Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) had the misfortune of flubbing his constitutional history on Wednesday in front of former constitutional law professor, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD).
The House debated the DC CRIMES Act, which would ban the D.C. government from changing existing criminal liability sentences, among other measures.
Though Washington, D.C. has a city council and a mayor, Congress has broad authority over laws in the District, where Congress can enact legislation.
During floor speeches, Raskin referenced Thomas Jefferson, whom Bishop returned to when it was his time to speak.
“And here’s what the Gentleman from Maryland said – the law professor – that Thomas Jefferson would understand, the law, the Constitution that Thomas Jefferson signed said the Congress shall have power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district,” Bishop said.
Moments later, Raskin spoke.
“Alas, I do have to correct my friend in his history because there might be some students watching this,” he stated. “Thomas Jefferson never signed the Constitution. He was of course on a diplomatic mission when the Constitution was being signed in Philadelphia. But he did write the Declaration of Independence.”
Jefferson was in Europe on the aforementioned diplomatic mission from 1784 to 1789, spending most of his time in France. The Constitution was signed in September of 1787 (and ratified the following year). The future third president of the United States did not see the final document until it arrived in Europe in November 1787.
Elsewhere during Wednesday’s floor proceedings, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) said that since Donald Trump left office, “crime is definitely down in the White House.”
Watch above via C-SPAN.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
