Democrats move to censure GOP Reps. Fine and Ogles
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Reps. Randy Fine (left) and Andy Ogles (right) at the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, Heather Diehl via Getty Images
Democrats are moving to censure Reps. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) for a series of anti-Muslim posts the two congressmen have made over the last several weeks.
Why it matters: Partisan tensions are surging in Congress over violent attacks in Michigan and Virginia on Thursday, with anti-Muslim sentiment reaching a fever pitch in the congressional GOP.
- The Fine resolution is more top-of-mind for many lawmakers, sources tell Axios, with Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) openly stating Thursday night that his comments "should have already resulted in censure."
- Democratic leadership is coordinating with rank-and-file members on that effort, a senior House Democrat told Axios.
Driving the news: Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) on Thursday introduced a two-page resolution to censure Ogles for writing on social media earlier this week that "Muslims don't belong in American society."
- The measure cites other comments Ogles has made — including a remark on a podcast that Muslims will "breed their way through our society" — calling them "alarming and inappropriate."
- In addition to censuring Ogles, the resolution would remove the Tennessee Republican from the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Zoom out: Fine has repeatedly raised the ire of his Democratic colleagues, writing in a post on X last month, "If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one."
- He went a step further Thursday night in response to attacks against a synagogue in the Detroit suburbs and a college in Virginia, calling for "more Islamophobia, not less."
- Several other Republicans joined the chorus of anti-Muslim posts Thursday night, including Ogles and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).
The other side: Ogles, asked about Thanedar's censure resolution, texted Axios a list of terrorist attacks committed by Muslims, adding, "In addition to 9/11 and Oct 7. Facts speak for themselves."
- He also highlighted a bill he's planning to introduce to repeal a 1965 law that ended selective quotas restricting certain groups' immigration to the U.S.
- Fine has repeatedly hit back on critics on social media, writing in one post, "The time for drum circles and 'why can't we all just get alongs' is over. The time for the expulsion of evil is here. Fear of Islam is rational."
Between the lines: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) hinted last month that he is open to supporting an effort to censure Fine.
- "Mike Johnson has spent a lot of time talking about decorum. Get your Members under control. Because if you don't, we will," he said at a press conference.
- But Democratic sources also stressed that lawmakers are treading carefully on this front. They don't want to give Fine and Ogles the attention they believe the two Republicans clearly crave.
Reality check: While Democrats can unilaterally force votes on censure resolutions without the assent of GOP leadership, both efforts likely face an uphill battle.
- Only one Republican — retiring centrist Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) — has gone so far as to call out his GOP colleagues for their comments, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sidestepping questions about them.
- With Republicans in control of the House, albeit by a narrow margin, they would likely succeed in quashing any Democratic censure effort.
