IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 658 

Censuring and condemning United States District Court Judge Tanya 

Chutkan. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 18, 2023 

Mr. GAETZ submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for 

a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Censuring and condemning United States District Court 

Judge Tanya Chutkan. 

Whereas United States District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan 

has exhibited open bias and partisanship in the conduct 

of her official duties as a judge for the United States 

District Court for the District of Columbia; 

Whereas, for example, in a sentencing related to January 6, 

on October 4, 2021, Chutkan issued a bizarre rant, opining that ‘‘People gathered all over the country last year 

to protest the violent murder by the police of an unarmed 

man . . . to compare the actions of people protesting, 

mostly peacefully, for civil rights, to those of a violent 

mob seeking to overthrow the lawfully elected government 


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2 

•HRES 658 IH 

is a false equivalency and ignores a very real danger that 

the January 6 riot posed to the foundation of our democracy.’’; 

Whereas the violent protests of 2020 resulted in numerous 

injuries to law enforcement, including the firebombing of 

police vehicles, resulted in serious injuries to law enforcement, first responders, civilians, and property, and resulted in felony convictions and debarments of rioters 

from practicing law; 

Whereas Judge Chutkan’s expressed support for the violent 

protests in the summer of 2020 is conduct unbecoming 

a judge; 

Whereas the defendant before Judge Chutkan on October 4, 

2021, was a nonviolent offender who spent merely 12 

minutes on Capitol grounds, and who urged others to remain peaceful on January 6, 2021; 

Whereas Judge Chutkan’s comments raise serious concerns 

about the fairness and constitutionality of the sentencing 

of that defendant, or other defendants in cases relating 

to January 6; 

Whereas Chutkan donated thousands of dollars to elect 

Barack Obama; 

Whereas, in a more recent sentencing hearing in October 

2022, Chutkan lamented that Donald Trump ‘‘remains 

free to this day’’; 

Whereas such partisan commentary by Judge Chutkan has 

been ongoing and calls into question her fitness as a 

judge; and 

Whereas Chutkan’s comments and activities on and off the 

bench violate all 5 canons of the Code of Conduct for 

United States Judges; namely, calling into question the 


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•HRES 658 IH 

integrity and independence of the judiciary; presenting 

impropriety and the appearance of impropriety; failing to 

perform the duties of the office fairly, impartially, and 

diligently; engaging in extrajudicial activities inconsistent 

with the obligations of the office; and engaging in political activity: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) United States District Court Judge Tanya 

3 Chutkan be censured and condemned; and 

4 (2) the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

5 House of Representatives shall forthwith initiate an 

6 investigation into Tanya Chutkan, for the purpose of 

7 gathering evidence relevant to the duties of Congress 

8 under article II, section 4 of the Constitution of the 

9 United States. 

Æ 


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