GOP congressman calls Biden’s border handling ‘treasonous’

Rep. Eli Crane is accusing President Biden of “treasonous” conduct in mishandling the border.

The Arizona Republican, speaking at a Judiciary Committee field hearing Friday on the border in Arizona, said the president has “betrayed” the country. He was met with murmurs of agreement, but also some boos.

Mr. Crane read a definition of treason from the dictionary and said he thinks the president’s behavior qualifies.

“I think it’s treasonous, I absolutely do,” Mr. Crane said. “You guys feel betrayed? I know I do.”

Republican lawmakers heard from local residents, including a former Border Patrol sector chief, a former sheriff’s deputy, a fifth-generation rancher whose property and leases cover five miles of the border, and a woman who lost two children to fentanyl overdoses.

The witnesses said the border is the worst they’ve seen, which led Mr. Crane to wonder why the administration let it get so bad.

“It’s purposeful, and the purpose is to change the demographics of this country. It’s politically thought by the administration, Mr. Biden, that these people will vote for Democrats in the future,” said Jim Chilton, the rancher.

Chris T. Clem, the former high-ranking Border Patrol chief who served from President Clinton to President Biden and is now retired, agreed that it’s all politics.

“To swing power on their behalf,” he said.

The White House rejects those accusations, and immigrant-rights groups say they are dangerous ideas that have fueled mass shootings.

Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, Ohio Republican, said that’s the conclusion he’s left with as well.

“It’s sad because you don’t want to think that about the commander-in-chief,” he said. “But it’s tough to come up with any other conclusion.”

No Democrats attended the field hearing.