A House Republican who voted to remove Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., From his committee duties on Thursday, noted that he had already called for similar action against Democrats who made controversial comments.
Deputy Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., Was one of 10 Republicans to vote in favor of the action against Greene. In a Twitter thread explaining his decision, Diaz-Balart noted that Greene’s previous comments were “unacceptable”, but added that there were “also members that I always said should be removed from committee duties for their irresponsible and inflamed speech” .
The Florida lawmaker cited a February 2019 incident involving Democratic MP Ilhan Omar, who was accused of anti-Semitism after making critical comments to Israel and claiming that the Israel Public Relations Committee, or AIPAC, was paying politicians to take a favorable position towards the country. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Omar, who later apologized for the comments.
“When Ilhan Omar continually made anti-Semitic comments about Israel, Nancy Pelosi swept it under the rug and suggested that they ‘move on’. Why was she not removed from her position on a committee that helps to define US policy on regarding Israel? ” Diaz-Balart wrote on Twitter.
Earlier this week, House Republicans made an unsuccessful effort to remove Omar from his committee duties while Democrats acted against Green.
Diaz-Balart also cited a 2018 incident in which Democratic MP Maxine Waters asked her supporters to confront members of former President Donald Trump’s cabinet, as well as previous comments by former Democratic MP Cynthia McKinney, who suggested in 2002 that members from the former president The George W. Bush administration may have had prior knowledge of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“If MTG is being removed from its committee positions for its earlier inappropriate comments, then these members should have received the same treatment. I will continue to demand that the Democratic leadership and the press stop the double standard and hold these members equally accountable.” Diaz-Balart said.
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The House voted 230-199 to remove Greene from his committee assignments. The lawmaker for the first time drew widespread criticism for his earlier support for the QAnon conspiracy theory and social media activity in which it expressed support for violence against Democratic leaders.