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A moment that’s been months in the making: SCOTT LLOYD, Trump’s former refugee director, faces House Democrats this morning over family separations. politico.com/story/2019/02/…
Today’s hearing is highly unusual: Two HHS officials on the same panel.
But Lloyd, a Trump appointee, will sit just feet away from a career official who’s accused him of doing too little to prevent family separations.
But Lloyd, a Trump appointee, will sit just feet away from a career official who’s accused him of doing too little to prevent family separations.
Hearing into family separations is underway.
Chair @RepJerryNadler: “When a stranger rips a child from a parent’s arms without any plan to reunify them, it is called kidnapping.”
Chair @RepJerryNadler: “When a stranger rips a child from a parent’s arms without any plan to reunify them, it is called kidnapping.”
On the left — bearded — is SCOTT LLOYD, the Trump appointee.
On the right — in uniform — is JONATHAN WHITE, the career HHS official who opposed him.
Can’t remember the last time two HHS officials were set up to face off like this in front of Congress.
On the right — in uniform — is JONATHAN WHITE, the career HHS official who opposed him.
Can’t remember the last time two HHS officials were set up to face off like this in front of Congress.
Nadler currently pressing border patrol official over why CBP closely tracked prosecution of migrants and enforcement — but not basic details about separated families.
“You did not spend time thinking about tracking separated family members. Is that the proper conclusion?”
“You did not spend time thinking about tracking separated family members. Is that the proper conclusion?”
The ranking Republican, @RepDougCollins, helping provide cover for witnesses.
“I have those same concerns about [how] the process was implemented,” Collins says, but adds that today should be a “proactive hearing” to make border issues better.
“I have those same concerns about [how] the process was implemented,” Collins says, but adds that today should be a “proactive hearing” to make border issues better.
JONATHAN WHITE, the career civil servant, testifies that he repeatedly warned Scott Lloyd — who was his boss last year, and is sitting next to him today — against separating kids.
Lloyd’s response: There was no policy that would result in family separation.
Lloyd’s response: There was no policy that would result in family separation.
SCOTT LLOYD struggles to answer @JacksonLeeTX18’s questions about when he raised concerns about tracking family separations.
Lloyd again struggles to answer questions — these from @RepJayapal about (1) if he was concerned when White warned him about family separations and (2) whether he prepared the refugee office at all.
“I never directed anybody to not plan,” Lloyd said.
“I never directed anybody to not plan,” Lloyd said.
Incredible exchange.
@RepJayapal: “Did you ever say to the administration, this is a bad idea, this is what my child welfare experts have told us, we need to stop this policy? Did you once say that to anybody above you?”
LLOYD: “I did not say those words.”
@RepJayapal: “Did you ever say to the administration, this is a bad idea, this is what my child welfare experts have told us, we need to stop this policy? Did you once say that to anybody above you?”
LLOYD: “I did not say those words.”
Our update on today’s hearing on family separations — which is still ongoing. politico.com/story/2019/02/…
Lloyd repeatedly struggled to explain what, if anything, he did to stop the family separation policy.
Here’s Rep. Sylvia Garcia (@LaCongresista) asking him the question again.
Here’s Rep. Sylvia Garcia (@LaCongresista) asking him the question again.
One striking exchange came late in the day with Rep. Madeleine Dean, @mad4pa, who pressed on Lloyd’s personal efforts to block abortions.
Dean: “It’s a yes or no… did you track” menstrual cycles of refugee women?
Lloyd: “I don’t have a yes or no answer for that question.”
Dean: “It’s a yes or no… did you track” menstrual cycles of refugee women?
Lloyd: “I don’t have a yes or no answer for that question.”
Rep. Dean, @mad4pa, was correct that Lloyd tracked the women’s menstrual cycles.
Here’s Lloyd’s own ACLU deposition, in December 2017, where he acknowledged creating a pregnancy tracker and asking for updates. aclu.org/sites/default/…
Here’s Lloyd’s own ACLU deposition, in December 2017, where he acknowledged creating a pregnancy tracker and asking for updates. aclu.org/sites/default/…
Lloyd also said a claim he dissuaded staff from keeping a spreadsheet of separated families, reported by POLITICO in October, was “incorrect” but didn’t specify why. politico.com/story/2018/10/…
(HHS didn’t dispute the report at the time and hasn’t yet responded to questions today.)
(HHS didn’t dispute the report at the time and hasn’t yet responded to questions today.)
An @OIGatHHS audit described the informal spreadsheet that concerned staff — like Jonathan White — were keeping. oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oe…
Staff said Lloyd told them to stop keeping the spreadsheet once family separations began attracting media attention, sources tell me today.
Staff said Lloyd told them to stop keeping the spreadsheet once family separations began attracting media attention, sources tell me today.
Democrats also grilled other officials about family separations.
Rep. @tedlieu played audio of a 17-month-old baby — separated from her mom for a month *this year* — and asked why ICE reportedly requested $4,000 in transport costs. The ICE official denied knowledge of the case.
Rep. @tedlieu played audio of a 17-month-old baby — separated from her mom for a month *this year* — and asked why ICE reportedly requested $4,000 in transport costs. The ICE official denied knowledge of the case.
