Confusion at House Hearing Over Misnamed Figures

During a recent House Judiciary Committee hearing, Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, who has decided not to seek reelection, mistakenly referred to Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, as “Charlie King” twice in a span of under ten seconds. This slip occurred while he was discussing a New York Times article that referenced Trump’s actions as supposedly justifying Kirk’s murder.

Nadler, 78, pointed to an article from the Times that suggested Trump’s rhetoric could lead to actions against liberal groups. He then called on FBI director Kash Patel and asserted that Kirk didn’t endorse the claims made in the article, despite misnaming him. He stated, “In the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk, President Trump and his allies…” as he referred to the Times piece.

Nadler expressed concern about politicizing Kirk’s death and mentioned that it wasn’t a legacy Kirk would have wanted. The New York Times piece highlighted comments from “The Katie Miller Podcast,” where it was noted that the Department of Justice intended to act against “hate speech” following Kirk’s assassination.

Additionally, former President Joe Biden also recently stumbled over a name while discussing the tragic case of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, mistakenly referring to her as “Lincoln Riley.” Riley, aged 22, was found deceased on the University of Georgia campus after a midday run, and authorities later charged Venezuelan national Jose Ibarra with her murder.

Nadler, at a preceding hearing in July 2024, had referenced several violent political acts but notably excluded significant incidents involving conservatives. This inconsistency has drawn attention in discussions surrounding political violence.