WASHINGTON – Lynne Patton’s appearance at Michael Cohen’s testimony prompted one of the most emotional moments of the daylong hearing amid accusations of racism.

Patton, a top Trump housing official who is black, was a guest of Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), who used her to push back against Cohen’s assertions that Trump is a racist.

But several Democratic women of color on the committee blasted Meadows and said that having a person of color on the payroll does not necessarily mean someone isn’t a racist.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) took the criticism one step further.

“Just because someone has a person of color, a black person, working for them does not mean they aren’t racist and … the fact someone would actually use a prop, a black woman in this chamber, in this committee is alone racist in itself,” she said in a reference clearly aimed at Meadows.

Meadows, a Trump ally and head of the conservative Freedom Caucus, immediately demanded a retraction. Getting emotional, Meadows said his nieces and nephews are people of color and he rejected any notion he’s a racist.

The committee chairman Rep. Elijah Cummings, who is a black civil rights icon, defended Meadows and called him “one of my best friends.”

Cummings gave Tlaib a chance to clarify. She confirmed she wasn’t calling Meadows a racist directly and that wasn’t her intention.

Meadows was ultimately satisfied with her explanation and withdrew his objection.

Patton, who worked for the Trump family before joining the administration, said she would never work for a man who is racist.