Congresswoman Nikema Williams and Congressional Colleagues to Introduce Resolution Calling for Censure of Congressman Paul Gosar
Statement
Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) who is the Whip of the Democratic Women's Caucus and Representatives Jim Cooper (TN-5), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Sylva Garcia (TX-29), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), announced they will introduce a resolution censuring Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-4) for posting an edited video on social media depicting himself murdering Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Joe Biden.
The Members plan to introduce the House Resolution on Friday during the next pro forma when the House is in session.
"For a Member of Congress to post a manipulated video on his social media accounts depicting himself killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Biden is a clear-cut case for censure," the Members said. "For that Member to post such a video on his official Instagram account and use his official congressional resources in the House of Representatives to further violence against elected officials goes beyond the pale. 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 silence from Minority Leader McCarthy is nearly as offensive. Both men's actions are clear evidence of their inability to uphold their duties and engage in meaningful, intelligent political discourse in a manner befitting their office and this institution."
The video has received strong condemnation by Members of Congress, the press, and the public. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Congressman Gosar defended the video, calling it a "symbolic cartoon" and spreading hateful and false rhetoric about immigrants.
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