Topline
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.) verbally attacked officials with the Biden Administration during a congressional briefing on the Israel-Gaza war Wednesday, multiple outlets reported, including launching obscenities at a Jewish congressman—marking the second time in a matter of months that Van Orden has unleashed his temper at work.
Key Facts
Van Orden cursed at the briefers and accused them of providing inadequate information, other Congress members told Politico and Axios, prompting criticism from Democrats, including Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), who told Politico he apologized to the presenters on Van Orden’s behalf.
Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) told Politico Van Orden “was rude and attacked the presenters” while Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) said he “went nuts” and accused them of being “the cause of every problem we’ve ever had in America and foreign policy,” Axios reported.
When Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) scolded Van Orden for his conduct during the briefing, he berated the Jewish congressman using the f-word, according to Politico.
Democrats also strongly rebuked Van Orden in July when he allegedly yelled at Senate pages laying on the floor of the Capitol rotunda to take photos of the ceiling, calling them “lazy s—ts” and ordering them to “get the f—k up,” Punchbowl News reported.
Van Orden refused to apologize for the July incident and accused the pages of treating the Capitol as a “frat house common room.”
Van Orden’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Tangent
Republicans have repeatedly expressed frustration that the Biden Administration has yet to confirm whether Iran was involved in the attacks on Israel by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas that unfolded Saturday. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Tuesday intelligence officials believe Iran was “complicit” in the attack, but are still working to confirm the extent of its involvement. Iran has provided Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups with hundreds of millions of dollars and weapons for years, but Tehran has denied any direct involvement in the attack on Israel. Republican lawmakers were outspoken about their discontent with the Biden Administration’s stance on Iran’s involvement following Wednesday’s briefing. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told reporters it was “B.S.” adding “it’s clear as day that Iran made this possible,” while accusing Biden officials of being in “denial.”
Key Background
Senate leaders condemned Van Orden’s conduct in the wake of the July incident. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he was “shocked” by both the outburst and Van Orden’s refusal to apologize, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said “everybody on this side of the aisle feels the exact same way.” Some Republicans also joined the criticism, including Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who mocked Van Orden by tweeting a photo of him laying on the rotunda floor and snapping a cellphone photo. Then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he planned to speak to Van Orden about the incident, but the House did not issue any formal punishment.
Further Reading
‘Get The F— Out’: Wisconsin Congressman Curses Out High School Pages In Capitol, Reports Say (Forbes)
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