WATCH: Sen. Josh Hawley and DHS head Mayorkas argue over anti-Semitism claims during Senate hearing

Sen. Josh Hawley and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas argued during a Senate hearing on Wednesday over a suspended employee who had made anti-Israel posts the senator described as anti-Semitic and "pro-genocidal".

Mayorkas said the employee was suspended and said there was a distinction between "espousing or endorsing terrorist ideology" and "speech that is odious."

Hawley and Mayorkas argued over whether the employee should be fired with the DHS secretary refusing to comment on an "ongoing personnel matter."

After Hawley's questions were over, Mayorkas was given additional time to speak during which he again defended DHS employees and said Hawley's questions were "disrespectful" of his own Jewish background.

"Perhaps he does not know that I am a child of a Holocaust survivor. Perhaps he does not know that my mother lost almost all her family at the hands of the Nazis," Mayorkas said.

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Видео WATCH: Sen. Josh Hawley and DHS head Mayorkas argue over anti-Semitism claims during Senate hearing канала PBS NewsHour