GOP Lawmaker Responds to Racially Insensitive Office Display
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: A Republican Congressman is offering up an explanation, but no apparent apology for having racially insensitive material displayed in public in his congressional office. Georgia Congressman Drew Ferguson had several historic articles on display, including a lock of George Washington's hair. He had a few military medals and a book on Confederate General Robert E. Lee. And this was under glass. And it was open to a page that said this: "The blacks are immeasurably better off here than Africa, morally, societally and physically. The painful discipline they're undergoing is necessary for their instruction as a race." Lauren Fox is on Capitol Hill. How did this even come to light? And what is this congressman saying about this?</s>LAUREN FOX, CNN REPORTER: Brianna, was there a group of workers from the American Federation of Government Employees who had planned to meet with the congressman on Monday, when one of them, Octavius Miller, actually got up and he noticed in a glass case that book with the page open to the excerpt that you just read at the top of this. And what he said was he was shocked by what he saw. And later, they were not able to meet with the congressman because of a schedule conflict. But they did call the office back to say, we saw what you had in the office and we were horrified by it, and we want an apology and we want to make sure that the book is removed. The chief of staff called Octavius Miller back the next day and said that the book had been removed and apologized profusely. But AFGE wants a more public apology from the congressman. We spoke with the congressman earlier today, my colleague, Ellie Kaufman, and I, and here's what he said about the book in the office.</s>REP. DREW FERGUSON, (R), GEORGIA: I did not realize that the book was in the office. I had a decorated office when we moved in. It's not something they ever remember seeing there. I certainly am as offended by the remarks in the book as anybody would be. That's why it's been removed from the office.</s>FOX: Have you read that book?</s>FERGUSON: I've read parts of the book, and parts of that, that I found completely against my ideology and my belief system.</s>FOX: AFGE wants a more public apology, Brianna. So that's just something to keep watching for. The congressman said I think we've apologized and I think we're probably good, but AFGE saying we want something more public.</s>KEILAR: So he's read the book, Lauren. But he's making the point that he's trying to distance himself from the book, but he admits he read it.</s>FOX: That's right. I tried to press him on exactly, did you read it before it was displayed in your office and did you read it after you found out it was displayed in your office, and his staffer told him it was time to go to a vote and didn't have time to answer more of our questions. And he said that he thinks that the office has apologized to Mr. Miller and he thinks they've satisfied the situation.</s>KEILAR: We will see if they have satisfied the situation. Lauren Fox, on the Hill for us, thank you so much. First, the president called for her resignation and now Vice President Pence is weighing in on the congresswoman who apologized for an anti- Semitic tweet that she put out. I will ask one of her colleagues to respond. Plus, if Mexico is not paying for the wall, how about El Chapo? Hear the idea that is gaining steam now that the drug lord has been convicted.