Skip to content

Word play draws pushback at impeachment hearing

Stanford Law professor Pamela Karlan testifies during the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)
Stanford Law professor Pamela Karlan testifies during the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call)

A witness in the House Judiciary Committee’s first impeachment inquiry hearing apologized Wednesday afternoon for comments she made during the hearing about President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump.

Responding to a question from Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, Pamela Karlan, a Stanford Law professor, said, “the Constitution says there can be no titles of nobility. So while the president can name his son Barron, he can’t make him a baron.”

[jwp-video n=”1″]

About three hours later, Karlan apologized for the remarks saying it was “wrong of [her] to do that.” However, the quip had already received condemnation across Washington.

Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who was already in a heated exchange with her at the time, yelled: “That does not lend credibility to your argument, it makes you look mean.”

In a tweet, first lady Melania Trump, Barron’s mother, said that Karlan should be “ashamed” and “a minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics.”

Recent Stories

Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr enters race to succeed Mitch McConnell

Democrats eye 2026 as best chance to finally unseat Rep. Young Kim

It’s time for age limits for members of Congress

US urges appeals court to allow military transgender ban

For Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez, politics is about meeting voters where they are

Ruling could give Kennedy more power over health care coverage