A 2015 video of Rep. Frederica Wilson D-Fla., speaking at the dedication ceremony of a new FBI building contradicts White House Chief of Staff John Kelly's comments about the address, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Kelly had criticized the lawmaker for claiming "she got the money" for the new building in Miramar, Florida, the newspaper noted. But Kelly misrepresented Wilson's speech, according to the Sentinel.
The Miami Herald reported she never said she secured the $20 million for construction. It noted she took credit for passing legislation to get the structure named after the two FBI agents who died during a 1986 shootout with bank robbers.
"Today it is our patriotic duty to lift up Special Agent Benjamin Grogan and Special Agent Jerry Dove from the streets of South Florida and place their names and pictures high where the world will know that we are proud of their sacrifice, sacrifice for our nation," she said according to the exclusive Sun Sentinel video released on Friday.
Kelly had accused Wilson, without mentioning her by name. of taking undue credit for the building.
"A congresswoman stood up, and in a long tradition of empty barrels making the most noise, stood up there in all of that and talked about how she was instrumental in getting the funding for that building, and how she took care of her constituents because she got the money, and she just called up President [Barack] Obama, and on that phone call, he gave the money, the $20 million, to build the building, and she sat down," Kelly told reporters according to the Washington Examiner.
Wilson and the White House have been locked in an ongoing battle over what President Donald Trump told the widow of a Green Beret sergeant during a condolence call.
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