Impeachment Hearings: Everyone's Into Steve Castor’s Bag

Updated: December 9, 2019 8:00 PM [ET] | Originally published: December 9, 2019 11:30 AM EST;

The House Judiciary Committee opened its doors on Monday to formally hear from Democratic and Republican lawyers laying out their cases for or against hearings that could result in the impeachment of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power, bribery and obstruction.

When Republican Counsel Steve Castor walked into the hearing room at the U.S. House of Representatives to once again testify before the Judiciary Committee, he brought along binders full of documents and materials he may need to make his case. Instead of tucking them into a box or a briefcase, though, he opted to stick them into a reusable The Fresh Market grocery bag—and the internet noticed.

A reusable shopping bag filled with documents and notes sit at the feet of Stephen Castor, the Republican counsel to the Judiciary and Intelligence committee, at the beginning of the House Judiciary Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 9, 2019. — Castor's reusable shopping bag, filled with documents and notes.Gabriella Demczuk for TIME

Soon after Castor walked into the room, eagle-eyed political reporters started to share images of the lawyer’s reusable tote. The relatable moment offered impeachment watchers a brief moment of humor during an otherwise tense week in Washington as Democrats prepare for a full House vote on the articles of impeachment drafted under the direction of Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Steve Castor and his reusable grocery bag of hearing materials pic.twitter.com/QxZvDFZHwh
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 9, 2019

True. GOP Counsel Steve Castor, presenting for the minority at today's impeachment hearing, brought in documents and binders in a big Whole Foods bag, festooned with pictures of various loaves of bread
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 9, 2019

Steve Castor, counsel for the House Intel minority, arrives at today's hearing with a grocery bag full of binders and documents
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) December 9, 2019

Steve Castor is here, with a reusable Whole Foods bag carrying his folders and binders. pic.twitter.com/CZzavG9kfp
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) December 9, 2019

Republican counsel Steve Castor arrives for impeachment testimony with his files in reusable shopping bag from The Fresh Market: “Live, eat, shop, reuse.” pic.twitter.com/sAWyic9HW5
— Dana Milbank (@Milbank) December 9, 2019

Im sorry but did Steve Castor really come to a whole Judiciary Hearing with his testimony and supportive documents in a re-useable grocery bag and not a briefcase???? 🥴
— Olivia Hope (@Elationiam) December 9, 2019

Steve Castor, like me and everyone else I know, carries stuff in a reusable supermarket shopping bag.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 9, 2019

Correction, Dec. 9

The original version of this story misstated where Steve Cantor’s grocery bag is from. It is from The Fresh Market, not Whole Foods.

People Have Taken Notice of Lawyer Steve Castor’s Grocery Bag at the Impeachment Hearing

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