Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Del. Stacey Plaskett (D.U.S. Virgin Islands) got some testy exchanges while hearing from witnesses – “Twitter Files” journalists Matt Taibbi and Michael Shellenberger – at the House Subcommittee on Weaponization of the Federal Government on Thursday.
The hearing follows Twitter chief Elon Musk’s internal memo to leaning writers in 2022 that appears – in part – to reveal the platform’s work with federal agencies to suppress conservative viewpoints.
Plaskett, who blasted Republicans for bringing Musk’s “clerk-general” to the hearing, called the witnesses because of the “immediate threat to the opposition.”
He highlighted a video of Twitter’s former head of trust and security Yoel Roth who, in testimony, said he had to leave his home after threats and stories that revealed his address.
“This is the new Republican playbook, apparently — risking American safety and security to score political points,” Plaskett said.
Jordan, later in the hearing, called the writers brave for appearing at the hearing after being named in the Biden administration’s FTC letter.
The Republican, when asked by Plaskett if it was “question time,” said he was responding to “nonsensical statements” before Democrats came back after him.
“Okay, let’s get on with it,” Plaskett replied.
“Oh, now we want to continue? You can say all you want and I can say…,” Jordan responded before the two devolved into a back-and-forth.
Plaskett later took a dig at Jordan after he claimed he wanted to focus on protecting the First Amendment.
“Point of order, Mr. Kursi. Are you going to respond after all?” Plaskett asked.
“I took five minutes,” Jordan said.
“Oh, it’s been five minutes now?” Plaskett asked.
“I take five minutes when I want to and I take five minutes now,” Jordan replied.
“Okay, good,” Plaskett replied.
You can watch more clips of the two’s tense exchange below.