Rashida Tlaib blames Mark Meadows for using black woman as "accessory" at hearing

Oppositions between Progressive Rashida Tlaib and Conservative Mark Meadows on Wednesday broke out after the first-year Democrat denounced an attempt by Meadows to use a black administration employee as an "accessory" to prove that President Donald Trump was not racist at a hearing..

During the long-awaited hearing of the House Oversight Committee with Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney accused the president of making racist remarks about African Americans. In turn, Meadows asked Lynne Patton, a Housing and Urban Development staff member, to appear before the committee to disprove Trump's racism.

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According to Meadows (CR), Patton had stated that it was "absolutely impossible for her to work for a racist individual".

The Democratic members condemned this measure, which described it as symbolic and nothing refuted. But tensions particularly exploded when Tlaib (D-Mich.) Called the movement racist.

"It's not because someone has a person of color, a black person who works for her does not mean that she's not racist," Tlaib said. "And he's insensitive to what some would even say – that some would use an accessory, a black woman sitting on this committee floor is racist on its own."

Meadows immediately replied, asking Tlaib to request that her comments be removed from the record.

"Mr. President, I ask that his words be noted!" Meadows said, calling on President Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Who is black. "The rules are clear!"

Meadows appealed to Cummings, saying his record shows his commitment to fighting racism.

"Mr. President, you and I have a personal relationship that is not based on color!" Meadows said.

Cummings asked Tlaib to clarify her comments if she intended to specifically qualify Meadows as a racist, to which she responded that it was not her intention.

"You're one of my best friends," Cummings told Meadows. "And I can see and feel your pain, and I do not think Mrs. Tlaib wanted to cause you that kind of pain."

Tlaib apologized to Meadows, saying his intention was not to call him racist.

"As everyone knows in this chamber, I'm pretty direct," said Tlaib. "So if I wanted to say that, I'd have it."