Sean Duffy Shreds Dem Critics Over Hypocrisy in ‘Ethics’ Hearing Meltdown [WATCH]

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pushed back Tuesday during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing after Democratic Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York questioned him over ethics concerns tied to his participation in the “Great American Road Trip.”

As Fox News reported, the exchange centered on Duffy’s role in a 10-state road trip with his family, which was sanctioned by the bipartisan America 250 commission as part of the celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

The trip was promoted as an effort to encourage tourism and was funded by the nonprofit organization “The Great American Roadtrip.”

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The nonprofit received donations from several major travel and automobile companies, including Toyota, Boeing, and Enterprise. The road trip was also turned into a five-part YouTube series.

Murray and Gillibrand argued during the hearing that the financial backing raised questions about corporate influence because some of the companies involved are connected to areas overseen by the Department of Transportation.

Murray criticized Duffy directly during the hearing, saying the project appeared disconnected from the concerns of Americans dealing with high gas prices.

“You’ve been recording a promo of yourself and not working to lower the cost, so this show is incredibly out of touch with where Americans are,” Murray said.

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“It really raises some serious ethics concerns about who you answer to, because the people organizing your show solicited corporate sponsors and promised rewards at each level of funding.”

Duffy denied that corporate sponsors were promised anything through the nonprofit. Murray then cited a pitch deck released by the nonprofit, which outlined perks tied to different donation levels.

According to the material, donors at the highest level were guaranteed placement of their logo in up to 10 produced videos and six VIP invitations to receptions, roundtables, and networking events hosted by the nonprofit.

Duffy responded by shifting the focus to campaign donations received by Murray.

“If someone from the healthcare industry gives you $2 million, what do they get for it?” Duffy asked Murray.

“You have jurisdiction,” Duffy continued.

“I do not. You have jurisdiction. $2 million to put your face on TV, to buy steak dinners. Dinners, to go on vacation.”

Duffy then cited a specific figure involving healthcare industry donations to Murray.

“Pfizer gave you $102,000,” Duffy said.

Gillibrand also criticized Duffy’s participation in “The Great American Roadtrip,” describing it as a vacation for the secretary and his family.

“It shouldn’t be paid for by people that you oversee,” Gillibrand told Duffy.

Duffy responded by pointing to Gillibrand’s campaign donations from law firms and attorney groups, saying her campaign had received $7 million from those sources.

Gillibrand pushed back and said her donations were not relevant to the hearing.

“This hearing is about you and this administration,” Gillibrand told Duffy. “This hearing, you are the witness. I am not the witness.”

Duffy accused Gillibrand of flying private, eating steak dinners, and vacationing on the dime of law firms and legal groups. Gillibrand denied ever having flown private.

Fox News reported that in 2022, Gillibrand spent the second most in Congress on chartered flights, according to Newsweek. Her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

During both exchanges, Duffy defended the road trip and said the project was meant to bring Americans together.

“As we can see from this hearing, there’s a lot of partisanship in America,” Duffy said. “Seeing your country, experiencing your country through the window of a car, is a beautiful thing. It actually unites America.”

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