Immigration agents say the Denver Jail released Abraham Gonzalez, a suspected Venezuelan gang member charged with violent felonies. The jail was supposed to give federal agents 48 hours notice, but Rep. Jeff Crank, a Republican who represents Colorado's 5th Congressional District, says they got one hour, and he says an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was injured during the capture of the 23-year-old.
The congressional committee wanted answers from Johnston and mayors of Boston, Chicago and New York, saying the cities' policies of not handing over undocumented immigrants picked up for crimes are putting the public and police at risk.
The people who did most the talking during those six hours were committee members, not the mayors.
While the hearing was billed as an inquisition, it was more of a prosecution. Republicans accused the mayors of everything from failed leadership to treason.
Four days ago, immigration agents say the Denver Jail released Abraham Gonzalez, a suspected Venezuelan gang member charged with violent felonies. The jail was supposed to give federal agents 48 hours notice, but Rep. Jeff Crank, a Republican who represents Colorado's 5th Congressional District, says they got one hour, and he says an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was injured during the capture of the 23-year-old.
The congressional committee wanted answers from Johnston and mayors of Boston, Chicago and New York, saying the cities' policies of not handing over undocumented immigrants picked up for crimes are putting the public and police at risk.
The people who did most the talking during those six hours were committee members, not the mayors.
While the hearing was billed as an inquisition, it was more of a prosecution. Republicans accused the mayors of everything from failed leadership to treason.
Johnston often didn't get to finish his statements in his testimony, and in some cases it was Colorado representatives doing the questioning.
"Mayor Johnston, is Denver a sanctuary city?" Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the committee's chairman, asked.
"A lot of folks use that term ... differently. I can tell you what Denver does. We do not..." Johnston replied.
"Okay, I'll take that as a yes," Comer interruped.
