Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) found out the hard way that rules must be followed by all members of the House, even the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee.
McGovern violated the rules against “insulting” political candidates as he spewed forth on the House floor about former President Trump. He raked Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, over the coals because of his legal challenges.
There would be no legal challenges against Trump if not for Democrats conducting lawfare against him to keep him out of the White House. Everyone sees what is going on. Some Democrats speak out against Trump’s treatment as a former president but most remain silent because it is supposed to help their guy, President Biden, with his re-election bid.
Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) wasn’t having it. She requested that McGovern’s remarks be taken down. This caused a lengthy delay in the House proceedings as the decision was made whether or not McGovern violated House Rule XVII which prohibits impugning the motives of fellow House members, senators, or the president. In this case, it was former President Trump, now running for re-election.
It was decided that precedent shows a former president is “afforded the same privileges as the President.” McGovern’s speech was labeled an offensive attack against Trump and struck from the record.
2) After a lengthy delay, the House ruled that McGovern’s words were “out of order.” The reason is that House Rule XVII says House members are prohibited from impugning the motives of fellow House members, senators, or the President. And in this case, the former President.
Rep.…
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 22, 2024
3) Carl ruled that, based on the precedent of the House, former President Trump is “afforded the same privileges as the President” and can thus not be spoken about in such terms on the House floor.
Carl then declared that the House “finds that words are an offensive attack…
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) May 22, 2024
FAFO. McGovern knew his speech was violating the rules. He’s not a rookie. He has been a member of the House since 1997. He can save his summary of Trump’s legal battles for his appearances on MSNBC.
Democrats have become so accustomed to dragging Trump into every discussion and saying whatever they want about him with impunity that McGovern pulled this stunt.
“We have a presumptive nominee for president facing 88 felony counts, and we are being prevented from even acknowledging it. These are not alternative facts. These are real facts. A candidate for president of the United States is on trial for sending a hush money payment to a porn star to avoid a sex scandal during his 2016 campaign, and then fraudulently disguising those payments in violation of the law. He is also charged with conspiring to overturn the election. He is also charged with stealing classified information, and the jury has already found him liable for rape in a civil court. Yet in this Republican-controlled House, it is okay to talk about the trial, but you have to call it a sham. It is okay to say the jury is rigged, but not that Trump should be held accountable. It is okay to say the court is corrupt, but not Trump is corrupting the rule of law.”
Ironically, McGovern made these remarks out of frustration with partisan politics and a lack of solutions for problems coming out of the House. What did that have to do with Trump? He isn’t president. Trump isn’t a member of the House or in its leadership. When it comes to venting, Democrats bring in Trump by default. It’s ridiculous. Democrats show us how unserious they are in their positions.
McGovern deserved to be reprimanded. He doesn’t get to campaign against Trump on the House floor.
McGovern accused Republicans of “skipping their real jobs to take day trips up to New York to try to undermine Donald Trump’s criminal trial.” Rep. Jerry Carl (R-AL) was presiding over the House when this kerfuffle happened. He warned McGovern about his speech but McGovern continued. That is when Rep. Houchin spoke up. There was an hour-long debate that held up business on the floor. Rep. Carl granted Houchin’s request.
McGovern may not have expected to be punished for his misconduct but he ended up doing what he accused Republicans of doing – holding up business on the House floor. Democrats always do what they accuse Republicans of doing.
“[Republicans have] no time to work with Democrats, but plenty of time to put on weird matching coat uniforms and stand behind President Trump with their bright red ties . . . like pathetic props,” McGovern said. “Maybe they want to distract from the fact that their candidate for president has been indicted more times and he’s been elected.”
That wasn’t nearly as clever as McGovern thought it was.