By conducting repeated, non-authorized “hearing-like” events across multiple states, Democratic lawmakers are substituting narrative judgment for formal oversight — a practice that weakens institutional norms without formally breaking them. They explicitly disclaimed constitutional authority while theatrically imitating it — which tells you they understood the limits and chose to step around them anyway. This hearing asserts criminal guilt against federal law enforcement outside the courts while enforcement is ongoing, effectively placing Congress in an extra-constitutional adjudicatory role. By moving a self-described “sixth hearing” out of Washington and placing it under the control of ideologically aligned senior members, Democrats are asserting...