There's a first time for everything.
Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) suffered one of those unfortunate moments on Wednesday when he showed up to the wrong Senate hearing.
The Washington Post pointed to video of the incident, which shows Coats delivering a long opening on a letter he sent about the Indiana National Guard. Then, a staffer slipped him a piece of paper, breaking the news.
“I just got a note saying I’m at the wrong hearing," Coats said.
Coats, who served in the Senate from 1989 to 1999 before returning in 2011, later admitted that he had never done such a thing before. While he does serve on the overall Senate Appropriations Committee, Coats was talking at the wrong subcommittee hearing.
"Well, this is the first time this has ever happened to me, but I hope it’s not a precursor of what (inaudible)," he said.
"You’re always welcome in our committee," said. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), who serves as chairman of the Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee.
Both men and scattered members of the audience chuckled, before Coats joked: "Well, thank you. I saw some familiar faces and I thought this is where I should be."
Watch the exchange above, via the Senate Appropriations Committee website.
(h/t The Washington Post)
UPDATE (5:15 p.m. ET): Coats took to Twitter Thursday, quipping that "the Russians" may have had something to do with the mixup.
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