(John Ransom, Headline USA) Tempers flared between Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, during testimony in the Supreme Court confirmation case of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.
As Cruz was trying to get an answer about Jackson’s repeated leniency in cases of sentencing for child pornography, Durbin continually interrupted Cruz, even telling Jackson that she didn’t have to answer Cruz’s questions, reported the New York Post.
Claiming that Cruz had used up his allotment of 20 minutes, Durbin told Cruz he was no longer recognized by the chair.
“You’re not recognized, senator,” Durbin told Cruz, according to Business Insider.
“Do you not want her to answer that question?” Cruz snapped at Durbin.
“You wouldn’t allow her anyway,” Durbin said. “You’ve gone over the time, senator, by two minutes and a half.”
Cruz then claimed that Durbin’s interruptions had cost him at least the two minutes that Durbin had claimed Cruz exceeded.
The Democrats have responded to claims that Brown is soft on child pornography by saying that other judges are soft on child porn cases too.
“The White House’s whataboutist response to Judge Jackson’s very real record in child pornography cases is dismissive, dangerous, and offensive,” tweeted Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee. “We need real answers.”
Cruz grew visibly upset as it appeared that Durbin would not allow Jackson to answer Cruz’s question.
“Will you allow her to answer the question or do you not want the American people to hear why with someone she described as an egregious…” Cruz said before Durbin cut him off.
“Why do you not want the American people to know what happened in the Stewart case? Or any of these cases?” Cruz said.
“Chairman Durbin, I’ve never seen the chairman refuse to allow a witness to answer a question,” Cruz continued, as Durbin pounded the gavel several more times.
“You can bang it as loud as you want,” Cruz said.
