It was Kirstjen Nielsen's day on Wednesday to bullshit a congressional committee on behalf of her inexcusable boss and his inexcusable administration*. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security once again was afflicted with that curious come-and-go amnesia that recurred only when Democratic members of the committee asked her questions. Two examples stand out, the first when she was questioned by chairman Bennie Thompson about vacancies in the Border Patrol.

THOMPSON: Thank you very much. The gentleman from Louisiana complimented our men and women who are doing this job. For the record, Madam Secretary, how many vacancies do you have in CBP as of this hearing?

NIELSEN: I would be happy to get back to you. What I can tell you the good news last year the first year we were able to hire more than who left. We're reversing the trend there.

THOMPSON: Give me a guesstimate.

NIELSEN: Sir, I don't want to guess under oath. I'm happy to go get you the number.

THOMPSON: Over 2,000 vacancies what would you say?

NIELSEN: I would say I would be happy -- respectfully sir.

THOMPSON: Does that sound about right?

Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi questioning Homeland Security Secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen about the Trump administration’s treatment of migrants and families at the border. NurPhoto Getty Images

NIELSEN: I will get you the number.

THOMPSON: A thousand?

NIELSEN: Sir, I'll get you the number.

THOMPSON: *Exasperated pause* Please get me the number.

NIELSEN: Yes, sir.

There is absolutely no excuse for Nielsen to have been unprepared for this question. Either she's shockingly ignorant, or she just doesn't give a damn. This also applies to her exchange with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

Jackson Lee : "Do you know how many young people are detained?"

Nielsen: "Yes, ma'am. I don't have that number in front of me. We have all of the numbers.



Jackson Lee: "Will you provide that for me?"



Nielsen: "Yes."

There's no reason for Nielsen not to have that number right in front of her. She had to know somebody was going to ask her that question. She just didn't want to answer it on television.

In this handout photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol agents conduct intake of illegal border crossers at the Central Processing Center on June 17, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. Handout Getty Images

Eventually, Thompson got fed up with Nielsen when she tried to engage him on what constitutes a cage.

“Sir, we don’t use cages for children,” the DHS secretary said. “Yes. I’m being as clear as I can, sir. Respectfully, I’m trying to answer your question.”

Thompson: “Just yes or no. Are we still putting children in cages?”

Nielsen: “To my knowledge, [Customs and Border Patrol] never purposely put a child in a cage."

Thompson: “Purposely or whatever. Are we putting children in cages? As of today? I’ve seen the cages. I just want you to admit that the cages exist.”

Nielsen: “Sir, they’re not cages.”

“We’re not going to go through the semantics. I saw the cyclone fences that were made as cages. And you did too. All you have to do is admit it. If it’s a bad policy, then change it. But don’t mislead the committee. Do not mislead the committee.”

Gawdamighty, what a horrible person. Tell you what, Madame Secretary. You spend a week on a concrete floor surrounded by locked cyclone fencing and then tell me what you think a cage looks like.

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Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976.

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