Here's the first (and probably the biggest) jaw-dropping moment of today's hearing with BP CEO Tony Hayward: GOP Rep. Joe Barton, the top Republican on the House Energy Committee’s subcomittee for investigations, apologizing to BP CEO Tony Hayward, saying he’s "ashamed" of the American response to BP’s oil spill.

According to Barton, asking BP to set up an escrow account to compensate victims of BP's disaster was a criminal action -- a "shakedown" as he put it. Barton's not alone: his comments echo those made by other Republicans in recent days, including Michele Bachmann, Haley Barbour, and Tom Price.

We'll be liveblogging updates as the hearing continues throughout the day.

Update 1 -- GOP Rep. Marcia Blackburn continues the "give BP a break" theme from the Republican Party, saying "the current administration deserves a significant portion of the blame for the oil spill." I guess BP would have loved an apology from her, but at least she told them that it really wasn't all their fault.

Update 2 -- GOP Rep. Phil Gingrey continues the "attack Obama, not BP" message from Republicans, saying he's looking forward to testimony from the administration. You could feel the GOP love from Hayward, pleased that yet another Republican was taking heat off his company.

Update 3 -- Over the course of his career, roughly 1 in 4 dollars raised by Joe Barton has come from the energy industry, a total of $3.3 million.

Update 4 -- CNN and MSNBC both replayed Barton's apology to BP at the top of the hour. Fox completely ignored it. Go figure. CNN also played Markey's response.