Mark Levin slams Democrats for skipping McCarthy's 'Sound of Freedom' screening

Conservative radio and television host Mark Levin slammed Democratic lawmakers for skipping House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's "Sound of Freedom" film screening on Tuesday evening.

McCarthy held the "Sound of Freedom" screening with actor Jim Caviezel, the film's producer Eduardo Verástegui, and anti-human trafficking activist Tim Ballard, who Caviezel plays in the movie.

"It's heart-wrenching to see what goes on with these kids and the fact that there's so little attention on it is really unbelievable and it also shows what goes on with open borders when the cartels, the kidnappers, the sex traffickers, they control that border," Levin, an author and lawyer, said after the screening.

"Tens of thousands of kids are disappearing and HHS can't keep track of it. Biden can't keep track of it. It's very appalling and why aren't more Democrats here? I think you should ask them that," he added.

Addressing the Biden administration and the Democrats' handling of the border, Levin said, "It's all about power" and "they're utterly lawless."

"Why would they show up here? To some extent, we're seeing the consequences of what they're failing to do," he said. "I mean, the people taking advantage of the open border are the drug cartels."

A Republican congressional source familiar with the planning of Tuesday's screening said that invites were sent to all House members but that no Democrats were seen at the event.

Following the event, McCarthy said the screening was "fabulous." He was asked why he chose "Sound of Freedom" for the second movie night with members of Congress.

"What a powerful movie," McCarthy told Just the News. "You just see human trafficking, these young kids who are in slavery; somebody has to stand up and do something about it. I think this just tells such a powerful story."

McCarthy wrote on Twitter that he started hosting bipartisan movie nights to "improve the culture in Congress."

He also described "Sound of Freedom" as a "call to action to combat child trafficking wherever the evil exists."

In addition to many GOP lawmakers, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp, Christian recording artist Danny Gokey and former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom were spotted in attendance. 

To date, the film has grossed about $124 million at the box office since its release on July 4, outperforming films like "Mission Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One," according to Forbes.