House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., promised to reprimand Democrats “in the very near future” in response to their June “sit-in” that disrupted floor proceedings and legislative business.
McCarthy, who met Tuesday with reporters for the first time since Congress returned from summer recess, said Democrats broke “a number of rules” when they commandeered the chamber from June 22-23, and said the reprimand would serve as a warning not to repeat the action.
“Are you going to let the House stand with that behavior going forward?” McCarthy said. “I think you’d create real damage to the House going forward, in the long term.”
Democratic lawmakers stayed on the floor through the night of June 22 and into the next day.
They chanted, sang civil rights songs and hoisted signs as Republicans moved legislative business. The chaotic scene aired live on C-SPAN and Democrats, in violation of House rules, livestreamed the action from the chamber, where use of electronic media is prohibited.
Democratic lawmakers ignored requests by House security staff to stop live-streaming and to refrain from sitting on the floor in the well.
McCarthy said Tuesday that even Democrats admitted they deserved to be punished, although Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., disputes any major rules were broken.
According to McCarthy, “a number of Democrats” told him, “it’s true we broke the rules and we should be held accountable … we should have to sustain punishment in that respect.”
McCarthy said the reprimand has been delayed by the seven-week recess and the need for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“The investigation is coming to an end and the appropriate judgement will be coming forward,” McCarthy said.
