Grieving mom slams Democrat Rep Hank Johnson at sanctuary policy hearing
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A congressional hearing featuring victims of illegal immigration crimes degenerated into a tense confrontation Thursday.
Rep. Hank Johnson, Democrat of Georgia, drew fierce backlash from grieving mothers and Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, for appearing to dismiss their tragedies while turning to attacks on “MAGA Republicans.”
The fiery exchange took place during a hearing focused on “The Human Toll of Sanctuary Policies,” during which Johnson claimed that comments from victims’ families were a stunt “approved by Steve Miller” for the sole purpose of “stirring up.”[ring] arouse passion and prejudice against immigrants who are people of color. »
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After offering brief condolences to the families of victims allegedly killed and seriously injured by illegal immigrants, Johnson immediately turned to a partisan attack, arguing that the committee should instead hold hearings on the “human toll” of the “Trump MAGA tax cuts,” Trump’s foreign policy with Iran or the “cover-up of the Epstein files.”
He then listed a series of violent crimes committed by white men and highlighted the death of Renee Good, who was killed by federal authorities in January while protesting immigration enforcement.
Representative Hank Johnson, Democrat of Georgia, claimed during a congressional hearing Thursday that the victims’ families’ comments were a stunt “sanctioned by Steve Miller” for the sole purpose of “stirring up.”[ring] arouse passion and prejudice against immigrants who are people of color. » (Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)
“I’m not minimizing the tragedy we face today with you three women, but the other tragedies caused by non-immigrants are just as important,” Johnson said.
He also accused the Republican majority of adopting a “sandwich” strategy.[ing]”, testified a Democrat between the families of the victims for “dramatic effect”.
Gill fired back, calling Johnson’s tirade “one of the most disgusting testimonies I’ve ever heard” and blaming Democratic lawmakers for the tragedies that occurred during the Biden administration’s four years of open borders.
Rep. Brandon Gill, Republican of Texas, called Johnson’s tirade “one of the most disgusting testimonies I’ve ever heard.” (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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However, the most scathing response to Johnson’s comments came from Jen Heiling, the mother of victim Brady Heiling, 18, who was killed with his girlfriend, Hallie Helgeson, 18, in 2025, when an illegal immigrant from Honduras allegedly driving the wrong way on I-90 while intoxicated crashed into the teens’ car.
“You can put me in any order, in any seat. My tragedy will never go well,” Heiling told Johnson. “Today is our day. Listen to us. Leave your butt in your seat. I don’t want to hear your butt.”
A woman holds up a sign reading “The Sanctuary Policy Freed My Daughter’s Assailant, Explain That” during a House Judiciary Committee hearing March 4 in the Rayburn House office building in Washington, DC. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
She described how her children, ages 11 and 16, are still waiting for the teens to come home, noting that her garage remains empty because her son’s car is still being held as evidence by police.
“We can’t choose a tombstone because that makes it too real. But you can sit here and tell us what kind of audience this should be,” Heiling said. “Renee Good is not the same as angel families. She made a choice. …Brady and Hallie had no choice. …They lived [by] American laws…and they were stolen by someone who doesn’t care.”
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Patricia Fox, mother of Carissa Aspnes, who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run allegedly caused by an illegal immigrant, followed Heiling’s remarks by firing back at Johnson’s comments on race, noting, “I don’t know if anyone noticed, but I’m not white. I wake up Brown every day.”
“I’m not sure what race has to do with any of this,” Fox said. “We talked about four kids today, and you can’t stay on topic for what…an hour of your time.
“Today we’re talking about sanctuary policies and how they’ve destroyed our families. You all come and feed Carissa. You lift her out of her bed using a crane and then tell and lecture me on what this hearing is about.”
