SENATOR LEAHY: Did Trump say shitholes or "a substantially similar word" to describe certain countries?
DHS SECRETARY NIELSEN (under oath): "I did not hear that word used, no sir."
DHS SECRETARY NIELSEN (under oath): "I did not hear that word used, no sir."
LEAHY: Did Trump say "anything similar" to shithole to describe some countries?
NIELSEN: "The conversation was very impassioned. I don't dispute that the president was using tough language. Others in the room were also using tough language."
NIELSEN: "The conversation was very impassioned. I don't dispute that the president was using tough language. Others in the room were also using tough language."
LEAHY: "We're talking about a wall the length of our country."
NIELSEN: "We're not. The president has made that clear."
Sounds like the DHS secretary is saying Trump no longer wants a full concrete wall all across the southern border?
NIELSEN: "We're not. The president has made that clear."
Sounds like the DHS secretary is saying Trump no longer wants a full concrete wall all across the southern border?
DURBIN: How did President Trump characterize those countries in Africa?
NIELSEN: "I don't specifically remember a categorization of countries in Africa."
NIELSEN: "I don't specifically remember a categorization of countries in Africa."
Durbin asks Nielsen what Trump said about immigration from Norway:
"In general, I just heard him giving compliments to Norway," she says.
"In general, I just heard him giving compliments to Norway," she says.
Durbin is still pressing DHS Secretary Nielsen on "shithole countries":
"I remember specific cuss words being used by a variety of members," she says.
"I remember specific cuss words being used by a variety of members," she says.
Thom Tillis chimes in on the infamous White House meeting: "I'm glad I missed that meeting in the latter part of the week."
KLOBUCHAR: Is it possible Trump said the word (shithole) and you didn't hear it?
DHS SECRETARY NIELSEN: "Anything is possible, yes ma'am."
KLOBUCHAR: Did you hear him say shithouse?
NIELSEN: "No, I did not."
KLOBUCHAR: Might he have said it?
NIELSEN: "Again, it's possible."
DHS SECRETARY NIELSEN: "Anything is possible, yes ma'am."
KLOBUCHAR: Did you hear him say shithouse?
NIELSEN: "No, I did not."
KLOBUCHAR: Might he have said it?
NIELSEN: "Again, it's possible."
SENATOR BLUMENTHAL: Do you believe the Bob Mueller investigation is necessary and appropriate?
DHS SECRETARY NIELSEN: "It's — yes, sir."
BLUMENTHAL: And should be protected from political interference?
NIELSEN: "On all sides, yes."
DHS SECRETARY NIELSEN: "It's — yes, sir."
BLUMENTHAL: And should be protected from political interference?
NIELSEN: "On all sides, yes."
Cory Booker goes off on DHS Secretary Nielsen over shithole/shithouse:
"I've been in the Oval Office many times. And when the commander in chief speaks I listen. I don't have amnesia on conversations I had in the Oval Office going back months and months and months."
"I've been in the Oval Office many times. And when the commander in chief speaks I listen. I don't have amnesia on conversations I had in the Oval Office going back months and months and months."
Lindsey Graham demands to know what happened last Thursday between 10a—when he said Trump was warm to his DACA deal—and 12p when things fell apart.
Lindsey Graham: "This has turned into a s---show."
Helluva contrast at this Senate hearing between the Democrats who are rumored presidential contenders and the Democrats who are not.
The U.S. homeland security chief says she can't recall if the president said shithole or shithouse, but it's "possible" he said one or both.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Dick Durbin thinks Stephen Miller was behind the scuttling of the Senate DACA deal. bloomberg.com/news/articles/… 
Solid @AP photo that captures Cory Booker's questioning of DHS Secretary Nielsen. bloomberg.com/news/articles/… 
