Democrat likens GOP to ‘jackbooted thugs’ during hearing on Alvin Bragg
Ryan King
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A Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee compared his Republican counterparts to “jackbooted thugs” during a field hearing in Manhattan on Monday.
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) rebuked his GOP colleagues for harboring political motivations in their decision to explore violent crime in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s backyard.
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“If Republicans really wanted to stop violent crime, they would be in D.C. right now working with Democrats to pass commonsense gun legislation. Instead, like jackbooted thugs, they’ve descended on New York City, using violent crime as their pretext,” Johnson declared.
“The MAGA Republican extremists are not interested in gun violence or even knife violence. The Republican witnesses who have used their time to criticize District Attorney Bragg have served as props in a MAGA Broadway production,” Johnson continued.
Loud jeering quickly interrupted Johnson during his remarks, prompting Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) to intervene. Jordan was forced to deploy his gavel multiple times throughout the rowdy hearing and even had to boot an audience member out at one point.
Johnson said the GOP turned a blind eye to gun violence and crimes in red states.
“The real purpose in coming to New York City is to harass, intimidate, and threaten Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg,” Johnson said once the heckling was quelled. “They are out here today serving as Trump’s bulldogs, trying to scare a duly elected district attorney.”
“It is just one more sign that MAGA Republicans are a clear and present danger to our democracy.”
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Republicans used their time and witnesses to rip Bragg’s record on crime, caricaturing him as reticent to enforce the law.
Many Republicans on the panel previously rebuked Bragg over his decision to charge ahead with a 34-count indictment against former President Donald Trump.