Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility Democratic lawmakers call for an investigation into allegations of medical neglect at Georgia ICE facility MORE (D-N.J.) on Wednesday defended his questioning of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenDHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections Democrats smell blood with new DHS whistleblower complaint MORE during a hearing, after the Republican National Committee (RNC) accused him of "mansplaining."

"My conduct was on point, and my personal emotion in all of this should be understood. I will fight against bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia wherever I see it because I have benefitted from people speaking up in years past and I will do the same," Booker, a potential 2020 presidential candidate, told CNN's Jake Tapper.

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The RNC sent an email Wednesday slamming Booker, 48, as “Derogatory Cory," and urging readers to picture a Republican male senator “mansplaining” to a female Cabinet secretary.

The committee concluded the email with the phrase "nevertheless, she persisted," which was adopted by feminist groups after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE (R-Ky.) used it while justifying silencing Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenBiden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon MORE (D-Mass.) on the Senate floor last year.

Booker disputed the charge that he had "mansplained."

"It’s a little insulting to say that I should be treating Cabinet secretaries one way or another depending upon their gender," he said.

The senator blasted Nielsen on Tuesday after she said she did not hear President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE referring to some African nations, El Salvador and Haiti as "shithole countries."

"When ignorance and bigotry is allied with power, it is a dangerous force in our country. Your silence and your amnesia is complicity," Booker said to Nielsen.