GOP Lawmaker Weighs In On Al Green Facing Possible Expulsion

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Republican congressman Tim Burchett suggests Rep. Al Green could face expulsion from the House after his unprecedented heckling of President Trump led to a formal censure vote.

Key Takeaways

  • The House voted to censure Rep. Al Green (D-TX) for heckling President Trump during a congressional address, with the resolution passing largely along party lines.
  • Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) stated that expulsion could be a “reasonable consideration” to restore decorum, though this would require a challenging two-thirds majority vote.
  • After Green’s censure, House Democrats disrupted proceedings by singing “We Shall Overcome,” prompting further Republican efforts to remove committee assignments from those involved.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans condemned Green’s actions as a breach of decorum, while some Democrats defended his right to speak out.
  • Green remains defiant after the censure, expressing willingness to accept any punishment while standing by his actions.

House Censures Al Green As Republicans Consider Stronger Action

The U.S. House of Representatives delivered a formal rebuke to Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) this week, voting to censure the congressman after he disrupted President Donald Trump’s address to Congress by shouting, “You don’t have a mandate.” The censure resolution, introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), described Green’s actions as a “breach of proper conduct” and passed largely along party lines, with 10 Democrats joining Republicans in support of the measure. House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered Green removed from the chamber during Trump’s speech after the disruption.

The censure, which is considered a severe form of discipline second only to expulsion, required Green to stand in the well of the House as the resolution was read aloud. However, the proceedings were further disrupted when Democratic members began singing “We Shall Overcome” in solidarity with Green, causing Speaker Johnson to call repeatedly for order. This display of defiance has prompted some Republicans to consider even stronger punitive measures.

Republican Lawmaker Floats Expulsion Possibility

Following the censure vote, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) suggested that expulsion from the House could be a reasonable next step if decorum is to be restored in the chamber. “Yea, I think it could be a reasonable consideration because I think … we’re going to have to do something to combat this craziness that’s going on. At some point we have to restore decorum and Al just might be that sacrificial lamb,” Burchett stated, signaling growing Republican frustration with what they view as inappropriate behavior during official proceedings.

“Today, I voted to censure a fellow member of Congress. When you knowingly break House rules, as Rep. Green did, it shouldn’t be surprising to face consequences. Congress should respect the co-equal office of the presidency, regardless of who holds the job, do our constitutional duty, and stop with the theatrics at these events,” said Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

Expulsion would require a significantly higher threshold than censure, needing a two-thirds majority vote in the House. This steep requirement makes expulsion historically rare, with only five members ever having been expelled throughout congressional history. The most recent expulsion occurred in 2023 when Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was removed from Congress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has already dismissed the possibility of Green’s expulsion, citing the difficulty in achieving the necessary supermajority.

Growing Partisan Tensions Over Conduct

In response to the Democratic singing during Green’s censure, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) proposed a resolution to strip committee assignments from those who participated in disrupting the proceedings. Additionally, the House Freedom Caucus plans to file a resolution to remove Green’s committee assignments, signaling an escalation in the partisan conflict over congressional conduct and decorum. These measures reflect growing tensions between the parties after Republicans regained majority control of the House.

Green, who has previously filed articles of impeachment against Trump during his first administration, remained defiant after the censure. In a speech following the vote, he expressed willingness to accept whatever punishment came his way while defending his actions as spontaneous and necessary. Green claimed he was motivated to speak out against potential Medicaid cuts that he believes would harm his constituents. The incident represents the latest chapter in the ongoing struggle over decorum and partisan behavior in Congress during the current political landscape.

Sources:

  1. What does censure mean? Explaining Al Green’s punishment by House vote
  2. House Republicans move to censure Rep. Al Green for disrupting Trump speech – CBS News
  3. Could Al Green Face An Expulsion Vote? One GOP Lawmaker Believes That’s A ‘Reasonable Consideration’

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