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.
