'Do You Support The Release Of The Epstein Files?': Yassmin Ansari Has Epic Clash With GOP's Witness

Forbes Breaking News

At today's House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Rep. Yassmin Ansari (D-AZ) grilled the Republicans' witness, Mike Howell, President of the Oversight Project.

Transcript

00:00Ms. Asari. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I really appreciate the opportunity to wave on to the

00:05Homeland Security Committee today to speak on an issue that's critically important to my district

00:10in Arizona. I represent one of the most diverse districts in the entire country where more than

00:1564 languages are spoken. And first of all, I want to emphasize how vital and life-saving the work

00:22of NGOs like Catholic Charities, like the International Rescue Committee, and like

00:26Lutheran Social Services has been to constituents in my district. They work day in and day out with

00:33very little resources to serve people. The Trump administration's mass deportation policy has

00:39demonstrably failed our nation and our values. According to a recent Gallup poll, a 62%

00:46margin of folks disapprove of the Trump administration's ineffective, authoritarian,

00:52and inhumane immigration policies. I have seen the cruel policies of this administration

00:58firsthand in my district. Separating families, masked ICE agents showing up to immigration courts

01:05in downtown Phoenix where people had appointments, ripping people away from their families. Detainees

01:11in inhumane conditions. This includes docker recipients. This includes green card holders.

01:16This includes U.S. citizens. And deporting innocent people without due process to foreign prisons.

01:23It is unconscionable. About one month ago, I went to the Eloy detention facility about an hour outside

01:28of my district in Phoenix. I spoke with more than a dozen women there who were desperate, devastated

01:36about the conditions that they're living in, facing significant harassment. They described

01:41a situation where one of the staff members literally forced them outside to march outside

01:47in 110 degree Arizona heat, marching around for over two hours, yelling at them, quote,

01:54this is the price of the American dream. This is disgusting. And when we're talking about well-being

02:00of citizens, even if you believe that these people should not be in the United States, it is embarrassing

02:05that our country would be treating any human being like that. So Mr. Howell, I have a couple of

02:11questions for you. Very straightforward, yes or no. Do you support this type of treatment of human

02:16beings? I'm sorry, I wasn't listening. All the other Democrats haven't asked a question, so I kind of

02:20wasn't paying attention. Can you restate it? Okay. The detention center facility conditions in this

02:28country are atrocious. Women are being harassed. They're being dehumanized. In Arizona, they were forced

02:33to march outside in 120 degree heat until somebody fainted. I have visited these detention centers as part of

02:40my oversight responsibilities. I know you're a big fan of oversight. Do you think that is acceptable

02:45treatment of human beings by the United States of America? For illegal aliens to be detained

02:49throughout their immigration proceedings? Yes, I think it's the law. To be treated in that way. I'm not

02:52taking your word for it. Okay. On top of that, 17 million Americans were just cut off of health care

03:01thanks to the vote of all of the Republican colleagues over here. Meanwhile, Republicans just gave more money

03:07to ICE and DHS to the tune of $170 billion. It's now one of the largest funded agencies in the world,

03:14about 16th or 17th in terms of what a military would look like for other countries. Again, you talked about

03:20the importance of oversight, Mr. Howell. Do you believe that members of Congress are legally allowed

03:25to conduct oversight of ICE detention facilities? As we've written extensively, the oversight project,

03:29because we're trying to help keep your colleagues out of jail, like Representative McIver,

03:33who was indicted. I misspoke when I said she was arrested. You, as an individual member, do not

03:37have oversight authority. Oversight authority by the rules of the House flows through the full House

03:42to the Chairman, and that right now is held by the majority. So despite the statute that you cite,

03:48it's going to end up with more Democrats clogging our jails. I want to keep you out of jail.

03:52I'm reclaiming my time. Thank you. It is actually legal for members of Congress to go

03:56to detention center facilities that are operated by our government and to conduct oversight. That

04:01actually is legally allowed. That is incorrect. We also know that the Trump administration is

04:06funneling billions and billions of dollars to private for-profit prisons. I heard today a number

04:11of six billion to NGOs that you all are so concerned about. The private prison companies in this country,

04:17like CoreCivic and GeoGroup, are making billions of dollars in profits because of the massive

04:21and stunning corruption. They gave billions of dollars to elect Donald Trump. Now we're making sure

04:28that they make billions of dollars. And speaking of sheer corruption and cover-ups for the ultra

04:33wealthy, Mr. Howell, I know you have spent quite a lot of time talking about the importance of

04:37releasing the Epstein files, but now you're kind of parroting Trump talking points about this being

04:42a Democratic hoax. I'm wondering if yes or no... What did I say? Do you support the...

04:46What if I parroted about it being a hoax? It's a yes or no. Do you support...

04:49No, it's not. You said something false. I'm asking you to cite what you said,

04:52which is clearly false because I've not said what you said.

04:54Mr. Howell, my question is, do you support the public release of the Epstein files?

04:58My answer is written in the op-ed in the blaze which you can read.

05:01It's a yes or no. Yes or no. Listen, ma'am, I am trying to answer your question.

05:03You are lying to the American people. I'm asking you a question.

05:06And you're mischievous. You just told a lie in this committee room.

05:08Mr. Howell, do you... I'm trying to clear up the record.

05:10It's very simple. I am trying to answer if you let me speak.

05:13Okay. Do you support it? I think the public deserves way more transparency than we've got.

05:16I've written that. You've accused me of parroting another talking point...

05:18It would be wonderful. ...which I have not. Bring the receipts.

05:21You're lying, and everybody knows it. Mr. Howell, I...

05:23The gentleman will suspend.

05:26The gentlelady's time has...

05:27Did they answer no question?

05:28The gentlelady's time has expired.

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