GOP Rep Who Pushed Big Lie Gets Into Testy Exchange When Grilled On Biden’s Win

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: Representative Lee Zeldin, (R-NY) right, speaks during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on September 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. The hearing is investigating the firing of St... WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 16: Representative Lee Zeldin, (R-NY) right, speaks during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on September 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. The hearing is investigating the firing of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) repeatedly pushed back on Politico reporters on Thursday when they asked whether he could unequivocally state that President Biden won the 2020 election.

Politico reporter Ryan Lizza first noted that readers of the news outlet requested that they ask Zeldin their burning question, given Zeldin’s vote against certifying Joe Biden’s electoral victory amid pushing former President Trump’s election fraud falsehoods.

“Yeah, Joe Biden’s the president of the United States,” Zeldin said. “And that’s how …”

Lizza interjected to ask Zeldin: “is or won?” Lizza attempted to circle back to his question of whether Zeldin could definitively say that Biden legitimately won the election.

“Yes, and then I went on to continue an answer,” Zeldin said. “If you would like to give my answer for me, you can go ahead and do that. But I thought I was going to be here to answer my own questions.”

The interview grew more tense after Lizza once again asked Zeldin if Biden won the presidency. Zeldin accused Lizza of having an “agenda.”

“You’re asking me now for a third time, and I’ve said yes twice. So, I don’t know how many more times you want me to say yes and what your agenda is,” Zeldin said. “But, really, it’s a bit ridiculous to be asking me a third time. But please, go ahead and ask me again.”

Politico reporter Tara Palmeri jumped in to explain to Zeldin that Lizza was just trying to get clarification on the matter.

A back-and-forth ensued as Zeldin griped over reporters asking him about Biden’s win for the fourth time.

“I wouldn’t call that a question,” Palmeri said.

“You can go for a fifth time next, too,” Zeldin hit back.

“Is every time I speak a question?” Palmeri said, while laughing. “We can keep going.”

Zeldin sarcastically quipped: “Sure, let’s do it a sixth time.”

Zeldin is currently exploring a run for New York governor as embattled Gov. Andrew Cuomo faces backlash and calls to resign over sexual harassment allegations.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Someone should contact Zeldin’s office and report the concern that he is exhibiting symptoms of someone who has suffered a recent head injury. He is unable to answer simple questions, and doesn’t know who the current president is.

  2. So in other words, he got his testies in an bind?

  3. ““If you would like to give my answer for me, you can go ahead and do that.”

    OK. “Hi, I’m Lee Zeldin and the most intelligent thing I’ve done in the past 12 years is stuff Sourpatch Kids up my nose because the sting gives me fond memories of my cocaine days and I like to eat my rainbow boogers afterwards. I haven’t gotten a proper boner since I was 23 without a woman impersonating Ronald Reagan first telling me I’m destined to be President and then commanding me to “tear down this bra.””

  4. It’s really not hard to say that the result of the counting of the votes is clear and Biden won the election…the fact that Republican politicians, who definitely know that is the case, refuse to make such a simple statement says a lot about their base and its conspiracy beliefs, as well as their craven attempt to keep that crazy base happy. The fact that the same base that refuses to admit Biden won is also full of white supremacists and generally awful people doesn’t appear to concern them…that’s really dangerous for the nation. If a major party is following the direction of our worst citizens, and if they win power again, then the nation truly will be a danger to the world.

  5. Avatar for pshah pshah says:

    Touchy, touchy.

    I just hope, for his sake, that no one asks him about the ODNI concluding that Russia interfered in the 2020 elections on Trump’s behalf, and Republicans such as Senator Johnson, Congressman Nunes, Radcliffe, Barr, Guliani, and others, perhaps even Zeldin, willingly spread their propaganda.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

79 more replies

Participants

Avatar for punaise Avatar for austin_dave Avatar for meri Avatar for rollinnolan Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for irasdad Avatar for sniffit Avatar for drriddle Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for lastroth Avatar for mrf Avatar for darrtown Avatar for benthere Avatar for pshah Avatar for news247 Avatar for prometheus_bic Avatar for kelaine Avatar for maximus Avatar for dominic Avatar for agnesbee Avatar for lanabill Avatar for garrybee Avatar for m_00_m Avatar for Fire_Joni_Ernst

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: