ACCESS DENIED! Waters Accosts Security at Dept. of Education

In yet another recent viral incident, several Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), stormed the Department of Education demanding a meeting with the Assistant Secretary. But once again, the Democrats were denied entry

The dramatic confrontation between the politicians (particularly, Waters) and a security officer has sparked debate over whether these Democrats are exercising legitimate effort demanding oversight, or if these tactics are just the latest of Leftist grandstanding.

What Happened?

Days after Democratic lawmakers tried to access the USAID’s offices, another group of Democratic lawmakers arrived at the Department of Education. The apparent leader of the rabble, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) claimed that they had sent a letter requesting a meeting with the Assistant Secretary of Education, Denise Carter. However, upon arrival, a security guard met Waters, Takano, and the others at the locked entry to the building. The security guard informed them that they could not enter without an official appointment or escort.

Obviously, Waters and others reacted with extreme consternation in reaction to the security guard’s directive, with Waters acting rudely and berating the security guard.

“Mad” Maxine Loses Her Cool

Waters, known for her fiery and borderline looney rhetoric, took the lead in confronting the security officer. She demanded his credentials and insisted that, as an elected official, she had the right to enter the building. However, the officer remained firm, stating that all visitors—regardless of status—must follow standard protocols.

This led to Waters creating a media spectacle, openly berating the Dept. of Education security guard for simply doing his job. All the while throughout their interaction, Waters was flippant, rude and dismissive, as seen in the video. When all else failed, she resorted to public shaming, leading to a negative reaction on social media:

Political Theater or Legitimate Oversight?

The incident between Waters, the Dems and this security guard raises important questions for all of us to ponder:

• Were these lawmakers genuinely attempting to conduct oversight, or were they looking for a confrontation to stir public outrage?  Critics argue that this was a deliberate political stunt designed to make the Trump administration look uncooperative. Others believe that these lawmakers were simply doing their job, trying to investigate potential policy issues. It seems like the prudent thing to have done was to confirm their appointment request before showing up with cameras.
• Did Waters and others believe that their congressional status exempted them from following appointment procedures that ordinary citizens must adhere to? Congress is indeed empowered by Article I of the Constitution with oversight of the executive branch:

[T]he Congress shall have Power . . . ] To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

But, what are the bounds of that authority? If you believe Waters and her people, then members of Congress would have seemingly unfettered – and unchecked – power over every federal agency at their whim. But, the law would disagree with Waters.

The Supreme Court has held that Congress is subject to its own rules defining committee jurisdictions. In holding as such, the Supreme Court has enforced internal Congressional rules to limit Congress when it attempts to exert investigatory authority. Several cases which stand for the proposition that a congressional committee lacks authority to compel compliance with investigative demands when it acts outside its jurisdiction or fails to comply with its own rules.

The question then becomes: did Waters and these Dems overstep their bounds?

Congressional “Privilege”

One of the debate that arose from this latest incident concerns access to government buildings. Imagine if ordinary citizens simply showed up en masse outside a Congressional office. Would they be welcomed despite not making an appointment? Or would security bar access to their representative?  If ordinary people must go through an appointment process, why should lawmakers like Waters be any different? After all, the Department of Education, like other federal agencies, has security protocols in place to ensure order and efficiency.

Now imagine if an ordinary citizen behaved the way Waters did. Would they have been arrested? Detained? Waters is notorious for pressing her congressional privilege to the limit when it comes to her rabble-rousing approach to political engagement. Everyone remembers her incitement of a crowd against President Trump’s first administration, which she later denied, thus exposing her hypocrisy.

This incident also highlights a broader issue—when does political activism cross the line into political theater? If Waters and her ilk were serious about conducting oversight, why not send a subpoena and set up a hearing? Even ensuring that  their request for a meeting had been confirmed instead of showing up unannounced would have, at least, given Waters and others political cover for their antics.

Get in the Comments!

Whether you see this incident at the Department of Education as a necessary act of accountability or just another example of political grandstanding, one thing is clear—this event has become another partisan flashpoint in the first month of the second Trump administration. As voters, it’s crucial to stay informed and critically analyze whether political actions are genuine or just media stunts designed to stir emotions.