Sen. Cory Booker said Wednesday that Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen’s testimony was “offensive” and accused her of lying under oath.
“She pretended like she didn’t remember. She couldn’t remember what the president of the United States, the commander-in-chief, her boss, was saying. She didn’t remember Lindsey Graham, who challenged the president on his vile words. Yesterday, it was so offensive to me she lied under oath,” Mr. Booker, New Jersey Democrat, said on CBS News.
Mr. Booker raised his voice while questioning Ms. Nielsen during her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He accused her of being complicit in what he described as racist comments from Mr. Trump during a White House meeting last week. Mr. Trump reportedly used the word “s—-hole countries” to describe Haiti, El Salvador and African nations when discussing immigration issues with a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
“It’s not about the profanity. It’s that the president of the United States would speak in such a bigoted manner about large groups of people,” Mr. Booker explained on CBS.
The New Jersey senator was newly named to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is considered a possible presidential candidate in 2020.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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