American Urban Radio reporter April Ryan repeatedly asked whether the White House budget was recently updated to include more funding for the Violence Against Women Act.
Ryan seemed to be probing whether the Trump administration was trying to cover for the resignation of former aide Rob Porter, who has been accused of domestic violence by two former wives.
After White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told her the budget is not written “in 20 minutes,” Ryan accused the White House of withholding information. Here’s how the exchange went down.
Ryan initially asked how much money would be allocated toward the Act.
“I’d have to look at the specific number,” Sanders replied, noting that the budget was just “rolled out” Monday.
Ryan asked, “Is the number the number that’s always been?” and inquired if funding the act was influenced by the current allegations against Porter.
“What was requested has been put into the president’s budget,” Sanders answered.
When Ryan protested further, Sanders said bluntly. “We don’t write a budget in 20 minutes, so it’s been a part of something that’s been ongoing.”
Ryan said, “I understand that,” but complained that there were “some things in that budget Mr. Mulvaney did not tell us about,” referring to the budget director, who briefed the press room on Monday.
Sanders had a savage response:
That means you probably didn’t ask those questions. I’m going to keep going.
“He purposefully didn’t give us that information,” Ryan countered.
That ended the line of questioning.
WATCH BELOW:
