19:42
Now congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is on the floor.
Lauren Gambino
(@laurenegambino)“This is not about me. This is not about Representative Gosar himself. This is about what we are wiling to accept.” @RepAOC
Lauren Gambino
(@laurenegambino)She said the Republican tolerance of Gosar’s action “betrays a certain contempt for the meaning and importance of our work here… that this chamber and what happens in it doesn’t matter. And I am here to rise to say that it does.”
Catie Edmondson
(@CatieEdmondson).@RepAOC rips into the “nihilism”
behind saying that Gosar’s video was “just a joke; that what we say and what we do does not matter so long as we claim a lack of meaning”
Elizabeth Landers
(@ElizLanders).@aoc directly addressing McCarthy throughout her speech: “This vote is not as complex as perhaps the Republican leader would like to make folks believe. It’s pretty cut and dry… does anyone in this chamber find this behavior acceptable?”
Cristina Marcos
(@cimarcos).@AOC: “Our work here matters. Our example matters. There is meaning in our service. And as leaders in this country, when we incite violence with depictions against their colleagues, that trickles down into violence in this country. And that is where we must draw the line.”
Kyle Griffin
(@kylegriffin1)Rep. @AOC: “In response to the Republican Leader’s remarks when he says that ‘this action is unprecedented’, what I believe is unprecedented is for a member of House leadership of either party to be unable to condemn incitement of violence against a member of this body.”
Updated
19:38
Republicans really appear to not want this resolution to pass.
Manu Raju
(@mkraju)Several House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump signal they are NO votes on Gosar resolution. Tom Rice of SC told me he’s a NO. “The video was idiotic and immature and childish and stupid, but I don’t think it was a threat. I think it was in very poor taste.”
Manu Raju
(@mkraju)Rep. Fred Upton said the resolution goes a “stretch too far” by removing Gosar from committees. He said he would have been more comfortable if it were just a censure resolution.
Manu Raju
(@mkraju)Rep. Dan Newhouse said he was leaning against backing the measure. He said that a majority party removing minority members from their committees goes “down a dangerous path.” Rep. Katko told me Gosar resolution is “too broad” and Dems should be worried about the precedent it set
Andrew Solender
(@AndrewSolender)McCarthy concludes his floor speech opposing a resolution to strip Rep. Paul Gosar of his committee assignments by stating: “A new standard will continue to be applied in the future.”
Updated
19:27
We just has House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the floor, speaking in favor of censure for congressman Paul Gosar. Now we have minority leader Kevin McCarthy, speaking against.
Lauren Gambino
(@laurenegambino)“It’s an old definition of abuse of power – Rules for thee but not for me,” Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says before turning to a litany of other issues unrelated to the Gosar censure: inflation, the southern border, education, withdrawal of Afghanistan
Nicholas Wu
(@nicholaswu12)Leader McCarthy says on the House floor the “Speaker is burning down the House on the way out the door”
Says Gosar resolution is an “abuse of power”
Garrett Haake
(@GarrettHaake)In defending Gosar on the floor, @GOPLeader so far isn’t actually defending Gosar. He’s claiming Democrats are abusing their power. “The speaker is burning down the House on her way out the door,” McCarthy says.
19:25
Debate has kicked off for the vote on the resolution seeking to censure Arizona congressman Paul Gosar for tweeting a video depicting violence against Democrat congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
K Tully-McManus
(@ktullymcmanus)Both Gosar and AOC are seated in the House chamber as debate begins on the censure resolution.
Speaker Pelosi kicking off debate:
“We can not have a member joking about murdering another,” she says.“This is about workplace harassment and violence against women”
Lauren Gambino
(@laurenegambino)“These actions demand a response,” Pelosi said, urging a censure of Gosar. We cannot have members joking about murdering each other … It’s an insult to the institution of the House of Representatives.
