WATCH: Did A GOP Rep Just Wink At Planned Parenthood’s President?

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When Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) addressed Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, he had some strong words for her.

“It’s not always what you say,” Gowdy said, “it’s sometimes just what you mean.”

As he spoke, he nodded and blinked his right eye.

Was it a wink?

NBC News producer and reporter Frank Thorp V certainly thought so, and he posted a video to Vine showing a close-up view of Gowdy speaking. The video had this caption: “Rep Trey Gowdy (R-SC) winks at Planned Parenthood Pres Cecile Richards during today’s Hse Oversight Cmte hearing.”

Richards was testifying before the House Oversight Committee, which began investigating the organization after sting videos were released by an anti-abortion group that allegedly showed Planned Parenthood executives discussing the sale of fetal tissue.

In the hearing, Richards was repeatedly interrupted by the committee’s chairman, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT).

While speaking to Gowdy, Richards had said that Planned Parenthood trusted women “to make their decisions about their pregnancies.”

“I appreciate the way you like to frame the issue — that you’re the reasonable one and those of us who have a contrary position are not reasonable,” Gowdy said. “That’s exactly the last answer you gave.”

Richards pushed back on Gowdy’s comment.

“Those are not the words I said,” Richards said.

“It’s not always what you say, it’s sometimes just what you mean,” Gowdy said.

Gowdy’s office didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

Watch video of the full exchange below:

This post has been updated.

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Notable Replies

  1. Despite calling her a “filthy little Mudblood,” Draco Malfoy has always secretly lusted after the powerfully articulate and independent-minded Hermione.

  2. Hey, it’s not what his eyelid did, it’s what it meant.

  3. So telling that Republicans accuse everyone else of not “saying what they really mean”.

  4. Oh, now I get it. This whole kertuffle with Planned Parenthood is really about guys like Trey Gowdy feeling insecure about how unreasonable they appear to everyone else, especially towards women.

  5. That man´s even uglier on the inside than he is on the outside.

    Which is saying something.

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