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"From one elected official to another: Stop Lying. It's gross," the gay Pennsylvania lawmaker told Tennessee's Republican senator-elect.
Brian Sims has slammed Marsha Blackburn for spreading misinformation.
Blackburn -- a Republican who was elected to the U.S. Senate this year -- blamed Democrats for the government shutdown caused by President Trump.
"I am disappointed to see that the Senate Democrats chose to shut down our government instead of secure our southern border," Blackburn stated Saturday on Twitter. "The American people deserve to be protected against drug cartels and human traffickers."
In fact, it was Trump who refused to sign a stopgap measure that would have funded the government through the holiday season. The president did so after Congress refused his demand to provide $5 billion to build a wall on the southern U.S. border, one of Trump's signature campaign promises.
Trump took the blame for the shutdown in an earlier meeting with Democratic leaders Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer.
"I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck," Trump stated. "Because the people of this country don't want criminals and people who have lots of problems -- and drugs -- pouring into our country. I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I'm not going to blame you for it."
Sims, a gay Democratic representative in Pennsylvania's House of Representatives, called out Blackburn on Sunday for her "outright lie."
"Marsha, all spin aside, this post is just an outright lie," stated Sims on Twitter. "It's no a play on what really happened. It's a complete fabrication. This is the kind of bold-faced lie that makes people hate politics and politicians. From one elected official to another: Stop Lying. It's gross."
\u201c@VoteMarsha Marsha, all spin aside, this post is just an outright lie. It\u2019s no a play on what really happened. It\u2019s a complete fabrication. This is the kind of bold-faced lie that makes people hate politics and politicians. From one elected official to another: Stop Lying. It\u2019s gross.\u201d— Marsha Blackburn (@Marsha Blackburn) 1545518322
Blackburn is reiterating the claims Trump, who without evidence continued to rant Sunday on Twitter that "the only way to stop drugs, gangs, human trafficking, criminal elements and much else from coming into our Country is with a Wall or Barrier. Drones and all of the rest are wonderful and lots of fun, but it is only a good old fashioned Wall that works!"
The shutdown will likely continue into January, reports The New York Times, and it will hinder large portions of the federal government, including border security, federal parks, and museums.
Sims is no stranger to calling out lies from Republican politicians. When Mike Pence visited Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania lawmaker greeted the antigay vice president by posting an image on Instagram of himself giving the middle finger.
"To be clear, we're a City of soaring diversity. We believe in the power of all people to live and to contribute: Black, Brown, Queer, Trans, Atheist, Immigrant, we want you and we'll respect you," Sims wrote in the caption. "So keep that in mind while you're here raising money to attack more families, spread more lies, blaspheme with your bible, and maybe even talk to a woman without your wife in the room."
