For the second time in two weeks, freshman Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) was interrupted mid-question at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.
People keep interrupting Sen. Kamala Harris
Now, why might that be?
At the hearing for Attorney General Jeff Sessions Tuesday afternoon, Harris was asking about a Department of Justice policy Sessions repeatedly referred to when Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) interrupted her.
Senator McCain is an ex officio member of the committee, and he spoke out of turn to say that “the witness should be allowed to answer the question.” Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), chair of the Intelligence Committee, admonished McCain and instructed him to “let the chair control the hearing.” But then he proceeded to echo McCain, telling Harris to let Sessions answer:
HARRIS: Sir, I’m not asking about the principle.
SESSIONS: I’m unable to answer the questions.
HARRIS: You would rely on that policy; did you not ask your staff to show you the policy that would be the basis for you refusing to answer the majority of questions that have been asked to you —
MCCAIN: The witness should be allowed to answer the question.
BURR: The chair will control the hearing. Senator, let him answer.
Those watching the hearing did not miss an opportunity to point out this “manterruption.”
Harris was also prevented from finishing her questions to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein during the June 7 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act hearing due to an interruption from McCain and Burr, according to reporting by the LA Times.
Harris’s response was a hair flip, one that’s now making its rounds on the internet again.
Below is the full exchange from Tuesday’s hearing with Attorney General Sessions.
HARRIS: I’m asking about the DOJ policy you referred to.
SESSIONS: — Policy that goes beyond just the attorney general.
HARRIS: Is that policy in writing somewhere?
SESSIONS: I think so.
HARRIS: Did you not consult it before you came before this committee knowing we would ask you questions about it?
SESSIONS: We talked about it. The policy —
HARRIS: Did you ask that it be shown to you?
SESSIONS: The policy is based on the principle that the president —
HARRIS: Sir, I’m not asking about the principle.
SESSIONS: I’m unable to answer the questions.
HARRIS: You would rely on that policy; did you not ask your staff to show you the policy that would be the basis for you refusing to answer the majority of questions that have been asked to you —
MCCAIN: The witness should be allowed to answer the question.
BURR: The chair will control the hearing. Senator, let him answer.
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