Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan laid into Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) in an aggressive sparring match Wednesday that sent them both hurling jabs at each other as the GOP lawmaker twice insisted the journalist “be quiet.”
The combative exchange unfolded during a discussion on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” on YouTube revolving around the immigration arrest of former Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. During the back-and-forth, Crenshaw held firm that the arrest was not only legal, but also justified given Khalil’s “incitement of violence.”
“You cannot incite violence,” Crenshaw said as Hasan continued to hammer away at the Texas lawmaker while raising questions about civil liberties surrounding the Saturday night arrest.
When Crenshaw insisted “incitement of violence is an actual law breaking exercise,” Hasan returned fire.
“Coming from the Republican Party which sent a mob to the Capitol to attack people like you, and all those people were pardoned,” the former MSNBC host said as Crenshaw continued flinging barbs. “Dan, spare me your faux morality – your party pardoned 1,500 domestic terrorists.”
Crenshaw appeared confused: “My party didn't pardon anyone.”
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Moments earlier, Crenshaw told Hasan to “be quiet for a second” as Hasan attempted to point out that individuals cannot be arrested “for speech crimes” in this country.
“No,” Mehdi responded. “This whole thing is about free speech. I’m not going to ‘be quiet!’ I’m not a green card holder, Dan. You can’t disappear me as well.”
The war of words continued to head south as Crenshaw again demanded Hasan “be quiet,” and Hasan later telling him: “You’ve lost your mind!” as the journalist continued to rail on about free speech in America.
“Talk to a lawyer,” Crenshaw said as he, Hasan and now Morgan all talked over each other. “You need to talk to an American lawyer that can help you understand the issues...”
Watch Piers Morgan Uncensored on YouTube below or at this link: