Viewers of Thursday’s confirmation hearing of acting interior secretary David Bernhardt were met with a surprise: a green, unblinking swamp creature was watching attentively from the second row, visible just over Bernhardt’s right shoulder. The creature was one of several scattered throughout the hearing room — and, after some discussion by Capitol Police officers, eventually removed — in protest of Bernhardt’s nomination. According to video of the hearing, the protesters were apparently not escorted out of the room until nearly two hours into the hearing. Capitol Police spokeswoman Eva Malecki confirmed that protesters were removed from the hearing but declined to comment further on the incident. He has helmed Interior as acting secretary since Jan. 2, when Ryan Zinke resigned amid multiple ethics probes.

Source: National Post March 29, 2019 15:22 UTC