Censuring Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona.

Bill: 117-hres-420
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Introduced: 2021-05-20
Policy area: Congress
Latest action: action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-05-20
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution censures Representative Paul Gosar for certain statements he made regarding the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.</p>

tv_txt: IV 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 420 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 20, 2021 Mr. Cicilline (for himself, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania , Mr. Cooper , Ms. Chu , Mrs. Demings , Mr. DeSaulnier , Mr. Huffman , Ms. Jackson Lee , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Mr. Kildee , Mrs. Lawrence , Mr. McEachin , Mr. Payne , Ms. Schakowsky , Ms. Tlaib , Mr. Jones , Ms. Kelly of Illinois , Mrs. Torres of California , Ms. Jayapal , and Mr. Espaillat ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ethics RESOLUTION Censuring Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona.

Whereas in January 2021, the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives released its report, “Materials in Support of H. Res. 24, Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for High Crimes and Misdemeanors”, which stated: To enter the Capitol, the insurrectionists desecrated the Capitol including by, among other acts, ransacking and looting Member offices, stealing and destroying electronics, government property, and sensitive materials, and engaging in violence, which eventually resulted in at least five deaths. To enter the Capitol, the insurrectionists overwhelmed Capitol Police, scaled walls, used makeshift ladders, shattered windows, and overran barricades. Although Capitol Police locked the gallery and floor doors and Members and staff barricaded themselves in offices, the mob stormed Member offices, vandalizing and smashing property, overturning furniture, and, in some cases, stealing electronics. Insurrectionists also severely damaged the building itself. They left bullet marks in the building walls, looted art, destroyed monuments, including a commemorative display honoring late congressman John Lewis, smeared their feces in several hallways, and fatally injured a Capitol Police officer. Several brandished the Confederate battle flag and extremist paraphernalia. By approximately 2:45 PM, insurrectionists had breached the House and Senate floors and began posing for photographs, including on the dais where Vice President Mike Pence had been presiding just moments before. Other images showed rioters smoking marijuana in Capitol rooms. The insurrectionists had, among their gear and weaponry, bullet-proof vests, zip ties used for handcuffs, metal knuckles, sticks and poles, knives, and firearms; in total, at least six handguns were recovered from subsequent arrests. Videos confirmed that these insurrectionists were openly threatening specific Members of Congress. For example, some of the attackers said, Tell Pelosi we’re coming for that [expletive] . ; Whereas the Committee’s report also stated, During the attack, Vice President Pence, Members of Congress, and staff were sheltering in secure locations. Spurred by the false claims of fraud, some of the attackers said, Tell Pelosi we’re coming for that [expletive] , and Hang Mike Pence . Some attackers carried zip ties intended to be used as handcuffs. A noose was hung outside the Capitol. Multiple members of the Capitol Police were severely injured or killed. ; Whereas the Committee’s report also stated, Later video would emerge of insurrectionists inside the Capitol chanting Hang Mike Pence! ; Whereas on May 12, 2021, during a hearing entitled The Capitol Insurrection: Unexplained Delays and Unanswered Questions held by the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives, Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona, while questioning former Acting Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen about the death of Ashli Babbitt, asked “Who executed Ashli Babbitt?”, when she was shot by Capitol Police officers as she tried to climb through a broken window in the Speakers Lobby right outside the chamber of the House of Representatives; Whereas at the hearing, Representative Gosar stated, Outright propaganda and lies are being used to unleash the national security state against law abiding U.S. citizens, especially Trump voters. The FBI is fishing through homes of veterans and citizens with no criminal records and restricting the liberties of individuals that had never been accused of a crime. Mr. Biden calls January 6th the worst attack since the Civil War. A president was impeached for his alleged role in that riot. It was reported early, totally unconfirmed, that an armed insurrection, beat a police officer to death with a fire extinguisher . The government has even enlisted Americans to turn in their own neighbors. ; Whereas at the hearing, Representative Gosar also stated, But the truth is being censored and covered up. As a result, the DOJ is harassing--harassing peaceful patriots across the country. ; and Whereas undermining the seriousness of the insurrection that occurred on January 6 against the United States Capitol and Members of Congress, and dangerously mischaracterizing the events of that day, disrespects the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers on that day and creates danger by emboldening and legitimizing future actors who would attack the United States Capitol in a similar manner: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1) Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona be hereby censured; (2) Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona forthwith present himself in the well of the House of Representatives for the pronouncement of censure; and (3) Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona be censured with the public reading of this resolution by the Speaker.