Capitol Hill Republicans shoot down Mass. lawmaker's effort to subpoena Elon Musk
House Republicans foiled an attempt to force tech titan Elon Musk to appear before Congress to explain what Democrats called his 'reckless' tenure helming the Department of Government Efficiency.
U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-8th District, the acting ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, led the charge during a hearing on Thursday.
He argued in an opening statement that Musk's brief, but impactful, tenure at the quasi-governmental agency will 'continue to have devastating consequences for America for years, possibly decades, to come,' the South Boston lawmaker said during an opening statement.
Watch: U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch's opening statement
The Democratic gambit came as the influential committee was set to take up the use of artificial intelligence across the federal government.
But lawmakers could not 'sit here, however, and have the traditionally bipartisan conversation about federal IT modernization without acknowledging the fact that the Trump administration, Elon Musk, and DOGE are leading technology initiatives that threaten the privacy and security of all Americans and undermine our government and the vital services it provides to red states and blue states alike,' Lynch said.
Republicans who control the committee briefly suspended the proceedings to give GOP lawmakers more time to arrive and vote against the measure, according to The Hill.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who was leading the hearing, derided the Democratic effort, telling them they 'looked good' for social media clips as her Democratic colleagues sat before blown-up photos of Musk, The Hill reported.
Lynch is vying to permanently become the committee's ranking Democrat following the death last month of U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia. He's been temporarily serving in that role.
That leadership fight is being cast as a generational battle. Lynch, 70, is one of two septuagenarians looking to lead the committee. U.S. Rep. Kwesi Mfume, 76, of Maryland, is the other.
U.S. Reps. Robert Garcia, 47, of California, and Jasmine Crockett, 44, of Texas, a frequent Trump inquisitor, are leading the youth brigade, according to Axios.
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Read the original article on MassLive.
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