Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tulsi GabbardRepublicans call on DOJ to investigate Netflix over 'Cuties' film Hispanic Caucus campaign arm endorses slate of non-Hispanic candidates Gabbard says she 'was not invited to participate in any way' in Democratic convention MORE (D-Hawaii) said fellow 2020 Democratic candidate Sen. Kamala Harris Kamala HarrisHundreds of lawyers from nation's oldest African American sorority join effort to fight voter suppression Biden picks up endorsement from progressive climate group 350 Action 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing MORE's (D-Calif.) attack on former Vice President Joe Biden Joe BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE's voting record on busing amounted to a "false accusation" that Biden is "a racist."

Gabbard's comments come as questions have been raised over whether Harris's position on federally mandated busing is different from that of Biden, whom Harris called out in the first round of primary debates.

"But let's get real. It wasn't a 'whole thing' — it was a false accusation that Joe Biden is a racist," Gabbard tweeted Monday, in response to a tweet from David Axelrod David AxelrodThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates GOP hunts for leverage in revived COVID-19 talks Pelosi says there shouldn't be any debates between Biden and Trump MORE pointing out the apparent contradiction in Harris's position on busing. Shortly after the debates, Harris in Iowa said she believed busing was a local, as opposed to a federally mandated, decision.

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I agree with Axelrod. But let's get real. It wasn't a "whole thing" — it was a false accusation that Joe Biden is a racist. https://t.co/KQ8OnhDQ8A — Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) July 8, 2019

Ian Sams, a spokesperson for Harris, pointed out Gabbard's accusation is in direct opposition to what Harris said onstage.

"She literally said in the debate: 'I do not believe you are a racist,' " Sams said.

During the debate, Harris addressed Biden's prior remarks on working with segregationists in the Senate. At the time he had refused to apologize; he since has.

Harris prefaced her comments on Biden's words by saying, "I do not believe you are a racist and I agree with you when you commit yourself to the importance of finding common ground."

She went on to call out his record on opposing federally mandated busing.

After the debates, while campaigning in Iowa on July 3 Harris made comments to reporters that suggested her views on busing are more in line with Biden's.

“I think of busing as being in the toolbox of what is available and what can be used for the goal of desegregating America’s schools,” Harris said.

She later clarified and placed her comments in historical context when speaking to reporters.