Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, chair of U.S. House oversight committee, has died
Record ID:
1437243
Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, chair of U.S. House oversight committee, has died
- Title: Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, chair of U.S. House oversight committee, has died
- Date: 17th October 2019
- Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (FILE - JULY 18, 2019) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) WIDE VIEW OF HEARING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE FOR MARYLAND ELIJAH CUMMINGS, SAYING WITH EMOTION AND ANGER DURING AN EXCHANGE WITH ACTING HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KEVIN MCALEENAN AT THE WITNESS TABLE: CUMMINGS: "When we hear about stories coming out from you and your agency that everything is pretty good, you're doing a great job, I guess you feel like you're doing a great job right? Is that what you're saying? ACTING HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KEVIN MCALEENAN SAYING: "We're doing our level best in a very challenging -- COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE FOR MARYLAND ELIJAH CUMMINGS SAYING: "What does that mean? What does that mean when a child is sitting in their own faeces, can't take a shower? (OVER SHOT OF MCALEENAN). Come on man! What's that about? None of us would have our children in that position. They are human beings." WIDE OF MCALEENAN AT THE WITNESS TABLE SPEAKING TO THE COMMITTEE (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CUMMINGS, SAYING WITH SOME ANGER: "It's not the deed that you do to a child, it's the memory." (OVER SHOT OF MCALEENAN) It's the memory!" VARIOUS OF OTHER LAWMAKERS ON THE COMMITTEE DURING HEARING (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CUMMINGS, CONTINUING TO SAY WITH SOME ANGER AND IN REFERENCE TO REPORTS OF DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS AT SOME MIGRANT DETENTION CENTERS INCLUDING WHERE YOUNG CHILDREN WERE BEING KEPT WITHOUT ACCESS TO SANITARY SUPPLIES LIKE TOOTH BRUSHES: "We are the United States of America. We are the greatest country in the world. We are the ones that can, can go anywhere in the world and save people, makes sure that they have diapers, make sure that they have tooth brushes, make sure that they're not laying around defecating in some silver paper. (OVER SHOT OF MCALEENAN) Come on, we're better than that." (SOUNDBITE) (English) COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CUMMINGS, SAYING IN REFERENCE TO HIS EARLIER COMMENTS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS BETTER AT LOCATING THE "PERSONAL PROPERTY" OF MIGRANTS SUCH AS "KEYS" THAN IT WAS IN LOCATING FAMILY MEMBERS FOR REUNIFICATION: "When we are dancing with the angels, these children will be dealing with the issues that have been presented to them. How do you say to a 2-year-old 'Your mother, we can't find your mother but we can find her keys, oh we'll find the keys, we got your mama's keys'." WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (FILE - OCTOBER 22, 2015) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) U.S. DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HILLARY CLINTON SHAKES HANDS WITH CUMMINGS AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS WIDE SHOT OF HEARING ROOM HILLARY CLINTON AT WITNESS TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELIJAH CUMMINGS, RANKING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON BENGHAZI, SAYING: "The problem is that the Republican caucus did not like the answers they got from those investigations. So they set up this new Select Committee-with no rules, no deadline, and an unlimited budget and they set it loose on Madam Secretary because you are running for president."
- Embargoed: 31st October 2019 09:55
- Keywords: Elijah Cummings congressman Maryland obit dies Clinton Chair of House Oversight and Reform Committee democrat
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001B1HKDVR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee, has died aged 68, his office said on Thursday (October 17).
Cummings' committee is the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives and is involved in the impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump.
"At approximately 2:45 a.m. on Thursday October 17, 2019, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) passed away at John Hopkins Hospital due to complications concerning long-standing health challenges," his office said in a statement.
The statement said that more information would be released later Thursday. Reuters could not immediately reach his representatives for further details.
Cummings was first elected to office in 1996, and has served as chair of his committee since January after the Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives in 2018.
He was previously treated for heart and knee issues, CBS News reported.
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