House erupts over Republican's "vile" post about Haitians
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Rep. Clay Higgins at the U.S. Capitol on June 4, 2024. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images.
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) is facing bipartisan uproar from colleagues for a social media post disparaging Haitians, with Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) even filing a motion to censure him.
Why it matters: The move by Horsford, the Congressional Black Caucus chair, comes after multiple Democratic lawmakers confronted Higgins on the floor about the post in a heated exchange.
- Horsford's motion forces a vote when the House returns from recess in November.
Driving the news: Higgins posted to X on Wednesday afternoon from his official congressional account, "Lol. These Haitians are wild. Eating pets, vudu, nastiest country in the western hemisphere, cults, slapstick, gangsters."
- He added: "All these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th."
- The post was in response to a Haitian group in Springfield, Ohio filing citizen criminal charges against former President Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) for amplifying unconfirmed claims about Haitians in Springfield eating pets.
What happened: Some Democrats "went to [Higgins] on the floor and said that's disgusting and it's inappropriate and you need to take it down," Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told Axios.
- Higgins responded by saying "'I'm not taking it down ... I don't respond to threats,'" according to Balint. Higgins eventually did delete the post.
- After filing his motion, Horsford told reporters that Higgins' post was "vile" and said "we have to explore, sadly, every action possible, and this was one that we have available because it does violate the rules."
Zoom in: Horsford said he consulted with House Democratic leadership to give them a heads up about his plan.
- House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) put out a statement calling Higgins' post "vile, racist and beneath the dignity of the United States House of Representatives."
- "He must be held accountable for dishonorable conduct that is unbecoming of a Member of Congress," Jeffries added – essentially endorsing Horsford's censure push.
The intrigue: Even some Republicans have criticized the tweet, with some calling Higgins out publicly.
- "The Haitian people are good and honorable people, who contribute greatly to our country ... No one should attack or disparage them. Let's do better," Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) said on X.
- Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) told reporters he and Higgins had a "very productive conversation" in which he told the Louisianan his post was "not a good statement."
Yes, but: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters Higgins is a "dear friend" and a "frank and outspoken person."
- Johnson said that after Higgins was confronted on the floor, he went to the back of the chamber and "prayed about it, and he regretted it, and he pulled the post down."
- "That's what you want a gentleman to do. I'm sure he probably regrets some of the language he used. But, you know, we move forward. We believe in redemption around here," Johnson added.
- Higgins' office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
