Laughter erupts as James Comer blanks in House hearing: ‘I wasn’t paying attention’
A hearing room for the House Oversight Committee erupted into laughter Wednesday after the committee chair, Rep. James Comer (R-KY), blanked on a question asked by a Democratic committee member.
Wednesday’s hearing saw the committee fiercely debate whether to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying a congressional subpoena to testify about their connections to Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. Challenging the measure was Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), who pressed Comer on whether the committee had already been informed that the Clintons were willing to testify on the record.
“It's my understanding that you guys have received correspondence by phone, email and a written letter from the attorneys from the Clintons offering to [testify] on the record, with you, with the staff... is that correct?” Stansbury asked.
“I didn't... I wasn't paying attention to your question,” Comer admitted, sparking an eruption of laughter in the room, including from Stansbury, who moved to ask her question again, albeit more slowly.
“Okay – we're pursuant to a motion you brought for contempt, and the claim is that you have made reasonable accommodations and that [the Clintons] have not been responsive,” Stansbury repeated.
“But they have transmitted correspondence to all of the members of the committee – including yourself – including a letter from their attorneys stating that they have offered by phone, by email to meet with you, on the record, to give sworn statements. Is that correct?”
Comer’s first reaction was to speak of how the Clintons had been given “five months” to appear before Congress before being pressed by Stansbury again: “yes or no,” she asked.
“You all are trying to create a false narrative!” Comer fired back. “You've had five months, you should have gotten to the Clintons before the contempt vote!”
Stansbury asked once more for Comer to answer her question, but was met with silence as Comer’s aides could be seen speaking with him quietly.
“Just to be clear for the public, his staff are advising the chairman to not answer that question,” Stansbury alleged.
Comer fired back at Stansbury once more.
“No, the staff said they couldn't understand what the hell you were saying because you blabbered for three minutes!” Comer said.
The Clintons have, in fact, refused to testify before Congress, and despite having been issued congressional subpoenas. Both have challenged Comer’s authority to demand they testify, and have accused the lawmaker’s request of being politically motivated.ICE takes 2-year-old girl and dad as fury grows over agents targeting children
ICE agents reportedly took a 2-year-old and her father in Minneapolis as anger grew over the agency targeting children and detaining them.
Minneapolis City Councilmember Jason Chavez said that Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis and her father, Elvis Joel Tipan Echeverria, were driving back home from the grocery store Thursday when immigration officials decided to detain them, The Daily Beast reported. Chavez created a GoFundMe fundraiser for the family, which has already raised nearly $60,000.
Ellen Schmidt, a MinnPost photographer, captured the moment agents swarmed the vehicle in a series of photos posted on Instagram.
"Bystanders blew whistles and yelled at agents as they tried to leave the scene while the agents deployed chemical irritants. Despite subzero temperatures, ICE continues to detain Minnesotans," Schmidt wrote.
It's unclear if Tipan-Echeverria faces any charges or is suspected of any crimes.
"On January 22 at approximately 1:09 PM CT, while conducting a targeted enforcement operation, Border Patrol identified Elvis Tipan-Echeverria, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador who committed felony reentry and broke the laws of this nation. Tipan-Echeverria was driving erratically with a child in the vehicle," A DHS spokesperson told The Beast.
“Tipan-Echeverria later parked his vehicle and agents attempted to take Tipan-Echeverria into custody, but he refused multiple lawful commands to open his door or lower his window. Agents took Tipan-Echeverria into custody and attempted to give the child to the mother who was in the area, but she refused," the DHS spokesperson said.
DHS alleged that during the arrest "approximately 120 individuals surrounded the agents blocking them in and preventing exit. Agitators in the crowd then began to throw rocks and garbage cans toward the agents and child. To safely clear the area, crowd control measures were deployed. Obstructing and assaulting law enforcement is a felony and a federal crime."
“DHS law enforcement took care of the child who the mother would not take," the spokesperson claimed. "Child and father are now reunited a federal facility.”
A judge has ordered ICE to release the child from its custody by 9:30 p.m. Friday, FOX 9 reported.
ICE has been accused of violating children's rights and taking children into custody. Immigration experts have warned that ICE has tried to use children as bait to attempt to lure parents during aggressive immigration operations. Those parents could have fears over detainment, violence or have other children to care for, CNN's Priscilla Alvarez reported Friday.
U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino boasted Friday during a press conference about detaining a 5-year-old boy in conditions that he insisted don't get "any better."
