During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) got into an argument over transparency in the Trump administration.
00:00Thank you, Senator Warren. And let me just say, I don't know, there may have been some misunderstanding of the question, but each of these witnesses has already assured that they will cooperate with the Congress and this committee in exercising our legislative and oversight responsibilities,
00:25which makes it important that this committee, its subcommittees, and other appropriate committees receive testimony, briefings, reports, records, and other information from the executive branch on a timely basis.
00:37And each of these witnesses has agreed, if confirmed, to testify before this committee when requested to provide records, documents, electronic communications in a timely manner.
00:50This is something that, Dr. Heninger, you have agreed to before we even began the questions by certain members.
01:03So I hope you understand the importance of that question, and that should give you some satisfaction, Senator Warren.
01:11Actually, I do appreciate the general statement, but lots of people come in here and tell us they're going to be transparent.
01:16In administration after administration, and then we end up with problems, like how much information gets blacked out in the reports, which is the reason that I ask with more specificity than simply asking, will you be transparent and responsive?
01:33So that was the reason for my questions.
01:35Well, and we'll let that statement stand, but I do believe that all of these witnesses have solemnly assured this committee that they're going to cooperate with requests for information and provide us the whole truth.
01:57So thank you very much.
01:58At this point, the chair recognizes Senator Sheehy.
