CONSERVATIVE commentator Dan Bongino testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Lawmakers in Washington are mulling a sweeping law enforcement overhaul in wake of George Floyd‘s death in police custody in Minneapolis. George Floyd’s brother Philonise also spoke during the hearing. Here is more on Bongino and what he had to say. Who is […]
CONSERVATIVE commentator Dan Bongino testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Lawmakers in Washington are mulling a sweeping law enforcement overhaul in wake of George Floyd‘s death in police custody in Minneapolis.
George Floyd’s brother Philonise also spoke during the hearing.
Here is more on Bongino and what he had to say.
The 45-year-old Bongino is a radio host, author, and former congressional candidate who served as a Secret Service agent.
The Queens, New York native is married and has two daughters.
Bongino had previously run for the US Senate and Congress as a Republican.
Bongino said he prays for “justice” for George Floyd’s family and admits some officers “aren’t suited for the job.”
He hailed most officers as “heroes” when grilled by lawmakers about police reform.
“Police officers are the front lines, putting themselves between the evildoers among us and the honest, hardworking Americans just yearning for some security and prosperity in a small slice of Americana,” Bongino told lawmakers, according to Fox News.
Bongino also said that he is opposed to fully erasing qualified immunity for police officers.
Qualified immunity provides some protection from litigation for cops
“Listen I get it, there are serious issues with qualified immunity,” Bongino said.
“There’s no question about that. We’re in full agreement.
“The problem is if you were to repeal qualified immunity, have you considered the ‘and then what?’”
Bongino warned that defunding the police would “do nothing but ensure chaos and destruction.”
He said police officers can be held accountable “without shredding the thin wall between civilization and chaos.”
“I ask you please, with the greatest of respect and humility, please stop this defund the police abomination before someone gets hurt,” he said, according to Fox News.
Lawmakers in Minneapolis have vowed to dismantle the city’s police department in wake of Floyd’s death.
It would be the first major US city to stop depending heavily on a police force.
Republicans are criticizing activists who want to “defund the police,” even though the police reform bill does not specifically call for that.
“The American people understand that it’s time for a real discussion,” said Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the ranking Republican on the panel.
He added that “it is pure insanity to defund the police.”
Black Lives Matter is a movement at the forefront of the George Floyd protests.
BLM aims to eradicate white supremacy and fight against systemic racism.
The organization launched after the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012 – and George Zimmerman’s subsequent acquittal.
The movement has been trending in the weeks since Floyd died in Minneapolis.
A police officer held his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, according to authorities, as Floyd begged for help.
