Weaponization hearing devolves into chaos as Democrat shouts at Republicans over witness testimony

A House Weaponization Subcommittee hearing went off the rails Thursday as one Democrat congressman shouted at Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, over his party's ability to "cross-examine" testimony provided by prominent Republicans.

The hearing — held to examine the Biden administration's alleged collusion with Big Tech to violate First Amendment rights — featured testimony from Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, former Missouri attorney general Eric Schmitt, and former Missouri deputy attorney general for special litigation, D. John Sauer.

The witnesses were provided with the opportunity to discuss their federal government censorship lawsuit, Louisiana and Missouri v. Biden et al – which they filed in May 2022 and describe as "the most important free speech lawsuit of this generation.

Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Stephen Lynch was incensed after the witnesses left after giving following their initial statements. "At least if we're not gonna have the ability to cross-examine, I would move that we strike the testimony provided by Sen. Schmitt and Attorney General Landry," Lynch told Jordan.

"You mean you wanna censor it? You wanna censor their testimony," one Republican questioned as he interrupted Lynch.

"I wanna strike it," Lynch said repeatedly. "If we aren't able to probe the veracity of their statements, the truthfulness of their statements..."

"You'll be given your five minutes when we get to the five minutes of questioning," Jordan interjected.

"They're not here to question," one Democrat representative said as the hearing devolved into chaos and a shouting match between lawmakers.

"They're not here. They're absent. They have scurried away with your complicity," Lynch shouted at Jordan.

"They have not scurried away," Jordan said over Lynch, recognizing Sauer for his testimony.

"In a country of 330 million people, you couldn't find two people to defend their statements," Lynch said loudly across the room. "That's pretty disgraceful."

Amid the chaos, one Democrat said, "If allowing them to leave is not weaponization, I don't know what is, Mr. Chairman."... (Read more)

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