House Republicans protect Ilhan Omar from censure over Charlie Kirk remarks
Four House Republicans joined Democrats on Wednesday to vote against censuring Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) for her remarks on Charlie Kirk.
Within days of Kirk’s assassination last week, Omar suggested he had it coming because of his views. She specifically cited Kirk’s views on gun rights, his opinions on the George Floyd narrative, and his dismissal of “Juneteenth.”
“There are a lot of people who are talking about him [Kirk] just wanting to have a civil debate,” Omar told Islamist podcaster Mehdi Hasan. “These people are full of sh*t and it’s important for us to call them out while we feel anger and sadness.”
"There is nothing more f-ed up ... than to completely pretend that his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so," Omar added, while Hasan suggested Kirk should not receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom and that President Trump should not have ordered flags flown at half staff in his honor.
Omar also shared a video on X in which Kirk was called a "reprehensible human being," a "stochastic terrorist," and a "transphobe."
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-NC) introduced a measure in the House to censure Omar. The measure was narrowly defeated, with a vote of 214-213. No Democrats broke ranks to vote for the measure, but four Republicans joined Democrat efforts to block it.
"Ilhan Omar mocked the cold-blooded assassination of an innocent American husband and father," Mace wrote in an X post following the vote. "She’s supported ISIS. She’s supported the Muslim Brotherhood. She’s incited political violence. And tonight, Congress protected her."
The Republicans
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) said that while Omar’s comments were “vile and contemptible,” they should be protected by the First Amendment.
Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO) also said Omar’s comments were “ghoulish and evil,” but insisted that the answer to offensive speech is “more speech.” “That’s what Charlie Kirk believed and practiced,” said Hurd.
Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) was facing a censure resolution himself until he voted against Omar’s censure. In a social media post, Mills claimed he was concerned with free speech. “We may not like or agree with what someone says,” Mills wrote. “But that does not mean we should deny their protected 1A right.”
Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) said the Ethics Committee should take up the matter.
