California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa said Thursday he apologized to Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., for cutting off his microphone during a hearing Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Issa made the comments in a conversation with a paper in his home district, U-T San Diego.
“Mr. Cummings is a member of Congress who works very hard for his constituents,” Issa said, according to the paper.
The hearing was on the improper targeting of tea party groups by the Internal Revenue Service. Cummings was trying to say that Republicans have overblown the controversy.
Issa abruptly adjourned the hearing, instructing committee staff to turn off Cummings' microphone. Cummings is the ranking Democrat on the panel.
“I could have offered to reopen the hearing and allowed him to make a second statement,” Issa said, according to the San Diego paper. “As chairman, I should have been much more sensitive to the mood of what was going on, and I take responsibility.”
Ohio Democrat Marcia Fudge on Thursday offered a resolution condemning Issa for his, quote, "offensive and disrespectful manner." But the GOP-dominated House voted 211-186 to block it.
Cummings released a statement Thursday confirming Issa's apology.
"This evening, Chairman Issa telephoned me and apologized for his conduct, and I accepted his apology," the statement read. "My sincere hope is that as we move forward, we will respect the opinions of all members of the committee, we will proceed in a deliberate and considered manner to obtain the facts, we will refrain from making accusations that have no basis in fact, and we will seek resolution rather than unnecessary conflict."
