Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo showed little patience for a Democratic senator’s “outrageous” question regarding President Trump’s tax returns.
In his question to Pompeo, Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) insinuated that Trump had “conflicts of interest” between American foreign policy and his own business dealings.
“Given that the president refuses to disclose his tax returns, how can you assure the American people that American foreign policy is free of his personal conflicts of interest?” Udall asked.
Clearly annoyed, Pompeo replied, “Senator, I find that question bizarre.”
“You don’t want to answer it then?” Udall objected. “You want to describe it as bizarre and not give me an answer?”
“Yes, I do!” Pompeo snapped. “I think that’s indicative of my answer, senator. I’ve been incredibly involved in this administration’s foreign policy now for some 16 months and I’ve seen literally no evidence of what you are scurrilously — SCURRILOUSLY suggesting.”
“It is an outrageous suggestion,” Pompeo added.
On the defensive, Udall argued that the issue of Trump’s business interests abroad has been “raised by a number people out there.”
The secretary laughed derisively. “Yes, sir it has. Want me to tell you who those folks are and what their political interests are?”
“Oh I know, it’s FAKE NEWS,” Udall shot back — which was probably the only thing he’s gotten right in a long time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKUwR_8cNCs
Join the conversation as a VIP Member