‘That’s Not Why You’re Not in Session!’ CNN Host Slams GOP Rep Blaming Democrats for Early Recess

CNN’s Brianna Keilar gave Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) a brutal fact-check as she tried to claim Democrats forced the House into an early recess, interjecting, “That’s not why you’re not in session!”

Last Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the House floor, accusing the Pentagon chief of “high crimes and misdemeanors” over his handling of U.S. military operations in Iran, Venezuela, and Yemen, among other actions.

And last Wednesday, instead of putting the articles up for a vote, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent the House into early recess. The legislative body won’t meet for a vote again until after the midterm elections.

Joining this Wednesday’s edition of CNN News Central, Malliotakis first fielded questions about President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, which she emphasized: “should have finished, concluded already.”

Keilar then asked about a political hot topic — artificial intelligence regulations.

“You want a federal regulatory framework, a version of which you are sponsoring,” the CNN host noted. “But you guys aren’t in session right now. Why should states wait on Congress when you guys aren’t even around to deal with this issue?”

Stressing that her sponsored legislation is “very important,” Malliotakis added, “You need to have a national framework, so the states can do what they think is in the best — ”

“But you need to be in session to pass it,” interrupted Keilar.

“Sure, we need to be in session,” the Republican congresswoman agreed. “We were here. We didn’t have the votes. The Democrats — if we can’t pass things because the Democrats refuse to cross party lines, it is a problem. You need 60 votes in the Senate.”

“That’s not why you’re not in session!” the CNN host cut in.

“Well, we were always scheduled to be in session until this week,” Malliotakis attempted to explain. “We left early because we could not get pieces of legislation passed, and that is a problem. What I will say — ”

“Speaker Johnson sent you and your colleagues home, just to note, early as your fellow Republican congressman, Massie, tried to force a House vote on impeaching Secretary Hegseth,” explained Keilar. “That was some of the timing of this, and now you’re not back until November.”

Watch above on CNN.

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