Democrats are again moving towards a push to censure Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), who previously received the formal rebuke from the chamber after sharing a video that had been edited to depict violence against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
This time, the clinching issue is that a recent newsletter from Gosar included a link to a website that has posted content denying the Holocaust, a favorite conspiracy theory of right-wing extremists. Gosar earlier this year shared a link to a similar site. Axios, which revealed the news of the developing censure resolution that would target the Arizona Republican, didn’t identify the Democrats responsible for the latest initiative, instead reporting that a version of the proposal was being circulated among Democratic teams.
As Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) tried to do when she recently introduced articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden, there is the option for Dems to procedurally force the chamber to vote on any proposed censure of Gosar, though Republicans currently hold the majority and have generally stuck with their similarly criticized members in the past. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), despite facing consistent criticism for spreading evident conspiracy theories and having in the past expressed apparent support for violence, remains accepted by House GOP’ers and is known for working to support House Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in key initiatives of his, such as the time-sensitive debt ceiling deal that the California Republican recently struck with the White House.
Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), a first-term member, recently introduced a proposal to censure Greene, citing a long list of contentious comments she’s made and circumstances in which she’s been involved. Censure is essentially a formal rebuke from the House and is generally considered as among the highest levels of punishment that the House can impose, though it has no inherent impact on a member’s eligibility for their position in Congress.
