Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett criticized Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, calling her “racist,” following a tense House Oversight markup Thursday evening that quickly devolved into personal attacks.
As the panel met to advance contempt proceedings against Attorney General Merrick Garland over his refusal to turn over audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur, Greene, a Georgia Republican, sparked outrage when she commented on Crockett’s appearance. “I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading,” Greene said.
Speaking to reporters on Friday about the incident, Crockett said, “That’s all it is, it is racism. And she decided that she was going to be that person out loud and out front on yesterday. The difference is I just wasn’t going to take it laying down.”
“She is racist. I mean, I don’t have any questions about that,” she added.
Asked for comment by CNN, Greene’s office said, “the only member that brought up any reference to color was congresswoman Crockett.”
The rules of the House dictate members can’t “engage in personalities,” meaning they are not allowed to make offensive comments about or toward another member.
If it occurs, the member who was insulted can ask for the words to be stricken from the record and, if that happens, the offending member is not allowed to speak for the remainder of the proceeding.
During the markup, there was a failed vote to strike Greene’s comments from the record and she was allowed to continue her remarks.
At the markup, Greene started by asking Democrats on the committee if any of them employ the daughter of Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the criminal trial in New York of former President Donald Trump. As Republicans have sought to curry favor with Trump, they have gone after Merchan’s daughter, who has ties to Democrats, as they seek to undermine the case.
Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, asked Greene, “Do you know what we’re here for?”
Greene shot back: “I don’t think you know what you’re here for … I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading.”
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez immediately jumped in to get Greene’s words taken down.
“That is absolutely unacceptable. How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person,” the New York Democrat said.
After a series of votes in response to Greene’s explosive rhetoric, Crockett made a dig that appeared to be directed at the Republican.
“I’m just curious. Just to better understand your ruling. If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blonde bad built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct,” Crockett said.
Crockett said on Friday that Greene is unserious and does not respect the process.
“She’s lacking any ability to actually engage in actual discourse, she doesn’t know her job. She doesn’t know the issues that we’re dealing with when we’re in committee. So instead, she does what most of MAGA does which they seek to insult and personal attacks. She needs to get a staff that can get her up to speed so that she can actually talk about something of substance and actually represent her district,” Crockett said.
Crockett also said she is a “grown woman” and wasn’t going to take it “laying down.”
“One thing I’m not going to do is have somebody disrespect me as a duly elected official myself, and then I’m just going to say, well, that’s okay. And rub it off. No, we’re not going to do that.”
She added: “So if if they can’t follow the rules, I will have to fight for myself.”
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