19:18
Here’s a look at Republicans circling the wagons ahead of the vote on the resolution to censure Arizona congressman Paul Gosar over tweeting a video depicting violence against Democrat congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez:
Aaron Rupar
(@atrupar)This would make sense, except for the part where Gosar never actually apologized https://t.co/Ww5L6bNbJn
The Hill
(@thehill)Rep. Matt Gaetz: “In the last session week we had, we reviewed Steve Bannon’s podcast. Today, we’re critiquing Paul Gosar’s anime. Next week, we might be indicting Wile E. Coyote for an explosive ordinance against the Roadrunner.” pic.twitter.com/v8bawwFh4e
The Recount
(@therecount)House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) refuses to answer question about Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) censure vote today. pic.twitter.com/vQo8xwFaA4
Manu Raju
(@mkraju)Reps. Jeff Van Drew and John Katko both say they willl vote NO on Gosar resolution. Katko, who voted to impeach Trump, told me Gosar resolution is “too broad” and Dems should be worried about the precedent it set. Van Drew, who switched parties and became an R: “Let’s move on.”
18:38
Steve Bannon to plead not guilty to criminal contempt of Congress
Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former president Donald Trump, is pleading not guilty to his criminal contempt of Congress charges, according to a notice he filed in federal court on Wednesday.
Bannon, Trump’s campaign chairman in 2016 and then White House chief strategist in the first year of Trump’s presidency, was indicted on Friday after defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the deadly attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, by Trump supporters seeking to overturn the election.
Bannon faces two counts of criminal contempt: one for refusing to appear for a congressional deposition and the other for refusing to provide documents in response to the committee’s subpoena.
Each count carries between 30 days and a year in jail. The indictment is the first for criminal contempt of Congress in nearly four decades.
17:54
Quick update on the resolution to censure Republican congressman Paul Gosar over the video depicting violence against progressive Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez:
Manu Raju
(@mkraju)House GOP leaders are recommending to their members that they vote against the Gosar resolution. This is not a formal whip operation, but they are using the same tactic they employed when 11 Rs joined with House Dems in voting to remove MTG from her committees earlier this year.
Al Drago
(@Al_Drago)Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) rides the subway to the Capitol on Wednesday, before an expected House vote on a resolution which would censure him and remove him from the House Oversight and Reform Committee. #Gosar pic.twitter.com/5TyMH86anE
The Recount
(@therecount)House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) ahead of vote today on resolution to censure Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) for tweeting anime video depicting him killing Rep. AOC (D-NY):
“… that person should not even be a member of this body.” pic.twitter.com/ojqalKGpUa
17:18
Capitol rioter who wore horned helmet sentenced to 41 months
Jacob Chansley, the self-described “QAnon Shaman” who was photographed marching through the US Capitol with a spear and horned helmet during the 6 January attack, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role in the insurrection.
The sentence is 10 months shorter than what prosecutors asked for, but one of the the longest sentences handed out among the hundreds of people who have been criminally charged in connection with the attack.
Scott Fairlam, a former mixed martial arts fighter who last week was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for assaulting a police officer on 6 January.
Scott MacFarlane
(@MacFarlaneNews)FLASH: Judge sentences Q-Anon Shaman to 41 months prison in US Capitol breach case. Jacob Chansley of Arizona was among the highest-profile defendants
Sentence is 10 months shorter than prosecutors sought, but inside federal sentencing guidelines https://t.co/oAyrpplyQN
Chansley was among the most high-profile of those criminally charged for storming the US Capitol on 6 January.
Scott MacFarlane
(@MacFarlaneNews)The note left at Senate President (Pence) desk on Jan 6, 2021. ( Feds say Chansley refused police order to vacate Pence’s seat) ===> pic.twitter.com/eUH69kXWgU
Scott MacFarlane
(@MacFarlaneNews)Feds allege Chansley yelled “Time’s up motherf***” inside the Senate chamber…. playing a leadership role, egging on the mob at a pivotal moment
He served time in pretrial detention, secured transfer from DC jail to Virginia, because of lack of vegan diet in the jail pic.twitter.com/PKNC0zbuUX
Scott MacFarlane
(@MacFarlaneNews)Prosecutor: “He is spewing obscenities at our nation’s lawmakers”.. he left “chilling note” for VP Pence.. He’s literally in the spot where the peaceful transfer of power was supposed to occur
Chansley pleaded guilty in September of unlawfully obstructing an official proceeding. His attorneys argued that he never intended to harm or injure, and that he has mental health issues.
Ryan J. Reilly
(@ryanjreilly)Al Watkins says Jacob Chansley spent a lot of time in solitary confinement, and that his sole contact with humanity “was me, and that’s horrific.”
