2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Remove Representative Swalwell
From The House Intelligence Committee. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick
voted against tabling, and thus killing, a resolution which would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "remove Rep. Swalwell, D-Calif.,
from the House Intelligence Committee. The resolution would include
findings that Swalwell 'has not denied public reporting' that a
suspected Chinese intelligence operative helped raise money for his
political campaigns and facilitated the potential assignment of interns
in his offices." The vote was on a motion to table the resolution. The
House adopted the motion by a vote of 218-200, thus killing the
resolution. [House Vote 94,
3/18/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/18/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
243]
Republican Leadership Attempted To Expulse Congressman Eric
Swalwell From The House Intelligence Committee Over Allegations That
A Chinese Spy Fundraised For His Congressional Campaign A Couple
Years Ago. According to The Washington Post, "The House shot down
a bid from the Republican leader Thursday to kick Rep. Eric Swalwell
from the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence over allegations
that a Chinese spy raised funds for his congressional campaign years
ago." [The Washington Post,
3/18/21]
The Resolution Would Have Expelled Swalwell From His Committee
Post Due To His Lack Of Denial That The Chinese Spy Fundraised
Campaign Funds And Helped His Interns Acquire Positions In His
Office. According to The Washington Post, "McCarthy's resolution
sought to oust Swalwell from the intelligence panel over the fact
that he has not denied 'public reporting that a suspected Chinese
intelligence operative helped raise money' for his campaign and
helped interns seek potential positions in his congressional
office." [The Washington Post,
3/18/21]
House Minority Leader McCarthy's Desire To Remove Congressman
Swalwell Began In Late 2020 When The Allegations Surfaced About
Swalwells' Connection To Chinese Spy Christine Fang, Known As Fang
Fang. According to The Washington Post, "The resolution marks an
escalation in McCarthy's campaign to see Swalwell removed from the
panel, which began in earnest late last year when the allegations
about Swalwell's ties to a suspected Chinese operative known as Fang
Fang, or Christine Fang, first emerged in a story in Axios." [The
Washington Post,
3/18/21]
Swalwell And Other Californian Lawmakers Were Targeted By Fang,
Who Fundraised For Swalwell's Congressional Campaign And Was
Photographed At A Political Event Alongside Him. According to The
Washington Post, "Swalwell was one of several California politicians
reportedly targeted by Fang, who did fundraising work for his
campaign and was photographed alongside Swalwell at a political
function." [The Washington Post,
3/18/21]
2015: Swalwell Ended Contact With Fang After The FBI Informed Him
Of Suspicions Against Fang And He Was Allowed To Serve On The House
Intelligence Committee Because House Leaders Were Informed Of The
Situation. According to The Washington Post, "When the FBI let him
know of its suspicions in 2015, he cut off contact. House leaders
were also read in on Swalwell's situation in 2015, according to
people familiar with the situation, and Swalwell was allowed to
serve on the Intelligence Committee." [The Washington Post,
3/18/21]
December 2020: Even Though Congressman Swalwell Was Not Accused Of
Wrongdoing, The FBI Briefed Speaker Pelosi And Minority Leader
McCarthy, Who Suggested Swalwell Be Removed From The Intelligence
Committee But Speaker Pelosi Said She Was Not Concerned Over His
Committee Membership. According to The Washington Post, "The
allegations resurfaced late last year, prompting yet another
briefing to McCarthy and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Though Swalwell had not been accused of wrongdoing, McCarthy emerged
from a December briefing with the FBI calling for him to be removed
from the Intelligence Committee. Pelosi, however, said she had no
concerns about letting Swalwell continue to serve on the panel."
[The Washington Post,
3/18/21]
The Chinese Spy Interacted With Congressman Swalwell's First
Congressional Campaign In 2012, Fundraised For His Campaign In 2014
And Helped Someone Get An Internship Through His Office. According
to AP News, "His resolution against Swalwell cited information,
first reported by Axios, that the suspected spy, Christine Fang,
came into contact with Swalwell's campaign as he was first running
for Congress in 2012. She also participated in fundraising for his
2014 campaign and helped place an intern in his office, the report
said." [AP News,
3/18/21]
2023: Fitzpatrick Voted To Remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar From The
House Foreign Affairs Committee. In February 2023, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for a resolution that would
"remove Rep. Omar, D-Minn., from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. It
would describe Omar's 2019 comments regarding the political influence of
pro-Israel lobbying groups and subsequent comments regarding Israel and
9/11, including her comparison of 'atrocities' committed by the U.S. and
Israel to those committed by Hamas and the Taliban. It would state that
Omar 'has disqualified herself from serving on the Committee' and that
her comments 'have brought dishonor to the House of Representatives.'"
