The Treasury Department on Thursday walked back the comments of secretary Steve Mnuchin who earlier urged "Congress to look at" gun issues during testimony on Capitol Hill, Politico reports.
"Personally, I think the gun violence — it's a tragedy what we've seen yesterday, and I urge Congress to look at these issues," Mnuchin said during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing.
But what Mnuchin meant was this, according to the Treasury Department.
"Secretary Mnuchin was directly addressing Congressman [John] Lewis’ question about availability of funds in the budget to address the issue of gun violence. He also reflected the feelings shared by all Americans that yesterday’s school shooting was a profound tragedy,” said Treasury spokesman Tony Sayegh.
Mnuchin was responding to the Wednesday's school shooting massacre in south Florida that left 17 dead and another two dozen wounded.
It's the second time this week a Cabinet member has had to have comments walked back.
Budget director Mick Mulvaney - twice - made comments that he would not have supported President Donald Trump's budget if he were still a congressman, remarks that were pulled back by the Office of Management and Budget afterward.
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