Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Jussie Smollett were both trending on X after the former claimed a “white guy” had stopped her from getting on the ‘members-only’ elevator in the Capitol building.
Lee made the comments during an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. She began by asserting that “institutional racism is in the DNA of this country.”
She then pivoted to a story that she claimed is an example of “personal racism” she had suffered as a member of Congress.
“I was walking … to the Capitol and a man, a white guy, stopped me and told me I could not get into the members’ elevator,” she claimed without evidence.
“And he blocked me from getting into the elevator and told me I was not a member of Congress and it was for members only. I said, ‘Sir, I’m a member of Congress,'” she continued. “And I showed him my pin and he said, ‘Whose pin did you steal?'”
Rep. Barbara Lee: “I was walking to the Capitol and a man stopped me, a white guy, and told me I could not get into the members’ elevator…He told me it was for members only. I said, 'Sir, I’m a member of Congress' and showed him my pin. And he said, 'Whose pin did you steal?'" pic.twitter.com/RGhOpfTMjM
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 19, 2024
RELATED: Jussie Smollett Likely Heading Back To Prison As Conviction Is Upheld By Illinois Appeals Court
People Were Skeptical Of Barbara Lee’s Claim
Now, as far as we know, Barbara Lee didn’t embellish her story with a mention that she was heading to Subway at 2 am in a -20-degree windchill when a “white guy” suddenly yelled, “This is MAGA country!”
But it kind of felt like she was one step away from doing so. And social media users on X noticed, with Jussie Smollett trending alongside the congresswoman.
“I’m gonna go with this never actually happened. How very Jussie Smollett of you,” one person wrote.
Conservative documentary filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza noted that Lee’s story “has that Jussie Smollett ring of inauthenticity” and added that Collins’ “uncritical reaction adds to the atmosphere of political fakery.”
I don’t believe this story. It has that Jussie Smollett ring of inauthenticity. Kaitlin Collins’ uncritical reaction adds to the atmosphere of political fakery. This fanciful tale might have worked in the past but now we are on to the lies. https://t.co/6FflP7OYaq
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) January 19, 2024
Others suggested that had the incident actually taken place, it’s highly unlikely that Lee wouldn’t report it to somebody in the building and even less likely that they wouldn’t be able to pull video of the exchange.
In order to access members’ elevators, one needs to get through various security checkpoints with a staff I.D. or Members’ pin, so it should be easy to root out the alleged racist. It’s someone who works at the Capitol.
If this actually happened, it's awful. But if it didn't actually happen, it's even more awful.
— Erich Hartmann (@erichhartmann) January 19, 2024
Easy solve: there are tapes. Let's all watch them.
RELATED: AOC Tears Up Having To Relive January 6 Footage: ‘I Am So Angry’
Lee Tried To Crash A Congressional Hearing
When she’s not channeling her inner Jussie Smollett, Barbara Lee is busy channeling her inner Hunter Biden. No, not ‘crackhead’ Hunter. ‘Crashing congressional hearings for attention’ Hunter.
Lee tried to disrupt the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, only to be turned away by Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL).
“Today, I exercised my authority as Subcommittee Chairwoman to not allow an off-Committee Member to spread communist propaganda during my Cuba hearing,” Salazar wrote on X. “Members are not entitled to join any Committee proceedings without full consent of the Committee Members.”
Today, I exercised my authority as Subcommittee Chairwoman to not allow an off-Committee Member to spread communist propaganda during my Cuba hearing.
— Rep. María Elvira Salazar (@RepMariaSalazar) January 18, 2024
Members are not entitled to join any Committee proceedings without full consent of the Committee Members.
Lee posted video of her getting the boot after she tried to interrupt official congressional business or, as some have called it, staged an insurrection.
I was just kicked out of a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on Cuba policy because the Republican Chair didn’t like my views.
— Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) January 18, 2024
I’d share the livestream, but Republicans cut out the sound when I stood up to defend myself & call them out. pic.twitter.com/eqV1ymor9j
The committee hearing was called to discuss the Biden administration’s lenient policies on Cuba.
Lee has been a noted sympathizer of the late Cuban dictator, Fidel Castro. The congresswoman took the occasion of his death to praise Castro, calling him a global leader who deserves to be mourned.
“We need to stop and pause and mourn his loss,” she said, adding he was a “smart man” who “led a revolution in Cuba that led social improvements for his people.”