Kathy Hochul Asks Marjorie Taylor Greene If Being a Democrat Is ‘Illegal’

New York Governor Kathy Hochul asked Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia if being a Democrat was “illegal” in her country during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on Thursday.

In the hearing, Hochul and Democratic governors were questioned over statewide policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Greene asked the New York governor, “You stated that you’re a proud registered Democrat?” Hochul then quipped, “Yes. Is that illegal now, too, in your country?”

The Georgia representative laughed, then said, “This is not a laughing matter.”

During another exchange, Greene paused during her remarks about murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, and asked Hochul, “Are you smiling at me? You look like you’ve got quite a smile on your face.”

Hochul said, “No. I’m thinking about her parents. Don’t question how I look. My heart is breaking for her parents.”

The conservative firebrand also said that Hochul is complicit in the death of Riley, who was killed by Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who had been previously detained for offenses and then released in New York before going to Georgia.

“This little girl right here would be alive today if you weren’t such a treasonous governor supporting sanctuary laws … The Department of Justice should prosecute you for her murder,” Greene said.

Why It Matters

As tensions escalate between President Donald Trump and Democratic governors over immigration enforcement, the House committee scrutinized sanctuary policies in Democratic-led states.

While there is no formal legal definition of a “sanctuary jurisdiction,” the term typically refers to state or local governments that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Courts have previously upheld the legality of such policies.

However, the Trump administration has challenged these measures in court, filing lawsuits…