Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) mentioned Rep. Al Inexperienced (D-Texas) needs to be censured for his “shameful” protest throughout President Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night time.
The feedback from Johnson got here minutes after Trump wrapped up his speech, throughout which Inexperienced was faraway from the Home chamber after his disruptive show.
“Absolutely shameful. He should be censured,” Johnson mentioned when requested by The Hill in regards to the protest. “It’s a spectacle that was not necessary. He’s made history in a terrible way, and I hope he enjoys it.”
“If they want to make a 77-year-old heckling Congressman the face of their resistance, if that’s the Democrat party, so be it,” he added. “But we will not tolerate it on the House floor.”
Johnson mentioned he was “quite certain” that “many” Home Republicans would suggest a decision to censure Inexperienced, which he would “absolutely” carry to the ground for consideration.
Inside minutes of Trump’s speech Tuesday night time, when the president was discussing his “mandate” to serve, Inexperienced — who has served within the Home for twenty years — stood up and started shouting again on the president, arguing that he didn’t have a mandate. Republicans broke out in chants of “USA.”
After continued shouting by Inexperienced, Johnson slammed his gavel and mentioned “members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the House and to cease any further disruptions. That’s your warning.”
“Members are engaging in willful and continuing breach of decorum, and the chair is prepared to direct the sergeant at arms to restore order to the joint session,” he added.
“Mr. Green, take your seat,” Johnson mentioned. “Take your seat sir.”
When the yelling didn’t subside, Johnson ordered the sergeant at arms to take away Inexperienced from the chamber. Republicans began singing “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye” to Inexperienced.
After exiting the chamber, Inexperienced advised reporters he didn’t remorse his protest throughout the speech.
“It’s worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up” to Trump, Inexperienced mentioned.
Home Republicans will probably race to introduce a decision to censure Inexperienced. Earlier than Trump’s speech, the board of the conservative Home Freedom Caucus threatened to censure any Democratic lawmaker who disrupted the president’s handle.
“The President’s address to tonight’s joint session of Congress is a constitutional obligation — not a sideshow for Democrats to use noisemakers, make threats, throw things or otherwise disrupt. Our colleagues are on notice that the heckler’s veto will not be tolerated,” the group wrote. “You will be censured. We expect the Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police to take appropriate action against any Members of Congress or other persons violating House rules.”
It was not solely Republicans who criticized Inexperienced’s protest. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) advised The Hill after the speech that the Texas Democrat’s show was “counterproductive.”
“I think to stand up and say, you know, he doesn’t have a mandate to cut Medicare, fine, but I think he, I think it went beyond decorum,” he mentioned.
