Darrell Issa Apologizes For Calling Congresswoman A Liar

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who notoriously presided over a mostly-male hearing on President Barack Obama's contraception mandate and rejected Democrats' one female witness, apologized to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday for accusing her of lying about the gender breakdown of the panel.

"I agree with your point and regret that my choice of words in an interview with a community newspaper did not reflect the collegial relationship and open communication you and I have long enjoyed," Issa wrote in a letter to Maloney.

After Maloney questioned in February why there were no women on a panel for a House hearing on contraception and religious freedom, Issa told the Rancho Sante Fe Review that her question was an "outright lie." There were two different panels for that hearing, he said, and the second panel had two female witnesses from the Republican side.

The Democrats' one female witness, Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke, "was never considered for the first panel and they knew it," Issa told the paper. "Had she been seated on the second panel, she would have been seated next to two women. So there is the lie."

Maloney accepted Issa's apology in a speech on the House floor Tuesday, but said he still owes an apology to the rest of the women in America for refusing to allow a female witness to testify on behalf of the contraception coverage rule and its benefits for women's health.

"I am encouraged by his actions, and I accept his apology," Maloney said. "In the fallout from that unfortunate hearing, women were called far worse than 'liars.' I know what I said and I know it to be true. But I do think the women of America are owed an apology ... an apology for denying them a voice ... and an apology for denying them a place at the table. It was wrong then. It is wrong each time it happens ... And to cavalierly dismiss or deny that fact does greater damage to the fabric of democracy than words can ever redress."

Comments

[jemdad99]

07:42 PM on 07/07/2012

Darrell Issa is the liar. Fortune Magazine exposed so the entire Fast and Furious investigation that Issa has led is a lie.

[mentacula]

08:18 PM on 04/11/2012

Key word, 'redress'.

[John Hirn]

09:35 PM on 04/07/2012

What apology? A regret is not an apology.

[morgansher]

09:00 PM on 04/07/2012

Issa may be a weathy congressman, but he is no gentleman and never will be.

[charleymyboy]

08:33 AM on 04/06/2012

I have watched issa for many years. "Collegial" is not an adjective that ever applies to him.

The panels that he chose for his hearing proves that point.

[ehorth]

07:12 PM on 03/30/2012

Thank you Rep. Maloney for sticking to your guns about the panel makeup to Issa's macho bullying. I realize that in your position as a member of Congress that you take the highroad on his obvious hypocrisy, so I will just add my agreement to you as a woman out here that he does indeed owe a HUGE APOLOGY to the women of America for his ill-chosen panel and ill-considered words to you. As long as we have these types of actions by the GOP, we have discrimination and prejudice against women - that they cannot see it as such is just a continuation of what has gone on before.

[AmbrosiatheGreek]

12:09 PM on 03/30/2012

Is Issa serious? Somebody please declare shenanigans on this ignorant and unscrupulous politician!

[FatFreddy]

03:06 PM on 03/29/2012

Darrell Issa is a world class POS! I should know, he's my rep. I cannot tell you how ashamed I am. You would think that San Diego would be a fantastic place to live. I did until I got here to find out that it is an ugly, bright red bastion of self-rightous ultra-conservatism. The corruption of the local politicians are second to none and every 1%er in the universe owns a house or two here, so you also have their minions and sheeple. How very depressing that one of the most beautiful places in the US is also infested with the sanctimonious Republican greed machine. Learn how Issa earmarked federal funds to improve a roadway that runs in front of a building that he bought, ahead of other more critical road improvements. Those improvements sure did make that buildings property value go up. When that came to light he "graciously" sold the property so as not to be a conflict of interest. Wonder how much he made on that deal. Now, most Republicans might say "that's a shrewd business man". I'd say he's just another social criminal.

[AmbrosiatheGreek]

11:57 AM on 03/30/2012

Thanks for sharing some background on this class act Issa. Keeping us informed of what goes on behind the curtain empowers us to exercise our democratic rights as citizens to put officials in place who actually represent US.

[ehorth]

07:15 PM on 03/30/2012

Thanks also from your report from San Diego. I think your district encompasses Nixon's old country as well as John Bircher origins, right? It's a real pity, but keep your chin up! Rooting for you from the Bay Area!!! F&F

[721]

02:39 PM on 03/29/2012

Issa is just another rich man behind the gates of the filthy rich Rancho Sante Fe community. I guess he's an example of how one can rob, steal, lie and cheat and still become a "pillar" of society. The idea he gets to question other peoples ethics is a total sham.

[enhancedvibes]

07:52 AM on 03/29/2012

I guess Issa is simply too dumb to understand the hypocrisy of his original panel. What an a55hat.

[VapeGirl]

07:17 PM on 03/28/2012

Face it the GOP is grounded in another age when women were considered 2 rate citizens. They are ran by white men and anyone else has no say or voice.

[ShanaJuly]

01:49 PM on 03/28/2012

This is exactly what republicans do ALL THE TIME...they tell a LIE and let it STEW in the MEDIA for a while then they try to apologize for it or walk it back...I am so sick and tired of these republicans in the House I cannot wait to get rid of them...

[Eye2amAmerican]

01:29 PM on 03/28/2012

how about not accepting his 'apology' and calling him out for the fraud that he is!!!!!!!!!

Caroyln.....you let new york down.... a real new yorker would have cursed him out.....

just saying....

[gsmp]

04:51 PM on 03/28/2012

".....a real new yorker would have..." I wish you were correct. Unfortunately, ny25 has annmariebuerkle and she sided with i.s.s.a!!! I know because I'm stuck with her!! The na.stybea.stie won by only about 650 votes out of over 200,000 cast! I can't wait to send her home in November!!

[BBackSoon]

12:14 PM on 03/28/2012

So a Republican Non-apology apology?

[PublicCitizen21044]

01:14 PM on 03/28/2012

Most people are on to the tactic of disclosing the lie and hiding the truth until one must admit they were misleading or deceiving people in order to leave an indelible impression in the minds of those who are not critical and/or analytical thinkers. It is an old lawyers trick/tactic used to introduce to the jury information that is not in evidence but inwhich they want to introduce to the witnesses as food for though so they may end up not being able to convict their client due to their inabilty to do so without reasonable doubt. At best one gets a hung jury and no conviction or at best they have prejudiced the jury and the client will be thought/found innocent and set free. It is all subterfuge and obfuscation to distract from the fact that the Congress is divided and dysfunctional due to the selfishness and greed and sense of entitlement of our elected public servants.

[talkstocoyotes]

05:57 PM on 03/30/2012

Is there any other kind of Republican apology?

[Lindarae1890]

11:56 AM on 03/28/2012

Issa is not good for the country. He is focused on taking down the post office and hate toward women. To those who voted for him - good luck paying for a letter next year.