For House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, adhering to the proper procedures took precedence at Attorney General Merrick Garland’s hearing.
Nadler, a New York Democrat, started the hearing by requesting that certain Republican committee members wear masks at all times unless acknowledged to speak.
“I would remind all members that guidance from the Office of the Attending Physician states that face coverings are required for all meetings in an enclosed space, such as committee hearings, except when you are recognized to speak,” Nadler said.
“That means you, Jim and Marjorie and Matt, and a lot of other people I can’t recognize because of distance,” he continued, prompting Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, and Matt Gaetz of Florida to put their masks on.
GARLAND ‘CAN’T IMAGINE’ LABELING PROTESTING PARENTS AS ‘DOMESTIC TERRORISTS’
Later, Jordan and Nadler went head-to-head over rules regarding the presentation of a video during the hearing. Jordan wanted to show a video of parents testifying before school boards about the harms of critical race theory, which Nadler wouldn’t allow because it hadn’t been submitted 48 hours prior.
“What’s out of order is that there is no rule that requires a 48-hour notice — that’s what’s out of order,” Jordan said.
“There is such a rule,” Nadler said, and he proceeded to read the protocol mandating 48-hour notice of audio or visual evidence. Becoming frustrated, Jordan accused the Democrats on the committee of trying to censor Republicans.
“Obviously you’re going to censor us, which is sort of the conduct of the Left today, it seems, and Democrats today, it seems,” Jordan complained.
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The video was released a few minutes later on Twitter by the House Judiciary Committee Republicans.
The hearing was convened to hear Garland’s testimony on recent controversies regarding the Department of Justice — specifically the department’s perceived characterization of parents who assert pressure on school boards as domestic terrorists.
