'You Can't Answer...?': Ryan Zinke Stunned By Deb Haaland's Response To Question About Task Force

6 months ago

At a House Appropriations Committee hearing prior to the Congressional recess, Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) questioned Interior Sec. Deb Haaland about a drug task force.

Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:

https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript

Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com

Transcript

00:00Secretary, we established a multi-agency task force to address drug trafficking and Indian

00:09human trafficking.

00:11It was comprised of elements from your department, BLM, U.S. Park Service, U.S. Park Police,

00:20FBI, BIA, and the idea was to augment and supplement in coordination with the tribes.

00:28The tribes requested it.

00:30We provided the service in coordination with the tribes to go after exactly what we talked

00:34about – drugs, human trafficking, where are the kids going?

00:41And when you took office, you discontinued that, even though it was incredibly successful

00:49and the numbers and the amount of fentanyl and drugs confiscated is not in dispute.

00:56Why?

00:57Congressman, I appreciate the question, and I recognize that perhaps we have different

01:06leadership styles.

01:07I appreciate your service to our country as the Secretary of the Interior.

01:12Was it because it was a Trump administration?

01:14Because almost everything the Trump administration did, you immediately ended, whether it was

01:19good or bad or indifferent.

01:20So why?

01:21That's not altogether true, honestly.

01:22That's not true.

01:23Were you aware you discontinued this?

01:24However, we are-

01:25Madam Secretary, were you aware that the task force was discontinued when you took office?

01:33I was not aware of the task force, your task force, Congressman.

01:40However, we are working very hard to ensure that we are providing the necessary services

01:46to Indian Country.

01:47Would you agree that perhaps a task force that had the FBI, BIA, BLM, U.S. Park Service

01:54together-

01:55I really appreciate that-

01:57Would you agree that such a task force would be helpful to Indian nations?

02:01Congressman, would you like us to contact your office and have a conversation on this?

02:05I'm just asking you, do you think it would be helpful?

02:11You can't answer whether a task force with multiple law enforcement agencies in coordination

02:18with Indian Country wouldn't be helpful in addressing some of the issue about drug trafficking,

02:25child traffic, indigenous personnel missing or killed.

02:28I truly do appreciate that suggestion, Congressman, and we appreciate it.

02:35First of all, the science is the same in Maine as it is in Montana, and I follow the

02:41science.

02:42I always have.

02:43So sometimes you look at it, and the science, for those that have read the 2017 Multi-Agency

02:51Department of Interior Climate Change Report, there's 200 models, 1,000 variables.

03:00So some people that don't look at science manipulate those variables for an outcome.

03:05That's not science.

03:08The science will say in Glacier Park, which the glaciers are melting, absolutely, I've

03:14been on the glaciers, eating lunch, I've witnessed the recede of the glacier.

03:20It started 10,000 years ago.

03:24Sea level rise has been the same for about 7,000 years, more or less.

03:31Hurricanes, the frequency, Madam Secretary, are you aware that the frequencies of hurricanes

03:40has neither increased nor decreased in frequency a number of times in the last 400 years?

03:49Every time a hurricane happens, it's seemingly-

03:52Are you aware that the frequency has gone up or down, or do you believe it has?

03:57I'm just curious.

03:58I believe that the storms have gotten more intense, stronger storms than-

04:04I will give you that data, and it's science.

04:07So do I agree that erosion and tides have an enormous effect on Maine and its beautiful

04:12coastline?

04:13Absolutely.

04:15Do I think that our older buildings are at risk because it is changing, and should we

04:21address them?

04:22Yeah, because there's buildings and structures that are absolutely worth saving in this country,

04:27and tradition is part of it.

04:29So I'll work with you, but science is science, and science is the same in the great state

04:34of Maine as in Montana.

04:36So with that, thank you, Madam Secretary, and if you would, I am going to scrutinize

04:43your legal department to see where you're spending.

04:45I think having to get a Major League Baseball team at $500,000 to spend money over a logo

04:51that has twice, twice been ruled by the governing authority not to be a logo infringement I

04:58think is atrocious.

05:01And unless I was sitting here, I don't think you would know it, and that's a mistake of

05:05us all.

05:06So, Madam, do you have anything further?

05:09No, thank you.

05:10Madam Secretary, I want to thank you for appearing.

05:14Thank you for all taking the time to join us this morning.

05:15We look forward to being with you over the coming months.

05:19Questions have been no doubt delivered, and we would appreciate an answer in a timely

05:24fashion.

05:25This committee stands adjourned.

05:26Good to see you, Denise.

'You Can't Answer...?': Ryan Zinke Stunned By Deb Haaland's Response To Question About Task Force

Category

Transcript

Recommended