Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) went after a photographer outside the Capitol on Wednesday and shouted that he was an “a–hole” for capturing him on camera — amid mounting concerns about the eleven-term congressman’s cognitive fitness.
Scott, 79, was being wheeled into the building by a staffer when Politico photographer Francis Chung began snapping pictures.
“Who gave you the right to take my picture, a–hole?” the Georgia Democrat screamed, Punchbowl News reported.
His spokesperson later confronted Chung and railed that the photographer should not be “tak[ing] a picture[s] of us as we’re trying to get into the Capitol” in the future.
“I’m going to ask you very nicely to not do that,” the rep added. “We will be reaching out to your editor, whoever it is we have to reach out to.”
Scott has chaired the House Agriculture Committee since January 2021 — but some colleagues have expressed serious concerns about his mental acuity.
As the panel’s top Democrat, he often reads from a script and has “trouble” discussing finer points of policy, sources on Capitol Hill who had interacted with Scott in late 2023 and into 2024 told Politico.
Another Democratic lawmaker told Punchbowl in September that many members of their House caucus don’t believe Scott can even lead the committee anymore.
“I haven’t met a member who isn’t concerned,” the Dem rep said. “There was a lot of frustration heading into the markup. We needed to have a comms strategy and a legislative strategy, but it took us a long time to get organized.”
The lawmaker has also been known to dip out of Agriculture Committee meetings midway — despite his status as ranking member — and not return.
“I imagine just about every person is in favor of new leadership, and if there is anyone who says otherwise, then they’re not telling the truth,” another Democratic lawmaker told Politico.
“David Scott is Exhibit A for term limits,” the lawmaker added. “He was a respected, talented member who has become diminished. And it’s painful for people to watch.”
Those close to the Georgia congressman also said as far back as 2022 that he has had “trouble at times focusing on a topic,” according to the outlet.
“I have the utmost respect for Chairman Scott,” an Agriculture panel Dem said that year. “But he could be doing a better job.”
“I don’t necessarily know if it’s his health or what, but something is wrong,” the rep added.
Another Democrat on the agriculture panel told Politico in 2022, ”It’s not really his physical health. He struggles getting around,” adding, “but there are real questions about whether he’s with it.”
Scott dismissed the concerns that same year in an interview with the outlet as nothing more than a power play to get him out of leadership.
“You have people there that want to be chairman and they see you with a cane to help you with your mobility,” he shot back.
“People shouldn’t hold the fact that you’re having a little difficulty with your leg to deny you an opportunity.”
Scott’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Post.
