TLDR:
- Rep. Andy Ogles posted a string of anti-Muslim messages after violent attacks in Michigan and Virginia, writing “Muslims don’t belong in American society.”
- Rep. Shri Thanedar introduced a censure resolution that would strip Mr. Ogles of his Homeland Security Committee seat.
- Rep. Randy Fine joined in, calling for “more Islamophobia, not less,” drawing additional censure demands.
- With Republicans controlling the House, the censure effort faces long odds.
Two GOP reps spark censure push with anti-Muslim posts after terror attacks
A pair of House Republicans are facing Democratic censure demands after a series of inflammatory anti-Muslim social media posts that followed violent attacks in Michigan and Virginia.
Rep. Andy Ogles, Tennessee Republican, set off a firestorm Thursday when he wrote that “Muslims don’t belong in American society” and suggested Muslims will “breed their way through our society.” Rep. Randy Fine, Florida Republican, piled on, declaring, “We need more Islamophobia, not less.”
The posts came after attacks in both states — one carried out by a Lebanon-born U.S. citizen, the other by an Islamic State supporter.
Rep. Shri Thanedar, Michigan Democrat, quickly introduced a resolution to censure Mr. Ogles for “spewing hatred and bigotry toward Muslim Americans.” If passed, it would remove Mr. Ogles from the House Homeland Security Committee.
“His words incite hatred against millions of Muslim Americans,” Mr. Thanedar said. “They are fundamentally un-American.”
Reps. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona and Robin Kelly of Illinois called for Mr. Fine to face censure as well.
It’s not Mr. Ogles’ first controversy — he faced resignation calls in February after saying “the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one.”
With Republicans controlling the House, however, Democrats have little power to force a vote. Only 28 censure resolutions have succeeded in Congress in nearly 200 years.
Read more:
• Democrats want to censure GOP Rep. Andy Ogles over anti-Muslim comments; Rep. Randy Fine may be next
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