Dem rep: Critics of Clinton’s paid speeches ‘grabbing at straws’

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee on Friday said Hillary Clinton is under no obligation to release transcripts of her paid speeches to Wall Street.

“Now is the time where people are grabbing at straws,” the Texas Democrat told host Tamron Hall on MSNBC’s “NewsNation.”

{mosads}“Frankly, I think the speeches are a non-issue. It is a non-issue as it relates to the lives of the men and women of this country. I’m simply saying get on with the debate on the issues that the American people are concerned about.”

Jackson Lee, who has endorsed Clinton, challenged fellow Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders to release his own paid speaking transcripts following his repeated criticism of Clinton.

“I would imagine Sen. Sanders has done speeches in a lot of places where people might be interested in what he had to say,” Jackson Lee said.

“So if this is really an issue, then let us have him present all of his speeches. [Former Secretary of State] Clinton is talking about the issues. That’s what Sen. Sanders should be talking about.”

Jackson Lee said critics misrepresent Clinton by portraying her as secretive or untrustworthy.

“I think Secretary Clinton has been transparent,” she said. “Her whole life has been an open book.

“I am very agitated about the suggestion that Secretary Clinton can’t be trusted — she can. Those who have traveled with her and seen her, we know her in-depth sincerity in caring for children.”

Sanders has frequently suggested the Democratic presidential front-runner’s appearances before large financial firms denotes coziness with Wall Street. He has challenged her to release the transcripts from those appearances.

The New York Times published an editorial late Thursday calling on Clinton to release transcripts of her past paid speeches.

Clinton has said she has won’t release the transcripts of her paid speeches until all the other presidential candidates — including on the Republican side — do the same.

Updated at 2:04 p.m.