House Dem crashes Mike Johnson press event as tensions erupt over shutdown

By Fox News · Fox News

House GOP leaders' daily government shutdown press conference briefly descended into chaos on Wednesday when a Democratic lawmaker interrupted the event. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., a moderate Democrat, shared a heated exchange with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., after crashing his remarks outside the U.S. Capitol while demanding he meet with her caucus to end the shutdown. Johnson told her, "You should respect free speech," to which Houlahan responded, "You should respect free speech." "I'm asking a question if you're ready to have a conversation with the other side," Houlahan shouted from where reporters were gathered at the press conference. "You represent all of us. You are the speaker for all of us, sir." SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES Johnson attempted to take a question from a reporter but told them, "I can't hear you because we have someone who doesn't respect the rights of their colleagues." Meanwhile, Houlahan kept shouting over the speaker even as he tried to call order. "You have an obligation not just to speak lies to the American people, you have an obligation to call the leadership of both parties and bring us together, and solve this problem together," she yelled. House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., erupted back, "You have an obligation!" JOHNSON RAISES SHUTDOWN STAKES ON SCHUMER AS FOOD STAMP DEADLINE, OBAMACARE CLIFF LOOM "We did that before the shutdown began. I went to the White House. We went and sat in front of the Resolute Desk. We brought [House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y.] in and we had a discussion," Johnson responded. "The president said, 'Please don't shut the government down, it would all this pain to the American people.' This has never happened before. It is a clean, non-partisan CR that every Democrat, including you, voted no on," he said. Houlahan shot back, "You are absolutely misrepresent…