The vote was passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 218
to 211. [House Vote 105,
2/2/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/2/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
76]
House Republicans Claimed Some Of The Comments Made By
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Were "Laced With Antisemitism." According
to Congressional Quarterly, "Over Democratic cries of hypocrisy and
'revenge'-seeking, House Republicans on Thursday stripped one of the
chamber's few Muslim female lawmakers of a coveted committee
assignment, arguing some past comments she uttered were laced with
antisemitism. In a party-line vote, the House approved a resolution
(H Res 76), 218-211, to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from the
House Foreign Affairs Committee." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/2/23]
In 2019, Congresswoman Omar Apologized For Making Remarks That
Referred To Wealthy Jewish Americans Influencing U.S. Politicians
Through Money. According to Congressional Quarterly, "As a
freshman member in 2019, Omar appeared at different points on social
media and in public remarks to refer to the influence in U.S.
politics of money from wealthy Jewish Americans, a common
antisemitic trope. Many House Democrats strongly objected at the
time. Omar apologized and the caucus has largely moved on since then
--- but not House Republicans." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/2/23]
House Speaker McCarthy Pledged To Remove Congresswoman Omar From
The Foreign Affairs Committee In 2021 After They Scrutinized Her For
Criticizing Israel. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Speaker
Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., promised in 2021 to boot Omar off the
panel following her controversial comments, if the GOP took control
of the chamber. He and other Republicans blasted her for her
Israel-criticizing remarks." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/2/23]
December 2022: Liberal Jewish American And Pro-Israel Organization
Released A Joint Statement That Condemned McCarthy's Intent To
Remove Congresswoman From The Foreign Affairs Committee. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "In December, a coalition of mostly
liberal Jewish American and pro-Israel organizations released a
joint statement condemning McCarthy's promise to remove Omar from
the Foreign Affairs panel." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/2/23]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
From The House Foreign Affairs Committee. In February 2023, according
to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the "adoption of the
rule (H Res 83) that would provide for floor consideration of [...] a
resolution (H Res 76) that would remove Rep. Omar, D-Minn., from the
House Foreign Affairs Committee. The rule would provide for up to one
hour of general debate on each measure." The vote was the adoption of
the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 218 to 209. [House
Vote 102, 2/1/23;
Congressional Quarterly,
2/1/23; Congressional Actions,
H.Res.
76;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
83]
2023: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar
From The House Foreign Affairs Committee. In February 2023, according
to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the "motion to order
the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment)
on the rule (H Res 83) that would provide for floor consideration of
[...] a resolution (H Res 76) that would remove Rep. Omar, D-Minn.,
from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The rule would provide for up
to one hour of general debate on each measure." The vote was on a motion
to order the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote
of 219 to 207. [House Vote 101,
2/1/23; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/1/23;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
76;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
83]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted To Remove Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene From Her
Committee Assignments. In February 2021, Fitzpatrick voted for a
resolution which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "remove
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., from the House Budget and Education
and Labor committees. It would state that, under the rules of the House,
members and employees must 'behave at all times in a manner that shall
reflect creditably on the House' and that Rep. Greene should be removed
'in light of conduct she has exhibited.'" The vote was on passage. The
House passed the resolution by a vote of 230-199. [House Vote 25,
2/4/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/4/21;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
72]
Instead Of Holding Rep. Greene Accountable For Spreading QAnon
Conspiracy Theories, "Making Racist, Anti-Semitic And Islamophobic
Comments," And Promoting Violence Against Other Congressional
Members, Greene Was Appointed To High-Profile Committee Posts.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Democrats argued Wednesday
that Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy rewarded Greene with
high-profile committee posts, rather than hold her accountable for
pushing false QAnon conspiracy theories, making racist, anti-Semitic
