‘Canada Is The Freest Country In The World’: Dem Rep Starts Shouting Match At House Judiciary Hearing

UPDATE: This story has been updated to reflect comment from Republican Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson.

Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee triggered a shouting match when he claimed Canada was the “freest” country in the world during a Thursday hearing of the House Judiciary Committee.

“Right now Canada is the most free country in the whole world,” Cohen stated, citing the issue of abortion. “There are a few other countries, along with Canada, that are more free than America when we cut women away for having the opportunity to get their families, their bodies, to be their choices.”

WATCH:

Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana responded to the claim later in the hearing, which a Thursday hearing release called “What’s Next: The Threat to Individual Freedoms in a Post-Roe World.” The hearing was held after the Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi law banning most abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy, overturning Roe v. Wade. (RELATED: ‘What Other Judicial Outrage Must We Endure?’: Dems Call For Expanding SCOTUS After String Of Losses)

“Mr. Johnson stated that Cohen was wrong. Canada isn’t the most open country in the world. Young people are not free here. America is the most powerful nation on the planet. Because we are freest, most prosperous, most powerful country, we finally have it. The Supreme Court has finally brought us back to those truths .”

Even good friends can make horrible arguments,” Johnson stated to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Rep. “Rep. The world would count North Korea and China as free countries .” WATCH:

Cohen tried to interrupt, but Johnson refused to comply. Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler, New York’s chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, called the hearing to order and told Cohen that it was Johnson’s turn.

This hearing is absurd,” Johnson stated. Johnson said that the Democrat majority called them to this hearing entitled “The threat to individual liberties in a post Roe World.” It is the right of a child to live. It is the right to live. We boldly declared that in our nation’s birth certificate.”

Cohen did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the DCNF.

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