Al Green: House Freedom Caucus threatens to force vote on punishment for Dem
The House Freedom Caucus is making waves in Congress as they threaten to force a vote on a bill to strip Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, of his committee assignments if Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., does not announce a punishment that they deem sufficient. This move comes after Green’s disruptive behavior during President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress, which resulted in his censure.
House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, D-Md., stated that if Speaker Johnson’s punishment is not considered adequate by the caucus, they will file a privileged resolution to remove Green from all committees. Members of the conservative caucus have been in communication with Johnson’s office regarding the issue, emphasizing the need for consequences for Green’s actions.
Last week, Green was removed from the House chamber after shouting at President Trump and shaking his cane in protest during the speech. The disruption led to a censure vote, which passed with 224 to 198 in favor of censuring Green for his behavior. Despite the censure, Green remains defiant, stating that he refuses to stay silent in the face of what he perceives as injustice.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus are considering various options for further punishment, including fines and stripping Green of seniority privileges. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., suggested removing Green’s seniority on offices, parking spots, and committees as a suitable punishment for his actions.
Meanwhile, Green’s Democratic allies caused chaos on the House floor after the censure vote, singing “We shall overcome” as Johnson attempted to read out the censure. In response, Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., filed a resolution to strip all the offending Democrats from their committees.
Speaker Johnson has confirmed that he is in talks with the House Freedom Caucus regarding a punishment for Green. He emphasized the need to restore control and ensure that there are real consequences for disruptive behavior in Congress.
Green currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee, where he holds a significant role as the top Democrat on the oversight subcommittee. The discussions with leadership are currently focused on Green alone, with no immediate plans to address the behavior of other Democrats involved in the disruption.
It remains to be seen what action will be taken against Rep. Al Green, but the House Freedom Caucus is determined to hold him accountable for his actions during President Trump’s speech. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