and Islamophobic comments and elevating calls for violence against
members of Congress." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/3/21]
Rep. Greene Falsely Claimed The Parkland Shooting And The Sandy
Hook School Shooting Were Staged. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
unfolded in 2018, a deadly attack which Greene falsely claims was
staged [...] Greene has also endorsed the false claim that the
Sandy Hook school shooting was staged." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/3/21]
Rep. Greene Previously Indicated Support For Speaker Nancy
Pelosi's Assassination, Believed The Parkland Shooting Was Staged,
Questioned The 9/11 Pentagon Plane Crash, Accused President Obama Of
Practicing Islam, Posted Edited Photos Of Her Holding A Gun Against
Other Congressmembers, Claimed In An Anti-Semitic Comment That A
Space Laser Caused Wildfires In California, And Aligned Herself With
QAnon Beliefs. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Prior to her
election to Congress last year, Greene expressed support on social
media for the assassination of Speaker Nancy Pelosi; agreed with
those who said the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School in Parkland, Fla., in 2018 was a 'false flag' operation;
questioned whether a plane hit the Pentagon on 9/11; said President
Barack Obama was Muslim; posted a photo of herself on Facebook
holding a gun to images of Democratic Reps. Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib; mused that a space
laser aligned with Jewish financial interests caused devastating
wildfires in California; and aligned herself with QAnon, a baseless
belief about an anti-Trump 'deep state' that engages in child sex
trafficking and Satanism." [Congressional Quarterly,
2/4/21]
Green Apologized In A Closed Meeting Of House Republicans And
Received A Standing Ovation. According to Vox, "In a closed
meeting of House Republicans Tuesday night, Greene privately
apologized for how her statements may have hurt fellow Republicans,
stating that 9/11 and school shootings did happen and saying she
embraced QAnon during a dark period of her life but has since moved
forward. In a display of just how embedded she is in the House GOP,
she received a standing ovation." [Vox,
2/4/21]
House Democrats Pressured House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy To
Hold Congresswoman Greene Accountable And He Offered To Move Her To
A Different Committee If Democrats Dropped The Resolution That Would
Expel Her From Committees. According to Vox, "Pressure mounted on
McCarthy to take action after Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
began creating the resolution to expel Greene from committees. His
promise to meet with her was insufficient for House Democrats. On
Monday, Hoyer gave McCarthy 72 hours to strip Greene of her
committee assignments --- as Republican leadership had eventually
done with former Rep. Steve King for repeated white supremacist
comments. McCarthy called Hoyer with a counteroffer: He would move
Greene from the Education Committee to a different committee if
Democrats agreed to drop the resolution. Hoyer said no, and the
Rules Committee moved forward with the resolution, voting to bring
it to the floor." [Vox,
2/4/21]
2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against Removing Rep. Marjorie
Taylor Greene From Her Committee Assignments. In February 2021,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the "Roy,
R-Texas, motion to adjourn." The vote was on a motion to adjourn, thus
delaying the vote on Rep. Greene's committee expulsion. The House
rejected the motion by a vote of 205-218. [House Vote 24,
2/4/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/4/21; Congressional
Actions, H.Res.
72]
2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against Removing Rep. Marjorie
Taylor Greene From Her Committee Assignments. In February 2021,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against the
"adoption of the rule (H Res 91) that would provide for floor
consideration of the resolution (H Res 72) that would remove Rep.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., from her assignments on the House Budget
and Education and Labor committees. The rule would provide for one hour
of debate on the resolution." The vote was on the adoption of the rule.
The House adopted the rule by a vote of 218-210. [House Vote 23,
2/4/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/4/21; Congressional
Actions, H.Res.
72;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
91]
2021: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted Against Removing Rep. Marjorie
Taylor Greene From Her Committee Assignments. In February 2021,
according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted against the
"motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and
possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 91) that would provide for
floor consideration of the resolution (H Res 72) that would remove Rep.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., from her assignments on the House Budget
and Education and Labor committees." The vote was on a motion to order
the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of
218-209. [House Vote 22,
2/4/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/4/21; Congressional
Actions, H.Res.
72;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
91]