House Republicans Move to Censure Maxine Waters For Comments Inciting ‘Violence’

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) for allegedly inciting violence with comments she made during an interview over the weekend.

“This weekend in Minnesota, Maxine Waters broke the law by violating curfew and then incited violence. Increased unrest has already led to violence against law enforcement and her comments intentionally poured fuel on the fire,” McCarthy said in a statement. “We’ve heard this type of violent rhetoric from Waters before, and the United States Congress must clearly and without reservation reprimand this behavior before more people get hurt. But Speaker Pelosi is ignoring Waters’ behavior. That’s why I am introducing a resolution to censure Rep. Waters for these dangerous comments, and I hope that all my colleagues – both Republican and Democrat – will stand up for peace on America’s streets.”

During an interview in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, regarding the ongoing Derek Chauvin trial, she claimed “protesters” were “looking for a guilty verdict” and, if the trial finds Chauvin not guilty, she believes “we cannot go away.” When asked what protesters should do if they don’t get what they want, she said protesters have “got to stay on the street,” “get more active,” and “get more confrontational.”

“We’ve got to make sure that they know that we mean business,” Waters told reporters.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) defended Waters’ statements shortly after, believing Waters should not apologize and. making any support for Democrats for the censure unlikely.

“No, I don’t think she should apologize,” Pelosi told reporters Monday. “Maxine talked about ‘confrontation’ in the manner of the civil rights movement.”

Waters responded to the censure attempt by asserting it did not intimidate her and she stands by what she said.

“I am not worried that they’re going to continue to distort what I say,” Waters told The Grio. “This is who they are and this is how they act. And I’m not going to be bullied by them.” If censured, Waters would lose her position as chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee.