Donald Trump’s envoy to Venezuela was left flustered and visibly angry following an interrogation by Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar over his controversial political past.

Elliot Abrams was appointed special envoy to Venezuela last month to help lead the US response to the political crisis in the South American country, which is seeing widespread hunger and violence following the collapse of its economy.

On Wednesday, Mr Abrams, who served in the Reagan administration, testified in front of the House foreign affairs select committee, where he was subjected to a fierce line of questioning by Ms Omar.

The 37-year-old, elected to the House in November, raised Mr Abrams’ role in the Iran-Contra affair, in which he was found guilty on two counts of withholding information from Congress. He was later pardoned by President George HW Bush.

“I fail to understand why members of this committee or the American people should find any testimony that you give today to be truthful,” Ms Omar said, who added it “wasn’t a question” when an agitated Mr Abrams tried to respond.

Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value Show all 13 1 /13 Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-3.jpg FILE - In this Feb. 6, 2019 file photo, Venezuelan migrant Edixon Infante shows a handicraft made in with devalued Venezuelan currency, in Cucuta, Colombia. The Venezuelan government and its state-owned entities currently owe around $150 billion to creditors around the world, while the countryÃ¢â¬â¢s foreign currency reserves have fallen to just $8 billion. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File) AP Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-1.jpg A Venezuelan migrant shows handicrafts made in with devalued Venezuelan currency, in Cucuta, Colombia, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. The Venezuelan military blocked a border bridge where humanitarian aid is expected to arrive with a tanker and two cargo trailers, Colombian officials said Monday, in an apparent bid to stop the loads of food and other supplies from entering the country. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) AP Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-2.jpg Venezuelan migrant Edixon Infante shows his handicrafts made in with devalued Venezuelan currency, in Cucuta, Colombia, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. Tensions in the area have risen since the Venezuelan military blocked a border bridge where humanitarian aid is expected to arrive with a tanker and two cargo trailers, Colombian officials said Monday, in an apparent bid to stop the loads of food and other supplies from entering the country. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara) AP Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-5.jpg Closeup of a purse made by Venezuelan Wilmer Rojas, out of Bolivar banknotes in Caracas on January 30, 2018. - A young Venezuelan tries to make a living out of devalued Bolivar banknotes by making crafts with them. (Photo by FEDERICO PARRA / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Margioni BERMUDEZ (Photo credit should read FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-4.jpg Detail of a bag made with Bolivarian money seen in the La Parada neighborhood in Cucuta, Colombia, near the Simon Bolivar International Bridge, on the border with Tachira, Venezuela, on February 9, 2019. - Venezuelans cross to Colombia to buy groceries due to the shortages in their country. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro vowed on Friday not to let in "fake" aid from the United States requested by opposition leader Juan Guaido, which is being stockpiled at the border with Colombia. (Photo by Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP)RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-6.jpg Wilmer Rojas, 25, shows the purses he sewn up, using Bolivar bills in Caracas, on January 30, 2018. - A young Venezuelan tries to make a living out of devalued Bolivar banknotes by making crafts with them. (Photo by FEDERICO PARRA / AFP) / TO GO WITH AFP STORY by Margioni BERMUDEZ (Photo credit should read FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-8.jpg Torn apart Venezuelan two-Bolivar banknotes lie in a street of Caracas on January 28, 2019. - Venezuela devalued its currency by almost 35 percent on Monday to bring it into line with the exchange rate of the dollar on the black market. The exchange rate is now fixed at 3,200 bolivars to the dollar, almost matching the 3,118.62 offered on the dolartoday.com site that acts as the reference for the black market. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-9.jpg CARACAS, VENEZUELA - FEBRUARY 02: A woman holds a sign that reads 'No more dictatorship' during a rally against the government of NicolÃ¡s Maduro in the streets of Caracas on February 2, 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela. Venezuela's self-declared president and accepted by over 20 countries, Juan Guaido, called Venezuelans to the streets and demands the resignation of NicolÃ¡s Maduro. (Photo by Marco Bello/Getty Images) Getty Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-7.jpg CARACAS, VENEZUELA - FEBRUARY 02: People shout slogans during a rally against the government of NicolÃÂ¡s Maduro in the streets of Caracas on February 2, 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela. Venezuela's self-declared president and accepted by over 20 countries, Juan Guaido, called Venezuelans to the streets and demands the resignation of NicolÃÂ¡s Maduro. (Photo by Marco Bello/Getty Images) Getty Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-10.jpg CARACAS, VENEZUELA - JANUARY 30: A woman holds a banner that reads "No more deaths due to lack of medicines" during a demonstration against the government of President NicolÃ¡s Maduro called by the opposition leader self-proclaimed âacting presidentâ Juan Guaido on January 30, 2019 in Caracas, Venezuela. Guaido is appealing international leaders and military forces to recognize him as the rightful president of Venezuela. (Photo by Marco Bello/Getty Images) Getty Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-15.jpg A man cleans his stall selling hot dogs and hamburgers with new grocery prices in Caracas, Venezuela on January 15, 2019. - The president of Venezuela, NicolÃ¡s Maduro, increased the minimum wage by 300% Monday, a measure that was accompanied by a devaluation of 9.18% of the local currency, the bolivar. The new minimum income reaches two kilos of meat, in the middle of a hyperinflation that -according to the IMF- will reach 10,000,000% this year. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP) (Photo credit should read YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-14.jpg TOPSHOT - A man holds a cardboard with empty packages of different products and their prices, during a mass opposition rally against leader Nicolas Maduro in which Venezuela's National Assembly head Juan Guaido (out of frame) declared himself the country's "acting president", on the anniversary of a 1958 uprising that overthrew a military dictatorship, in Caracas on January 23, 2019. - "I swear to formally assume the national executive powers as acting president of Venezuela to end the usurpation, (install) a transitional government and hold free elections," said Guaido as thousands of supporters cheered. Moments earlier, the loyalist-dominated Supreme Court ordered a criminal investigation of the opposition-controlled legislature. (Photo by Federico PARRA / AFP) (Photo credit should read FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Venezuelans make art from banknotes in bid to give them value venezuela-currency-11.jpg People raise their hands during a mass opposition rally against President Nicolas Maduro in which Venezuela's National Assembly head Juan Guaido (out of frame) declared himself the country's "acting president", on the anniversary of a 1958 uprising that overthrew a military dictatorship, in Caracas on January 23, 2019. - "I swear to formally assume the national executive powers as acting president of Venezuela to end the usurpation, (install) a transitional government and hold free elections," said Guaido as thousands of supporters cheered. Moments earlier, the loyalist-dominated Supreme Court ordered a criminal investigation of the opposition-controlled legislature. (Photo by Federico PARRA / AFP) (Photo credit should read FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty

