WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Whip, and Representatives Jim Cooper (TN-5); Veronica Escobar (TX-16), vice chair of the DWC; Sylva Garcia (TX-29), vice chair of the DWC; Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), co-chair of the DWC; Ayanna Pressley (MA-07); Jackie Speier (CA-14), co-chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC); Eric Swalwell (CA-15); Rashida Tlaib (MI-13); and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fl-23) commend today’s bipartisan passage of their resolution censuring Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-4) for posting an edited video on social media depicting himself as murdering Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Joe Biden as well as his removal from both the House Committees on Oversight and Reform and Natural Resources.

“Today, the House of Representatives took a bipartisan stand against the vitriol and toxicity that has for too long gone unabated and poses a clear and present danger to our democracy and the lives of Members, staff, law enforcement, the press, and public,” the Members said.” Congressman Gosar’s posting of a manipulated video on his official Instagram and Twitter accounts, using congressional staff and resources to do so, which depicted him murdering Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Joe Biden deserved and demanded censure as well as his removal from both of his committee assignments. The deadly events of January 6^th showed such vicious and vulgar messaging can result in actual violence and loss of lives. We know violence against women in politics is a global phenomenon meant to silence women, especially women of color. Minority Leader McCarthy’s eight days of slience and lack of condmenatino of the video is tacit approval and just as dangerous and disrespectful to this institution.”

The video has been viewed over three million times and has received strong condemnation by Members of Congress, the press, and the public. In a statement issued last week, Rep. Gosar defended the video, calling it a “symbolic cartoon” and spreading hateful and false rhetoric about immigrants. Just yesterday, Congressman Gosar said, “I did not apologize,” in response to the video.

CONTACT: PressGA05@mail.house.gov

###