Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland gave an impromptu history lesson on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, correcting Rep. Dan Bishop for mistakenly saying Thomas Jefferson signed the constitution.
Bishop, RN.C., erred in trying to counter Raskin’s argument during House debate on a bill introduced by Rep. Byron Donalds. criminal penalty codes in Washington, DC
“That’s what the Constitution signed by Thomas Jefferson said Congress “He has the power to apply an exclusive Law in all cases whatever happens over such District,” Bishop said.
Raskin, who was a professor of constitutional law at American University Washington College of Law before being elected to Congress, responded by pointing out an error in the bishop’s statement and saying that Jefferson did not sign the Constitution.
“I have to correct my friend on his history because there might be some students watching,” Raskin said. “Thomas Jefferson never signed the Constitution. “He was, of course, on a diplomatic mission in Philadelphia when the Constitution was signed, but he wrote the Declaration of Independence.”
Raskin argued that the GOP bill “dictated” against a central claim of Jefferson’s founding document. [to] How people in Washington should book their jobs” in criminal law matters.
“If you read the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson drafted a bill against King George and Parliament, and one of its main claims was that they were denying the colonists the right to define crimes for themselves,” Raskin said. he said.
During Wednesday’s floor debate, Donalds argued that his bill “requires us to treat adult offenders as adults, just like the rest of the country.”
The legislation was introduced in March after the D.C. Council passed a public safety package that paves the way for tougher penalties for various crimes.
The 2024 legislation, DC Criminal Reforms to Make Everyone Safer Immediately, would amend the DC Council’s Youth Rehabilitation Act by reducing eligibility for youthful offender status in Washington from 25 years of age to 18 or younger. The House of Representatives passed the bill after debates on Wednesday.
Raskin wabout Tuesday’s primary race in Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, where he is seeking a fourth term representing the heavily Democratic district.
A spokesman for Donalds did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday evening. Spokesmen for Bishop and Raskin were unavailable.