Marjorie Taylor Greene accused of stealing line from Independence Day to rouse Jan 6 protesters
‘That’s not something that you came up with on your own, is it?’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A smirking Marjorie Taylor Greene laughed off suggestions she plagiarised a line from the movieIndependence Day to rouse supporters prior to the Capitol riots.
Ms Greene was quizzed on the witness stand for three hours Friday at a hearing that could see the Georgia Republican banned from public office because of her support for the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol.
Attorney Andy Celli, representing a group of voters who challenged Ms Greene’s right to run for office, questioned her about a remark encouraging protesters to show up to the Capitol on 6 January, where she said: “We aren’t a people that are going to go quietly into the night.”
“Now, that phrase ... that’s not something that you came up with on your own, is it?” Mr Celli asked.
Marjorie Taylor Greene testimony: Georgia rep grilled about Jan 6 and Proud Boys plan at ballot hearing
Adam Schiff doubts Marjorie Taylor Greene could really have forgotten if she called for martial law to overturn election- ‘I don’t recall’: Marjorie Taylor Greene evades questions on martial law, ‘traitors’ and alien invasion movies in hearing that could bar her from election
When Ms Greene replied that she had no idea what he was referring to, the attorney said: “You borrowed that line from the movie Independence Day, right?”
The comment drew laughter from Ms Greene and the public gallery of the Georgiacourtroom.
Ms Greene denied that she had stolen the line, which bears close similarity to a phrase from the Dylan Thomas poem Do not go gentle into that good night.
“I haven’t watched movies in a long time but from what I recall it’s a great movie,” Ms Greene said, with a broad smirk on her face.
Mr Celli briefly explained the plot of the 1996 science fiction film, where aliens attack Earth and destroy the White House.
He then played the relevant clip from Independence Day to the court, but Ms Greene continued to insist there was no link to her statement.
“So you were not communicating in referencing that film that January 6 was going to be a new kind of Independence Day?” the attorney asked.
Mr Greene replied that she was only talking about “objecting and standing up for people’s votes in our election”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments