In a heated exchange on Capitol Hill, Florida Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar refused to allow California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee to participate in a House subcommittee hearing focused on the Biden administration's policies on private business in Cuba. Salazar's decision quickly sparked criticism and accusations of behaving like the Cuban regime.

The incident unfolded during a session of the Western Hemisphere subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee when Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, requested that both Lee and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., join the hearing, despite not being committee members. Lee aimed to provide a statement and contribute to discussions on Cuban entrepreneurship, human rights support, and reestablishing U.S.-Cuba relations, as she has been a proponent of normalizing relations with the country.

However, Salazar drew a line, welcoming Wasserman Schultz but firmly denying Lee's participation. Salazar cited Lee's connections to the Cuban oppressors, alleging her friendship with Fidel Castro and suggesting that she is not an ally of the Cuban people. This decision triggered sharp criticism from Rep. Castro, who accused Salazar of suppressing free speech and stifling differing opinions, similar to the actions of the Cuban government.

Concerned about the potential erosion of collegiality in Congress, Rep. Castro expressed his worries regarding the repercussions of Salazar's rejection of Lee's participation. He contrasted this with his own practices when he chaired a Foreign Affairs subcommittee, where he regularly allowed Republicans with opposing views to participate.

During the confrontation, Lee passionately defended her right to express her perspective, asserting, "I'm an African American woman who has a point of view. In a democracy, those points of view are allowed, and you are doing the same thing the Cuban government is." Although her exact comments were not captured by the microphones in the committee room, videos recorded her powerful response to Salazar's actions.

Following her exclusion from the subcommittee hearing, Lee released a statement condemning the move, branding it as another example of the "extreme GOP suppressing freedom of speech and diversity of opinion." She cautioned against the potential consequences of such silencing, warning that it could lead to misinformation and the rise of authoritarian leadership, referring to former President Donald Trump.

Rep. Wasserman Schultz also refused to participate in the hearing unless Lee was allowed to join, emphasizing that despite sharing a critical stance on the Cuban regime with Salazar, equal access and opportunities should be granted to all members under the same rules.

Salazar's office has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter. In a statement issued on Thursday, Salazar expressed that Lee's presence would have "insulted" the Cuban exiles she represents and labeled Lee an "apologist" for the Cuban regime.

The conflict extended onto social media, with Salazar accusing Lee of attempting to disrupt the hearing and branding her as a communist sympathizer and a mouthpiece for the Cuban regime. Lee responded by challenging Salazar to a debate on Cuba's policy and Fidel Castro's legacy, highlighting a 2018 news story in which Salazar interviewed Castro during her time as a journalist.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, also raised her voice against Salazar's actions during the hearing, asserting that Lee was not a puppet of the Cuban regime, but rather a Black woman who had been unjustly silenced, denying her rightful voice.

As the fallout from this clash continues, the incident serves as a reminder of the deep political divisions and ideological conflicts confronting Congress, further complicating efforts towards unity and cooperation in addressing critical issues.