Angela Rye, former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus, defended Rep. Maxine Waters’ (D-Calif.) harassment comments Tuesday on CNN with host Erin Burnett.

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“I think the big difference is what regularly happens to Congresswoman Waters because her words are so powerful and for whatever reason, the Republicans and apparently, some Democrats are threatened by her power and her courage, her words are not only taken out of context, she’s misquoted,” Rye said.

Rye then went on to blame Waters’ race as one reason she is receiving criticism for her claims of harassment.

“The fact that Chuck Schumer called what a black woman said un-American is problematic and this is the reason why Democrats have a hard time reuniting the base — it has everything to do with the fact this black woman is is intimidating to some people who can’t handle the truth. It has everything to do with it,” Rye said.

Even Burnett stopped Rye, asking, “But can you not say that just because of the color of her skin?”

“It has everything to do with race,” Rye retorted.

She continued, “What America are you talking about? This is the America of lynch mobs, too. She didn’t call for violence. Trump did.”

Waters made comments over the weekend encouraging harassment of people who support Trump. She said, “If you see anybody from that cabinet in a restaurant, in department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd. And you push back on them. Tell them they’re not welcome any more, anywhere!” (RELATED: Antonio Sabato Jr. Calls For Maxine Waters’ Arrest Over Harassment Comments)

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