During his sentencing, Chansley addressed the court, calling himself “a good man who broke the law”. Chansley was the defendant that went on a week-long fast when he was not granted all-organic food in jail.
Ryan J. Reilly
(@ryanjreilly)CHANSLEY: When I was in solitary, I asked myself a lot of questions, but the most important question was “What Would Jesus Do?”
Ryan J. Reilly
(@ryanjreilly)Chansley: “I believe in freedom with all my heart and soul… But I also believe in law and order, because without law and order you can’t have freedom.”
Ryan J. Reilly
(@ryanjreilly)Chansley: Men of honor admit when they’re wrong… I was wrong for entering the Capitol. I have no excuse, no excuse whatsoever.
But says he’s not an “insurrectionist” or “domestic terrorist.” Calls himself “a good man who broke the law.”
Ryan J. Reilly
(@ryanjreilly)Chansley: What if we judged Jesus based on the fact that he overturned the merchant tables?
Updated
16:44
The American Petroleum Institute has responded to the letter that Joe Biden sent to the Federal Trade Commission today asking for an investigation into oil and gas companies over prices at the pump.
Frank Macchiarola, the senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs, called the letter “a distraction from the fundamental market shift that is taking place and the ill-advised government decisions that are exacerbating this challenging situation”.
16:25
US saw a 28.5% spike in drug overdose deaths
The Centers for Disease Control estimated that there were 100,306 drug overdose deaths across the country during a 12-month period ending in April – a 28.5% increase from the same period the year before.
In a statement, Joe Biden said that we “cannot overlook this epidemic of loss, which has touched families and communities across the country”.
“As we grieve those we’ve lost and honor their memories, my Administration is committed to doing everything in our power to address addiction and end the overdose epidemic,” Biden said. “Through the American Rescue Plan, we’ve delivered nearly $4bn to strengthen and expand services for substance use disorder and mental health. We’re working to make health coverage more accessible and affordable for all Americans, so that more people who need care can get it. We are strengthening prevention, promoting harm reduction, expanding treatment, and supporting people in recovery, as well as reducing the supply of harmful substances in our communities. And we won’t let up.”
Read more here:
15:58
Biden asks FTC to investigate oil and gas companies over gas prices
Joe Biden called on the Federal Trade Commission to look into oil and gas companies as prices at the pump continue to skyrocket.
In a letter to FTC chairwoman Lina Khan on Wednesday, Biden wrote that there is “mounting evidence of anti-consumer behavior by oil and gas companies”.
“This unexplained large gap between the price of unfinished gasoline and the average price at the pump is well above the pre-pandemic average,” the letter reads.
Kayla Tausche
(@kaylatausche)NEW: Pres. Biden is asking FTC to investigate “mounting evidence of anti-consumer behavior by oil and gas companies,” citing an “unexplained” gap between the cost of unfinished gasoline and prices at the pump.
Per WH official, this doesn’t rule out potential add’l actions. pic.twitter.com/RaA3Qd7STp
15:25
Here’s an update on negotiations on the reconciliation bill, AKA the Build Back Better Act:
Nicholas Wu
(@nicholaswu12)House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer leaving a House Democratic meeting says that they’ll have debate on BBB tomorrow.
And then “hopefully sufficient fiscal information will be here and we’ll be able to vote later”
Manu Raju
(@mkraju)Top Dems, leaving whip meeting, say that they believe it’s still possible to have a final House vote on the Build Back Better bill by tomorrow. Neal told us it depends on how the CBO numbers come back, but they still think it’s possible tomorrow
Updated
15:09
Republican congresswoman Majorie Taylor Greene has racked up $63,000 in fines for refusing to wear a mask on the House floor, the Hill is reporting.
Greene, the QAnon-supporting businesswoman who had to issue an apology earlier this year after comparing rules on mask-wearing against Covid-19 to the Holocaust, told the Hill that the fines are deducted directly from her paycheck and proudly volunteered that she was also not vaccinated.
“I’m not vaccinated either,” she said. “And I won’t be getting vaccinated. And that’s my own personal choice. I support people that want the vaccine. If anybody wanted one, I would drive them to go get one because I support people’s freedom to make their own decision. But I do not want to get the vaccine myself, and I don’t need to wear a mask. It’s not changing anything,”
The House mask mandate was introduced last year, lifted in June then re-applied in July amid Republican protests.
