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House Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast (R-FL) scolded Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), ranking member on the committee, over Meek’s claim that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has avoided testifying before Congress on the Iran war.
During a Wednesday House hearing, Meeks pressed United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz on increased costs amid the ongoing war and plans to end the conflict. He took a shot at Rubio and accused him of presenting no plan to Congress.
“He’s coming back now asking the Senate and he’ll be asking the House about $300 billion more. He’s not come to Congress. He has not talked about and talked with us on how we end this war,” Meeks said.
Waltz jumped in to note that Rubio has discussed the war with congressional members.
“Secretary Rubio has been before Congress,” Waltz said, noting Rubio has been to the Capitol for hearings.
Rubio appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the House Appropriations Subcommittee, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee in early June.
Meeks, who is the former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, claimed Rubio “has not answered the questions.”
“I’m taking advantage of everybody that is coming here because unfortunately there’s been no oversight in this committee and you have been the face of this war at the UN, sir,” the lawmaker said.
Mast then jumped in to put Meeks on blast, accusing him of forgetting Rubio’s testimony because the NYC congressman left the hearing halfway through.
“You may not recall the oversight of Secretary Rubio just about a month ago, because you left halfway through and never came back, so maybe you forgot about it. That might make sense,” Mast told Meeks.
“I did not, he has not, have we had — he came here—” Meeks began as Mast continued.
“You probably don’t remember because you missed half of it,” the chair said.
“I didn’t miss half of it. I could see it in my office. You don’t know what I missed,” Meeks fired back.
“I know what you missed. I know you weren’t sitting here next to the rest of us,” Mast said.
“I know we have not had any hearings in Oversight. I know that,” Meeks said.
Mast took another shot before moving on, thanking Meeks for attending a classified briefing.
“Also, I would thank you for attending Monday’s classified briefing. I think it might have been the first one you attended, so thank you for attending that,” he said.
Watch above via CSPAN.
The post GOP House Chair Scolds Dem Accusing Rubio of Not Testifying on Iran: ‘Probably Don’t Remember It Because You Missed Half’ first appeared on Mediaite.
