Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., And House Oversight Committee ranker Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, teamed up to ‘strive’ for the #FreeBritney movement and called for a hearing on the issue of Housekeeping ‘s Judiciary Committee.
The pair of lawmakers joined forces in a press release and a letter sent out Tuesday, requesting a trial “to review and investigate the plight of Americans caught unawares in conservatism.”
Conservatories are legal agreements where an individual appointed by the court manages the affairs of an adult or ward, who for reasons such as age or mental or physical illnesses cannot take care of themselves.
The practice recently came under scrutiny after the #FreeBritney movement – which aims to free pop star Britney Spears from her controversial conservatory under her father – gained steam online after a documentary about her New York Times conservatory.
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“If the conservatory process can snatch the agency away from a woman who was in the prime of her life and was one of the most powerful pop stars in the world, imagine what it could do to people who are less powerful and have less voice,” he said. Gaetz wrote in his statement.
“I have heard the story of the people in Florida and am concerned about access to ward procedures for wards,” the Florida congressman added.
Gaetz said in a statement to Fox News on Tuesday that he believes Spears will be a “great witness” and will bring many to the table if she were to testify.
“I think Britney will be a great witness … and will probably have a lot to say on this subject,” Gaetz said.
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The letter was sent by the two congressmen to the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerrold Nadler, DN.Y., describing the committee’s complaint as “the protection of the rights granted to Americans by the U.S. Constitution.”
“These rights include having the free will to manage your own affairs and the legal autonomy over your own finances,” the letter began. “When situations indicate the unfair deprivation of these rights by the government, we are obliged to monitor and investigate possible remedies.”
The two Republicans noted that there is ‘public concern’ about ‘the use of conservatism’ to rob them of ‘personal freedoms at the behest of others’ by manipulating the legal system.
They also noted that “a project funded by the Department of Justice to investigate the exploitation of the conservator” has revealed that “financial exploitation by conservators is often unnoticed by the courts” and that there is an ‘urgent need’ for reform around conservation areas and guardianship.
The letter cites recent concerns about conservatism by the American Civil Liberties Union – which say the practice should only be “used as a last resort” – and that the people be “exempted from virtually all of their civil rights by guardianship and conservatory.”
Gaetz and Jordan then move on to the ‘most striking example’ of the case of Spears’ conservatory.
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“Since 2008, Mrs. Spears has been under a court order,” the congressmen wrote. “The facts and circumstances that give rise to this arrangement remain in dispute, but involve dubious motives and legal tactics by her father and now conservative, Jamie Spears.”
“They pointed out that Spears had strongly opposed her father, Jamie, who was her conservator in two court appearances in 2020 and that,”[d]spite these pleas, ‘Spears’ father remained her guardian.
“Ms. Spears is not alone,” Gaetz and Jordan wrote before pointing to another case involving Daniel Gross.
Gross was a New York resident who “was forced into a conservatory against his will after being admitted to the hospital with cellulite while visiting his daughter in Connecticut.”
“In what the judge described as ‘a terrible perversion of justice’, Mr Gross was locked up in a nursing home in Connecticut for ten months despite his pleas for release,” congressmen wrote.
Gaetz and Jordan closed the letter by calling for a hearing “to investigate whether Americans were unfairly trapped in conservation areas.”
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Twitter users have asked Oprah to include Spears next in her program, following her controversial interview with Prince Harry and Megan Markle.
Nadler’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment on the letter, whether or not the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the issue of conservation areas.