Home Reprimands Illinois Congressman Over Succession Plan, Angering Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Home voted Tuesday to reprimand Illinois Rep. Chuy Garcia over an eyebrow-raising succession plan for his congressional seat, a transfer that divided Democrats who have been livid with a member of their very own caucus for triggering the vote.

The Home voted 238-186 for the measure, with ten members not voting and 4 voting current. Greater than two dozen Home Democrats voted for the decision, together with all Republicans.

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, D-Wash., defied her get together by introducing the decision on the Home ground to rebuke Garcia, who represents elements of western Chicago and its suburbs. She mentioned the vote disapproving of Garcia’s conduct was mandatory as a result of it’s essential to name out “election subversion” by lawmakers on each side of the aisle.

Garcia introduced he was not searching for reelection earlier this month simply earlier than the deadline to file paperwork for the seat. By then, his chief of workers was the one candidate who had submitted the wanted paperwork.

“My responsibility as an elected representative of my community is to say loudly and consistently, humbly and with love that no one has the right to subvert the right of the people to choose their elected representatives,” Perez mentioned throughout a Monday night ground speech.

Blowback from Democratic lawmakers was swift.

A Tuesday assertion earlier than the vote from Home Democratic leaders, together with Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, defended Garcia as a “progressive champion” and a “good man.”

“We unequivocally oppose this misguided resolution and urge our colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus to reject it,” the assertion mentioned.

A number of Democratic lawmakers rallied to Garcia’s protection forward of the vote and attested to his character and historical past as an advocate on points like immigrant rights. Others jeered and booed at Perez as she spoke throughout a debate on the Home ground.

Democratic leaders had urged their colleagues to oppose the measure and a number of Home Democrats had warned the measure was a distraction that didn’t benefit a vote on the Home ground.

“This is why the Ethics Committee exists,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., wrote in a prolonged social media put up that defined her reasoning for opposing the decision. The New York progressive star warned that the vote could set up a precedent that members “will be forced to vote on a slew of individual member indiscretions determined by political convenience of whoever is in the majority.”

Practically each Democrat within the Home besides Perez voted to quash a vote on the petition Monday evening, however the effort superior with the backing of all Republicans.