Republican senator from Oklahoma Jim Inhofe told an Environmental Protection Agency nominee on Wednesday that if she did not “behave” he would “talk to your daddy.”
The awkward exchange happened during Radhika Fox’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee while she was answering a question about the Trump administration’s changes to the Obama-era Waters of the United States policy according to CNN.
As Fox was speaking, Inhofe interrupted her, saying he needed to use his remaining time to question two other Biden nominees who were at the hearing.
“I appreciate your comments particularly in your opening statement, I enjoyed that. And so I will look forward to working with you,” Inhofe told Fox.
“And if you don’t behave, I’m going to talk to your daddy,” he added, to which Fox then laughed.
The Oklahoma senator’s communications director, Leacy Burke told CNN in a statement that Sen. Inhofe “is always moved by the family stories of nominees, and was especially touched by Ms. Fox’s tribute to her father during the opening remarks.”
“He made a lighthearted joke at the end of his questioning to recognize her father again since he was present for the hearing. As he said in the hearing, Inhofe looks forward to working with Ms. Fox once she is confirmed,” Burke said.
Fox was nominated by Biden in January to serve as the assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Water. If confirmed, she would be the first Asian American and the first woman of color to lead the EPA’s Office of Water.
According to CNN, Fox thanked her parents in her opening remarks, turning to her father who was seated behind her.
“Everything I have accomplished is because I stand on the shoulders of my parents’ hard work,” she said.