Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has introduced a House resolution to censure Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib over allegations of antisemitic activity and sympathizing with a terrorist organization. The resolution is part of a series of disciplinary measures that the House of Representatives will address, which includes censuring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for a range of controversial remarks and potentially expelling Rep. George Santos, who is facing criminal charges and criticism for lying about his background to win a seat in Congress.
The House is expected to vote on motions to table each resolution, effectively ending the debate if successful. However, if the motion to table fails, the House will proceed with debating and voting on each measure individually. While a simple majority is required to table or adopt a censure resolution, a two-thirds vote is necessary to expel a lawmaker from the House, as mandated by Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress and a vocal critic of the Israeli government, has garnered attention for her alleged antisemitic comments and support of an anti-Israel rally on Capitol Hill. Censure, the second-most serious form of discipline in the House, involves a formal majority vote disapproving of a member’s conduct. The House has censured 25 members throughout history, with recent years seeing an increase in censures.
The House has only expelled five members in its history, with the last expulsion occurring in 2002. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resolution to censure Rep. Tlaib highlights the ongoing tensions within the House, with uncertain outcomes for these disciplinary measures. House Speaker Mike Johnson has characterized the censure effort as a “vote of conscience,” indicating that members will have the freedom to vote according to their beliefs.
Regarding the potential expulsion of Rep. George Santos, the House Ethics Committee’s recent statement suggests that action will be taken on or before November 17. This preemptive move aims to convince members to table the expulsion effort, allowing the Ethics Committee to complete its investigation and potentially recommend a punishment. Some Republicans may prefer to table the resolution to avoid a difficult vote, considering Santos has not been convicted of any charges.
Expulsions are rare in the House, and concerns about the Republican majority’s size could influence the decision on Santos. Additionally, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis has called for the expulsion of Rep. Jamaal Bowman for falsely pulling a fire alarm, while others argue that any sanction for Bowman is not currently on the table.
In conclusion, the House is set to address a series of disciplinary measures, including censuring Reps. Tlaib and Greene and potentially expelling Rep. Santos. The outcomes of these resolutions remain uncertain, with tensions and debates surrounding each case. The House’s decisions will provide insight into the current atmosphere within Congress and the handling of misconduct allegations.
