House committee silences MTG after she calls DHS Secretary Mayorkas a 'liar'

The House Homeland Security Committee this week barred Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from speaking in a congressional hearing after she called Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas a liar.

Democrats twice sought to reprimand Greene during the hearing, securing victory in the second effort. Greene, who spoke following questioning from Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell, made reference to a scandal involving his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.

Swalwell, during his remarks, appeared to reference Greene while mentioning efforts to defund the FBI. The Georgia lawmaker called the comments rich "from someone that had a sexual relationship with a Chinese spy and everyone knows it," The Hill reported. Swalwell came under fire in 2020 due to his connections to alleged Chinese spy Christine Fang. He has not admitted any sexual interactions with her.

Democrats sought to strike her comments, but lost the vote on party lines. Greene then admonished Mayorkas for his handling of the rise in fentanyl trafficking across the border, saying "[y]ou’re a liar. You are letting this go on and the numbers prove it."

Democrats then objected again. Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., concurred that Greene had violated House rules.

"Identifying or calling someone a liar is unacceptable in this committee and I make the ruling that we strike those words," he said, per the outlet.

That decision resulted in an end to Greene's questioning of Mayorkas. The Hill reported that the chairman had appeared to cut off her questioning "unknowingly" and that he acknowledged Greene was no longer recognized at the prompting of a committee Democrat.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.