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House Hearing Descends Into Chaos As Republican Confronts Al Sharpton For Anti-Semitic, Anti-White Comments

A House Judiciary Committee hearing on policing that took place on Thursday completely erupted after GOP Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz confronted Al Sharpton over anti-Semitic and anti-white comments he has allegedly made over the years.

Fox News reported that when Gaetz got his turn to speak, he used his time to read comments about Jewish people, whites and some blacks that have been attributed to Sharpton.

“Have you ever referred to members of the Jewish faith as ‘white interlopers’ or ‘diamond merchants?’” Gaetz asked during the increasingly intense back and forth.

“No sir, I referred to one in Harlem, an individual,” Sharpton replied.

“Have you ever referred to African-Americans who disagree with you as cocktail-sip Negroes?” Gaetz asked him at one point.

“I have,” Sharpton replied.

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Sharpton later said he had no memory of comments attributed to him that were about “crackers” and “homos.”

“But I have said things about blacks and whites. I’m glad you made it clear that I don’t only attack whites. Thank you for that,” Sharpton said. “What I was saying was clearly that I have disagreed with blacks and whites. I have used language graphically sometimes to do so, some of which I have grown beyond. But none of which shows anything other than I am an equal-opportunity attacker.”

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., tried to interfere at many points during the exchange, calling Gaetz’s questioning “obnoxious,” but also acknowledging that the congressman had significant latitude under the rules. Gaetz, however, objected to the use of the word “obnoxious” before defending his line of questioning as relevant to the hearing.

“Reverend Sharpton has come before the House Judiciary Committee as a purported expert on policing,” Gaetz said. “Yet his bigoted statements undermine the bipartisan work we should be doing to ensure that all citizens are able to come together and have safe communities.”

Gaetz added that he believes Sharpton’s past comments disqualified him from commenting on racism and policing.

“When you call Greek h—s, when you talk about white crackers, these are bigoted statements,” Gaetz said.

Once Gaetz’s time was up, Sharpton could not resist taking one last jab at him.

“I thank the gentleman from Florida for letting me straighten out the distortion and lies on the record that I’ve been misquoted,” Sharpton said. “He’s done a great service for my reputation.”

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