Republican Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri angrily interrupted Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing. Hawley was furious about a DHS employee who had posted “Free PALESTINE” online and demanded to know why she had not been fired. Despite Mayorkas’ attempts to respond, Hawley repeatedly asked if she had been fired, totaling thirteen times.
Finally, Hawley called Mayorkas “despicable” and criticized his behavior as “atrocious.” He insinuated that Mayorkas’ department tolerated antisemitism and had a permissive relationship with terrorism.
Responding to Hawley’s accusations, Mayorkas expressed his anger and was granted a minute to reply. He sarcastically stated, “I’m not sure I’ll limit it to 60 seconds.” Mayorkas then revealed his personal background, highlighting that he is the child of a Holocaust survivor and that his mother had lost most of her family to the Nazis. He found Hawley’s adversarial tone disrespectful towards him and his heritage, but did not expect an apology. Despite Hawley’s request to respond, it was denied.
