Expert Witness Laughs at Dem Rep's Comments on Sharia Law Threat

A heated exchange between Rep. Steve Cohen and author Robert Spencer turned tense during a House committee hearing.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A House committee exchange between Rep. Steve Cohen and author Robert Spencer turned tense during a discussion about Sharia law and ideological threats to the United States. Cohen questioned the relevance of focusing on Sharia law, while Spencer referenced a document associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. The exchange became heated, with Spencer laughing at Cohen's comments comparing the document to "a Middle Eastern version of Project 2025."

Why it matters

The hearing highlights the ongoing debate around the perceived threats of Sharia law and ideological extremism in the U.S. The tense exchange between the congressman and the expert witness reflects the partisan divide on these issues and the challenges in finding common ground.

The details

During the hearing, Rep. Cohen criticized the focus on Sharia law, saying "This is not really relevant to this committee. And what's going on in America today? There's so much we could be dealing with concerning the Constitution and protecting America." In response, Spencer referenced a document associated with the Muslim Brotherhood that he said detailed its program for the United States. Cohen interrupted Spencer, comparing the document to "a Middle Eastern version of Project 2025," prompting laughter from the witness.

  • The House committee hearing took place on February 11, 2026.

The players

Rep. Steve Cohen

A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 9th congressional district.

Robert Spencer

An author who has written extensively on Islam and Sharia law, and who was serving as an expert witness at the House committee hearing.

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What they’re saying

“We're talking about Sharia law. I mean, this is not really relevant to this committee. And what's going on in America today? There's so much we could be dealing with concerning the Constitution and protecting America.”

— Rep. Steve Cohen, U.S. Representative

“I don't know. You might be referring to the explanatory memorandum, which is I didn't mention, but it's a captured internal document of the Muslim Brotherhood detailing its program for the United States, where it says the brothers must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying Western civilization from within and sabotaging its miserable house by their own hands, in the hands of the believers, so that Allah's religion is victorious over other religions.”

— Robert Spencer, Author

What’s next

The House committee is expected to continue its investigation into ideological threats and extremism in the United States.

The takeaway

The heated exchange between the congressman and the expert witness highlights the ongoing partisan divide over the perceived threats of Sharia law and ideological extremism. The hearing underscores the challenges in finding common ground on these complex and contentious issues.