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Ben Affleck and Seth Rogen testify as Senate gets a little starstruck Ben Affleck and Seth Rogen testify as Senate gets a little starstruck
(about 1 hour later)
There were curious throngs, obsequious senators and at least one selfie.There were curious throngs, obsequious senators and at least one selfie.
A visit Wednesday by movie stars Ben Affleck and Seth Rogen to Capitol Hill predictably stirred a spectacle. The celebrities were appearing before separate Senate committees to testify about the Democratic Republic of Congo (Affleck) and Alzheimer’s disease (Rogen).A visit Wednesday by movie stars Ben Affleck and Seth Rogen to Capitol Hill predictably stirred a spectacle. The celebrities were appearing before separate Senate committees to testify about the Democratic Republic of Congo (Affleck) and Alzheimer’s disease (Rogen).
Foreign relations committee chairman Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, opened the DR Congo hearing with a brief defense of Affleck’s bona fides, rendered only slightly awkward by Menendez’s pronouncing the star’s name as “Aflac”.Foreign relations committee chairman Bob Menendez, Democrat of New Jersey, opened the DR Congo hearing with a brief defense of Affleck’s bona fides, rendered only slightly awkward by Menendez’s pronouncing the star’s name as “Aflac”.
“Affleck has pursued his interests to eastern Congo with thoughtfulness and seriousness of purpose over nine trips, and so we appreciate him testifying for that purpose,” Menendez said.“Affleck has pursued his interests to eastern Congo with thoughtfulness and seriousness of purpose over nine trips, and so we appreciate him testifying for that purpose,” Menendez said.
Affleck arrived at the Dirksen Senate building after a detour to the State Department, where he greeted Secretary of State John Kerry with an awkward handshake:Affleck arrived at the Dirksen Senate building after a detour to the State Department, where he greeted Secretary of State John Kerry with an awkward handshake:
Then Affleck made his way over to the Senate under the faithful guidance of a silver-haired friend:Then Affleck made his way over to the Senate under the faithful guidance of a silver-haired friend:
It's not every day you share an elevator with John McCain and Ben Affleck pic.twitter.com/evGuYdh2nxIt's not every day you share an elevator with John McCain and Ben Affleck pic.twitter.com/evGuYdh2nx
McCain’s wife, Cindy, is on the board of Affleck’s non-profit, the Eastern Congo Initiative, and has traveled with the star to the region. The Argo director found the hearing room chockful:McCain’s wife, Cindy, is on the board of Affleck’s non-profit, the Eastern Congo Initiative, and has traveled with the star to the region. The Argo director found the hearing room chockful:
Crowd outside the @US_SFRC is a little nuts. If it takes putting Ben Affleck on Hill to bring the #Congo to center stage, I guess so be itCrowd outside the @US_SFRC is a little nuts. If it takes putting Ben Affleck on Hill to bring the #Congo to center stage, I guess so be it
Rogen, meanwhile, found time for a quick trip past the White House, where he did what any self-respecting tourist would do: selfie’d.Rogen, meanwhile, found time for a quick trip past the White House, where he did what any self-respecting tourist would do: selfie’d.
#HouseOfCardsSeason3 pic.twitter.com/OYe2v6OG2G#HouseOfCardsSeason3 pic.twitter.com/OYe2v6OG2G
Rogen was accompanied at the hearing by his wife, Lauren Miller, whose mother suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. Rogen was accompanied at the hearing by his wife, Lauren Miller, whose mother suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. He managed to crack up the committee room with some off-the-cuff banter before beginning his testimony. Watch it on C-SPAN:
VIDEO: Actor @SethRogen Opening Statement on Alzheimer’s Research before the Senate #EndALZ http://t.co/JaBeBgbeou pic.twitter.com/JRhjOJ4fHa