Democrats Seek Censure for GOP Representatives

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are moving to censure Representatives Randy Fine (R-Fla.) and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) following a series of anti-Muslim social media posts made by the two congressmen over several weeks. On Thursday, Representative Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) introduced a resolution to censure Ogles for statements including, "Muslims don't belong in American society," and a podcast remark that Muslims would "breed their way through our society." The resolution also seeks to remove Ogles from the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Representative Fine has also drawn criticism for posts, including one from last month stating, "If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one," and a recent call for "more Islamophobia, not less." These actions by Democratic lawmakers come amidst heightened partisan tensions in Congress, particularly after recent attacks in Michigan and Virginia. While Democrats can force votes on censure resolutions, the Republican majority in the House makes successful passage unlikely, as only one Republican, Representative Don Bacon (R-Neb.), has publicly criticized the comments.