Sen. John Cornyn ends NBC interview by placing hand over camera lens. (NBC News)
Republican Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) blew up at an NBC News crew that attempted to ask him a question on an apparent flip-flop in his views.
Cornyn wrote an op-ed for the New York Post in which he claimed to support “whatever changes to Senate rules that may prove necessary for us to get the ‘SAVE America Act’ (passed) and homeland security funding.”
Those changes may include ending the longstanding Senate filibuster tactic, he noted, ”or it could be a different reform.”
The “SAVE America” legislation would require proof-of-citizenship to register and photo ID to vote in person or by mail. There would also be a requirement for states to check their voter rolls through a Department of Homeland Security database.
The Cornyn New York Post op-ed marked a change from the Senator’s previous stance. He had a track record of staunch support for the filibuster and the Senate’s 60-vote threshold to pass most bills.
“I spent years defending the filibuster because the 60-vote threshold was a net benefit to Texas and our nation,” Cornyn wrote in the Post. “Before moderate Democrats went extinct, the rules worked.”
NBC News wanted Cornyn to amplify his new views. Their subsequent story speculated that the senator’s change of heart came because Cornyn needs President Donald Trump's endorsement to push him over the top in a competitive Republican runoff for his Senate seat.
But he wasn’t in the mood to talk about it.
“You previously said that nuking the filibuster would be taking a wrecking ball to Senate rules,” an NBC reporter asked. “Is that no longer true?”
“Um, I said I’d be open to reforms,” Cornyn replied.
:”What would you say to those who say you just changed your mind to win the president’s endorsement,” the reporter asked.
“I’d say, uh, that’s not true,” Coryn said, adding, “I think we’re through. Go ahead. Go away.”
The Senator then placed his hand over the NBC camera lens, ending the interview.
Although the law varies in certain jurisdictions, placing your hand over a camera lens is is generally considered offensive touching. That can rise to the crime of battery or assault in some jurisdictions if it’s done without consent.
Raw Story first reported the incident.
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