OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki appears to have been caught in a lie and it is a video shared by her own boss, President Joe Biden, that exposed her.
A video of Judge Kentaji Jackson’s confirmation ceremony contradicted the press secretary’s claim that Vice President Kamala Harris wore a mask indoors before the confirmation celebration, The Daily Mail reported.
At one point, the 52-second-long video shows Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Jackson, and members of Jackson’s family gathered around Biden in the oval office without face masks before the ceremony moved outside into the Rose Garden.
The video also shows Harris and Jackson beaming and walking alongside one another, within six feet, along with Harris’, Biden’s and Jackson’s words onstage.
“Yesterday, we witnessed a truly historic moment,” the president said in the caption of the video.
Yesterday, we witnessed a truly historic moment. pic.twitter.com/bHVifYyXyw
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 9, 2022
“The CDC says, for people exposed to COVID, up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations: Do not go to places where you are unable to wear a well-fitting mask. So why is she here at the White House today giving the new Supreme Court justice a big hug with no mask?” Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy said on Friday.
“You mean when she gave her a ma- — a hug outside?” Psaki responded.
“Yes,” Doocy said.
“She was outside,” the press secretary responded.
“Does the CDC say that people who are close contact can give people hugs outside?” Psaki hit back.
“We know, Peter, that outside it is — it is — you are — you can benefit significantly being outside. That’s why we have — we had the event outside today.
“I will tell you that the Vice President has been wearing a mask inside. When there was a private greet, they were all wearing masks, before they went out…” she said before Doocy interrupted.
PSAKI: Kamala Harris "has been wearing a mask inside.”
DOOCY: “She wasn’t wearing a mask yesterday at the Senate.”
PSAKI: “She was playing an important role in confirming…the first black woman to the Supreme Court.” pic.twitter.com/ft1ZIktQy2
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 8, 2022
“We saw she was wearing a mask yesterday at the Senate,” he said.
“She was playing an important role in confirming or overseeing the confirmation of the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. The vast majority, as was on camera, Peter,” she said.
“Is there a public health carve-out for that?” the correspondent said.
“As was on camera. Let me finish my answer here. Because Fox and other — I don’t know actually that Fox carried it, but others did — saw that she was socially distanced from people for the vast, vast majority of her time overseeing that confirmation yesterday,” the press secretary insisted.
“So this is not a case of rules for thee but not for VP?” the correspondent hit back.
“In fact, the Vice President wore a mask inside today when she was both with the President, with her staff, other people. She was outside at the event. She was socially distanced for 99.9 percent of the event today. And she had an emotional moment, which is understandable,” Psaki said.
It came after Doocy nailed Psaki on free smartphones being given to illegal immigrants.
“Is there any plan to give free smartphones to U.S. citizens that want them?” the reporter said.
“Should we not be tracking migrants who irregularly cross the border?” she said. “Or do you have an alternative suggestion for how they should be tracked?”
“I, unfortunately, have not been asked to make U.S. immigration policy. That’s not my —” the correspondent said before the press secretary interrupted him.
“Today’s your moment,” she said to laughter.
“Well, it’d be great if anybody that wanted a free phone and a free monthly plan could get one. So, is that going to be an offer for everybody or just people that walk into the country illegally?” the reporter said pointedly.
“Well, Peter, as — when we talked about this the other day, what I noted to you is that we have a range of means of tracking individuals who irregularly migrate to the country, as — in order to ensure that they are meeting their Notice to Appear obligations and that they are appearing in court when they should appear in court. Phones is one of them. There are also ankle devices and a range of tracking devices,” she said.
Peter Doocy to Psaki: "It would be great if anybody that wanted a free phone and a free monthly plan could get one, so is that going to be an offer to everybody or just people that walk into the country illegally?" pic.twitter.com/8s9sCBGvn8
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 8, 2022
“Eighty percent of individuals have — of non-citizens released at the border from DHS custody under prosecutorial discretion have either received a Notice to Appear or are still within the window to report,” the press secretary said.
“So, yes, there is telephonic reporting. There is SmartLink, which enables participant monitoring via smartphone. There’s the Global Positioning System. These are the range of means with modern technology that we monitor,” she said.
