Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) clashed in a conversation with CNN host Brianna Keilar that left the GOP lawmaker tongue-tied during a live broadcast on Thursday.
The Republican got in the fiery back-and-forth with Keilar after the anchor started asking Husted about the SAVE America Act and raised questions over whether the legislation backed by the Trump administration and conservatives would disenfranchise voters. Husted was reacting after a vote on his voter ID amendment failed, while President Donald Trump has pressured Republicans to end the filibuster, fund the Department of Homeland Security and pass the SAVE America Act.
Keilar pointed to Husted's previous experiences investigating voter fraud, calling out how few cases of fraud would potentially justify the now-stalled legislation.
"If you're going to let me finish so I can get the facts, my bill doesn't have any registration requirements," Husted said. "My amendment that we just voted on, that no Democrat voted on was photo ID exactly what we have in Ohio. The exact same tools that they have in Georgia that they have in other states, Wisconsin, we use the same tools. They still are unwilling to say 'yes' to the most simple part of election integrity. And that is a photo ID."
But Keilar pushed back — and kept cutting off the senator.
"Can you be a little clear on that?" Keilar asked, pressing the noticeably frustrated lawmaker again while they both continued to interrupt each other.