A Republican member of Congress was involved in a heated exchange with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Tom Frieden on Capitol Hill Thursday over whether or not the White House ruled out a travel ban to parts of West Africa because of the Ebola crisis.
Louisiana Republican Rep. Steve Scalise pressed Frieden in a House subcommittee meeting about a travel ban and demurred on several occasions whether or not it was ruled out.
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Scalise: Have y’all had any conversations within the White House about a travel ban and whether or not the president has the authority? Because many of us have said the President does have the authority to do it today.
Frieden: From the point of view of CDC, we’re willing to consider anything that will…
Scalise: But have you considered that and have you ruled it out, or have you not considered it at all? Have you had conversations with the White House about a travel ban? That’s a yes or no question. Have you had conversations with the White House about a travel ban?
Frieden: We’ve discussed many aspects…
Scalise: That, how about a travel ban? Have you had that conversation with anyone in the White House?
Frieden: We’ve had discussions on the issue or travel to and from West Africa
Scalise: And have y’all ruled it out?
Frieden: Um, I can’t speak for the White House.
On Friday, the U.S. State Department announced in a press release that an employee who worked in the same hospital as now-deceased patient Thomas Eric Duncan was treated in boarded a cruise earlier this week.

H/T Hot Air