House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) laid down a warning on Tuesday: when Democrats retake control of the House of Representatives, there will be consequences for Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL).
Fine, a far-right lawmaker who gained office in a special election last year, has made a series of virulently racist and Islamophobic comments and posts, most recently a statement that “If they force us to choose, the choice between dogs and Muslims is not a difficult one. We will not be shamed into being conquered like the Europeans” — which revolted even some MAGA commentators, including Megyn Kelly.
In a statement released to Punchbowl News, Jeffries made clear this won't go unpunished under a Democratic majority.
"Randy Fine is a disgrace to the United States Congress," said Jeffries. "He is an Islamophobic, disgusting and unrepentant bigot. It is unacceptable that Mike Johnson and House Republicans continue to remain silent. Their casual acceptance of hateful and divisive language enables this out-of- control behavior. Republican leaders must hold this so-called Member of Congress accountable."
"Political violence, xenophobia and hate crimes against the Muslim community are on the rise," he continued. "House Democrats will not let the racist and bigoted behavior of Randy Fine go unchecked. Accountability is coming to all of these sick extremists when the gavels change hands in November, if not sooner."
While even a Democratic majority would require an almost-certainly bipartisan supermajority to expel Fine from the House, there is precedent for other punishments short of that. The last time Democrats controlled the House, former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) were stripped of committee assignments for social media posts endorsing violence against fellow members.