Rep. Darell Issa (R., Calif.) fired back at Rep. Elijah Cummings (D., Md.) over the ranking member's outburst yesterday at the House Committe on Oversight and Government Reform hearing.
Issa, speaking on The Kelly File, told host Megyn Kelly he was following a script approved by the House parliamentarian and was completely within his rights to cut off the hearing when he did.
The hearing itself was a continuation of a previous hearing from last year where embattled former IRS official Lois Lerner took the Fifth Amendment. Both parties gave opening statements during the beginning of that hearing.
"I followed a script and then Mr. Cummings decided to have quite a hissy fit. The truth is, if he wants to talk I give him lots of time to talk," Issa said.
Moreover, Issa revealed Cummings actually made a request prior to the yesterday's hearing to make another opening statement, which the OGR chairman declined citing the meeting's status as a continuation.
However, the California congressman conceded if he had to do it over again he would have politely sat and listened to Cummings's diatribe.
Full exchange:
MEGYN KELLY: You're irritated. But you're saying anybody would like to do it over again. Do you apologize to Congressman Cummings?
DARRELL ISSA: You know, I broke no rules, and he broke the did he decorum of the House. But I might mention that several years ago Henry Waxman pounded a gavel, and said he would have me removed because I was pointing out that he was breaking the rules. We didn't launch any sort of House attempt and I certainly didn't say he was somehow anti-Arab American. The fact is I did things according to the rules. I followed a script and then Mr. Cummings decided to have quite a hissy fit. The truth is, if he wants to talk I give him lots of chances to talk. We'll have additional hearings on the IRS, Ms. Lerner, he had a chance to speak as much as he wanted to in the vote.
Full interview: