Rep. Ayanna Pressley ruined a House Oversight hearing about the widespread fraud being committed by Somalis in Minnesota by making it all about President Donald Trump instead.
When Pressley’s turn to speak arrived, she started off by talking about how “credible fraud must be investigated and prevented.”
“Every dollar that is stolen from public programs is a dollar that has been taken from a child who needs care, a senior who needs food, or a family that is already struggling to make ends meet,” she rightly added.
But the hearing quickly took a turn for the worse when it came time for her to question her Republican colleagues’ witnesses, including Minnesota State House Rep. Kristin Robbins.
Watch:
(Video Credit: C-SPAN)
“Ms. Robbins … What should happen to fraudsters who steal public dollars?” Pressley asked.
“They should go to jail,” Robbins replied.
But Pressley wasn’t talking about the Somali fraud. She was talking about Trump’s pardons of convicted fraudsters and the Jan. 6 rioters.
“On Donald Trump’s first day in office, he pardoned 1,500 insurrectionists, including Brian Christopher Mock, who’s from Minnesota,” she complained. “He kicked, shoved, and threw a flagpole at police officers … and he did all of that in the name of fraud.”
“So raise your hand if you oppose Trump’s pardon of this Minnesota individual,” she added.
To Robbins’ credit, she dismissed the fraudulent line of questioning, calling it “grandstanding nonsense.”
“This is accountability, and you are hypocrites!” Pressley angrily fired back.
Republicans can’t claim to fight against fraud when their leader has pardoned multiple people who have committed fraud—including George Santos.@RepPressley breaks it down. pic.twitter.com/16s7H9Jgl2
— Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) January 7, 2026
Rep. Nancy Mace then interrupted the back-and-forth exchange to call for “order” and “decorum,” telling Pressley that she was “off the rails.”
This led to an even fiercer exchange involving Pressley, Mace, and Committee Chair James Comer.
“Reclaim my time, I’m not off the rails,” Pressley insisted.
“You are totally off the rails,” Mace rebutted.
“Nancy, enough of your tropes,” Pressley complained.
“You’re out of time, you’re out of time, we’re done here, we are done,” Mace pushed back.
Comer then came in with an uppercut.
“Ms. Pressley, you’ve already secured your MSNDC spot tonight,” he said. “Now your time’s expired.”
“I’m looking for accountability, and you want to run from the hypocrisy of your king and this administration,” Pressley fired back.
“Mr. Chairman, I agree, she’s going to be a great host on MSNBC,” Mace then cut in with a stinging joke. “This is my time. I reclaim my time!”
“I wouldn’t want to jump in front of Ms. Mace if I were you, Ms. Pressley,” Comer said.
Democrats had a lot to screech about today.
Screech louder. It won’t save you. Your act might work on MSNBC, but not in this committee.
The fraud is on Democrats, we know it, they know it, we all know it. pic.twitter.com/scjIyUHyum
— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) January 8, 2026
But Pressley wasn’t listening to him.
“I reclaim my time — this is my time,” she insisted.
“What do we have to do to get this woman in order?” Mace then asked in frustration. “Her time is expired.”
“Chair recognizes Ms. Mace,” Comer said, trying to retake control of the hearing.
Meanwhile, Pressley continued shouting, though nothing she said could be deciphered because her microphone was off.
“No baby, you are not,” Mace said, dismissing Pressley’s shouting complaints. “No baby, you’re not. You are not in order. You’re out of order. Goodbye. You’re done.”
The hearing occurred around the same time that a left-wing domestic terrorist was shot and killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Later in the hearing, Pressley “introduced a motion to subpoena [the Department of Homeland Security] for all documents and footage related to the shooting,” according to CNN.
BREAKING: ICE killed a Minnesota woman in broad daylight & there must be accountability.
But when I moved to subpoena all records & footage related to this murder, Republicans voted it down.
They’ve never cared about law & order or keeping our communities safe.
My heart is… pic.twitter.com/00ocmZbKMA
— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) January 8, 2026
Pressley’s motion ultimately failed after a committee vote led to a tie.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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