Video: Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04) Rips Trump for “bring[ing] out his favorite boogeyman…that Black people or women working at the FAA caused this tragedy.”

Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04), speaking on CNN last night (see video and a partial transcript/highlights, below):

• “Absolutely not [the right time for Trump to attack DEI, etc.]. And first of all, what he should have done is what I want to do right now, and that is to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family members who are still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones, a hearty thank you to the first responders who have been working to recover those bodies under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. That is what the American people needed yesterday – to hear our leader to provide comfort and not to speculate and to bring out his favorite boogeyman, as you said, and to jump to conclusions that Black people or women working at the FAA caused this tragedy.”
• “Because what he always does is, rather than looking at the facts, rather than being responsible and letting the investigation happen, look at what actually caused this accident and then do something to make sure that something like this never happens again, he takes this opportunity to politicize it and to stoke division in this country, which he’s been doing since day one of this administration and since he first ran for president nine years ago.”
• “[Having air traffic controllers take a “buyout”] would have a huge impact on what we already have as a shortage. And you already have workers that are stressed and trying to meet the needs to keep the American people safe. He also ousted the head of the FAA and has created chaos since he’s come into office. What we need right now is to let the NTSB do its job to find out what cause or causes occurred to lead to this tragedy, and then we need to take action to make sure that something like this never happens again.”
• “All of the Democratic members of the Virginia delegation have been speaking out for a long time, that this airport is already too congested. You’ve talked about the complicated traffic patterns here. We all asked our committees not to put new slots in. We all voted against the bill for that very reason.”
• “If this administration takes the responsible road and says, we are going to look at the facts, we are going to look at what actually caused this tragedy and act to make sure it never happens again. But they’ve shown from day one they’re not interested in helping people and solving problems. They are interested in stoking chaos and division. They are interested in retribution against their political enemies. But that is not what the American people want. That is not what they expect of their leaders in a moment like this.”
• “That is part of what the Army and the NTSB will work together with all of the relevant agencies to determine. They are going to look at the people involved, the equipment involved, and the atmosphere involved to see was it human error? Was it equipment? Was it confusion because of the congestion here? And so I trust the Army and the NTSB and all of our federal partners and everyone involved to look at the facts. And then if they see changes that need to be made, to bring that to Congress’ attention and we all act.”