Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson’s sharp response after a GOP colleague mentioned alleged drug use by Hunter Biden has become the most talked-about exchange from this morning’s impeachment hearing.
It all began when U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida congressman who has become a vocal defender of President Donald Trump, began reading from a New Yorker profile of Joe Biden’s son published in July.
He skipped right to a passage describing drug paraphernalia left behind in a rental car once the younger Biden abandoned it.
“It’s a little hard to believe that Burisma hired Hunter Biden to resolve their international disputes when he could not resolve his own dispute with Hertz rental car over leaving cocaine and a crack pipe in the car,” Gaetz said.
Gaetz was trying to make a point that Biden and his work for the Ukrainian company is more problematic than the charges that Democrats want to file against the president.
But Johnson, with a veiled reference to Gaetz's own arrest for driving under the influence, said his colleague was out of line.
“I would say that the pot calling the kettle black is not something that we should do,” Johnson said as others in the room laughed.
“I don’t know what members, if any, have had any problems with substance abuse, been busted in D.U.I.,” he added. “I don’t know, but if I did, I wouldn’t raise it against anyone on this committee. I don’t think it’s proper.”
Johnson’s spokesman said he would allow the Lithonia congressman’s comment to speak for itself.
Journalists and others watching the proceedings immediately began posting on Twitter about the exchange, which came 3 hours into the meeting. You can watch it here by skipping ahead.
Johnson joins the list of Georgia politicians who have rebuked Gaetz. There was a full onslaught when he criticized Gov. Brian Kemp for deciding against appointing U.S. Rep. Doug Collins to the Senate.
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