Advertisements

After top House Democrats submitted a formal resolution calling for a vote of condemnation against Rep. Darrell Issa for cutting off Rep. Elijah Cummings’ mic during a hearing, Issa quickly backtracked and personally apologized for his actions.

The resolution, offered by Rep. Marcia Fudge states, “The House of Representatives strongly condemns the offensive and disrespectful manner in which Chairman Darrell E. Issa conducted the hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 5, 2014, during which he turned off the microphones of the Ranking Member while he was speaking and adjourned the hearing without a recorded vote or a unanimous consent agreement.”

Advertisements

Issa responded by claiming that he has personally apologized to Rep. Cummings. According to U-T San Diego:

A chastened Rep. Darrell Issa says he has apologized to a fellow senior lawmaker for abruptly cutting off his microphone during a hearing Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Issa, R-Vista, said he made a personal apology on Thursday to the man he silenced, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md.

“Mr. Cummings is a member of Congress who works very hard for his constituents,” he said.

I don’t think this is even close to enough. Darrell Issa shamed the House and disgraced the legislative branch. Issa needs to apologize to the American people for his behavior. He needs to publicly admit that he was wrong. The way he treated Rep. Cummings was just the latest example of his abuse of power.

Rep. Issa needs to be removed as chairman of the House Oversight Committee. He has turned the committee into his personal weapon, which he is using to pursue his obsession with conspiracy theories and the destruction of the Obama presidency. Issa is everything that a public servant should not be.

If the voters in his district won’t vote him out of office, Darrell Issa should be stripped of his chairmanship as punishment for his constant abuse of power.