Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., introduced a resolution calling on Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., to resign after she called on people to harass Trump administration officials when they go out in public.
If passed, his resolution would also censure Waters for her comments, and call on her to apologize. It warns that her remarks could lead to physical violence against Trump officials.
“Representative Waters comments could directly and unnecessarily lead to public unrest, physical violence, and physical injury,” Biggs’ resolution stated.
It said harassment is “never an acceptable method of disagreement,” and said Waters’ comments “do not contribute anything positive to the public dialogue.”
Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was harassed at a restaurant in Washington, and then over the weekend, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders was asked to leave a Virginia restaurant because she works for the Trump administration.
Waters said over the weekend that she supports these moves. “Let’s make sure we show up wherever we have to show up. If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them, and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere,” she said.
Biggs’ resolution noted that former President Barack Obama encouraged Democrats to register their disagreement by voting. “Don’t boo. Vote,” the resolution quoted Obama.
Specifically, his resolution would censure Waters for “conduct that condones public violence and incites public discord, and is not befitting an elected Member of the House of Representative.”
It said she should apologize and issue a statement that says, “physical violence and harassment is not an appropriate reaction for members of the public to express disagreement with their elected officials.”
And, it says she should resign from office to allow “an individual more befitting of the respect of the people of the United States to represent California’s 43d Congressional District.”
