Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was heard calling House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) a “spiteful coward” after Republicans successfully censured Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) in a House vote Wednesday evening.
Democrats on the House floor gathered to call House Republicans “shameful” and a “disgrace” as McCarthy attempted to read the censure resolution. Omar also slammed the House speaker for “weak leadership.”
NOBODY HAD A BETTER NIGHT THAN GLENN YOUNGKIN
The House voted 213-209 to condemn the California Democrat over allegations that he abused the trust of his constituents by pushing the theory that former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election. It was the second time House Republicans attempted to censure Schiff.
Schiff said that he would wear the censure, which does not have direct consequences on its own, as a “badge of honor” and take it as a signal that he was being effective in Congress.
“This is a badge of honor,” Schiff said of the censure vote. “They go after people that are effective. I expose the corruption of the former president. I led the first impeachment trial of the former president to the first bipartisan vote to remove a president.”
Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), who voted “no” on the censure vote, said the night included chaos on both sides of the political aisle.
Rep. Katie Porter is standing at the back of the House Floor and not in the well of the House with the other House Democrats defending Rep. Adam Schiff as he is censured
— Reese Gorman (@reesejgorman) June 21, 2023
“There wasn’t much decorum on the floor from either side,” Porter told Punchbowl News. “I think it’s a bad message to the people of this country that there’s chaos and shouting on the House floor rather than serious business.”
Porter did not stand with other House Democrats that defended Schiff as he was censured.
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A censure vote does not remove a lawmaker from office, nor does it hold any real punishment. The move is a symbolic vote to express dissatisfaction toward a lawmaker over their voting record or personal conduct. However, the move could come back to haunt Schiff as he runs to replace the retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) in the Senate.
The matter will now be referred to the Ethics Committee for a full investigation, according to the measure.
