Thursday, November 11, 2021

NEW: Dems To Introduce Censure Resolution Against AZ Rep. Gosar Over Violent Anime; Would Be 24th In History (READ Resolution)

UPDATE (11/16, 3:00pm): Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva joined Gallego as one of the original co-sponsors of this resolution. CNN is reporting that the House will vote on the censure resolution tomorrow (Wed.) and that they will also move to remove Gosar from the House Oversight Committee.

Democrats will introduce a resolution tomorrow to censure Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar for his social media posting of a violent anime cartoon which depicts his character slaying fellow Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and threatening President Joe Biden.
(Gosar character preparing to kill Ocasio-Cortez character)


Rep. Ruben Gallego confirms to Arizona's Politics that he will be among the group introducing the resolution.

Censure is the worst punishment - short of expulsion - available to the House of Representatives. If passed by a majority vote, Gosar would be the first Congressman censured in 10 years, and would be only the 24th in U.S. history.

The resolution (below) notes that Gosar used official resources in publicizing the video, posting it on his official Instagram account. (On Twitter, he also used his "official" account.) It also references the violence of January 6, but does not mention Gosar's alleged involvement in encouraging the events of that day.

It also makes a point of noting that the depicted killing is against a woman and that that is especially dangerous.

Whereas depictions of violence can foment actual violence and
jeopardize the safety of elected officials, as witnessed in
this chamber on January 6, 2021;
Whereas violence against women in politics is a global phenomenon
meant to silence women and discourage them
from seeking positions of authority and participating in
public life, with women of color disproportionately impacted;

Cleverly, the proposed resolution also cites Gosar's public defense of the video and attempts to use it against him: 

Whereas Representative Gosar issued a statement on November 9, 2021, defending the video as a ‘‘symbolic cartoon’’ and spreading hateful and false rhetoric about immigrants;

Arizona's Politics has asked members of the state's Congressional Democrats whether they will be co-introducing the resolution, and will update as warranted. 

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