Barbs Fly in Garland Hearing: AOC, Greene Clash over Physical Appearance

During a House Oversight Committee hearing on Attorney General Merrick Garland, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene engaged in a heated verbal exchange, with Greene making disparaging remarks about Crockett's physical appearance, leading to a clash and the suspension of the hearing.

In a highly contentious House Oversight Committee hearing, sparks flew between Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene over Greene's unprovoked attack on the physical appearance of her Democratic colleague, Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

The hearing, originally convened to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for refusing to comply with a subpoena, quickly spiraled into chaos as lawmakers bickered among themselves. Less than an hour into the proceedings, Greene took a jab at Crockett, prompting Ocasio-Cortez to intervene.

"Do you know what we're here for?" Crockett asked Greene, who replied, "I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you're reading."

Chairman James Comer pleaded for order amidst audible groans in the chamber. Ocasio-Cortez then moved to take down Greene's words, arguing that they were unacceptable and constituted an attack on her colleague's physical appearance.

"Are your feelings hurt?" Greene retorted.

"Oh girl, baby girl!" Ocasio-Cortez shot back. "Don't even play!"

Ocasio-Cortez argued that Greene's words should be "taken down," a procedure that gives a speaker the opportunity to withdraw or amend their remarks if they are deemed out of order.

Comer suspended the hearing while lawmakers debated whether to strike Greene's comments. Ocasio-Cortez was heard declaring, "No way is that being allowed" and "not today."

"We're not going to do a smarmy apology. She has to actually apologize. And that needs to be up to Ms. Crockett as well," Ocasio-Cortez insisted. "It needs to be sincere."

Greene ultimately agreed to strike her words but refused to offer an apology, instead taking a swipe at Ocasio-Cortez's intelligence.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) then asked Greene again if she would apologize, to which she replied, "You will never get an apology out of me."

Crockett later reacted to the incident on Twitter, expressing disbelief that Greene would make such remarks in a congressional hearing.

Green's attack on Crockett's appearance was widely condemned as inappropriate and unprofessional, with many commentators calling for her removal from the committee. The incident underscores the deep partisan divide and contentious atmosphere that has permeated the House of Representatives in recent years.