Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) threw out Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) from a committee hearing regarding U.S.-Cuba relations, saying she spread “communist propaganda.”
On Thursday, the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee convened to discuss U.S. policy regarding Cuba. Salazar, who chairs the committee, has condemned Cuba over humanitarian abuses in the country.
Lee, who is not a member of the subcommittee, attempted to speak during the meeting but was swiftly shut down by Salazar. The California lawmaker accused Salazar of silencing her in a way similar to what the Cuban government does to political dissidents.
The confrontation led to a tense moment between Salazar and Lee, along with her Democratic allies.
“I was just kicked out of a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on Cuba policy because the Republican Chair didn’t like my views,” Lee wrote her followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, attached with a video of the meeting.
“I’d share the livestream, but Republicans cut out the sound when I stood up to defend myself
& call them out,” she added. Lee has previously called for normalized relationships with the government in Havana following the death of Fidel Castro.
Watch the confrontation below:
Salazar responded to Lee’s complaints online by stating she was thrown out for spreading “communist propaganda” by calling for peaceful relations with Cuba.
“Today, I exercised my authority as Subcommittee Chairwoman to not allow an off-Committee Member to spread communist propaganda during my Cuba hearing,” Salazar wrote. “Members are not entitled to join any Committee proceedings without full consent of the Committee Members.”
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