In a heated exchange during a House Oversight Committee hearing on Thursday, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) openly mocked Chairman James Comer (R-KY) over the stalled Republican investigation into President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. Moskowitz, a Democratic lawmaker from Florida, used the hearing as an opportunity to take jabs at Comer and the broader GOP's impeachment inquiry, which has been ongoing for more than a year without reaching a formal vote.
Holding up a 300-page report produced by Comer's committee, Moskowitz sarcastically questioned the chairman about the next steps. "When are we going to schedule impeachment?" Moskowitz asked, referring to the inquiry that has yet to yield significant progress. "Or is this just 'concepts' of an impeachment?" Moskowitz's comments were a clear reference to former President Donald Trump's infamous statement during a debate, when he claimed to have "concepts" of a health care plan, a remark that has since become a point of ridicule among Democrats.
The tension between Moskowitz and Comer did not stop there. After Moskowitz's allotted time had expired, he continued to needle the chairman, asking why there had been no movement toward impeachment despite what he described as a lengthy and costly investigation. "We have a 300-page book report, tens of millions of dollars," Moskowitz quipped. "Why didn't you impeach him, Mr. Chairman?"
Comer, who appeared frustrated with the back-and-forth, maintained his composure until the next witness, Mark Krikorian, began to testify about Hunter Biden. Moskowitz, however, quickly interrupted, shouting, "Hunter Biden's not the president!" This led Comer to slam his gavel and rebuke Moskowitz. "You need to take your medication and leave!" Comer said in response, a remark that further escalated the confrontation.
Moskowitz shot back with sarcasm, pointing out that he was younger than Comer. "Mr. Chairman, you're several decades older than me," he said. "We know who's taking more medication." The comment added fuel to an already fiery exchange, though in reality, the two lawmakers are only eight years apart in age.
The confrontation between Moskowitz and Comer also extended beyond the impeachment probe. Moskowitz criticized Comer for allowing Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the right-wing Center for Immigration Studies, to testify. Moskowitz slammed Krikorian for his controversial views on Haiti, particularly a 2010 article in which Krikorian wrote that Haiti's struggles were due to not being colonized long enough by the French. "He literally brought a witness who proffered in this committee that the Haitian people would've been better off had they stayed in slavery for several more decades," Moskowitz said, calling out Comer for including Krikorian's testimony in the hearing.
Despite Moskowitz's objections, Comer remained silent on the issue, waiting until Moskowitz's time had run out before moving on to another speaker. The chairman later remarked that he would "love to be a fly on the wall" when Moskowitz discovered that Joe Biden had dropped out of the presidential election or that Hunter Biden had pled guilty to corruption, adding fuel to the ongoing political divide in the committee.
Moskowitz's criticisms of the GOP's stalled investigation were not without merit. Republicans have been pushing an impeachment inquiry into President Biden for over a year, focusing on alleged connections to Hunter Biden's business dealings. However, despite extensive reports and investigations, the GOP has yet to present evidence that could lead to formal impeachment proceedings. Moskowitz seized on this delay, framing the inquiry as more political theater than a serious investigation.
Throughout the hearing, Moskowitz continued to hammer the point that the investigation into Hunter Biden was not relevant to President Biden's role. "Hunter Biden's not the president!" he reiterated, calling out the GOP's focus on the president's son rather than on issues related to Biden's presidency itself.
The back-and-forth between Moskowitz and Comer highlights the deep partisan divide in the Oversight Committee. While Republicans continue to push the Biden impeachment narrative, Democrats like Moskowitz view the investigation as a distraction from more pressing issues. The combative nature of the hearing, punctuated by personal attacks and sarcasm, is indicative of the broader dysfunction that has plagued congressional efforts to address concerns over both the Biden administration and its handling of various matters.
