Freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar on Wednesday angered Trump administration Special Envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams by saying his role in the Iran-Contra scandal gives her no reason to think he can be truthful before Congress.
Abrams appeared at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing to talk about Venezuela, and the Michigan Democrat started her portion of the hearing by saying she doesn’t trust him.
“I fail to understand why members of this committee of the American people should find any testimony that you give today to be truthful,” Omar said after noting that Abrams pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress about Iran-Contra.
When Abrams tried to reply, Omar said she hadn’t asked him a question.
“It is not right [if] members of this committee can attack the witness who is not permitted to reply,” Abrams said.
“That was not a question,” Omar said. “Thank you for your participation.”
[Related: US suggests self-exile for Maduro in Cuba, Russia]
Exchange between Rep. @IlhanMN and Elliott Abrams: “I fail to understand why members of this committee of the American people should find any testimony that you give today to be truthful.” pic.twitter.com/n8aMbH1g3G
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 13, 2019
Omar has been the subject of criticism from both Republicans and Democrats after some of her tweets were labeled anti-Semitic. But she avoided talk about religion in her back-and-forth with Abrams, who is Jewish.
Omar then asked Abrams if he supported violence against civilians if it furthers U.S. policy.
“That is a ridiculous question,” Abrams said.
“Yes or no,” Omar insisted.
“No,” Abrams said.
“I will take that as a yes,” she said.
“I am not going to respond to that kind of personal attack, which is not a question,” he said.
Abrams refused another question that alluded to his past, but then did reply when she asked if it’s U.S. policy to ensure human rights are not violated.
“I suppose there is a question in there, and the answer is that the entire thrust of American policy in Venezuela is to support the Venezuelan people’s effort to restore democracy to their country. That’s our policy,” he said.
