Senator Cory Booker stormed out of a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Political Violence hearing Tuesday after being confronted over his controversial endorsement of a Democrat candidate tied to violent threats against Republicans. The moment drew gasps in the room — and underscored just how deep the hypocrisy runs inside the Democratic Party when it comes to condemning political violence.
The hearing, chaired by Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), was focused on the “rising level of political violence” in America. Among the witnesses was conservative commentator Michael Knowles, who himself has been the target of leftist attacks — most notably when Antifa rioters disrupted his 2023 speech at the University of Pittsburgh.
Knowles told lawmakers that Booker’s public statements on unity and nonviolence ring hollow when his own endorsements include men who have threatened the lives of Republicans. “I believe Senator Booker was right when he stated that we must be self-reflective and introspective,” Knowles began. “I can’t stop thinking of the line that Senator Booker used today. ‘Jay Jones is a visionary, committed, and has integrity in order to protect families.’ This endorsement comes from a senator who had called for the murder of Republicans, his own children, and a Republican himself. He also said he would urinate over the graves [of] multiple Republicans.”
The candidate in question, Virginia Democrat Jay Jones, has been under fire after shocking text messages surfaced from 2022 showing violent rhetoric and death wishes toward GOP officials. Despite the revelations, Booker has refused to withdraw his endorsement — a fact that infuriated witnesses and senators alike during Tuesday’s hearing.
Jones’s private texts, now public, are horrifying. In one exchange, he allegedly joked about or wished for the deaths of political opponents. He reportedly wrote that Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert should receive “two bullets” to the head and compared him to “Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, and others.” Gilbert’s children were called “little fascists,” and both he and his wife were described as “evil” people who “breed little fascists.”
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The exposure of these messages reignited the national debate over political double standards — especially as Democrats continue to frame conservatives as the primary source of political extremism. Critics point out that while Republicans are routinely pressured to denounce every individual who crosses the line, Democrats like Booker continue to back candidates who openly fantasize about violence against their political enemies.
During his testimony, Knowles turned directly toward Booker’s empty seat and delivered one of the most searing lines of the day. “Perhaps I shouldn’t have looked because Senator Booker left the room and I believe I know why,” he said. “You cannot have a teacher who is devoted to teaching and also wants to murder half the students. It is impossible to have police officers that would use such violent language against half their constituency. As long as someone stands behind an endorsement like that, the words of their mouth are worthless. They are crying crocodile tears over the issue of political violence.”
Booker’s silence — and refusal to disavow Jones — has only fueled more backlash. The senator had publicly praised Jones months earlier, in June, long before the texts were exposed. But since their release, Booker has dodged every question about whether he still stands by his endorsement. Critics argue his silence exposes the rank hypocrisy of Democrats who preach about “healing the nation” while tolerating violence from their own side.
The hearing took place amid heightened tensions nationwide following the murder of Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk — an incident Republicans say is being deliberately ignored by the mainstream press. Schmitt’s subcommittee has been investigating what many conservatives describe as a dangerous pattern of left-wing radicalization and selective outrage.
Knowles used his appearance to remind lawmakers that leftist violence has become normalized and even celebrated in some circles. He cited his 2023 appearance at the University of Pittsburgh, where Antifa demonstrators launched smoke bombs and fireworks in an attempt to shut down his speech. Despite the attack and widespread property damage, few were ever punished.
The message from Tuesday’s hearing was unmistakable: Democrats like Booker can’t have it both ways. They can’t claim to oppose political violence while endorsing those who promote it. As Knowles made clear, “As long as someone stands behind an endorsement like that, the words of their mouth are worthless.”
And as the senator stormed out of the room, it was obvious — the truth hit too close to home.
