House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended Chuck Schumer’s leadership of the Senate Democratic caucus as several newly elected members say they’d prefer a fresh face.
Asked by CNN if it makes sense for Senate Democrats to reelect Schumer, Jeffries responded, “Yes, Chuck Schumer was the quarterback of a team effort led by Senate Democrats and incredible candidates who ran all across the country.”
“I think the results of that election, the outcome, the decisive victory, speaks for itself,” he later added.
In a wide-ranging press conference on the House’s first day back in session, Jeffries took questions on pressing issues that Congress will face during the lame-duck period and beyond.
Asked if Democrats are willing to force a government shutdown on December 11 over the ongoing war, he responded, “We’re going to end the war in Iran one way or the other. But with respect to the appropriations process, right now that’s in the hands of Rosa DeLauro on the House side and Patty Murray on the Senate side.”
Jeffries, who attended a classified briefing by top intelligence officials with leaders from both chambers, told reporters that the issue of the Nvidia CEO did come up. (The CEO has admitted to having an extramarital affair as his company announced it will investigate reports he was the “target of a foreign intelligence effort.”)
“We’re going to need a full briefing, specifically as it relates to the Nvidia issue, so we can all get to the bottom of what has happened and what the implications are in terms of America’s national security,” he said, though he indicated he did not know when all members would be briefed.
Jeffries noted there are provisions to restrict China’s access to chip technology in a Senate-passed version of an annual defense bill, and “we’re going to work hard to make sure that those provisions make it into the final version.”
He also reiterated his disinterest in working across the aisle with newly appointed White House chief of staff Stephen Miller.
“Stephen Miller is a stone cold racist. His track record speaks for itself, and I’ve got zero interest in working with that kind of individual,” he said.