Second Gentleman Pool Reports of February 14, 2024

SGOTUS Supplemental Pool 1

Pool left the White House gates at 9:35am rolling to the Capitol. Pool did not see the Second Gentleman. We held outside the House Appropriations committee meeting room in the Rayburn House Office Building while a closed door meeting went on. The Second Gentleman was not in that meeting.

Pool and other guests were brought into the committee room shortly before 10:30am. The Second Gentleman enters the room at 10:34am, shaking hands and giving hugs. He sat down next to Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Florida, let the event. She was visibly emotional, saying they had received a very difficult briefing before this event about the sexual violence being used by Hamas against Israelis in the wake of October 7th. She said "I can't go into the specifics of the investigations and the details that were shared with us. But I have never seen more — sadistic evil perpetrated against another human than in the photos and videos that we saw earlier this morning."

"The evidence is abundant and beyond compelling through survivors coming forward, witnesses, video footage and independent analysis we know that Hamas' use of sexual violence including rape, mutilation, and brutality was not an anomaly. It was a premeditated part of their strategy to purposefully use sexual violence as a weapon against innocent civilians."

Wasserman-Schultz introduced the Second Gentleman with this: "Mr. Emhoff the first Jewish spouse of an American president or vice president has been a force in combating anti semitism at home and abroad. It has been inspiring to see him sharing his Jewish heritage and culture with the American people in his role as second gentleman. He has also served as a source of strength for the Jewish community as we grapple with astronomical the astronomical rise of anti semitism from traveling to Germany to Poland, to commemorate the Holocaust to be instrumental in developing the United States first ever National Strategy to Combat anti semitism and reaching out behind the scenes to the owner of the Jewish owned restaurant in Philadelphia, After it was the target of anti semitic protests is around continues to be a force for good in our efforts to end Jewish hate."

Mr. Emhoff stepped up to speak at 10:42am - he spoke very softly, saying "this is tough stuff," that it was difficult to speak on this today.

Some quotes:

"We all have to stand up against hate and barbarism and terrorism, wherever it raises as a we, as Congresswoman said us Jews, wherever we are, we're still coming to grips with what happened on October 7, me included and I'm trying to do it as publicly as I can to continue the work that this administration started to fight hate wherever it is."
"This happened to these women — is happening. We have to shine a light on the sexual violence, gender-based violence that happened."

"The evidence is there…you cannot ignore the facts and the evidence when they're right in your face. Do not ignore it. You cannot deny it."

"We must believe women. We must not look away. We cannot ignore their pain. Whether it happens in Israel on 10/7 or wherever it happens."

"We need to be able to clearly and unequivocally denounce this violence against women no matter what your thoughts or feelings are about any other issue that that is happening with this conflict."

SGOTUS wrapped his remarks at 10:50am, after about 7 mins.

Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog and his wife, Shirin, were in attendance of the event. Ambassador Herzog spoke after the Second Gentleman. Mr. Emhoff turned his chair to be able to face Herzog as he spoke, and often nodded along with what Mr. Herzog was saying.

"This is about basic human values. This is about humanity. And when you understand that you understand why Israeli sense of security…was shattered on the seventh [of October."

The Second Gentleman exited the room about 10:59am, he had to get to his Georgetown law class. He was led the opposite way from the pool.

That's it for me - below is an otter and the info originally sent out by the Second Gentleman's team.

An otter of today's remarks/event, please check the quotes against the audio: https://otter.ai/u/_Bgypk1T2q4U-qskyHV3ru_yfiM

Info from the Second Gentleman's office about today's event:

Advisory: Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff to Deliver Remarks on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Children in Israel

On Wednesday, February 14, the Second Gentleman will join United States Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz at an event to examine and raise awareness of the sexual and gender-based violence Hamas perpetrated against women and children in Israel on and since October 7. The Second Gentleman will deliver remarks on the Biden-Harris Administration's condemnation of sexual violence and commitment to combating gender-based violence. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog, Mrs. Shirin Herzog, and Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt will also attend. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media.