The Democratic side of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee dais sat empty Wednesday as Republicans questioned witnesses at a hearing on "Exposing Fraud in America," prompting GOP lawmakers to accuse the minority of ducking a politically uncomfortable issue.Sen.Gary Peters, D-Mich., the ranking member on the committee, was the only Democrat seen at the hearing’s opening statement and then appeared to leave sometime before Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., began his questioning of witnesses Nick Shirley, James O’Keefe and Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette.Otherwise, the Democratic side of the dais was completely vacant.FTC CHIEF ACCUSES DEMOCRATS OF 'TRYING TO PROTECT THE FRAUDSTERS' BY WITHHOLDING DATA FROM TRUMP ADMINRepublicans, left, appear at the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on fraud in America, but Democrats, dais on right, appeared to largely skip the forum.
(US Senate Homeland Security Committee)Fox News Digital reached out to every Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, but none responded by press time.Fox News Digital also reached out to Paul for his reaction.Republicans and conservative commentators quickly criticized the Democrats' absence, amid ongoing scrutiny of fraud cases in Minnesota, California and other states.Besides Peters – who did not stay for the main portion of the hearing – Democrats on the panel include Sens.
John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Ruben Gallego of Arizona, Andy Kim of New Jersey, and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.OWNER OF DAYCARE IN VIRAL NICK SHIRLEY VIDEO CHARGED IN $4.6M DAYCARE FRAUD SCHEME, PROSECUTORS SAYA Fox News Channel screenshot shows Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., left, presiding over a hearing with no Democrats, right, present.(The Faulkner Focus/Fox News)At one point, Sen.
Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, pointed out the elephant -- or donkey -- missing from the room.When Paul turned to call on Sen.Rick Scott, R-Fla., t...