D.C. Mayor Bowser agrees to testify in House hearing on GW protests

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser will testify before the House Oversight Committee as part of a hearing on the pro-Palestinian protests at George Washington University.

Oversight Chairman James comer and Educational Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx last week asked Bowser and Metro Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith to explain the MPD's reported refusal to help George Washington University clear out the encampment of protesters.

An Oversight Committee spokesperson confirmed Bowser would testify at the Wednesday hearing, according to The Hill.

"We are alarmed by reports that the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD) rejected requests from officials at the George Washington University (GWU) to assist in removing the radical, antisemitic, and unlawful protestors who have encamped on the university’s campus and surrounding District of Columbia public land for several days," Comer and Fox wrote to Bowser and Smith. 

"It is deeply disturbing that while GWU has attempted to take concrete measures to protect the safety of Jewish student body from persecution and harassment, they are hindered by the MPD’s refusal to provide assistance clearing out the encampment, over fears of public criticism," they continued.

Comer and a group of other House lawmakers, including GOP Reps. Lauren Boebert, Colo., Byron Donalds, Fla., Anna Paulina Luna, Fla., and Eric Burlison, Mo., visited the encampment earlier this month.

During the visit, Comer announced the hearing and said that "[w]e want to follow the money trail to see if there are outside groups" funding the demonstrations.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.