Democratic Sen. Jon Tester brushed aside Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s assertion that she was Native American, saying Monday that he doesn’t believe her DNA results would pass the test to claim heritage.
“I don’t think that would pass the test, no,” Tester told The Hill while he was campaigning at the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, one of seven Indian reservations in the state of Montana.
Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, faced backlash for misrepresenting her Native American heritage in early October after she released her genetic data test results showing that she is likely between 1/64 and 1/1,024 Native American.
Warren has frequently touted her heritage, which she contends is both Cherokee and Delaware. Harvard Law School, her former employer, also referred to her as a Native American professor because she identified as a minority in an Association of American Law Schools directory, according to reporting by The Daily Caller.
“I don’t think that’s where we need to go,” the Montana senator said. “That’s a fight between her and [President Donald] Trump and she can continue to have that fight.” (RELATED: Elizabeth Warren Defends The Release Of Her DNA Test)
“The real issue that revolves around Native American people is poverty and unless you’re a gaming tribe, it’s a problem,” Tester continued. “We’ve got to figure out solutions to get it fixed.”
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren addresses a town hall meeting in Roxbury, Massachusetts, Oct. 13, 2018. (Photo JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP/Getty Images)
Tester is leading his Republican challenger, Matt Rosendale, by an average of 4.2 points, according to RealClearPolitics.
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