She next raised Mr Abrams’ denials of an infamous 1982 massacre against civilians by the US–funded El Salvadoran military at El Mozote, which occurred while he was the US government’s assistant secretary of state for human rights.

Mr Abrams at the time dismissed reports of hundreds of deaths as “not credible” while testifying to a Senate committee.

“In that hearing you dismissed as communist propaganda reports about the massacre of El Mozote,” Ms Omar said.

Noting up to 800 people had been killed, Ms Omar observed Mr Abrams had hailed US policy in El Salvador a “fabulous achievement”.

“Yes or no: do you still think so?” she asked.

“From the day that President Duarte was elected in a free election, to this day El Salvador has been a democracy,” Mr Abrams said. “That’s a fabulous achievement.”

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Ms Omar responded. “Yes or no: Do you think that massacre was a fabulous achievement that happened under our watch?”

“That is a ridiculous question…” Mr Abrams said before Ms Omar cut him off, “Yes or no?”

“No!” Mr Abrams said, visibly angry.

Ms Omar moved onto questioning Mr Abrams over his planned approach to Venezuela.

“Yes or no, would you support an armed faction within Venezuela that engages in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide if you believe they were serving US interests, as you in Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua?” she asked.

“I am not going to respond to that question, I’m sorry” Mr Abrams said. “I don’t think this entire line of questioning is meant to be real questions, so I will not reply.”

Ms Omar countered: “Whether under your watch a genocide will take place and you will look the other way because American interests are being upheld is a fair question.

“Because the American people want to know that any time we engage a country that we think about what our actions could be and how we believe our values are being furthered.

“That is my question. Will you make sure that human rights are not violated and we uphold international and human rights?”