Members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law clashed at a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday over wearing masks amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The hearing consisted of lawmakers questioning the CEOs of four major tech companies over whether they are too powerful and if they have an inherent bias against conservatives.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos faced harsh criticism from Republican lawmakers including Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
Following Jordan’s remarks, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) accused Jordan of pushing conspiracy theories.
“I’d like to redirect your attention to antitrust law rather than fringe conspiracy theories,” Scanlon said.
Jordan fired back arguing, “There is no fringe conspiracy.”
Lawmakers began speaking over each other when Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) demanded Jordan wear his mask.
“Put your mask on! Put your mask on!” Raskin said.
Watch their comments below:
"Put your mask on!"
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 29, 2020
Shouting breaks out among members of the House subcommittee during tech hearing, after Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon suggests Rep. Jim Jordan is pushing "fringe conspiracy theories" https://t.co/83sKht0bRx pic.twitter.com/E6fEZKT6tO
Jordan responded, “If you want to talk about masks, why would the deputy secretary of Treasury unmask Michael Flynn’s name, Mr. Raskin?”
He added, “When someone comes after my motives for asking questions, I get a chance to respond.”
Jordan accused the tech giants of targeting conservative content claiming “big tech is out to get conservatives,” as IJR previously reported.
The heated exchange comes just a day after Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) scolded three Republican committee members for not wearing masks during Attorney General William Barr’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, as IJR previously reported.
Leading health officials and lawmakers have mulled the possibility of a nationwide mask mandate.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said he is “not totally against” the idea of mask mandates but he does not “want to step on anyone’s toes” and tell governors or mayors how to govern.
