Rep. Lauren Boebert loudly confronted fellow Republicans after a House vote failed 209-214-3 to censure Delegate Stacey Plaskett and remove her from the Intelligence Committee. Three Republicans opposed the measure and three voted present, a split that led Democrats to decline pursuing a separate censure of Rep. Cory Mills. Plaskett is accused in recently released documents of consulting with Jeffrey Epstein in 2019; Mills faces a restraining order stemming from allegations by an ex-girlfriend, which he has disputed. Tensions spilled onto the floor as Rep. Anna Paulina Luna accused leadership of protecting members on both sides.
Boebert Erupts on House Floor After Failed Censure Vote Against Delegate Plaskett
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) angrily confronted fellow House Republicans on the chamber floor Tuesday night after a resolution to censure Delegate Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) failed. The defeat, aided by a small group of Republican dissidents, prompted Democrats to decline moving forward with a planned censure of Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.).
The measure to censure Plaskett — and remove her from the House Intelligence Committee amid recently released documents that suggest she consulted with Jeffrey Epstein during a 2019 hearing — failed by a vote of 209-214-3 (209 in favor, 214 opposed, 3 present).
Three Republicans — Reps. Don Bacon (Neb.), Lance Gooden (Texas) and David Joyce (Ohio) — joined all Democrats in voting no. Three additional Republicans — Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) and Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) — were recorded as present.
Boebert, a member of the House Freedom Caucus which championed the Plaskett measure, was visibly furious after the tally. While her exact words were not clearly audible from the press gallery or on available recordings, witnesses reported that she shouted and repeatedly wagged her finger at colleagues. At one point she approached Rep. Cory Mills and pointed at him while raising her voice.
If the Plaskett censure had passed, Democrats were prepared to bring forward a resolution to censure Mills. Last month, a Florida county judge granted a temporary restraining order at the request of an ex-girlfriend who accused Mills of harassment and of threatening to release intimate photos after their breakup; Mills has denied some of those allegations.
However, as has occurred in prior episodes when censure efforts against Democrats failed, House Democrats on Tuesday declined to pursue the censure of Mills.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) raised a parliamentary inquiry to express her frustration with what she described as cross-party deals protecting members from accountability.
"I was wondering if the Speaker of the House of Representatives can explain why leadership on both sides, both Democrat and Republican, are cutting back-end deals to cover up public corruption in the House of Representatives for both Republican and Democrat members of Congress," Luna said.
Boebert cheered and yelled in agreement, shouting, "Get it, girl." The presiding chair ruled that Luna had not stated a proper parliamentary inquiry. From the floor, Luna replied: "Thank you very much, but I think the American people know what happened tonight."
A lawmaker who had supported a Mills censure told reporters Boebert appeared frustrated that the Florida congressman would not be censured. Boebert's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mills’s office denied there was any deal to halt the Plaskett censure to protect him and said it expected a procedural vote on a Mills censure to be scheduled.
The episode underscored growing tensions within the Republican conference and highlighted how closely divided votes and a handful of defections can shape accountability measures on the House floor.
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