Ben Carson Throws Wife Under The Bus Before House Cmte: She’s Responsible For $31K Dining Set

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson has been getting some heat for his new dining set with a $31,000 price tag.

His response? It wasn’t me.

At a Congressional hearing Tuesday, Carson claimed his wife chose the color and the style, ultimately choosing the expensive table. In comments flagged CBS reporter Katie Watson, Carson said the final decision was left up to her.

Ben Carson on that $31,000 dining set: ”I left it with my wife…the next thing I …heard …was this $31,000 thousand dollar table had been bought.”

— Katie Watson (@kathrynw5) March 20, 2018

Carson also said he wasn’t aware of the cost until it emerged in the news. “I have many much more important things to deal with,” he said during the hearing.

HUD has also deflected the blame with a similar response, saying Ms. Carson took part in the selection process.

Official HUD response hasn’t been so different. When I pointed out to a spox that it appeared the secretary had been involved, given the emails, the response was, “When presented with options by professional staff, Mrs. Carson participated in the selection of specific styles.”

— Katie Watson (@kathrynw5) March 20, 2018

Despite Carson’s blame game, emails dating back to August show both he and his wife chose the table, according to a message to his assistant referring to “printouts of the furniture the Secretary and Mrs. Carson picked out,” CNN reported.

Carson has already defended the purchase, arguing it was worth it because the table bought for his White House office could last for up to 100 years, Axios reported.

The controversy comes as HUD is already seeing major budget cuts, leading many to question why such an expensive purchase would be allowed.

Watch above, via C-SPAN.

[image via screengrab]

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