A House debate over Rep. Rashida Tlaib's (D-MI) resolution to withdraw U.S. troops from Lebanon devolved into personal attacks Wednesday night when embattled Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) accused the Detroit Democrat of "advocating for terrorists on a daily basis."
Miller, who has faced his own controversies, including domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife, said Tlaib and her allies would "cheer on" the elimination of Hezbollah if they truly cared about Lebanon rather than advancing "meaningless resolutions to denigrate American foreign policy."
"Its members are butchers that you like to hang out with to a certain extent," Miller told Tlaib on the floor. "Yes, you advocate for terrorists on a daily basis."
Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, immediately demanded that Miller's words be stricken from the House record. "That is a direct attack on my character," she said.
The presiding officer ruled Miller's remarks violated House rules of decorum by impugning Tlaib's "patriotism and loyalty" — and barred him from speaking for the rest of the day, The Detroit News reported. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) then read Miller's defiant response from the floor: "Yes, I said it. I own it. I stand by it."
Tlaib's underlying resolution seeks to withdraw U.S. forces from Lebanon, arguing that Congress has not authorized U.S. military involvement. She told colleagues that 3,400 people have died, 1.2 million have been displaced, and called it "an ethnic cleansing campaign."
A House vote on the resolution is expected as early as Thursday.
