CALLBACK

Lynne Patton Used the Cohen Hearing as Reality-TV Audition: WaPo

The HUD official skipped required meetings then appeared behind Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC).

Lynne Patton, the Department of Housing and Urban Development Official whose presence at Wednesday’s Michael Cohen hearings caused controversy, was using the hearing as an opportunity to gain TV exposure, The Washington Post reported Friday.

The Cohen hearing took a heated turn when congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) brought up Patton’s presence as a GOP move to fight accusations that President Trump is racist. “Just because someone has a... black person working for them does not mean they aren't racist,” Tlaib said. Rep Mark Meadows (R-NC), whom Patton was seated behind, defended Patton’s presence and said it was “racist” to suggest he would use the Trump employee as a “prop.”

Last year, Patton sought permission to star in a reality-TV “docu-series” from the producers of The Real Housewives of Potomac, while serving as a HUD official. The series would focus on a group of black Republicans. “Black Republicans are not an anomaly. Not only do we suffer the same societal hurdles that face any black man or black woman every single day, we also have the additional albatross of being conservative,” Patton said. Patton’s request to participate in the show was denied by HUD. Since being denied, Patton has made herself visible by other means, the Post reported. Last month she moved into New York City public housing to highlight the deplorable living conditions, but then had to suspend her stay to be in D.C. for mandatory meetings. She then skipped the final day of meetings, popping up behind Meadows.

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