Texas Rep. Brandon Gill repeatedly pressed American Bar Association President Michelle Behnke to identify her own implicit biases during a congressional hearing, but despite several attempts, she never named a single one in the exchange shared online.
Gill posted the video on X and repeated the ABA website’s claim in his caption.
Gill based his questioning on language published on the ABA’s website stating that “all of us have implicit biases.” He repeatedly asked Behnke whether she agreed with that statement and, if so, which groups she believed she personally held biases against.
Rather than identifying any specific bias, Behnke repeatedly answered on behalf of the ABA and discussed the organization’s broader approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Gill interrupted several times, accusing her of avoiding the question and asking for a direct answer.
By the end of the clip, Behnke had not identified any personal implicit bias, leaving the exchange unresolved.
Texas Reacts to Brandon Gill’s Exchange With ABA President Michelle Behnke
The clip drew praise for Gill’s persistence and criticism of how he questioned Behnke.
One user wrote, “He takes their own words and asks simply for an explanation. And they refuse because they know they can’t defend what they write or believe.”
Another stated, “She should have just answered the question. She wouldn’t have sounded so stupid.”
A separate response said, “Great questions – so great, in fact, that she can’t (won’t) answer them. ‘The thing speaks for itself.’”
Another user argued, “To say that everyone has implicit biases on a business you lead, and being unwilling to express one of your own implicit biases, just goes to show it’s a convenient weaponization tool – more so when one doesn’t practice what they preach.”
Other Texas folks criticized Gill’s approach. One response stated, “When someone has to insist it’s a ‘yes or no’ question, it makes them look stubborn and ignorant.”
Another questioned, “Can you let her at least try to answer? It’s not that I agree with her, but when you keep cutting her off like a butthole, you’re not winning anyone over.”
The hearing clip quickly spread across social media, where supporters argued Gill exposed an inconsistency between the ABA’s messaging and Behnke’s testimony, while critics said his repeated interruptions prevented a more complete response.
