Hearing Presses Officials on “Domestic Terrorism” Claim (Full Transcript)
[00:00:00] Speaker 1: When Secretary Nome said he was committing, quote, an act of domestic terrorism, are you the ones that told her that? No, sir. No, sir. Did anyone who reports to either of you provide this assessment to Secretary Nome that this was mass casualty, or he was attempting to inflict mass casualties and domestic terrorism? Did someone in your staff tell her that?
[00:00:21] Speaker 2: Not to my knowledge, sir.
[00:00:23] Speaker 1: So why would Secretary Nome, why would she tell the public that this was an act of domestic terrorism right in the heat of the moment? How would she possibly come to that kind of conclusion to tell the American public that when they're watching this video?
[00:00:38] Speaker 3: I can't speculate on what someone else would say or why, sir.
[00:00:42] Speaker 1: Mr. Lyons? Sir, I can't speculate to what the Secretary thought at that time, sir.
- A lawmaker seeks to identify who characterized the incident as domestic terrorism and mass-casualty intent.
- Officials state they did not, to their knowledge, provide that assessment to the Secretary.
- Witnesses repeatedly refuse to speculate about the Secretary’s thinking or motives in making the statement.
- The exchange highlights tension over messaging accuracy during rapidly unfolding events.