Senator Kennedy surprises Mayorkas by interrupting testimony for back pat and handshake after tense exchange

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., surprised the head of Homeland Security Wednesday when, after a harsh exchange on Second Amendment rights, he patted him on the shoulder and gave him a firm handshake on the way out.

Kennedy questioned Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing about his support for an assault weapons ban, a day after he had questioned him on the same issue and was unhappy with his answers.

Mayorkas again supported a ban on assault weapons, leaning on the definition previously contained in legislation banning such weapons in the 1990s – but he did not provide his own.

“Senator, I must defer to the experts on the definition. But I will tell you that military-style weapons, for example, are a huge problem. We’re seeing too much devastation,” he said just days after a school shoot in Nashville, Tennessee.

Mayorkas supports the ban on assault weapons but does not provide a definition

Kennedy was unhappy with the answer.

“You made a very brave statement saying very strongly that we should ban all offensive weapons. And all I’m asking is what do you think an offensive weapon is? They say it’s military style. Does that mean it looks like a military weapon?” he said.

However, Mayorkas finished: “Senator, I believe I have answered your question to the best of my knowledge.”

But Kennedy continued.

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“But you haven’t. i try to understand You are Secretary of Homeland Security and, as is your right as an American, you believe that we should ban assault weapons. But it bothers me that you can’t tell me what you would ban,” he said.

Mayorkas later said he came “to testify before this committee and not to take an examination in relation to questions which I have already answered to the best of my knowledge”.

After the tough questioning, Mayorkas reached out to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, DN.H., who asked about temporary worker visas.

As Mayorkas answered the question, Kennedy came up behind him, clapped him on the shoulder and shook his hand firmly – seemingly adding, “Thank you for your service.”

Mayorkas seemed a little shocked by the unusual move but thanked him before saying “sorry” to Senator Shaheen and continuing his remarks.

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The moment was a brief friendly gesture amid what Mayorkas has been slammed by Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate, who have expressed anger at the ongoing southern border migrant crisis and the flow of fentanyl into the United States

Several lawmakers told Mayorkas to resign or be fired, while Senator Ted Cruz accused him of “being willing to allow child rape to follow political orders.”

Mayorkas immediately slammed the remarks as “disgusting” and a DHS spokesman later followed up with a statement supporting the secretary after the particularly angry exchange.

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“Secretary Mayorkas is proud to advance the noble mission of this department, to support its exceptional staff, and to serve the American people. The Department will continue to enforce our laws and secure our border, protect the nation from terrorism, and enhance our cybersecurity.” Building a Safe, Orderly, and Humane Immigration System. Rather than pointing fingers at the Department, Congress should work with the Department and pass legislation to fix our broken immigration system that hasn’t been updated in over 40 years,” the spokesman said.