CIA director blasts Democrat's 'offensive line of questioning' about Hegseth's 'drinking habits'

Rep. Jimmy Gomez sparked the testy exchange during a House Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats, where Ratcliffe appeared alongside Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and other top Trump administration officials. 

When Gomez then asked Ratcliffe the same question, telling him it was either a "yes or no" answer, Ratcliffe fired back, saying "You know, no. I'm going to answer that. I think that's an offensive line of questioning." 

"The answer is no. I find it interesting..." Ratcliffe continued before Gomez began shouting "Hey, I yield back, this is my time, director! Director!" 

"Director, I reclaim my time. Director, I reclaim my time," Gomez then said. "I have huge respect for the CIA, huge respect for men and women in uniform. But this was a question that's on the top of the minds of every American, right?" 

"He stood in front of a podium in Europe holding a drink," Gomez then claimed. 

"Was his performance compromised because of a successful strike?... you think he should accept responsibility for a successful strike to make Americans safer?" Ratcliffe started saying as Gomez again interrupted him in an attempt to get the situation under control. 

Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., followed Gomez's questioning and allowed Ratcliffe to speak without interruption. 

"I appreciate that, Congressman. I guess, you know, just a general reflection here again, that, for the last two days, members of the intelligence community have been asking questions about a Signal messaging group and not asking questions -- from Democrats either in the Senate or the House -- on China, Russia, Iran and the real threats, that are going on the United States," the CIA director said.  

"No one's asked me about my second day on the job here, where I lit the fuse that led to a foreign government participating with us to capture one of the senior planners of the Abbey gate bombing that killed 13 Americans," he added, "But instead, we're getting questions about whether or not someone has drinking habits."