House Passes Representative Malinowski's Bipartisan Resolution Condemning the Conspiracy Movement QAnon

Statement

Today, the House of Representatives passed, 371-18, a bipartisan resolution introduced by Representatives Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Denver Riggleman (R-VA) condemning QAnon, a movement promoting a collection of unfounded conspiracy theories that have spread widely on the internet since 2017. The resolution marks the first official bipartisan condemnation of this conspiracy movement that is actively working to undermine public trust in America's democratic institutions and influence US elections. Representative Malinowski's floor remarks on the resolution can be viewed here.

"Conspiracy theories that falsely blame secret cabals or marginalized groups for society's ills have long fueled prejudice, violence and terrorism" said Representative Malinowski. "Today the House of Representatives came together across party lines to say that QAnon has no place in our nation's political discourse."

"I am happy to see this resolution pass the House and proud of my colleagues who stood up against the QAnon conspiracy theory. QAnon and the theories it promotes are a danger and a threat that has no place in our country's politics," said Representative Riggleman.

The resolution passed today:

-Condemns QAnon and rejects the conspiracy theories it promotes;
-Condemns all other groups and ideologies, from the far left to the far right, that contribute to the spread of unfounded conspiracy theories, and encourage Americans to destroy public and private property and attack law enforcement officers;
-Encourages the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as all Federal law enforcement and homeland security agencies to continue to strengthen their focus on preventing violence, threats, harassment, and other criminal activity by extremists motivated by fringe political conspiracy theories;
-Encourages the Intelligence Community to uncover any foreign support, assistance, or online amplification QAnon receives as well as any QAnon affiliations, coordination, and contacts with foreign extremist organizations or groups espousing violence; and
-Urges all Americans, regardless of our beliefs or partisan affiliation, to seek information from authoritative sources, and to engage in political debate from a common factual foundation.

QAnon initially alleged that prominent Americans are engaged in a secret plot to control the world, while using their power to exploit children, and has expanded to embrace virtually every popular conspiracy theory of the last several decades. The FBI has assessed with high confidence that "fringe political conspiracy theories," including QAnon, "very likely motivate some domestic extremists, wholly or in part, to engage in criminal or violent activity," and that these conspiracy theories "very likely encourage the targeting of specific people, places and organizations, thereby increasing the likelihood of violence against these targets."

The influence of these groups has been felt recently in our own community with QAnon supporters marching in Westfield, and a Berkeley Heights resident identified as the principal developer for a QAnon organizing platform that has since been shut down. In September, Representative Malinowski hosted a public forum with leading experts to pull back the curtain on QAnon and better understand the spread of misinformation online.

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