First offenses merit a warning, while second offenses levy a $500 fine and subsequent offenses a $2,500 fine.
14:51
Senator Amy Klobuchar announced Wednesday that her first follow-up exam following her treatment for early-stage breast cancer this year showed that she remains cancer-free.
Amy Klobuchar
(@amyklobuchar)Good news to share: I got my results back from my first 6-month post-cancer exam & everything was clear. I’m so grateful to be healthy and thankful for my family, friends, and the incredible doctors and nurses who have helped me.
And don’t forget– schedule that mammogram today!
Klobuchar revealed in September that she underwent a lumpectomy and radiation treatment this year following a diagnosis. In August, her doctors determined that her “chances of developing cancer again are no greater than the average person”,
14:26
Today Joe Biden is flying to Detroit, where he will be visiting General Motors and its Factory ZERO electric vehicle assembly plant to talk about the bipartisan infrastructure deal that he signed into law earlier this week.
The president will speak about how the new infrastructure law will expand the green-energy manufacturing industry, with $7.5bn of the new infrastructure law set aside for electric vehicle chargers.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, negotiations continue for the reconciliation bill, also known as the Build Back Better Act. In a speech yesterday, Biden said he expected that Congress will pass the legislation by the end of the week.
14:23
House to vote to censure Gosar over video depicting violence against AOC
Howdy, live blog readers. Let’s get the party started.
The House of Representatives will vote today on a resolution seeking to censure Arizona congressman Paul Gosar and remove him from the House oversight committee.
This comes in response to the Republican representative tweeting an edited anime video depicting him striking the New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with a sword and appearing to threaten Joe Biden.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the tweet “an insult to the institution of the House of Representatives”. “We cannot have members joking about murdering each other as well as threatening the president of the United States,” Pelosi told reporters.
Manu Raju
(@mkraju)New – Pelosi to me on Dems’ plans to censure Gosar and remove him from Oversight. “Because he made threats, suggestions about harming a member of Congress. That is an insult – not only endangerment of that member of Congress, but an insult to the institution of the” House pic.twitter.com/SKBoB6NKTK
The resolution appears to have 60 co-sponsors at the moment, as well as widespread support from members of the House.
Andrew Solender
(@AndrewSolender)Here’s the list of the 60 House Democrats cosponsoring a resolution to censure GOP Rep. Paul Gosar: pic.twitter.com/fWfJCy6eNX
Adam Kinzinger
(@RepKinzinger)We have to hold Members accountable who incite or glorify violence, who spread and perpetuate dangerous conspiracies. The failure to do so will take us one step closer to this fantasized violence becoming real.⁰⁰To be clear, I’ll be voting yes on the Gosar censure resolution.
For those watching from home (read: us), this censure vote should prove to be a rare spectacle in the House of Representatives, the last occurrence of which took place more than a decade ago.
Manu Raju
(@mkraju)It’s rare for a House member to be censured (last time was Rangel in 2010) and have full House strip them of committee spots (only other person was MTG this year). But Gosar will have to stand in the well of the House today as Rangel did 11 years ago. https://t.co/tdKxuPeg5x
AOC spoke to Punchbowl News about how Gosar and Republicans “are essentially using a national platform to legitimize threats of violence on lower levels, and on the local levels, to intimidate people from participating in our democracy”.
Kyle Griffin
(@kylegriffin1)Rep. AOC to Punchbowl: Gosar and other Republicans “are essentially using a national platform to legitimize threats of violence on lower levels, and on the local levels, to intimidate people from participating in our democracy. I believe this is part of a concerted strategy.”
Progressive Ocasio-Cortez has become a conservative bugbear, and she noted that this is not the first time that she’s faced threats at her job.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
(@AOC)Remember when Yoho accosted me on the the Capitol and called me a f—ing b—
Remember when Greene ran after me a few months ago screaming and reaching
Remember when she stalked my office the 1st time w/ insurrectionists & ppl locked inside
All at my job 🙃 & nothing ever happens
“I believe this is part of a concerted strategy,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “What we do here, our response, helps inform as a precedent for actions on the local levels.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
(@AOC)This dude is a just a collection of wet toothpicks anyway.
White supremacy is for extremely fragile people &sad men like him, whose self concept relies on the myth that he was born superior because deep down he knows he couldn’t open a pickle jar or read a whole book by himself