Republican Rep. Paul Gosar facing Wednesday censure vote after he posted violent video
Congressional colleagues, sister denounce Rep. Paul Gosar’s tweet of video targeting Biden, AOC
While McCarthy told reporters Monday he had called Gosar about the video and noted the Arizona Republican later deleted it, he did not publicly condemn him.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Tuesday the House would be censuring Gosar “Because he made threats, suggestions about harming a member of Congress. That is an insult – not only endangerment of that member of Congress, but an insult to the institution of the House of Representatives.”
“We cannot have members joking about murdering each other as well as threatening the president of the United States,” Pelosi said.
The House will also vote to strip Gosar of his position on the Committee on Oversight and Reform, in which Ocasio-Cortez also serves.
The resolution would not remove Gosar from his other panel, the Natural Resources Committee.
Last week, Gosar issued a statement saying he did not wish harm toward any members of Congress or the president. He says the video instead “symbolizes the battle for the soul of America” as Congress takes up Biden’s Build Back Better plan, a large package of social spending priorities.
A group Democratic House members said last week they would introduce a resolution to censure Gosar, saying “As the events of January 6th have shown, such vicious and vulgar messaging can and does foment actual violence.”
“Violence against women in politics is a global phenomenon meant to silence women and discourage them from seeking positions of authority and participating in public life, with women of color disproportionately impacted,” the group said in a statement.
More:House Democrats want Republican Rep. Paul Gosar censured for controversial social media post
The resolution to censure Gosar currently has 78 co-sponsors, all Democrats.
Censure is a formal statement of disapproval and does not remove a lawmaker from office. Within the House, a majority of members present must vote to disapprove Gosar’s behavior with censure.
After a congressman has been censured, there is no formal consequence that follows. The move is meant more to be a symbol of public condemnation.
Gosar has routinely espoused conspiracy theories and encouraged people to participate in the rallies ahead of the insurrection attempt on Jan. 6.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., teased consequences during a call with reporters earlier Tuesday, saying the video was “totally, absolutely unacceptable. For any member to project a threat towards another member, that is simply unacceptable.”
“I have never in 40 years seen such a vile, hateful, outrageous, dangerous inciting to violence against a colleague. Never,” he said.
Contributing: Amy Nakamura