A spokesman for Sen. Dick Durbin
Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinDemocrats turn on Al Franken Minnesota's largest newspaper calls on Franken to resign Democratic senator predicts Franken will resign Thursday MORE (D-Ill.) on Sunday attacked Republican lawmakers for denying they heard President Trump
Donald John TrumpHouse Democrat slams Donald Trump Jr. for ‘serious case of amnesia’ after testimony Skier Lindsey Vonn: I don’t want to represent Trump at Olympics Poll: 4 in 10 Republicans think senior Trump advisers had improper dealings with Russia MORE call Haiti, El Salvador and African nations “shithole countries” during a White House meeting.
“Yesterday, Senators Cotton and Perdue ‘could not recall’ what the President said. Today they can. That, folks, is a credibility problem,” Ben Marter, Durbin’s director of communications, tweeted.
Yesterday, Senators Cotton and Perdue “could not recall” what the President said. Today they can. That, folks, is a credibility problem. https://t.co/cLT13FANc3
— Ben Marter (@BenMarter) January 14, 2018
In a meeting with lawmakers last week, Trump reportedly questioned why the U.S. kept accepting immigrants from "shithole countries" such as Haiti, El Salvador and African nations, instead of accepting more immigrants from places like Norway.
Durbin, Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamGOP and Dems bitterly divided by immigration We are running out of time to protect Dreamers US trade deficit rises on record imports from China MORE (R-S.C.), Sen. Tom Cotton
Tom CottonGOP and Dems bitterly divided by immigration Grassley offers DACA fix tied to tough enforcement measures Five things senators should ask Tom Cotton if he’s nominated to lead the CIA MORE (R-Ark.) and Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) were in attendance.
Durbin told reporters Trump made the remark, and stood by his claim even after the president denied it. Graham didn't directly confirm or deny the comment, but reportedly told Sen. Tim Scott
Timothy (Tim) Eugene ScottMcConnell names Senate GOP tax conferees GOP senator: Trump shouldn't pardon Flynn Trump should fill CFPB vacancy with Export-Import chief MORE (R-S.C.) reports of Trump's remarks were "basically accurate."
Cotton and Perdue initially issued a statement saying they did not recall Trump saying "shithole countries." On Sunday morning talk shows, both senators further clarified their statements.
Perdue outright denied Trump made the vulgar remark, while Cotton said he did not hear the comment, and suggested Durbin has a history of misrepresenting White House meetings.
"I didn't hear it. And I was sitting no farther away from Donald Trump than Dick Durbin was, and I know what Dick Durbin has said about the president's repeated statements is incorrect,” Cotton said on CBS's "Face The Nation."
Marter also took aim at Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen
Kirstjen Michele NielsenTop Kelly aide expected to become new White House deputy chief of staff: report MORE, who was also at the meeting and said Sunday she didn’t recall him using “that exact phrase.”
“Secretary Nielsen is visibly uncomfortable having to lie — twice — to cover for the President. Pretty early in her tenure to lose her credibility but that’s the deal you make when you sign on to be a face of this Administration,” Marter tweeted.
Secretary Nielsen is visibly uncomfortable having to lie — twice — to cover for the President. Pretty early in her tenure to lose her credibility but that’s the deal you make when you sign on to be a face of this Administration.
— Ben Marter (@BenMarter) January 14, 2018
FYI Secretary Nielsen will be under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing on Tuesday. https://t.co/BpNdlPbQJI
— Ben Marter (@BenMarter) January 14, 2018