
Normally when an individual threatens someone's life or draws a cartoon about someone being killed, a judge will issue a victim protection order and police do investigations. But when a Republican member of Congress does it, things get complicated.
Such was the case when Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) posted an anime cartoon of himself assassinating colleague Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). The photo also depicts himself swinging swords at President Joe Biden. The photo was a violation of Twitter's terms of service and was removed, but not before many screen captures were taken.
Gosar's siblings have worked to tell voters as often as possible that their brother is mentally ill and that he doesn't belong in Congress. His colleagues are also calling on either censure or expulsion for Gosar. Expelling Gosar from Congress would take all Democratic members to vote for it and 70 Republicans. Thus far only one Republican has been willing to denounce what Gosar did.
Many also noted that this isn't the first time Gosar has casually talked about assassination. There's also the matter of his participation in the planning of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, said Ali Alexander. He warrants investigation by the FBI as a danger to America, commentators tweeted.
You can see some of the ways leaders and officials are responding to the tweet below. Many have called on Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to act. It's unclear if there will be a vote to censure Gosar for the behavior.
In 2018 a white supremacist threatened to lynch me for my faith\u2014he was convicted & sentenced to prison for his crime.\n\nWhat Gosar has done to Rep @AOC is as bad or worse. Twitter ban isn\u2019t enough. Expulsion from Congress isnt enough. He must face legal consequences for his terrorhttps://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1457829352813498371\u00a0\u2026— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@Qasim Rashid, Esq.) 1636417487
This is sick behavior from Rep. Paul Gosar. He tweeted out the video showing him killing Rep. Ocasio-Cortez from both his official account and personal account. In any workplace in America, if a coworker made an anime video killing another coworker, that person would be fired.pic.twitter.com/0ygBfE6bEL— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1636417239
Radical Republicans are dangerous. This behavior from Rep. Paul Gosar encouraging violence is unacceptable. He needs to be removed from congressional committees. \n\nHaven\u2019t we had enough political violence already? In any other workplace in America, he would have been fired.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1457829352813498371\u00a0\u2026— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1636410024
This will continue. Of course @gop and @GOPLeader can condemn this proactively (not some sidestepping comment when asked about it.). They won\u2019t. The \u201carm-pit farting\u201d of our politics is why we are failing the people.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1457829352813498371\u00a0\u2026— Adam Kinzinger (@Adam Kinzinger) 1636422462
And how many GOP Congress members are asking for Gosar's expulsion? https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1457707397250748426\u00a0\u2026— Nicoletta (@Nicoletta) 1636419279
.@SpeakerPelosi What does it take to censure Gosar?https://twitter.com/sarahburris/status/1457815194491662336\u00a0\u2026— edgery #VaccinesAreSafe #WearAMask (@edgery #VaccinesAreSafe #WearAMask) 1636411967
\u201cSuspend his Twitter account\u201d? Are you kidding? Violent threats like this are extremely serious and he should face Congressional censure at the very least, especially as this is not a one-off for Gosar.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1457829352813498371\u00a0\u2026— Lawrence Glickman (@Lawrence Glickman) 1636413641
Gosar is a cretin but despite that threats of violence should be considered crossing the line & Congressional censure be applied while he is investigated by FBI.\n\nWe know he supports insurrection so why is he still in Congress?https://twitter.com/donna_zimmerman/status/1457845675295711235\u00a0\u2026— Jeff Tuttle (@Jeff Tuttle) 1636413071
Let\u2019s skip censure and go right to expulsion. Gosar\u2019s outrageous behavior has no place in Congress.— Barbara Malmet (@Barbara Malmet) 1636427963
Gosar is a cretin but despite that threats of violence should be considered crossing the line & Congressional censure be applied while he is investigated by FBI.\n\nWe know he supports insurrection so why is he still in Congress?https://twitter.com/donna_zimmerman/status/1457845675295711235\u00a0\u2026— Jeff Tuttle (@Jeff Tuttle) 1636413071
Remember, Expulsion takes 70 Republican members of Congress to accomplish, plus ALL the House Dems.\n\nNow, since this is a direct threat against a fellow member, and is similar to the threat MTG posted about Pelosi, Gosar should lose all his Committee assignments.— Malcolm P. Johnson (@Malcolm P. Johnson) 1636415409
If the FBI can interrogate Kathy Griffin for holding a mannequin head of Trump - they don't come for Rep Paul Gosar for this? Doesn't seem right.— JEN KIRKMAN (@JEN KIRKMAN) 1636427350
Rep. Gosar\u2019s conduct is grotesque, dangerous and utterly disgraceful to the United States House of Representatives. We must address his intolerable assaults on the dignity of our body and safety of our colleagues.https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-gosar-trump-ocasio-cortez/2021/11/08/ead37b36-40ca-11ec-9ea7-3eb2406a2e24_story.html\u00a0\u2026— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@Rep. Jamie Raskin) 1636415287
This is grotesque and demands action by the House of Representatives and social media companies. \n\nGlorification & incitement of violence is not just toxic to our democracy, but dangerous for my friends and colleagues. \n\nEnough is enough!https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-gosar-trump-ocasio-cortez/2021/11/08/ead37b36-40ca-11ec-9ea7-3eb2406a2e24_story.html\u00a0\u2026— Rep. Jason Crow (@Rep. Jason Crow) 1636423938
FACT: Today, Paul Gosar, a Republican congressman, tweeted an anime-themed video of him killing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.\n\nIf anyone else did this, they'd have the @FBI knocking on their door in 10 minutes. They'd be arrested. Why is this same standard not applied to politicians?— Dr. Jack Brown (@Dr. Jack Brown) 1636421517
So Kathy Griffin who is a freaking comedian tweets an inappropriate thing and 15 minutes later the FBI is knocking but Paul Gosar who is a Government employee and legislator can tweet about killing another legislator and it's going to be What...ignored— Kodiak\ud83c\udd98 (@Kodiak\ud83c\udd98) 1636403730
Gosar not only needs to be removed from Congress, he needs a psychiatric evaluation and a visit from the FBI.— SarahCA (@SarahCA) 1636418065
So how many times do we call for Gosar's expulsion before anything is done? We're waiting!!! \u2018Absolutely disgraceful\u2019: Anger as Paul Gosar shares anime clip showing him killing AOC https://news.yahoo.com/absolutely-disgraceful-anger-paul-gosar-221841444.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr\u00a0\u2026 via @Yahoo— Jackie Spiker (@Jackie Spiker) 1636416238
@RepFranklin call for Gosar's expulsion from Congress. A man so horribly racist & completely off his trolley his own family made ads to warn voters. Do you have the courage to do the right thing or will you continue never failing to disappoint? #GOPDomesticTerrorists\n#GQPTraitorspic.twitter.com/7ZSZTE59fT— Peggy T (@Peggy T) 1636423504