Sen. Booker Fiercely Grills Pompeo on Anti-Muslim Pals, Gay Marriage: ‘Is Being Gay a Perversion?’
Sen. Corey Booker on Thursday grilled Mike Pompeo, President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, over his ties to anti-Muslim media figures as well as his opposition to gay marriage.
The New Jersey senator started off his questioning at Pompeo’s Senate confirmation hearing gently enough, asking about his previous comments disparaging religions other than his own. Pompeo defended his record, promising he will treat people of all faiths “with the dignity and respect that they deserve.”
Booker moved on to asking about Pompeo’s comments that Muslim Americans have a “special obligation” to speak out about suspicious activity, and if they don’t are “complicit” in terrorism.
And then came the affiliations: Booker grilled Pompeo on his relationship with radio host Frank Gaffney — the anti-Muslim conspiracist whose show Pompeo has appeared on multiple times — and Brigitte Gabriel — founder of an anti-Muslim organization deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
He challenged Pompeo for not standing up to those figures in his interactions with them, before moving on to Pompeo’s comments on gay relationships and opposition to gay marriage.
“Is being gay a perversion?” Booker asked.
“Senator, when I was a politician I had a very clear view on whether it was appropriate for two same sex persons to marry, I stand by that,” Pompeo replied.
“So you do not believe it’s appropriate for two gay people to marry?” Booker pressed.
“Senator, I continue to hold that view,” Pompeo confirmed.
“You believe that gay sex is a perversion?” Booker asked. “Yes or no?”
Booker continued to grill Pompeo on this point, but the secretary of state nominee refused to answer.
Watch above, via CNN.
[image via screengrab]
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