UPDATED 4:30 P.M.: This post originally stated that Kelly told Tester his line of questioning was "BS," but Kelly was actually performing an imaginary conversation as Tester speaking to Russians trying to set up a backchannel for him.
Sen. Jon Tester (D., Mont.) on Tuesday asked Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly about reported attempts by President Donald Trump's adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to set up a backchannel between the Trump transition team and Russia.
Kelly said backchannels were normal for a presidential administration and that lawmakers should assume Kushner is a "great American." Tester implied, however, that the situation was different because Russia is "our foe." He asked Kelly if he would approve of Tester setting up his own backchannel, and Kelly re-enacted a conversation Tester might have with Russians.
"Let me tell you something," Kelly said, pretending to be Tester. "As a senator of the great state of Montana and a member of these committees, this is BS what you're doing, and you better stop it or whatever."
