The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on Wednesday known as for Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) to be censured for a since-deleted social media publish criticizing Haitian migrants as “thugs.”
CBC Chair Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) and different Democrats took to the Home flooring to name for a censure in an in depth and at instances heated back-and-forth with Republicans. Horsford moved to pressure a vote on the matter inside two legislative days.
“I hope that every member of this body understands that no person, particularly those who contribute to communities — who are entrepreneurial, who give to our communities by being nurses and first responders and teachers — that those individuals, those children, no longer have to live in fear or intimidation because of any words or quotes to come from members of this body,” Horsford mentioned on the Home flooring.
Higgins obtained vital backlash for the social media publish pushing the false narrative that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are consuming their neighbors’ pets.
“Lol. These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick gangsters… but damned if they don’t feel all sophisticated now, filing charges against our President and VP,” Higgins posted. “All these thugs better get their mind right and their a– out of our country before January 20th.”
Horsford and different members of the CBC confronted Higgins over the publish on the Home flooring.
Horsford on Wednesday moved to pressure a vote on his censure decision, arguing that Higgins used official tools of the Home of Representatives to incite worry and hate, disobeying the Home’s code of conduct.
Home Majority Chief Steve Scalise (R-La.) objected, noting Higgins had already deleted the publish.
“If I need to go through all the tweets from the other side I am happy to,” Scalise mentioned over the sound of Democrats booing.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) advised reporters that Higgins mentioned he regretted the publish.
“He was approached on the floor by colleagues who said that was offensive,” Johnson mentioned.
“He said he went to the back and he prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down,” Johnson continued. “I’m sure he probably regrets some of the language he used. But you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around him.”
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), in the meantime, characterised Higgins’s remarks as “disgusting and dangerous” and urged that Home GOP leaders ought to strip the Louisiana Republican of his seat on the bipartisan taskforce investigating the tried assassination of former President Trump.
“It’s questionable as to why someone so irresponsible like Clay Higgins could be put on a serious taskforce that is investigating the work of the Secret Service in terms of protecting candidates for the presidency, and current office-holders,” Jeffries advised reporters simply off the Home flooring. “Perhaps that’s something that House Republican leadership should reevaluate.”
Jeffries additionally left open the likelihood that the Ethics Committee would possibly examine the episode, although he stopped wanting calling for such a probe instantly.
“That remains to be seen,” he mentioned.
Higgins didn’t instantly reply to The Hill’s request for remark.
The narrative round Haitian migrants was first pushed by former President Trump’s operating mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio). Trump repeated the false declare in the course of the presidential debate.
Metropolis officers have dismissed the allegations, however faculties in addition to metropolis corridor have confronted greater than 30 bomb threats since Springfield has been thrust into the nationwide highlight.
Mychael Schnell and Mike Lillis contributed to this text. Up to date at 6:10 p.m.
