Carney says the Illinois Democrat's account is wrong. Carney: Durbin quote 'did not happen'

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Sen. Dick Durbin’s claims that a Republican House leader told the president “I cannot even look at you” is flat wrong.

“I looked into this and spoke with somebody who was in that meeting and it did not happen,” Carney said at his daily press briefing Wednesday.


Carney was asked about the comments from the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, which were posted to his Facebook page over the weekend. The Illinois Democrat said the comments were made during a “negotiation” meeting.

( Also on POLITICO: ‘I cannot even stand to look at you’)

Pressed a second time, Carney reiterated that the account was false.

“My understanding is that, again, from a participant in the meeting, that that didn’t happen,” Carney said.