Josh Hawley eviscerates ex-Biden aide on use of bizarre ‘two spirit’ term in crime ‘playbook’

Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley questioned former White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention Deputy Director Gregory Jackson Jr. Tuesday at a hearing on the term “two spirit” in his organization’s crime reduction “playbook.”

Jackson is the executive director of the Community Justice Action Fund, which published “A Policymaker’s Playbook to Reduce Gun Violence Without Policing Communities,” appearing to advocate for financing “safe space initiatives led by lesbian, gay, bisexual, two spirit, trans and gender non-forming [sic] people.” At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on blue city crime policy, Hawley recited that line from the report and asked what the term “two spirit” meant, but the witness seemed unable to answer.

WATCH:

“Here’s what you say we ought to invest in. Instead of funding the police, here’s what we ought to invest in … What’s two spirit?” Hawley asked.

“Well, look, I don’t know exactly,” Jackson said. “You guys are pulling some interesting quotes.”

Hawley noted it was Jackson’s organization’s report. Jackson pivoted to defend the report.

“If you look at the report, the focus is on investing in violence intervention, outreach workers, victim services,” Jackson said before Hawley interrupted him.

“You say that you shouldn’t invest in the police, but we ought to invest in two spirit community programs that acknowledge two spirit … What is that?” the senator asked.

Jackson suggested the line indicated his organization would not engage in discrimination. Hawley alleged the report advocated against funding the police.

“Policy makers must take immediate action to support the organizers, survivors, and communities closest to the pain of everyday gun violence, and not just by adding more money to police budgets,” the report states.

Hawley repeated his request for Jackson to define “two spirit,” noting he did not know what the term meant.

“Well, honestly, I’m not completely aware of the language or the spirit of how that was written,” Jackson said.

After Hawley continued to ask what the term meant, Jackson retorted that he felt as though he was “looking at a two-faced individual.”

“Oh no, sir. You’re looking at somebody who’s reading your own words. And I’d like to hear an answer. Here’s the answer. The answer is you don’t have any solutions,” Hawley said. “You want to invest in gobbledygook and take away money from police officers who actually keep our communities safe. And when you’re called on the record, you deny it. It’s all there in black and white. And your record is there in black and white. And it’s a disgrace!”

Jackson asserted his work had helped “reduce homicides by 31%.”

“And as someone who’s been shot and nearly killed, I take offense that you would think that,” he added before Hawley shouted over him.

“I take offense that you won’t answer my questions, that you deny your own words and that you are leading this committee astray,” the senator said. “And frankly, sir, your policies are absurd.”

Former President Joe Biden in September of 2023 announced the creation of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and tapped Jackson to be the deputy director.

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