CORRECTED: Cruz scolds reporter who brought up his daughters

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified the reporter asking Cruz a question about his children.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) accused White House reporter Andrew Feinberg of playing a “nasty Washington game” after the reporter brought up the senator’s children while posing a question about Hunter Biden.

The interaction occurred on Monday during a break in the impeachment trial. President Trump’s defense team during arguments that day argued that the Ukrainian energy company Burisma had hired Hunter Biden because his father was vice president. 

Feinberg, who covers the White House for Breakfast Media and previously worked for Sputnik News, responded to a point Cruz made by stating that the Trump defense team had not pointed to any crimes committed by Biden as they attacked his reputation and image.

“But senator, none of the president’s attorneys mentioned one single possible crime,” Feinberg said. “Basically, what they said is [Hunter Biden] got a job, his dad was vice president. I mean, if that’s a crime, shouldn’t half of your children be in prison?” 

“My children are 9 and 11,” Cruz replied to laughs from lawmakers and some reporters.

“I’m sorry you want to throw a 9-year-old in prison. At this point, my third-grader plays basketball and softball at her school, so stop playing the nasty Washington game,” he added.

“That’s not a nasty Washington game,” Feinberg responded.

“Attacking a 9-year-old?” Cruz shot back as he moved on.

.@tedcruz handled this bizarre exchange masterfully.

Reporter argues that Hunter’s Burisma arrangement is NBD, then says “shouldn’t half of your kids also be in jail?” As if half of Senator’s kids are getting millions from foreign govs to do nothing.pic.twitter.com/7EE859ZEaU

— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) January 28, 2020