Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) ejected Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) from a House committee hearing on US-Cuba relations, accusing Lee of spreading “communist propaganda.”
Rep. Lee wrote, “I was just kicked out of a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on Cuba policy because the Republican Chair didn’t like my views.”
“I’d share the livestream, but Republicans cut out the sound when I stood up to defend myself & call them out,” claimed Lee.
I was just kicked out of a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on Cuba policy because the Republican Chair didn’t like my views.
I’d share the livestream, but Republicans cut out the sound when I stood up to defend myself & call them out. pic.twitter.com/eqV1ymor9j
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 18, 2024
Salazar, a Cuban-American, defended her action by stating that Lee, a non-member, was not entitled to speak without the committee’s consent.
Rep. Salazar explained, “Today, I exercised my authority as Subcommittee Chairwoman to not allow an off-Committee Member to spread communist propaganda during my Cuba hearing.”
“Members are not entitled to join any Committee proceedings without full consent of the Committee Members,” she continued.
Today, I exercised my authority as Subcommittee Chairwoman to not allow an off-Committee Member to spread communist propaganda during my Cuba hearing.
Members are not entitled to join any Committee proceedings without full consent of the Committee Members.
— Rep. María Elvira Salazar (@RepMariaSalazar) January 18, 2024
Lee, a proponent of normalizing US-Cuba relations, argued that she was silenced and that Salazar’s actions undermined democratic principles.
Rep. Salazar said, “Barbara Lee tried to disrupt an important discussion about the Biden Administration’s lenient policies toward the Cuban regime.”
“Barbara Lee is a communist sympathizer who was a personal friend to Fidel Castro, has visited Cuba 21 times, and has been a mouthpiece for the Cuban Regime since 1977,” continued Salazar.
Lee claimed, “She’s trying to silence me.”
“And what her move was today demonstrated that she really doesn’t believe in democracy. She believes in only her point of view; she does not believe in the inclusion of different points of views when we talk about Cuban policy,” alleged the lawmaker.
The incident underscores the ongoing debate over US-Cuba policy, with Salazar advocating for a tough stance and Lee pushing for normalization and an end to the embargo.
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