U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) speaks as she holds her notes during acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche's testimony before a House Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee oversight hearing on the Department of Justice, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Political analysts and observers were horrified on Tuesday after a Republican congressman shut down questions from a Democratic colleague about Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's handling of the Epstein files during a committee hearing.
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) told Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) three times that her time to question Blanche had expired during an Appropriations Committee hearing. Dean claimed that Rogers was ending her time early because of her line of questioning, at one point imploring him to restore her time.
The first time Rogers shut down Dean's questioning was when she told Blanche she wanted to ask him about the release of the files. He said her time had expired and banged his gavel.
"I beg your pardon!" Dean shot back. "How do I get cut off two minutes into this?"
But Rogers didn't budge.
Political analysts and commentators reacted online.
"Wow. Watch the fascism of the Epstein class work," liberal political outlet The Tennessee Holler posted on X.
"It’s the most egregious cover-up in American history," Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) posted on X.
Wow, Republicans try to end Rep. Dean’s time 3 minutes early while she is asking Blanche about Epstein. pic.twitter.com/gJDXt60cmZ
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 2, 2026