Senators Clash in Heated Debate during Classified Border Briefing
Senators engage in a fiery clash during a classified briefing on Ukraine, with heated exchanges centering on border security The tense meeting fails to bridge the Senate's impasse on including stricter immigration measures in the essential aid package
The classified briefing on Ukraine on Tuesday turned into a heated argument about border security, with senators describing a tense meeting that did little to resolve the Senate's deadlock on whether to include stricter immigration policies in the aid package.
Republican senators have warned that they are willing to vote against advancing a $100 billion supplemental national security package unless it includes significant border policy changes, raising doubts about whether the aid will be passed this year.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recounted the events, stating that the disagreement over the border issue began when Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, asked GOP Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma to give a presentation on the border instead of posing a question about Ukraine to the briefers.
Schumer stated, "Leader McConnell immediately took over the conversation. Instead of asking our panelists a question, he instructed Lankford to speak for five minutes about the border negotiations. When I suggested that they could propose an amendment to make progress on the border issue, they were resistant and unwilling to consider it."
Schumer noted that even one person in the room had been disrespectful, yelling at a general and challenging him about why they hadn't gone to the border. A source in the room informed CNN that Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas was the one shouting.
Cotton denied being one of the people who shouted, explaining that he confronted Chuck Schumer for lying about the Republicans' involvement in the border security debate. He also clarified that it was Joe Biden who included the border provisions in the supplemental bill. Cotton added that Schumer made the mistake of spreading lies right after he was given a microphone.
Cotton also stated that the briefers declined to address any questions regarding the border crisis or potential solutions, despite the briefing being labeled as focused on the supplemental by Chuck Schumer's office. A spokesperson for Cotton clarified that the senator targeted his criticism towards Schumer, rather than a general or an administration briefer in attendance.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a GOP senator from South Carolina, acknowledged that there was initial tension in the room because the topic of the border was not being discussed. He emphasized that it is widely recognized among Republicans that there is a need to address the issue of the broken border, regardless of whether or not one is tuned in to television news.
Lankford, a key negotiator on the border policy measures for the national security package, expressed to CNN that the absence of anyone from the Department of Homeland Security at the briefing was a glaring issue.
"There was no presence from DHS," Lankford stated. "It was clearly a significant oversight on the part of the administration, considering that the second-largest element in the supplemental request is for the border. Despite this, there seemed to be a lack of interest in addressing the issue."
Republican senators criticized the briefing, arguing that the briefers were not presenting any new or publicly unavailable information. Some even left early, with Senator Kevin Cramer stating, "People got up and walked out because this is a waste of time. They just said, 'This isn't worth it, this is a joke, you're not serious about this, I'm going.' And I don't blame them." He also expressed concern that the Republican Party seemed willing to prioritize open borders over support for Ukraine and Israel.
Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, criticized the briefing, calling it a futile exercise. "We are committed to assisting Ukraine and Israel, but we need the Democrats to acknowledge that the trade-off is securing the border," Romney stated. "They are not willing to do so. Therefore, Republicans are leaving the briefing because the participants are not prepared to engage in discussions necessary to reach an agreement."
Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, expressed that his fellow GOP members were eager to prioritize the border during the briefing and were disappointed by the lack of discourse on the issue.
" I have no power over (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. I cannot influence the actions of (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky. However, we do have the ability to manage our southern border. Therefore, let's focus on what we can actually control," Marshall stated.
Schumer announced plans to proceed with a procedural vote on the president's supplemental package on Wednesday, even though Republicans have promised to oppose it. Earlier on Tuesday, Schumer stated that Republicans are welcome to propose a border security package as an amendment, and if it can secure 11 Democratic votes, it will be approved. "They have a great chance to introduce a border plan if they want to," Schumer stated.
Additionally, Zelensky did not fulfill his promise to appear via video feed, and multiple senators expressed frustration at not receiving an explanation for his absence.
Following the briefing, Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, informed reporters that emotions were running high.
"Emotions are intense, but we are in a significant moment," Warner stated. "Intelligence reports have indicated for months that Putin believes he can wait out the West and America, and what I can't comprehend from some of my colleagues is whether we are willing to validate his confidence. The long-lasting impact of abandoning Ukraine at this juncture would leave a lasting scar on our country for years to come. Who would have faith in our alliances again? I urge everyone to pause for a moment and reconsider."
