremacy following last weekend’s rally in Virginia that left one woman dead and 19 injured.
“As the nation grieves and heals from the scenes of this past weekend, we have a duty to more fully understand what led to these terrible events and the persistence of these hateful, extremist ideologies,” Issa wrote to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.
Calling on @HouseJudiciary to hold hearing on impact of white supremacy and other hate groups after #Charlottesville. My letter ? pic.twitter.com/71X1fqtq6K
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) August 17, 2017
He noted the House Homeland Security Committee has a hearing scheduled for Sept. 12, and said Judiciary should also examine the issue.
“As members of the committee of jurisdiction on issues related to civil rights and democracy, we too have a unique duty to examine the impact recent displays of hatred from while supremacist groups have on civil rights in America,” he wrote. “Therefore, I write today to call for the full committee to hold a hearing on this topic when we return in September.”
“While Congress cannot legislate respect, decency, or acceptance of others, we have an obligation to use our platform to lead our country forward on these matters,” Issa added.
Issa is seen as one of the more vulnerable Republicans in the House up for reelection next year, and was listed one of the top ten most vulnerable by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
