A group of GOP lawmakers on Wednesday invited Britney Spears to testify before Congress, as the singer engages in a fierce battle to remove her father from her conservatorship.
Spears broke her silence last week, delivering scorching remarks before a Los Angeles Superior Court judge during a highly-anticipated hearing regarding her 13-year legal arrangement, calling it “abusive.”
The singer’s father, Jamie Spears, has managed her conservatorship since 2008 after his daughter, now 39 years old, faced issues regarding mental health and substance abuse.
Spears said she doesn’t “feel like I can live a full life” because of the conservatorship, claiming that it prevented her from getting married and pregnant, and forced her to receive psychiatric evaluations and take psychiatric medicine.
GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Burgess Owens (Ohio), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) and Andy Biggs (Ariz.) penned a letter to Spears on Wednesday inviting the singer to testify before Congress, writing “Please take advantage of the empowerment that public congressional testimony can unlock.”
The lawmakers argued that Spears has “been mistreated by America’s legal system,” adding “We want to help.”
“The United States Congress should hear your story and be inspired to bipartisan action. What happened to you should never happen to any other American. Congress can make things better and you can inform our policy decisions. If you will speak to Congress, we are ready to listen,” the lawmakers wrote.
They argued that the “federal courthouse door was closed to you and to too many Americans,” writing that she “can blow that door wide open, giving hope to millions.”
“Your life, liberty, and happiness have been taken from you. Please take advantage of the empowerment that public congressional testimony can unlock,” the Republicans wrote.
“We hope you will choose to accept our invitation to express your interest in speaking to Congress and to America for the sake of the justice you and many Americans deserve,” they continued.
The group concluded the letter, writing “We hope that you will express interest in sharing your story. We stand with you, Britney – whatever you decide.”
Democrats also weighed in, with Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Bob Casey (Pa.) on Thursday asking Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Attorney General Merrick Garland to provide more data and information on the U.S. conservatorship system, citing Spears’ case as having highlighted “longstanding concerns from advocates who have underscored the potential for financial and civil rights abuses of individuals” under conservatorships or guardianships.