Jon Stewart shames lawmakers for not showing up to 9/11 victims fund hearing
WASHINGTON – Former “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart shamed members of a House panel Tuesday when only five lawmakers were seated in the rostrum to hear survivors of the Sept. 11 terror attacks testify about the need to reauthorize the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund.
“As I sit here today, I can’t help but think what an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process that getting health care and benefits for 9/11 first responders has come to,” Stewart began. “Behind me a filled room of 9/11 first responders and in front of me a nearly empty Congress.”
“Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak to no one,” he continued. “Shameful. It’s an embarrassment to the country and a stain on this institution and you should be ashamed of yourselves, for those who aren’t here, but you won’t be because accountability doesn’t appear to be something that occurs in this chamber.”
In front of Stewart was House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York, along with Democratic Reps. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and the top Republican in the Judiciary subcommittee, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
Democratic Rep. Max Rose of Staten Island was seated near the witnesses testifying.
Democrat Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who testified at the hearing alongside Republican Rep. Peter King, sat on the other side of the room.
Rep. Lee Zeldin, another New York Republican, sat through most of the hearing, but missed Stewart’s opening digs.
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