House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) is facing backlash for calling off a congressional hearing on Washington, D.C.’s handling of the recent pro-Palestinian student protests at George Washington University.
Comer made the decision to cancel the hearing after the Metropolitan Police Department cleared the campus of protesters on Wednesday morning. The demonstrations had been ongoing for two weeks and resulted in 33 arrests following multiple warnings from the police to disperse.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and MPD Chief Pamela Smith were scheduled to testify before Congress on the matter, but the hearing was scrapped.
In a statement, Comer expressed disappointment in the situation at GW and criticized the DC police force for not taking appropriate action. He mentioned that after consulting with GW leadership and visiting the protest site, the committee chose to hold a public hearing to seek clarity on the Mayor’s reluctance to enforce the law.
However, Comer’s decision received criticism from Washington residents demanding accountability for the prolonged protests. Radio host Vince Coglianese questioned the hearing’s cancellation and why it took so long for Bowser to intervene. Others on social media expressed disappointment in the GOP for letting the Mayor off the hook.
Despite the backlash, Florida Congressman Byron Donalds defended the Oversight Committee’s efforts to push Mayor Bowser and the police to address the encampment. He emphasized that it should not have taken congressional pressure for DC authorities to act.
Overall, the cancellation of the hearing sparked debate and raised concerns about the government’s response to the student protests at GW.
