Minnesota Sen. Al Franken asked a Department of Justice official on Tuesday whether White House strategist Steve Bannon has inspired hate crimes in the U.S.
“I’m curious the message you think sends to individuals that may engage in that kind of reprehensible behavior when the president selects Steve Bannon as his chief strategist?” Franken asked Eric Treene, special counsel for religious discrimination at the Justice Department’s civil rights division, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
“Steve Bannon, after all, is the former chairman of Breitbart News and trafficked ideology of racism, misogyny, xenophobia, anti-Muslim propaganda and anti-Semitism,” added Franken, a former comedian and one of the Senate’s most liberal members.
“What message does Mr. Bannon’s presence send, Mr. Treene?”
Treene, a George W. Bush appointee, attempted to skirt Franken’s gotcha question.
“I am encouraged as you were by the president’s remarks before Congress,” said Treene, referring to Trump’s remarks to a joint address to Congress in February. Trump led off that speech with a condemnation of threats made against Jewish community centers.
“That’s not answering my question,” Franken interjected.
“Certainly you must have some perspective on this that you can share with us on what it means when the president selects as special counsel someone who’s trafficked in anti-Muslim propaganda?” he pressed.
“With all due respect, you know, I am here talking about hate crimes and can only stress that I’ve had a consistent message that we should continue to pursue these mosque cases, involving — and these hate crime cases regardless the religion of the victim,” said Treene.
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