Grieving mothers scorch Dem lawmaker after he pivots hearing to attack 'MAGA Republicans'

By Fox News · Fox News

A congressional hearing featuring the victims of crimes tied to illegal immigration erupted into a tense confrontation Thursday, as Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., drew fierce backlash from grieving mothers and Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, for appearing to dismiss their tragedies while pivoting to attacks on "MAGA Republicans." The fiery exchange happened during a hearing focused on "The Human Toll of Sanctuary Policies," where Johnson claimed the victims' families' comments were a "Steve Miller approved" stunt with the sole purpose of "stir[ring] up passion and prejudice against immigrants who are people of color." After offering brief condolences to the families of victims allegedly killed and critically injured by illegal immigrants, Johnson immediately pivoted to a partisan attack, arguing the committee should instead be holding hearings on the "human toll" of the "Trump MAGA tax cuts," Trump's foreign policy with Iran , or the "cover up of the Epstein files." He went on to list a string of violent crimes committed by White men, and noted the death of Renee Good, who was killed by federal authorities in January while protesting immigration enforcement. SLAIN COLLEGE STUDENT’S MOTHER VOWS ‘FIGHT FOR JUSTICE’ AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHARGED IN CHICAGO KILLING "I'm not minimizing the tragedy that is before us today with you three women, but the other tragedies at the hands of non-immigrants are just as important," Johnson said. He also accused the Republican majority of strategically "sandwich[ing]" a Democrat witness between the victims' families for "dramatic effect." Gill fired back, calling Johnson's tirade "one of the most disgusting testimonies I have ever heard," and accused Democrat lawmakers of causing the tragedies through four years of open borders under the Biden administration. DHS SLAMS CALIFORNIA 'SANCTUARY' COUNTY AFTER MOM ALLEGEDLY MURDERED BY 2 HONDURAN NATIONALS However, the most stinging reply to Johnson's comments came from Jen Heiling, the mother o…