Salazar Ejects Lee from Cuba Hearing, Accusing Her of Communist Sympathies
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Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) kicked Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) out of a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on Cuba relations, accusing Lee of spreading "communist propaganda".
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Lee tried to speak at the hearing to advocate for restoring US-Cuba ties, but Salazar did not grant her request for a waiver to speak as a non-committee member.
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Salazar was born in Miami to Cuban parents who fled Castro's regime. She said Lee was a "communist sympathizer" and "personal friend" of Castro.
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Lee clarified the process is for non-committee members to request to speak. She said Salazar trying to silence her "doesn't believe in democracy".
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For decades, Lee has worked to normalize US-Cuba relations and lift the embargo. She's now working on legislation to address Cuba's emerging private sector.