2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Censuring Representative Paul Gosar,
And Removing Him From His Committee Assignments After He Posted An
Edited Video Of Him Killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez And
Assaulting President Biden. In November 2021, Fitzpatrick voted
against a resolution which would, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"censure Rep. Paul Gosar R-Ariz., and remove him from his assignments on
the House Oversight and Reform and Natural Resources committees for
posting a manipulated video on his social media accounts depicting
himself killing Rep. Ocasio-Cortez D-N.Y., and attacking President Joe
Biden. It would require Gosar to present himself in the well of the
House for the pronouncement of censure. The resolution would condemn
'threats of violence' against members of Congress and the president,
stating that 'depictions of violence can foment actual violence and
jeopardize the safety of elected officials.'" The vote was on passage.
The House passed the resolution by a vote of 223-207. [House Vote 379,
11/17/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/17/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
789]
Representative Gosar Did Not Apologize For Posting The Animated
Video, Claimed The Video Was Not Intended To A Target Representative
Ocasio-Cortez Nor President Biden, But Instead Said His Cartoon
Character Went After The "The Policy Monster Of Open Borders."
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Gosar posted the video on
social media Sunday, a move that led Pelosi to later call on the
House Ethics Committee and law enforcement to investigate. In a Nov.
9 statement, Gosar did not apologize and said the video, which
appeared on his Twitter and Instagram accounts, was
mischaracterized. The posts have been removed. 'The cartoon depicts
the symbolic nature of a battle between lawful and unlawful policies
and in no way intended to be a targeted attack against
Representative Cortez or Mr. Biden,' he said. 'It is a symbolic
cartoon. It is not real life. Congressman Gosar cannot fly. The hero
of the cartoon goes after the monster, the policy monster of open
borders.'" [Congressional Quarterly,
11/12/21]
Representative Gosar Claimed The Animated Video Was Not Dangerous
And Did Not Threaten Anyone, But Instead Illustrated A Battle On
Policy Over Undocumented Immigrants. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "On the floor, Gosar said the video was not 'dangerous'
or 'threatening' but depicted a 'policy battle' over 'illegal
aliens.'" [Congressional Quarterly,
11/17/21]
Representative Gosar Claimed To Have Censured Himself By Taking
Down The Animated Video, Not Because He Thought It Was Threatening
But For The Sake Of Those Who Found The Video Offensive. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "'I do not espouse violence towards
anyone. I never have. It was not my purpose to make anyone upset. I
voluntarily took the cartoon down not because it was itself a
threat, but because some thought it was. Out of compassion for those
who generally felt offense, I self censored,' he added."
[Congressional Quarterly,
11/17/21]
Representative Gosar Compared Himself To Alexander Hamilton, Who
He Claimed Was The First Person The House Attempted To Censor.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Then he compared himself to
one of the Founding Fathers: 'If I must join Alexander Hamilton, the
first person attempted to be censored by this House, so be it. It is
done.'" [Congressional Quarterly,
11/17/21]
Instead Of Apologizing For Uploading The Animated Video, Gosar
Claimed It Was "Mischaracterized" And Was Not A Direct Attack
Against Representative Ocasio-Cortez Nor President Biden.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Gosar has since removed the
posts and taken down the video. He issued a statement on Nov. 9, but
instead of apologizing said it was mischaracterized and 'in no way
intended to be a targeted attack against Representative Cortez or
Mr. Biden.'" [Congressional Quarterly,
11/17/21]
2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against Censuring Representative
Paul Gosar, And Removing Him From His Committee Assignments. In
November 2021, Fitzpatrick effectively voted against a resolution which
would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide for floor
consideration of the resolution (H Res 789) censuring Rep. Gosar,
R-Ariz. It would provide for one hour of debate on the resolution and
provide for automatic adoption of a Deutch, D-Fla., manager's amendment
that would remove Gosar from his assignments on the House Oversight and
Reform and Natural Resources committees." The vote was on the adoption
of the rule. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 222-208.
[House Vote 378,
11/17/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/17/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
789;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
795]
2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against Censuring Representative
Paul Gosar, And Removing Him From His Committee Assignments. In
November 2021, Fitzpatrick effectively voted against a resolution which
would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide for floor
consideration of the resolution (H Res 789) censuring Rep. Gosar,
R-Ariz., and removing him from committee assignments." The vote was on a
motion to order the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by
a vote of 221-207. [House Vote 377,
11/17/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 11/17/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
789;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
795]