Reporter Grills State Dept. Spokeswoman After She Refuses to Explain Where Samantha Power Was During Emergency U.N. Mtg on Syria

Reporter James Rosen grilled State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Thursday over why newly-instated United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power missed an emergency U.N. meeting on the crisis in Syria the day before.

Psaki said only that Power had a "previously-arranged trip" but was in "constant contact" with her U.N. staff and the White House. A deputy participated in the U.N. meeting in Power's place.

Newly-confirmed U.S. United Nations Ambassador Samantha Power did not attend an emergency U.N. meeting on the crisis in Syria Wednesday. (AP)

"Is she on vacation?" Rosen, of Fox News, asked.

Psaki said she didn't have any more details for Rosen and directed him to the U.N.

Rosen returned to the subject a few moments later, saying he didn't "understand why you’re unwilling to tell us where Ambassador Power was."

"There’s no dishonor in having had a scheduled vacation, if that’s the case," he said.

Psaki, who served as President Barack Obama's campaign press secretary in 2012, repeated that Power had a "previously scheduled trip."

"Where?" Rosen asked.

"I don’t think I need to go into more detail from here. And you’re welcome to call the United Nations, where she is the ambassador," Psaki said.

While Power was not present for Wednesday's meeting, she did tweet a message about the Syria situation.

[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/AmbassadorPower/status/370291481015119872"]

Watch the Rosen-Psaki exchange, via the Washington Free Beacon:

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