North Carolina Democratic incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan has admitted to missing a crucial Senate Armed Services Committee meeting on the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria because she was fundraising.
In a press conference after the debate against Republican Thom Tillis on Tuesday, Hagan went off her talking points and admitted to missing one meeting due to a fundraiser, after weeks of denials. “You know, there was one,” she said. “And what had happened at that hearing, it was scheduled early in the day, and then votes were scheduled and that hearing then had to be postponed. So yes, I did miss that one.”
WSOC-TV’s Blair Miller confirmed the gaffe in a tweet.
Hagan in her post with reporters: one of those missed committee meetings was for a fundraiser. #ncsendebate
— Blair Miller (@BlairWSOC9) October 8, 2014
Hagan has attended nine out of 22 — 41 percent — open committee meetings this year, according to Politifact. There have also been 11 closed hearings, where attendance is not released. According to the Senate Armed Services Committee website, there was a closed session meeting on Current and Future Worldwide Threats on Feb. 27. Hagan is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.
On the same day, less than five hours after the meeting was supposed to start in Washington D.C., Hagan was the guest of honor at a fundraiser in New York City. Tickets ranged from $500 to $5,200.
Hagan for Senate hosts a fundraiser within hours of a closed hearing on ISIS she was supposed to be chairing.
WATCH (1 minute mark):