During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on May 24, 2023, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) was caught taking a nap. This video went viral on May 24 on Twitter and became a major topic of discussion in DC.
Asleep at the Wheel
WATCH: Jerry Nadler getting paid $174,000 a year for LITERALLY sleeping on the job. pic.twitter.com/wEg4L8pL51
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) May 24, 2023
One voice off-camera could be heard saying that Nadler’s decision to fall asleep during the hearing was disgraceful and suggested someone wake him up to prevent further embarrassment.
The May 24 hearing was largely concentrated on amendments to a regulatory reform bill that was subsequently sent to the full House floor.
Nadler is the leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.
He apparently looked unaware of the proceedings taking place around him. A congressional aide behind Nadler apparently did not wake him up throughout this embarrassing incident.
Rep. Jerry Nadler naps in Judiciary Committee hearing https://t.co/AtIJZAdP4o pic.twitter.com/p2xmtCBgEa
— New York Post (@nypost) May 27, 2023
During one instance in this video, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-CA) sat in front of the New York congressman and was apparently non-reactive to Nadler sleeping behind her.
After about four minutes, Nadler eventually woke up.
Republicans Sound Off Against Nadler
Some of Nadler’s colleagues in Congress believe that his nap-taking habits are a regular occurrence.
In an interview with the New York Post, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) claimed that the House Judiciary Committee has been at its most productive state when Nadler has taken naps.
Nadler’s repeated napping on the job is well-known in the halls of Congress.
According to sources in the House of Representatives, Nadler’s napping incidents reportedly prompted then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to put him on the sidelines. This happened while former President Donald Trump faced his first impeachment hearing back in 2019.
Nadler previously served in the New York State Assembly from 1977 to 1992.
He was subsequently elected to the US House in 1992, where he served as the representative for New York’s 17th district (1992-1993), 8th district (1993-2013), 10th district (2013-2023), and, finally, the 12th district (2023-present).
